Skip to content

Free public service · Official NHTSA & EPA data

2022 Kia Rio

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
not rated
Recalls
1
on record
MPG
36
combined

Open recalls on record

1 safety recall. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Vehicle Summary

2022 Kia Rio

1 recall
10 complaints
36 MPG combined

Before You Buy

Confirm all 1 recall were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 2 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 10 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
1
Owner complaints
10
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 We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

1 Recall on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign affecting this model year.

  • 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.

    Remedy

    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.

    Full campaign record

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 2022 Kia Rio, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.

33

City

41

Hwy

36

Comb

Annual fuel cost
$1,700
Tailpipe CO₂
250 g/mi

How this compares

At 36 MPG combined, the 2022 Kia Rio ranks 3rd of 11 compact cars EPA rated for 2022 — 1 MPG better than the 35 MPG median for that group.

That places it a little above the middle of its class. Fuel cost is close enough to its rivals that other running costs will probably matter more.

EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $1,700, $50 less than the $1,750 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $8,500, a $250 difference against a class-median vehicle.

Tailpipe CO₂ is 250 grams per mile — about 3.8 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.

Consumer complaints

10 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

10
Total
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries

Most reported components

  • OTHER4
  • ENGINE1
  • BRAKES1
  • VISIBILITY1
  • LIGHTING1

Notable Issues

10 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 1 report involves injuries. 2 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

miscellaneous issues4
engine problems (stalling, power loss, warning lights)1
brake problems (soft pedal, noise, failure)1

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2022 Kia Rio, newest first.

  1. Recall

    Recall 22V304000

    Loss of steering control can increase 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

Adjacent model years

All Kia Rio years

Common problems

Kia Rio problems

271 owner complaints analyzed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 22V304000

    Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.