Reliable Auto DB

2022 Kia Rio reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2022 Kia Rio holds 11 complaints after 5 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 Column.

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

11

Per year

2

Recalls

1

Years on the road

5

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Latches, locks, and linkages (2 of 11), then Service brakes (2) and Back-over prevention (1). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2021 and 2023

The 2021 Rio has 15 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2023 has 12 complaints, 4 per year. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

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 2022 Kia Rio. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall steering, column 2022-05-05 · NHTSA campaign 22V304000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Remedy Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.

Complaints by component (11 total)

Latches, locks, and linkages
2
Service brakes
2
Back-over prevention
1
Engine
1
Exterior lighting
1
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Steering
1
Structure
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 2 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

32023320243202522026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "My ABS system goes in and out making my breaks really unsafe especially going downhill. Cruise control goes at whatever speed it wants. I set it for 73 on the interstate which has a speed limit of 70 and I look down and…"
    Unknown or other, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-08-21
  • "The contact owns a 2022 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the contact heard an abnormally loud bang and believed that the vehicle had been struck in the rear by an object. The contact…"
    Latches, locks, and linkages · filed 2026-03-10
  • "While attempting to raise the passenger side window slightly, the automatic window mechanism malfunctioned. Instead of stopping when lightly engaged, the window rolled all the way up and trapped my right wrist between…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-08-27
  • "The contact owns a 2022 Kia Rio. The contact stated that the rearview camera would intermittently turn on while driving at various speeds. The contact also stated that while in reverse(R), the camera would…"
    Back-over prevention · filed 2025-06-09
  • "When my car is running it makes a knocking noise from engine I have taken it th the dealer they heard it but said they can figure out where it's coming from. The engine runs hotter than normal. The rods I think are the…"
    Engine · filed 2025-02-25

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2022 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2022 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 (AV-S1) Front-wheel drive 33 41 36 MPG $1800

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 2021 Kia Rio Next year 2023 Kia Rio See every Kia Rio model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Kia Rio reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2022 Kia Rio holds 11 complaints after 5 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 Column.

What are common problems with a 2022 Kia Rio?

The complaints owners file most often name Latches, locks, and linkages (2 of 11), then Service brakes (2) and Back-over prevention (1). Those filings include 2 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2022 Kia Rio more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2021 Rio has 15 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2023 has 12 complaints, 4 per year. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2021. The 2022 has fewer complaints per year than the 2023.

Has the 2022 Kia Rio been recalled?

The 2022 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 2022 Kia Rio?

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2022 Kia Rio with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2022 Kia Rio get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2022 Kia Rio is 36 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).