What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia RIO?

Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is engine (39 complaints), followed by unknown or other (15).

How many 2016 Kia RIO complaints mention a crash or fire?

8 of 79 complaints report a crash and 6 a fire; 5 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2016 Kia RIO recalls and problems

2 recalls and 79 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia RIO.

recalls

owner complaints

complaints mentioning a crash

mentioning a fire

Recalls apply to specific production ranges. To see whether a particular car still has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for safety recalls are free at authorised dealers.

2016 Kia RIO recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/module

NHTSA campaign 23V652000 · reported September 25, 2023 · Kia America, Inc. · 1,730,192 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: 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.
The risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.

Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid, latch

NHTSA campaign 23V594000 · reported August 24, 2023 · Kia America, Inc. · 319,436 vehicles potentially affected

The problem: 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."
The risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: 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.

Most reported problems

Areas named in owner complaints to NHTSA. One complaint can name several areas.

Engine39
Unknown or other15
Service brakes, hydraulic12
Electrical system9
Air bags5
Power train5
Service brakes5
Exterior lighting4
Fuel/propulsion system4
Engine and engine cooling3

What owners report

Recent complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. These are unverified accounts from owners, not findings.

Oct 22, 2026 · Air bags · crash reported
ON 9/21/2026 AT 3:18AM WAS GETTING OFF TURNPIKE Becker rd. 128 CAME TO A STOP LIGHT WHEN a truck plowed in the back of me then took off. hit me so hard the car shut off. i started the car back up after a few minutes did not see anyone and drove home.

Oct 19, 2026 · Engine · fire reported
While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle suddenly began bucking, lost power, and lost oil. The engine compartment immediately caught fire. The fire was entirely non-collision related and required immediate extinguishing. The incident was logged by the Washington State Patrol. The vehicle was towed and subsequently…

Jun 4, 2026 · Exterior lighting
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 stopped functioning. I brought the vehicle to Car Pros Kia in […] for diagnosis and repair on ….. The…

May 2, 2026 · Exterior lighting
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 LED portion has failed multiple times over the life of the vehicle. I am now experiencing failure…

Nov 22, 2025 · Engine
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 information I found suggests that the oil I am using is being bypassed by the catalytic converter, which…

RIO model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
2013	1	153	8	18
2014	1	52	7	8
2015	1	52	4	10
2016	2	79	8	6
2017	2	31	3	6
2018	1	28	3	2
2019	1	22	4	1

Across all years, the 2001 RIO has the most complaints (223). All Kia RIO years →

Questions

Does the 2016 Kia RIO have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2016 Kia RIO, the most recent reported on September 25, 2023 (Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/module). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Kia RIO?: Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is engine (39 complaints), followed by unknown or other (15).
How many 2016 Kia RIO complaints mention a crash or fire?: 8 of 79 complaints report a crash and 6 a fire; 5 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received October 22, 2026.