2016 KIA RIO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
4/5
Safety Rating
108
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
4
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2016 KIA RIO
The 2016 KIA RIO has received a total of 108 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It earned an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program crash tests. There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH. 4 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine (38 complaints), Unknown Or Other (15 complaints), and Service Brakes Hydraulic (12 complaints).
Recalls for the 2016 KIA RIO
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 2016 KIA RIO, potentially affecting up to 4,099,256 vehicles.
Recall 23V652000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
| 1,730,192 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner...
View full details →Recall 23V652000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
| 1,730,192 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner...
View full details →Recall 23V594000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
| 319,436 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
View full details →Recall 23V594000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH
| 319,436 vehicles affected
Defect: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2016 KIA RIO
108 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2016 KIA RIO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 38 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignition | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Latcheslockslinkagestrunk Lidlatch | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Airantilockabs Warning Light | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilityrearview Mirrorsdevicesinterior | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibilitywiper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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.
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.
Safety Rating for the 2016 KIA RIO
The 2016 KIA RIO received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
| Test Category | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Frontal Crash | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Side Crash | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Safety ratings are based on controlled crash tests conducted by NHTSA. A 5-star rating indicates the highest level of occupant protection.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2016 KIA RIO
Kia America, Inc. has issued 4 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2016 KIA RIO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
CS2307_TSB_R2 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2307) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the procedure to upgrade the software logic of the...
CS2307A_OWNRUB — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia has developed a software upgrade that can be installed on the vehicle to restrict the operation of the vehicle's ignition system should a locked vehicle be the subject of a break-in and theft attempt without...
CS2307L_OWNRJBUB — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is now making steering wheel lock devices available directly to certain Kia vehicle owners. These devices can help deter a theft attempt. We are making this device available to customers free of charge and will...
TSBBOD110 — EQUIPMENT
TSB: RIO (UB) 4DR LICENSE PLATE HOLDER INSTALLATION - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES THE PROCEDURE TO MODIFY THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER OF SOME 2016MY RIO (UB) 4DR VEHICLES FOR PROPER FITMENT, PRIOR TO INSTALLATION. THE MODIFICATION OF THE GUIDE PINS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROPERLY MOUNT THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE TO...
NHTSA Investigations for the 2016 KIA RIO
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KIA RIO
- 2011 KIA RIO — 32 complaints
- 2012 KIA RIO — 70 complaints
- 2013 KIA RIO — 216 complaints
- 2014 KIA RIO — 73 complaints
- 2015 KIA RIO — 69 complaints
- 2016 KIA RIO (current)
- 2017 KIA RIO — 34 complaints
- 2018 KIA RIO — 33 complaints
- 2019 KIA RIO — 26 complaints
- 2020 KIA RIO — 36 complaints
- 2021 KIA RIO — 23 complaints
Other KIA Models
- KIA SORENTO — 13,451 total complaints
- KIA OPTIMA — 10,045 total complaints
- KIA SOUL — 7,147 total complaints
- KIA SPORTAGE — 6,540 total complaints
- KIA FORTE — 3,450 total complaints
- KIA SEDONA — 3,334 total complaints
- KIA SEPHIA — 3,080 total complaints
- KIA TELLURIDE — 2,109 total complaints