Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
60–25K
425–50K
450–75K
275–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
22 reports with mileage · 55 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports5 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
77 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2022
Unknown Or Other
Trunk will not close. This happened in 2017 and the car was repaired under warranty. It happened again yesterday. Kia has an active recall on some vehicles for this issue mine is not included...however it is the EXACT same issue. I live in Florida and the recall is an issue with heat damaging the safety latch. Kia needs to …
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Trunk will not close. This happened in 2017 and the car was repaired under warranty. It happened again yesterday. Kia has an active recall on some vehicles for this issue mine is not included...however it is the EXACT same issue. I live in Florida and the recall is an issue with heat damaging the safety latch. Kia needs to extend the recall to cover ALL impacted vehicles.
NHTSA ODI #11497230
Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2022
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
on 08.30.22 while driving on the interstate I75 going approx. 75 mph my vehicle just lost speed and I barely made it to the side of the road. it did not shut off just had no power, this was at 63,000 miles and had to have the catalytic converter replaced. total cost $1800. fast forward to 12.10.22 same thing happened and was tol…
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on 08.30.22 while driving on the interstate I75 going approx. 75 mph my vehicle just lost speed and I barely made it to the side of the road. it did not shut off just had no power, this was at 63,000 miles and had to have the catalytic converter replaced. total cost $1800. fast forward to 12.10.22 same thing happened and was told once again need a new catalytic converter. also have had all maintenance done and this GDI engine burns approx. 1 quart of oil every 2 weeks. also make not that the engine light never came on with either event
NHTSA ODI #11497216
Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2022
Air BagsCrash
Airbags didn’t deploy in a accident which caused whiplash
NHTSA ODI #11493429
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2022
Unknown Or Other
The trunk of my car will not open. Upon further inspection, the trunk latch is broken. When we accessed the trunk from the back seats, we tried to open it with the emergency release and it does not work. Nothing opens the trunk. This is a KNOWN issue to Kia and they've recalled other years, but not 2016. So I guess if a person …
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The trunk of my car will not open. Upon further inspection, the trunk latch is broken. When we accessed the trunk from the back seats, we tried to open it with the emergency release and it does not work. Nothing opens the trunk. This is a KNOWN issue to Kia and they've recalled other years, but not 2016. So I guess if a person were to get locked in the trunk of a 2016 Rio, it's somehow not a safety issue, even though it is one in later years??
NHTSA ODI #11490504
Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2022
Engine
As related to the Kia Soul recall on their 2.4 GDI (same engine I have) the motor is blown. Extreme oil consumption and clogging components. All issues recalled on Soul are the same issues my engine is faced with.
NHTSA ODI #11489703
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2022
Engine
Car began burning oil excessively at 102,000 miles.
NHTSA ODI #11489504
Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2022
Engine
While driving on the expressway my engine started to get extremely loud and I lost mph, and rpms. I was able to make it home going 35mph the whole way. After having it towed to my nearest kia store I was informed that my Cadillac converter will need to be replaced as well as my engine because all of my pistons had broke. I was u…
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While driving on the expressway my engine started to get extremely loud and I lost mph, and rpms. I was able to make it home going 35mph the whole way. After having it towed to my nearest kia store I was informed that my Cadillac converter will need to be replaced as well as my engine because all of my pistons had broke. I was up to 106,000 miles and have been up to date on all my oil changes and engine checks. Now I have to pay 10,000 dollars to get it fixed over something that should not have happened so soon
NHTSA ODI #11479854
Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2022
Engine
I need a new engine but cant find one because they all keep catching on fire. This is a issue they should refund me for my car or fit it.
NHTSA ODI #11474191
Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2022
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or OtherFire
On June 29, 2022, I was driving on I-5 southbound when I heard a loud sort of tapping sound coming from my engine. About 30 minutes later, before I had time to get to a gas station, there was a loud "BOOM!" sound and all of a sudden, the catalytic converter light and some other dash lights started to flash and I started to lose …
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On June 29, 2022, I was driving on I-5 southbound when I heard a loud sort of tapping sound coming from my engine. About 30 minutes later, before I had time to get to a gas station, there was a loud "BOOM!" sound and all of a sudden, the catalytic converter light and some other dash lights started to flash and I started to lose power. I pulled over to the left shoulder of the highway and before I could even pop the hood, I noticed flames immediately licking from the underside of the hood. I grabbed my phone and pulled my rabbit in her cage from the back seat of the car and called 911. My car continued to burn, starting a small brush fire, until the fire department finally came and put the fire out. The whole front of my car was completely incinerated and it had made its way to the back hatch in less than hour. I don't know for certain what caused this as the only indication of a problem was the loud tapping sound- zero dash lights were flashing until the boom. I had just taken the car in for an oil change and general check up less than a week before, and they saw nothing amiss. Geico, my insurance company, has inspected it to determine that it is, in fact, a total loss, but I'm sure they didn't do a sort of diagnostic to determine what happened to cause the incident. I am beyond lucky that I was able to escape my car with my pet and my life, but had the fire moved any faster through the car, we would be dead. It all happened within an hour.
NHTSA ODI #11473796
Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 2021
Unknown Or Other
The trunk latch is broken and does not open with safety latch. Why is my car not on the list for the recall on this particular problem?
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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. (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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
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.
2016 Kia Rio Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year