2016 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability
110 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Kia Rio, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 36/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 67,500 miles.
Below average
Where 2016 sits among all Rio years
What owners report
“I need a new engine but cant find one because they all keep catching on fire. This is a issue they should refund me for my car or fit it.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Rio
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 34 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 45,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 16,003 and 80,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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…
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…
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…
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…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…
Technical service bulletins
89 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2016 Kia Rio. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Kia Rio reliable?
The 2016 Kia Rio drew 110 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 36/100, scored against the model's worst year (2001).
What are the most common 2016 Kia Rio problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Kia Rio are engine (41 complaints), brakes & stability (18), and other (15).
At what mileage do 2016 Kia Rio problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Kia Rio problems around 45,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 16,003 and 80,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Kia Rio have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Kia Rio. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.