Kia Rio 2018 recalls, problems, complaints and safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall issued for the Kia Rio 2018 and 28 complaints filed by owners. It has 0% more complaints than the average Kia Rio from 2016–2023 (28 per year).

These are recalls issued for this model and year, not for your specific car. A car may already be repaired or may not be included. Confirm with your VIN on NHTSA.

Recalls issued for the Kia Rio 2018

Latches and locks
NHTSA campaign 21V622000 · 2021-08-09

What happens

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, 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."

Consequence

A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the trunk latch assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC216.

The repair is free at any dealer of the brand.

NHTSA 21V622000

Complaints from other owners

28 complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of this model.

3 with a crash · 2 with a fire · 1 injury

Most reported problems on the Kia Rio 2018

• Engine: 15 (54% of complaints)
• Electrical system, air bags: 3 (11% of complaints)
• Air bags: 2 (7% of complaints)
• Fuel and propulsion: 2 (7% of complaints)
• Electrical system: 2 (7% of complaints)

Complaints are written by owners and NHTSA doesn't verify each one. They're useful to spot trends.

What to check before buying a Kia Rio 2018

• Confirm by VIN on NHTSA that the recalls on this list were repaired.
• Start it cold, listen for noises, look for oil or coolant leaks and exhaust smoke.
• The air bag light should come on for a second at start-up and go off. Confirm by VIN that air bag recalls were done.
• Get an inspection from an independent mechanic before paying.

Safety rating (NCAP)

NHTSA has no 5-Star rating published for this model and year (models before 2011 used a different system).

Kia Rio recalls by year

• 2016 : 2 recalls · 78 complaints
• 2017 : 2 recalls · 31 complaints
• 2018 : 1 recall · 28 complaints
• 2019 : 1 recall · 22 complaints
• 2020 : 1 recall · 27 complaints
• 2021 : 2 recalls · 15 complaints
• 2022 : 1 recall · 12 complaints
• 2023 : 0 recalls · 12 complaints

Guides for this check

• What is a car recall and how to get it fixed for free
• Pre-purchase inspection for a used car: what to check
• Questions to ask the seller of a used car

Frequently asked questions

How many recalls does the Kia Rio 2018 have?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall issued for the Kia Rio 2018. That doesn't mean every car has them open: confirm with the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The repair is free at the dealer.

What is the most common problem with the Kia Rio 2018?

In complaints filed with NHTSA, the most mentioned component is: engine (15 of 28 complaints). Complaints aren't verified one by one, but they show trends.