repaired · 2024 Q3
Trunk lid: latch
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
2019 Kia RIOProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 22 owner complaints about the 2019 Kia RIO, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall, and for recall 21V-622 the manufacturer reports only 43% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2019 Kia RIO has problems
22 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
6Engine1 crash/fire/injury
3Air bags3 crash/fire/injury
2Steering
2Power train
1Lane departure
1Other/i am not sure
1Service brakes
1Structure
1Suspension
55 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 1 |
| Air bags | 3 | 3 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 |
| Power train | 2 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 |
| Other/i am not sure | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 |
| 5 other systems | 5 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2019 Kia RIO recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
2019 vs. every other RIO year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RIO median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2019 Kia RIO safety ratings
2019 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words
What RIO owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
On the morning of October 15th, the oil light of my 2019 Kia Rio came on, immediately followed by extreme engine noise, just before the engine locked. I had the vehicle towed to a nearby service center. They checked and reported that all oil had leaked out and motor had locked. I then had vehicle…
The engine experienced a rod bearing failure resulting in internal engine damage and sudden loss of normal engine operation. The vehicle and failed engine components are currently available for inspection upon request. The engine failure occurred while the vehicle was traveling at high speed on the…
The oil light flashed in the car once after an oil change, so I took the car back the very next day to the mechanic and he said there was no oil in the car at the time. He filled the car back up with oil, and by the end of the week, the car needed oil again, but no light indicated the car was low…
Own a 2019 RIO?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.