2019 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability

29 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Kia Rio, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 12/100 on the trouble index — too lightly reported for a fair score. Other leads the reports.

29Complaints
12/100Trouble index
1Recalls

Few reports

Where 2019 sits among all Rio years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Other 10 complaints (34%)
Engine 6 complaints (21%)
Airbags 3 complaints (10%)
Steering 2 complaints (7%)
Transmission & drivetrain 2 complaints (7%)
Suspension 1 complaints (3%)

Recalls (1)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 21V622000 2021

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…

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…

Technical service bulletins

60 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2019 Kia Rio. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2019 Rio TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2019peak 6 in 20202026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2019 Kia Rio reliable?

The 2019 Kia Rio drew 29 complaints in federal safety records — too lightly reported for a fair score. Its trouble index is 12/100, scored against the model's worst year (2001).

What are the most common 2019 Kia Rio problems?

The top reported problems for the 2019 Kia Rio are other (10 complaints), engine (6), and airbags (3).

Does the 2019 Kia Rio have recalls?

1 recall campaign applies to the 2019 Kia Rio. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 2018 Rio All Rio years 2020 Rio →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

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.