- Safety
- —
- not rated
- Recalls
- 2
- on record
- MPG
- 36
- combined
Open recalls on record
2 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.
Vehicle Summary
2021 Kia Rio
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- Owner complaints
- 15
- Complaints citing a crash
- 2
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
2 Recalls on Record
These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.
Safety recalls
2 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.
- 21V936000high
Brake system issue
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
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.
Consequence
Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
- 22V304000high
Steering issue
STEERING:COLUMN
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.
Consequence
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Full campaign recordRemedy
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.
NHTSA crash-test ratings
NHTSA holds no crash-test rating for this model year.
Not every model year is tested. A missing rating is not a poor rating.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2021 Kia Rio, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
33
City
41
Hwy
36
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $1,700
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 249 g/mi
How this compares
At 36 MPG combined, the 2021 Kia Rio ranks 3rd of 15 compact cars EPA rated for 2021 — 3 MPG better than the 33 MPG median for that group.
That places it in the upper third of its class. Fuel cost is unlikely to be the deciding factor against its direct rivals.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $1,700, $150 less than the $1,850 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $8,500, a $750 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 249 grams per mile — about 3.7 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
15 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 15
- Total
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE4
- OTHER3
- STEERING3
- BRAKES3
- ELECTRICAL1
Normal Range
15 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 2 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2021 Kia Rio, newest first.
- Recall
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall
Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Compact Cars
- Drive type
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic (AV-S1)
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
33
City
41
Hwy
36
Comb
- Annual cost
- $1,700
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
Explore related
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Recall
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
- Recall
Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.