MYRModel Year Report

Kia RIO — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

3 model years to avoid, 3 to watch and 1 best bet. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid3 years

Caution3 years

Best bets1 year

Complaint history

2000: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2001: 223 complaints, Avoid 2001 2002: 128 complaints, Avoid 2003: 74 complaints, Caution 2004: 38 complaints, Recommended 2005: 37 complaints, Recommended 2006: 74 complaints, Caution 2007: 46 complaints, Recommended 2008: 46 complaints, Recommended 2008 2009: 39 complaints, Recommended 2010: 26 complaints, Not enough data 2011: 24 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 54 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 153 complaints, Avoid 2014: 52 complaints, Recommended 2015: 52 complaints, Recommended 2016: 77 complaints, Caution 2016 2017: 31 complaints, Recommended 2018: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2019: 21 complaints, Not enough data 2020: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2023: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2001 · 223
2000: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2001: 223 complaints, Avoid 2001 2002: 128 complaints, Avoid 2003: 74 complaints, Caution 2004: 38 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 37 complaints, Recommended 2006: 74 complaints, Caution 2006 2007: 46 complaints, Recommended 2008: 46 complaints, Recommended 2008 2009: 39 complaints, Recommended 2010: 26 complaints, Not enough data 2010 2011: 24 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 54 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 153 complaints, Avoid 2014: 52 complaints, Recommended 2014 2015: 52 complaints, Recommended 2016: 77 complaints, Caution 2016 2017: 31 complaints, Recommended 2018: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2018 2019: 21 complaints, Not enough data 2020: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2023: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2001 · 223
2000: 3 complaints, Not enough data 2000 2001: 223 complaints, Avoid 2001 2002: 128 complaints, Avoid 2002 2003: 74 complaints, Caution 2003 2004: 38 complaints, Recommended 2004 2005: 37 complaints, Recommended 2005 2006: 74 complaints, Caution 2006 2007: 46 complaints, Recommended 2007 2008: 46 complaints, Recommended 2008 2009: 39 complaints, Recommended 2009 2010: 26 complaints, Not enough data 2010 2011: 24 complaints, Not enough data 2011 2012: 54 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 153 complaints, Avoid 2013 2014: 52 complaints, Recommended 2014 2015: 52 complaints, Recommended 2015 2016: 77 complaints, Caution 2016 2017: 31 complaints, Recommended 2017 2018: 28 complaints, Not enough data 2018 2019: 21 complaints, Not enough data 2019 2020: 27 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 15 complaints, Not enough data 2021 2022: 11 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2023: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2023 2001 · 223
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2023 ○ Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2022 ○ Not enough data 11 Only 11 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2021 ○ Not enough data 15 Only 15 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2020 ○ Not enough data 27 Only 27 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2019 ○ Not enough data 21 Only 21 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2018 ○ Not enough data 28 Only 28 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2017 ▲ Recommended 31 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 ◆ Caution 77 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2015 ● Recommended 52 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2014 ● Recommended 52 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2013 ■ Avoid 153 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2012 ● Recommended 54 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2011 ○ Not enough data 24 Only 24 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2010 ○ Not enough data 26 Only 26 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2009 ● Recommended 39 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2008 ● Recommended 46 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2007 ● Recommended 46 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2006 ◆ Caution 74 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2005 ● Recommended 37 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2004 ● Recommended 38 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2003 ◆ Caution 74 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2002 ■ Avoid 128 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2001 ■ Avoid 223 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2000 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

11

recalls on file across every Kia RIO model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Kia models