Reliable Auto DB

2016 Kia Rio reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Kia Rio holds 77 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 3 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 2 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Latch.

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

77

Per year

3

Recalls

2

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (38 of 77), then Hydraulic brakes (12) and Electrical system (8). Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Rio has 52 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2017 has 31 complaints, 1 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

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 2016 Kia Rio. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

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.
Recall latches, locks, and linkages, trunk lid, latch 2023-08-24 · NHTSA campaign 23V594000
Summary 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."
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.

Complaints by component (77 total)

Engine
38
Hydraulic brakes
12
Electrical system
8
Powertrain
5
Service brakes
5
Air bags
4
Exterior lighting
4
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Engine and engine cooling
3
Steering
3
Structure
2
Air brakes
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seat belts
1
Speed control
1
Suspension
1
Visibility
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 10 more Show less
Crash-flagged

7

Fire-flagged

5

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220162201752018220191202062021920221920232320246202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I am filing this complaint regarding a persistent low beam headlight failure on my 2016 Kia Rio that has not been resolved after a paid repair at an authorized Kia dealership. The low beam headlights on my vehicle…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-06-04
  • "I am filing a complaint regarding repeated failures of the LED tail light assemblies on my 2016 Kia Rio. This vehicle uses combination tail lights that include both standard bulbs and integrated LED brake lights. The…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-05-02
  • "My car is experiencing excessive oil consumption. Upon inspection, it was determined that the issue lies with my catalytic converter. I have discovered that this problem has been reported in other Kia vehicles. The…"
    Engine · filed 2025-11-22
  • "The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that there was no oil on the dipstick. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2025-09-29
  • "The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that upon driving from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to exceed 2-3 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence.…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2025-09-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD 4 stars 4 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2016 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 Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 36 31 MPG $2100
Rio 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (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 2015 Kia Rio Next year 2017 Kia Rio See every Kia Rio model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Kia Rio reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Kia Rio holds 77 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 3 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 2 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Latch.

What are common problems with a 2016 Kia Rio?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (38 of 77), then Hydraulic brakes (12) and Electrical system (8). Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 5 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2016 Kia Rio more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Rio has 52 complaints, 2 per year, and the 2017 has 31 complaints, 1 per year. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Kia Rio been recalled?

The 2016 Kia Rio has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Kia Rio?

Owners have filed 77 complaints about the 2016 Kia Rio with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Kia Rio get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Kia Rio is 30.7 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).