NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Kia Rio. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
My car is experiencing excessive oil consumption. Upon inspection, it was determined that the issue lies with my catalytic converter. I have discovered that this problem has been reported in other Kia vehicles. The information I found suggests that the oil I am using is being bypassed by the catalytic converter, which indicates a potential issue with the Kia car’s design. Engine light won’t go off
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that there was no oil on the dipstick. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. An oil consumption test was performed; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that upon driving from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to exceed 2-3 MPH. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The Ford dealer where the vehicle was purchased arranged for the vehicle to be picked up at the residence. The Ford dealer informed the contact that the mechanic and the Kia dealer where the vehicle was taken could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the catalytic converter was clogged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
I was driving when my Kia stalled and shut off but was still playing music and driving. So I pulled over and then my Kia caught on fire and went up in flames.
My car is consuming a lot of oil and I have to add it on a weekly basis. The catalytic converter has already been replace once and is on the verge of having to be replaced again because of this issue. I just bought the vehicle last year. I see that there was a previous campaign with this same issue. See campaign NHTSA ID: 23V-652000. I am wondering why my vehicle was not part of it. Please advise next steps to remedy this safety issue on the 2018 KIA Rio models.
I got an oil change right after the car overheated and I believe the engine is blown now. I don’t understand how all this can happen after an oils change.
This vehicle is burning oil at an alarming rate: at least 1 quart per tank of gas, approximately 340 miles. No oil light comes on in the dash, even if the engine gets ran to dry. Kia accepts this and claims the vehicle is fine. Even with extended warranty coverage, I’m on month 8 now of trying to get this car fixed with Kia shops and now the catalytic converter is failing. Finally the car has displayed its first check engine code.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Complete engine lockup during operation at speed which caused steering and braking to be greatly hampered. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The engine failed on a 4-lane highway in traffic which could have easily caused a high-speed accident since the car extremely decelerated and lost power steering and braking in order to get out of traffic. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes confirmed by an independent service center which told me it was either a cylinder rod or a lower engine bearing failure. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, the manufacture KIA has a recall on other models in this year range but not the RIO. The other models have a similar engine failure caused by a faulty cylinder rod bearing. The RIO has never been added to this recall list, but it should be because it looks like the engine issues are also on this model in the same time frame. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, they only came on when the engine failed. Then every warning light appeared.
We were doing a lot of stop and go driving in warm weather. I noticed braking seemed to be normal at first but just before the accident I press the brake and the pedal went to the floor and the vehicle wouldn’t . I hit the car in front of me. My vehicle was presumably totaled. There was lots of fluids on the floor.
Vehicle burning through excessive amounts of oil. Check engine light came on and car was making a loud ticking noise and knock. Dealership confirmed the vehicle will need a new engine. Kia Corporate denied replacement because vehicle is out of warranty. Reported problem to Kia before warranty expired and was still denied.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
I was parked in ghe parking lot and went into the store and came back to my car and starting then it was not getting started i tried many times even though it was like battery dead and i call my insurance company and asked for roadside assistance amd they tried using jump start evne though it was not starting so with the help of other sources i tried to rotate crankshaft manually it was stucked and not rotating so i thought it was engine sezied.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The HECu fuse recall has been over six months with no remedy. I called NHTSA two weeks ago and was told by a representative that the manufacturers (both Kia and Hyundai) stated that the remedy would be posted, and available at the dealerships by the end of last month (March). I would like to escalate my complaint. This is a serious safety concern, and on top of that my vehicle is now more likely to be stolen since it must be kept outside (Kia Boys). I'm a fairly patient person, but this has really gotten me sideways. If you could let me know how I can formally file a complaint I would appreciate it.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had an abnormal burning oil odor in the cabin of the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who checked the vehicle and determined that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the check engine warning light illuminated again. The contact drove the vehicle back to another independent mechanic who checked the engine and determined that engine oil needed to be added. The vehicle was repaired. The mechanic informed the contact to check the oil level every week. The contact stated was adding a quart or more of engine oil every two weeks. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
KIA has failed to remedy the HECU Engine Compartment Fire recall (NHTSA campaign number 23V652000) in a timely manner. The issue has been known since September 2023, Vehicle owners were notified in November, and no further information has been given on the status of the recall. *NOTE* Apologies if this is not the correct form. The recall notice mentions a form where recall issues can be reported but there is no information on where to find it.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia RIO LX . The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the contact could not see and it was difficult to steer the wheel causing the vehicle to slide into a ditch. The contact stated the Tire Pressure Monitoring System and Anti-lock Brake light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle out of the ditch to the residence and later to the dealer. There was no physical injuries, however the contact sustain emotional trauma. The police was not called. The dealer stated the Steering Angle Sensor had a dtc1259 code . The vehicle was repaired, replacing the subframe and the control driver front lower control arm. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue yet. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000.
A recall notice (NHTSA recall # 23V652) was issued on 14Nov23 where the HECU may experience an electrical short circuit, which in turn can result in a car fire. To this date, the remedy part is not available. If I'm not mistaken, car fires can be a serious issue, therefore, I am reporting the delay in availability of this part. I also want to inform you that the telephone number referenced on this website and the recall notice to file a complaint (888-327-4236) is invalid and that this website and number should be updated with the correct phone number.
I stayed on top of oil changes and engine continued to burn an excessive amount of oil in between oil changes. No leak was found after having 3 different inspections. I was told this is a common problem with Kia engines from multiple Kia owners, mechanics, and oil change technicians. Despite this, I made sure I always had oil in it and kept up with the changes. Suddenly, while driving on the interstate, the engine completely failed. I had it towed to a mechanic where it was determined internal engine failure if some sort. My car only had 83,000 miles on it when this happened. Due to me being the second owner, ( I bought the cat at 14,000 miles) I was unable to receive the 100,000 miles power train warranty. I called my local Kia dealership to see if there was anything they could do and was told “engines fail all the time” and that there is nothing they can do.Replacing the engine is more than the car is worth. For the engine to fail out of nowhere with no warning (this was the first time any sort of light came on my dash) after spending time and money on upkeep, is unacceptable. It is also completely unsafe. After some researching, I see that this is a very common issue with kia engines and Kia failed to notify me about obsessive oil consumption and the their faulty motors. Over $400 dollars in mechanic fees and over $300 in towing fees to determine all of this and I am out of a car. Getting a new engine or even fixing whatever internal component it is would be way more than what my car is worth with it running.
I was driving down the road and suddenly my check engine light starts flashing and the vehicle starts surging. I pull over and shut the car off. I get outside to the hood to open it, as there is steam coming out, and as I put my hand on the hood release, a fire erupts from the engine going over my windshield and driver window. Burning my entire car and $2500 worth of belongings to the ground.
From what I understand kia has no fix for manufacturer recall # SC284UB and NHTSA recall# 23V652. That is unacceptable and unprofessional. Kia is a hugh car dealer and they are saying there is no fix yet! I can't believe kia would put people and families at risk. Kia's action plan to put your car outside and not in your garage , is ridiculous. I was never contacted about this recall, that's unacceptable. Kia needs a fix NOW!
Hydraulic electronic control
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that there was an abnormal odor in the vehicle. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle slowed down and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
My trunk latch wasn't working. I couldn't close my trunk. I contact Kia service and since I still have a platinum warranty with them, asked them if they could repair it free of charge. They said no. So I had to use tape to keep the trunk shut which kept getting wet from the rain while I had to wait for my kia truck latch part to arrive through mail so my husband could install it. I am not sure if this was right before they knew of the issue or not, but I feel like I deserve a refund for the part.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
At first I thought I was leaking oil. on my next oil change I asked them about the oil consumption. they had me do an oil consumption study. this was around 95,000 miles. at my next oil change they suggested I talked with Kia. before my next oil change my car shut down while my mom was driving on the highway. and I had it towed to kia to find that the catalytic converter was clogged and need to be replace. whats worse is the Kia soul with the 1.6 engine has the exact same problem but that has a recall for it. but not the Rio.
Trunk stopped opening off and on then stopped latching caused me not to be able to see behind me it popped open when was driving and would latch had to tie shut with a. String no don’t have money to put in shop no hasn’t been inspected no no lamps no warnings symptoms
Ignition getting stuck in acc car can’t go anywhere can’t turn key off steering wheel won’t lock no don’t have money to put in shop arm no hasn’t been inspected no lamps no warning just started doing it has done a few times now
The car would constantly stall, would need to jiggle ignition to get car to turn over. burn oil EXTREMELY. would foul spark plugs around 20k-30kmiles. , coolant would get burned and get shot out to the exhaust area, and finally the car would have smoke coming out of the engine bay after driving for a distance of 15-30 miles while also getting terrible MPG. Car on average should get 38mpg highway and 27mpg city. This car was getting about 20-22mpg highway and 16-20mpg city.
At about 90000 mile brought car into dealership because it was consuming oil. Was told there was no leak found. Oil consumption was not covered. At about 110,000 miles had to bring car into shop because catalytic converter ended up being blocked and had to replaced. Less than a year later at 129,000 miles had vehicle towed back to shop again. Mechanic stated lower bearing had failed and engine would need to be replaced. Contacted junkyards for replacement and there were two he found but we're very expensive. He called Kia and they don't make that engine any longer. Guessing because of all the problems they have with it.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was slow to respond. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several independent mechanics, who were unable to identify the cause of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the interior rearview center mirror failed to remain in place after manually being positioned. The local dealer was contacted; however, the contact was informed that the warranty had expired after 5 years from the manufactured date. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Rio. The contact stated that occasionally the key failed to be removed from the ignition switch, and the front driver’s side door. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.
Excessive oil consumption. Over 1 quart every 800 miles. Does not meet similar standards of same vehicle class.
Hello NHTSA, After exhaustively searching online on how to mitigate excessive oil consumption in my girlfriend’s 2016 Kia Rio; Cho et al v. Hyundai Motor Company, Ltd. et al. was brought to my attention. This vehicle failed the oil consumption test performed by KIA. According to the suit, cars with the allegedly faulty engines includes the 2016 Kia Rio. Year: 2016 Make: Kia Model: Rio Trim: LX VIN: KNADM4A39G6599622
Trunk will not close. This happened in 2017 and the car was repaired under warranty. It happened again yesterday. Kia has an active recall on some vehicles for this issue mine is not included...however it is the EXACT same issue. I live in Florida and the recall is an issue with heat damaging the safety latch. Kia needs to extend the recall to cover ALL impacted vehicles.
Airbags didn’t deploy in a accident which caused whiplash
I took my car in and kia is stating that my upper catalytic converter manifold is bad. That should not be happening under 100,000 miles. Of course kia would cover it if it was under 80,000 miles. That's not the case with my car and of course my car had a little over 80,000 miles. So that comes out of pocket when it should not be happening.
on 08.30.22 while driving on the interstate I75 going approx. 75 mph my vehicle just lost speed and I barely made it to the side of the road. it did not shut off just had no power, this was at 63,000 miles and had to have the catalytic converter replaced. total cost $1800. fast forward to 12.10.22 same thing happened and was told once again need a new catalytic converter. also have had all maintenance done and this GDI engine burns approx. 1 quart of oil every 2 weeks. also make not that the engine light never came on with either event
While driving on the expressway my engine started to get extremely loud and I lost mph, and rpms. I was able to make it home going 35mph the whole way. After having it towed to my nearest kia store I was informed that my Cadillac converter will need to be replaced as well as my engine because all of my pistons had broke. I was up to 106,000 miles and have been up to date on all my oil changes and engine checks. Now I have to pay 10,000 dollars to get it fixed over something that should not have happened so soon
As related to the Kia Soul recall on their 2.4 GDI (same engine I have) the motor is blown. Extreme oil consumption and clogging components. All issues recalled on Soul are the same issues my engine is faced with.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026