Short answer
Among Kia RIO model years through 2024, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2023 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2001 and 2003 have the most (3). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Kia RIO: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 23 (2001–2023)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 11
- Fewest recalls
- 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2023 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2001 and 2003 (3)
- Most recalled system
- Service brakes, hydraulic (8)
Kia RIO Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2022 | 1 | Not rated | Steering |
| 2021 | 2 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic, Steering |
| 2020 | 1 | Not rated | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2019 | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2018 | 1 | Not rated | Latches/locks/linkages |
| 2017 | 2 | 4 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2016 | 2 | 4 stars | Latches/locks/linkages, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2015 | 1 | 4 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2014 | 1 | 4 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2013 | 1 | 4 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2012 | 1 | 4 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2011 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2010 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2009 | 0 | Not rated | None on record |
| 2008 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2007 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2006 | 1 | Not rated | Air bags |
| 2005 | 1 | Not rated | Child seat |
| 2004 | 2 | Not rated | Child seat, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2003 | 3 | Not rated | Child seat, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts |
| 2002 | 1 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2001 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Wheels |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20230 recalls
- 20221 recall
- 20212 recalls
- 20201 recall
- 20191 recall
- 20181 recall
- 20172 recalls
- 20162 recalls
- 20151 recall
- 20141 recall
- 20131 recall
- 20121 recall
- 20110 recalls
- 20100 recalls
- 20090 recalls
- 20081 recall
- 20071 recall
- 20061 recall
- 20051 recall
- 20042 recalls
- 20033 recalls
- 20021 recall
- 20013 recalls
Kia RIO: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Kia RIO recalls are service brakes, hydraulic (8), fuel system, gasoline (5), latches/locks/linkages (4), air bags (3) and child seat (3). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 6 of these 23 model years. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Kia RIO Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Kia RIO?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2023 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Kia RIO model years have the most recalls?
2001 and 2003 have the most, with 3 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "RIO", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy