Does the 2018 Kia RIO have any recalls?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2018 Kia RIO, the most recent reported on August 9, 2021 (Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid, latch). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia RIO?

Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is engine (15 complaints), followed by air bags (5).

How many 2018 Kia RIO complaints mention a crash or fire?

3 of 28 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 1 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

2018 Kia RIO recalls and problems

1 recall and 28 owner complaints on file with NHTSA for the 2018 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.

2018 Kia RIO recalls

Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid, latch

NHTSA campaign 21V622000 · reported August 9, 2021 · Kia Motors America · 253,074 vehicles potentially affected

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

Most reported problems

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

Engine15
Air bags5
Electrical system5
Unknown or other5
Exterior lighting2
Fuel/propulsion system2
Latches/locks/linkages2
Engine and engine cooling1
Power train1
Seats1

What owners report

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

Aug 5, 2026 · Air bags
The Components that have malfunctioned are the airbags, exaust system, electrical systems, sensors, gaskets, and a few other things. We had 5 failed clockspring repairs. The first (3?) under warranty, we paid for another when they said it was our fault, then that mechanic said that it needed to go back to a dealership…

May 23, 2026 · Engine
Vehicle has excessive oil consumption defect acknowledged in Kia TSB ENG222. Repeated catalytic converter failures indicate potential overheating risk similar to 2019 Gamma engine recall for fire hazard. Engine burning oil creates risk of critically low oil levels leading to engine failure/stalling while driving…

Mar 26, 2026 · Air bags
The first problem part is the airbag. The clockspring was fixed twice under warranty. Then the dealership said they wont keep doing it and blamed me wrongly. I had a private mechanic repair the same part twice due to the code it was giving but it turns out thats not what's wrong with it. The entire airbag and…

Mar 26, 2026 · Electrical system
Took my car in as the airbag light on the dashboard kept turning on and off— with or without a passenger in the seat. The dealership ran a diagnostic inspection and turns out that the passenger side OCS Mat and ECU are faulty and need to be replaced (DTC codes B176700 and B17672F). I have not been in a crash and there…

Jan 27, 2026 · Seats
My car is a 2018 Kia Rio that has a clean history and has never been in an accident. Recently my airbag light came on and I had a diagnostic run that showed a B1448 code indicating an OCS mat defect in the passenger seat. The 2015-2018 Kia Sedona models also had the same problem and were issued safety recalls. Due to…

RIO model years compared

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Crashes	Fires
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
2020	1	27	3	5
2021	2	15	2	0

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

Questions

Does the 2018 Kia RIO have any recalls?: Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2018 Kia RIO, the most recent reported on August 9, 2021 (Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid, latch). Check a specific car by its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kia RIO?: Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. The most frequently reported area is engine (15 complaints), followed by air bags (5).
How many 2018 Kia RIO complaints mention a crash or fire?: 3 of 28 complaints report a crash and 2 a fire; 1 injuries were reported in total. Complaints are unverified reports from owners.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint data, updated October 27, 2026. Latest complaint received August 5, 2026.