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2016 Kia Rio

Gas
Compact Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
79 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical2
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA77
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA31 mpg
20232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2016 Kia Rio is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Rio, is EPA-rated at 31 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 77 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
RioGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl273631$2,000
Rio EcoGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl273631$2,000
RioGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl273630$2,100

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36068, 36066, 36067.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Kia Rio is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

SC284
Park outside1,730,192 vehicles
ProblemKia 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.RiskAn engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.FixOwners 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V652000reported Sep 25, 2023Kia America, Inc.
●moderate

Latches/Locks/Linkages

SC278
319,436 vehicles
ProblemKia 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."RiskA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V594000reported Aug 24, 2023Kia America, Inc.

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module — Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires open

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

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · action AQ23002

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
77complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 5 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 19 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Engine38
Unspecified15
Service Brakes, Hydraulic12
Electrical System8
Power Train5
Service Brakes5

What owners describe

“From what I understand kia has no fix for manufacturer recall # SC284UB and NHTSA recall# 23V652. That is unacceptable and unprofessional. Kia is a hugh car dealer and they are saying there is no fix yet! I can't believe kia would put people and families at risk. Kia's action plan to put your car outside and not in you…”Nov 18, 2023 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“At first I thought I was leaking oil. on my next oil change I asked them about the oil consumption. they had me do an oil consumption study. this was around 95,000 miles. at my next oil change they suggested I talked with Kia. before my next oil change my car shut down while my mom was driving on the highway. and I had…”Oct 18, 2023 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“Ignition getting stuck in acc car can’t go anywhere can’t turn key off steering wheel won’t lock no don’t have money to put in shop arm no hasn’t been inspected no lamps no warning just started doing it has done a few times now”Sep 5, 2023 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆12%
5 HB FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆12%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Rio model years

A

2023 Kia Rio

0 recalls · 12 complaints

A

2022 Kia Rio

1 recalls · 11 complaints

B

2021 Kia Rio

2 recalls · 15 complaints

A

2020 Kia Rio

1 recalls · 27 complaints

A

2019 Kia Rio

1 recalls · 21 complaints

A

2018 Kia Rio

1 recalls · 28 complaints

C

2017 Kia Rio

2 recalls · 31 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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