Kia Rio Years to Avoid, Problems & Recalls

Which Kia Rio years should you avoid?

Going by 1,295 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the Kia Rio years to avoid are 2001, 2013 and 2002.

2001223 complaints, 4.6× a typical Rio year, most often about the engine.
2013153 complaints, 3.1× a typical Rio year, most often about the engine.
2002128 complaints, 2.6× a typical Rio year, most often about the engine.

How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Fires	Crashes	Most reported	Status
2023	12	0	—	—	Unknown or Other	Routine
2022	12	1	—	2	Unknown or Other	Routine
2021	15	2	—	2	Unknown or Other	Routine
2020	27	1	5	3	Unknown or Other	Fatalities reported
2019	22	1	1	4	Unknown or Other	Routine
2018	28	1	2	3	Engine	Routine
2017	31	2	6	3	Engine	Routine
2016	79	2	6	8	Engine	Routine
2015	52	1	10	4	Engine	Routine
2014	52	1	8	7	Engine	Routine
2013Avoid	153	1	18	8	Engine	Routine
2012	54	1	9	3	Engine	Routine
2011	24	0	—	4	Engine	Routine
2010	26	0	—	9	Air Bags	Routine
2009	39	0	—	6	Air Bags	Routine
2008	46	1	—	11	Air Bags	Routine
2007	46	1	1	11	Air Bags	Fatalities reported
2006	74	1	—	12	Air Bags	Routine
2005	37	1	4	4	Engine and Engine Cooling	Fatalities reported
2004	38	2	2	4	Engine and Engine Cooling	Routine
2003	74	3	2	8	Electrical System	Routine
2002Avoid	128	1	6	25	Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine	Fatalities reported
2001Avoid	223	3	14	21	Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine	Fatalities reported
2000	3	0	—	—	Air Bags	Routine

Year

Complaints

Relative volume

Recalls

Fires

Crashes

Most reported

Status

2023

—

Unknown or Other

Routine