Reliable Auto DB

2019 Kia Rio reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2019 Kia Rio holds 21 complaints after 8 years, a rate of 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Rio years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Latch.

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

21

Per year

2

Recalls

1

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (6 of 21), then Air bags (3) and Powertrain (2). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 Rio has 28 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2020 has 27 complaints, 5 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020.

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 2019 Kia Rio. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall latches, locks, and linkages, trunk lid, latch 2021-08-09 · NHTSA campaign 21V622000
Summary 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."
Remedy 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.

Complaints by component (21 total)

Engine
6
Air bags
3
Powertrain
2
Steering
2
Back-over prevention
1
Electrical system
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Other or not sure
1
Service brakes
1
Speed control
1
Structure
1
Suspension
1
Show 4 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

42019320204202242023120242202532026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "There was no accident the radio/backup camera shuts down completely on the inside of the car when the car is too hot inside"
    Unknown or other, Back-over prevention · filed 2026-06-14
  • "2019 Kia Rio Hatchback trunk latch failure buzzing actuator but won't open emergency release does not work dealer says not covered under recall #21V622000 which covers the trunk for 4 door 2019 Kia Rio and this appears…"
    Structure · filed 2026-04-21
  • "On the morning of October 15th, the oil light of my 2019 Kia Rio came on, immediately followed by extreme engine noise, just before the engine locked. I had the vehicle towed to a nearby service center. They checked and…"
    Engine · filed 2026-01-13
  • "The engine experienced a rod bearing failure resulting in internal engine damage and sudden loss of normal engine operation. The vehicle and failed engine components are currently available for inspection upon request.…"
    Engine · filed 2025-12-17
  • "360 car seat will not click lock will steady spin around"
    Other or not sure · filed 2025-10-20

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2019 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

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 28 37 32 MPG $2050
Rio 1.6L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 29 37 32 MPG $2050

Specs and fitment

4th generation (YB refresh / YB2), 2018–2023
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 (1.6L Smartstream) , 4 qt capacity
Tire size 185/65R15 to 195/55R16 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 21V936000. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling 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. Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 11, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC223.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Kia Rio Next year 2020 Kia Rio See every Kia Rio model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Kia Rio reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2019 Kia Rio holds 21 complaints after 8 years, a rate of 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Rio years here — under the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Latch.

What are common problems with a 2019 Kia Rio?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (6 of 21), then Air bags (3) and Powertrain (2). Those filings include 4 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2019 Kia Rio more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 Rio has 28 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2020 has 27 complaints, 5 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Kia Rio been recalled?

The 2019 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 2019 Kia Rio?

Owners have filed 21 complaints about the 2019 Kia Rio with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Kia Rio get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Kia Rio is 32 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).