2020 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability
37 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Kia Rio, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 18/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2020 Kia Rio has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2020 sits among all Rio years
What owners report
Recalls (1)
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.
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
68 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and body & structure — are on file for the 2020 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 2020 Kia Rio reliable?
The 2020 Kia Rio drew 37 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 18/100, scored against the model's worst year (2001).
What are the most common 2020 Kia Rio problems?
The top reported problems for the 2020 Kia Rio are other (7 complaints), electrical (6), and engine (5).
Does the 2020 Kia Rio have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2020 Kia Rio. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.