CSR
Check a VIN

Look up

About

Kia · NHTSA safety record

2017 Kia RIO

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

31

Complaints

3

Crashes

6

Fires

4

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2017 Kia RIO have filed 31 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2018 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 11 of them (35%). The typical failure was reported at 36,500 miles, the median across the 8 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (2)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

23V652000 · September 25, 2023

Park outside until repaired

The defect
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
The risk
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 1,730,192 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH

23V594000 · August 24, 2023

The defect
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
The risk
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.

Kia America, Inc. · up to 319,436 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

AQ23002

Still open audit query · opened November 17, 2023

the hydraulic brakes

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 31.

ENGINE 11 35%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 6 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 6 19%
AIR BAGS 3 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 10%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 6%
POWER TRAIN 1 3%
SEAT BELTS 1 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 3%
STEERING 1 3%
STRUCTURE 1 3%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 11.

2018 2023 2026
2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 5,026 miles

WAS RUN OFF THE ROAD AT 55 MPH HITTING A STOP SIGN A TELEPHONE BOX A OAK TREE THEN A PINE TREE AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY OR DID THE SEAT BELTS LOCK UP WIFE HAS A BROKEN BACK AND CHEST BONE

NHTSA complaint 11124725. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 6,054 miles

WAS ENVOLVED IN A WRECK TO WHERE I WENT OFF THE ROAD HIT A STOP SIGN,,A TELEPHONE BOX,,A OAK TREE THEN A PINE TREE AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED NOW MY WIFE HAS A BROKEN BACK AND CHEST BONE,,I GOT A BUSTED UP KNEE A SPRANG SHOLDER NECK AND BACK

NHTSA complaint 11130901. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire · towed · 99,000 miles

The contact owned a 2017 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the front hood started emitting smoke. In addition, the brake pedal failed to function as intended. All vehicle doors automatically locked up and the contact veered to the side of the roadway. The contact noticed fire coming in the vehicle and she had to shatter the window to exit the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a police station where it was deemed totaled. The origin of the fire was unknown. The location of the fire was under the hood. A fire department report was filled. A police department report was not filed. The ambulance had extinguished the fire. The

NHTSA complaint 11551834, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

fire

Vehicle caught on fire.

NHTSA complaint 11433156. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The engine of my Kia Rio 2017 is the system that is failing it is sudden with no warning and has been diagnosed by Kia themselves stating that the engine will seize. My safety is put at risk because the car may seize while in traffic causing difficulty steering and breaking. This problem was first confirmed by an independent shop called Accurate transmission (1040 s Joliet st, Aurora CO, 80013 or call 3033646254) and following that I took it to Kia for a diagnostic where they confirmed what Accurate transmission stated. This vehicle has not been inspected by anyone currently. There were no warning lamps previous to current issue. Warning lights appeared upon incident.

NHTSA complaint 11746312. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

As my car was driving my vehicle encountered sudden changes and my engine light went on. As the vehicle stopped driving on its own there was smoke coming from the hood and a fire stared shortly after underneath the car.

NHTSA complaint 11738683. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

I was driving my 2017 Kia Rio at approximately 70 mph when the vehicle began shaking violently. I heard a loud mechanical sound from the engine compartment that sounded like something broke loose and was being thrown around. I immediately began pulling over as smoke started entering the cabin. As soon as I stopped, the car erupted into a fast-moving, intense fire originating in the engine compartment. The fire spread so quickly that the front of the vehicle and the passenger cabin were completely destroyed before the fire department arrived. The Austin Fire Department responded (Incident Type: Engine 2f) and the Travis County Sheriff's Office also opened a case (Case #[Insert Your Sheriff

NHTSA complaint 11727456, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Unknown

NHTSA complaint 11641236. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

fire

My son and I were driving home from work on IH-35 and I noticed smoke coming from under my hood. Then within seconds, flames appeared moving quickly towards the windshield. I attempted to move to the shoulder and after doing so, I was unable to stop since the brakes were no longer working. I had to use the parking brake when it slowed down and then once stopped, my son and I jumped out of the vehicle and within 3-5 seconds, the entire car was overcome with fire which then exploded.

NHTSA complaint 11600593. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK

190,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while attempting to open the trunk with the key fob, the trunk failed to unlock or open. In addition, the contact engaged the emergency gear, and the trunk would not open. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA complaint 11590009. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Kia RIO

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 10 1 —
2021 15 2 —
2020 26 1 3
2019 21 1 —
2018 28 1 —
2016 77 2 —
2015 52 1 —
2014 52 1 —
2013 153 1 —
2012 54 1 —

Other 2017 Kia models

Sorento 795 Sportage 398 Forte 300 Soul 270 Optima 254 Sedona 132 Niro 78 Cadenza 32

Every Kia on this site — 176 vehicles, 208 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst