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2022 Kia Rio

Gas

Compact Cars
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

92 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns1

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA11

Crash ratingNHTSA overall—

Fuel economybest combined, EPA36 mpg

2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2022 Kia Rio is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car. The most efficient version, the Rio, is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 11 complaints, most often about the latches/locks/linkages.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Rio	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl	33	41	36	$1,750

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 44559.

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Recalls (1)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Steering

SC235

30 vehicles

ProblemKia 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.RiskLoss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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 campaign 22V304000reported May 5, 2022Kia Motors America

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

11complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2023: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Unspecified3

Latches/Locks/Linkages2

Service Brakes2

Structure1

Steering1

Fuel/Propulsion System1

What owners describe

“My ABS system goes in and out making my breaks really unsafe especially going downhill. Cruise control goes at whatever speed it wants. I set it for 73 on the interstate which has a speed limit of 70 and I look down and my car is SET to 73 BUT my actual gage is going up into the 80's! I use my cruise to keep me from ge…”Aug 21, 2026 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2022 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the contact heard an abnormally loud bang and believed that the vehicle had been struck in the rear by an object. The contact opened the trunk and became aware that the trunk shocks had become detached from the latch. The contact…”Mar 10, 2026 · Latches/Locks/Linkages · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2022 Kia Rio. The contact stated that the rearview camera would intermittently turn on while driving at various speeds. The contact also stated that while in reverse(R), the camera would intermittently display a blank or distorted image. Recently, the contact stated that the rear-view camera had fail…”Jun 9, 2025 · Back Over Prevention · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other Rio model years

2023 Kia Rio

0 recalls · 12 complaints

2021 Kia Rio

2 recalls · 15 complaints

2020 Kia Rio

1 recalls · 27 complaints

2019 Kia Rio

1 recalls · 21 complaints

2018 Kia Rio

1 recalls · 28 complaints

2017 Kia Rio

2 recalls · 31 complaints

2016 Kia Rio

2 recalls · 77 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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