2020 Kia Rio problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2020 Kia Rio include 3 fatality reports, 3 crashes and 5 fires across 27 filings.

27
Complaints
1
Recalls
3
Crash reports
5
Fire reports
1
Injuries
181.9
Severity index

Severity index 181.9 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 181.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 8 complaints (29.6%)8 30%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 5 complaints (18.5%)5 19%Power TrainPower Train: 5 complaints (18.5%)5 19%EngineEngine: 5 complaints (18.5%)5 19%SteeringSteering: 4 complaints (14.8%)4 15%Service BrakesService Brakes: 3 complaints (11.1%)3 11%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 2 complaints (7.4%)2 7%WheelsWheels: 2 complaints (7.4%)2 7%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER829.6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM518.5%
POWER TRAIN518.5%
ENGINE518.5%
STEERING414.8%
SERVICE BRAKES311.1%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING27.4%
WHEELS27.4%

Complaints filed per year

0482020: 22021: 82022: 42023: 62024: 12025: 42026: 2 (partial year)202182223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20202
20218
20224
20236
20241
20254
2026 (year to date)2
Filings in 2023 to 2025 were close to 2020 to 2022 (11 against 14).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V93600001/12/2021SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDERKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Rio vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.

Other Kia Rio model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 11 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-03. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.