Reliable Auto DB

2014 Kia Rio reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2014 Kia Rio has 52 complaints with NHTSA after 13 years, or 7 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Rio years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Brake control module.

2012 Kia Rio
Photo by Makizox, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

52

Per year

7

Recalls

1

Years on the road

13

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (24 of 52), then Air bags (7) and Hydraulic brakes (7). Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2013 and 2015

The 2013 Rio has 153 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2015 has 52 complaints, 2 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2014 Kia Rio. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (52 total)

Engine
24
Air bags
7
Hydraulic brakes
7
Powertrain
6
Structure
6
Electrical system
5
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Service brakes
3
Wheels
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Exterior lighting
1
Seat belts
1
Speed control
1
Steering
1
Show 6 more Show less
Crash-flagged

7

Fire-flagged

8

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

5201482015720163201732019220203202132022102023420242202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Webwas deiving down the road and flames started shooting from underneath the hood we stopped car jumped out and looked back an whole front of car was on fire it burnt most of car"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-07
  • "I am filing this complaint regarding Kia America's arbitrary denial of coverage for a suspected connecting-rod-bearing failure in my 2014 Kia Rio (85,000 miles). The vehicle exhibits classic symptoms of the Gamma 1.6L…"
    Engine · filed 2026-03-20
  • "I tried to get the parts fixed from the recall. However, when I tried to get it serviced I was adviced that the parts would take a few weeks to arrive. With an appending move to Helena, Mt from Lambertville, Mi they…"
    Engine · filed 2025-05-17
  • "The engine started to lose power, and the check engine light illuminated. The power drop was most noticable when accelerating from a stop. At times, randomly, the engine RPMs would dip down to 200-300 at idle and would…"
    Engine · filed 2025-03-31
  • "Driving to work I exited US-26 in Hillsboro, Oregon at the 185th exit. The exit is an uphill ramp with a traffic signal at the top of the hill. The traffic signal at the end of the ramp was green. I was following a…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2024-08-25

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2014 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2014 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Rio 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 36 30 MPG $2150
Rio 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 36 30 MPG $2150
Rio Eco 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 36 31 MPG $2100

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (YB), 2012–2017
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 or 5W-30 (1.6L Gamma) , 3.8 qt capacity
Tire size 185/65R15 to 195/55R16 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 23V652000. 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. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. 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.

Compare

Previous year 2013 Kia Rio Next year 2015 Kia Rio See every Kia Rio model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2014 Kia Rio reliable?

The 2014 Kia Rio has 52 complaints with NHTSA after 13 years, or 7 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Rio years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Brake control module.

What are common problems with a 2014 Kia Rio?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (24 of 52), then Air bags (7) and Hydraulic brakes (7). Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 8 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2014 Kia Rio more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Rio has 153 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2015 has 52 complaints, 2 per year. The 2014 has fewer complaints per year than the 2013. The 2014 has more complaints per year than the 2015.

Has the 2014 Kia Rio been recalled?

The 2014 Kia Rio has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2014 Kia Rio?

Owners have filed 52 complaints about the 2014 Kia Rio with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2014 Kia Rio get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2014 Kia Rio is 30.3 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Kia Rio take?

YB (2012-2017) 1.6L Gamma: 5W-20 or 5W-30. YB2 (2018-2023) 1.6L Smartstream: 0W-20. Confirm the manual.

What does NHTSA campaign 21V936000 cover on later Rio?

Certain 2020-2021 Rio vehicles: the brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.

When did the YB2 Rio generation start?

Model year 2018 (through 2023 on this site).