2018 Kia Rio recalls and problems

The 2018 Kia Rio has 1 recall and 28 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

2018 Kia Rio
Photo: 2018 Kia Rio by Rutger van der Maar, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2018 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 24 Rio model years — 16th most.

1recalls
28complaints
3crashes
2fires
1injuries
54,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

1 recall

Latches/locks/linkages

Aug 9, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V622000 · 253,074 vehicles

Problem: 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."

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

Remedy & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine16
Air Bags5
Electrical System5
Unknown or other5
Exterior Lighting2
Fuel System2
Latches/locks/linkages2
Power Train1
Seats1
Service Brakes1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2019: 1 complaints20192020: 2 complaints20202021: 3 complaints20212022: 4 complaints20222023: 3 complaints20232024: 4 complaints20242025: 6 complaints202562026: 5 complaints20265

2018 vs. other Kia Rio years

2000: 3 complaints20002001: 223 complaints2232002: 128 complaints20022003: 74 complaints2004: 38 complaints20042005: 37 complaints2006: 74 complaints20062007: 46 complaints2008: 46 complaints20082009: 39 complaints2010: 26 complaints20102011: 24 complaints2012: 54 complaints20122013: 153 complaints2014: 52 complaints20142015: 52 complaints2016: 80 complaints20162017: 31 complaints2018: 28 complaints20182019: 22 complaints2020: 27 complaints20202021: 15 complaints2022: 12 complaints20222023: 12 complaints202312

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2018. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2018 Kia Rio have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2018 Kia Rio, the latest from Aug 9, 2021 (latches/locks/linkages). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia Rio?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (16), air bags (5), electrical system (5). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.