2018 Kia Rio Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2018 Kia Rio, and owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2018 Kia Rio
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
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…
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…
28 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 Kia Rio have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 47,332 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 5, 2026 · Air bags
“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 haza”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 23, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2018 Kia Rio. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 32 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 28–29 / 37 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S6); Manual 6-spd |
Compare Kia Rio model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Rio model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Kia Rio | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 Kia Rio | 3 | 223 |
| 2002 Kia Rio | 1 | 128 |
| 2003 Kia Rio | 3 | 74 |
| 2004 Kia Rio | 2 | 38 |
| 2005 Kia Rio | 1 | 37 |
| 2006 Kia Rio | 1 | 74 |
| 2007 Kia Rio | 1 | 46 |
| 2008 Kia Rio | 1 | 46 |
| 2009 Kia Rio | 0 | 39 |
| 2010 Kia Rio | 0 | 26 |
| 2011 Kia Rio | 0 | 24 |
| 2012 Kia Rio | 1 | 54 |
| 2013 Kia Rio | 1 | 153 |
| 2014 Kia Rio | 1 | 52 |
| 2015 Kia Rio | 1 | 52 |
| 2016 Kia Rio | 2 | 77 |
| 2017 Kia Rio | 2 | 31 |
| 2018 Kia Rio | 1 | 28 |
| 2019 Kia Rio | 1 | 21 |
| 2020 Kia Rio | 1 | 27 |
| 2021 Kia Rio | 2 | 15 |
| 2022 Kia Rio | 1 | 11 |
| 2023 Kia Rio | 0 | 12 |
Checking a specific 2018 Kia Rio
How do I know if my 2018 Kia Rio has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2018 Kia Rio; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V622000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.