2020 KIA RIO — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

36

Owner Complaints

5 Crashes 9 Fires 9 Deaths

1

Recall

ACTIVE RECALL

11

Service Bulletins

0

Investigations

Overview of the 2020 KIA RIO

The 2020 KIA RIO has received a total of 36 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER. 11 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Unknown Or Other (7 complaints), Engine (5 complaints), and Electrical System (4 complaints).

Recalls for the 2020 KIA RIO

NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 2020 KIA RIO, potentially affecting up to 87 vehicles.

Recall 21V936000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

| 87 vehicles affected

Defect: 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.

Consequence: Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 this recall SC223.

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Owner Complaints for the 2020 KIA RIO

36 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2020 KIA RIO. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Most Recent Complaints

#11690648 | SERVICE BRAKES | | N/A miles
Upon stopping at a red light and or stop sign, when applying brakes, the car continues to move forward, even after pumping the brakes. Vehicle has been diagnosed by a certified auto mechanic. The findings and recommendation for the Brake Master Cylinder to be the reason the vehicle continues to creep forward, when brake are applied and held. This issue has on two separate occasions near collision, because the vehicle wouldn't stop.
#11665742 | POWER TRAIN | | N/A miles
I was driving up a hill and it would not go past 20-30 mph, and the rpm will sometimes go up when not accelerating. The transmission does not shift when driving and will sometimes make the car stop and go stop and go continuously. Tried accelerating but the rpm would go up while the mph would not.
#11653010 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles Fire
I went into a rural King store to shop when I came back out my car was completely filled with smoke. I opened the front passengerdoor and the smoke hit me in the face it was so thick and green it was just it took my breath. It took me 10 minutes to locate what had happened and down on the door frame of the passenger side of the front seat where the wiring is there was a whole melted all the way through that panel and you could see the wiring was exposed so I assume that the wiring had caught on fire. I'm not sure about this it has been looked at and it is at Jeff Wilder Toyota in Clarksville Indiana. They want me to pay $1,000 deductible for this but I feel like if it was a wiring issue key is should be responsible. I am going through a flood right now in my home and now I have to deal with that and I don't think I'm even responsible for the payment I think he is at the cover it.
#11653010 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | | N/A miles Fire
I went into a rural King store to shop when I came back out my car was completely filled with smoke. I opened the front passengerdoor and the smoke hit me in the face it was so thick and green it was just it took my breath. It took me 10 minutes to locate what had happened and down on the door frame of the passenger side of the front seat where the wiring is there was a whole melted all the way through that panel and you could see the wiring was exposed so I assume that the wiring had caught on fire. I'm not sure about this it has been looked at and it is at Jeff Wilder Toyota in Clarksville Indiana. They want me to pay $1,000 deductible for this but I feel like if it was a wiring issue key is should be responsible. I am going through a flood right now in my home and now I have to deal with that and I don't think I'm even responsible for the payment I think he is at the cover it.
#11647263 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | | N/A miles Fire
I came out of a store last week and there was smoke inside my car and when I opened the door there was a hole down by the door frame on the passenger side that it burned all the way through to the frame of the car and now my lights are flashing on and off and sometimes a passenger headlight works sometimes the driver had light works but it's either one or the other it's doing all kinds of crazy stuff with the lights now I'm thinking it has to be in the electrical fire because it got hot enough to melt all the way through the plastic part of the bottom of my door I do have pictures

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Safety Rating for the 2020 KIA RIO

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2020 KIA RIO in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2020 KIA RIO

Kia America, Inc. has issued 11 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2020 KIA RIO. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

CS2307_TSB_R7 — EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

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...

CS2307B_OWNR2 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN: OWNER RE-NOTIFICATION - This document is the owner re-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...

CS2307B_OWNRSC — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

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...

TSB_TRA097_R3 — POWER TRAIN

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: IVT/CVT SW LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND/OR IVT/CVT REPLACEMENT (SA476) - 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 improve the software logic of the IVT...

TSB_TRA097_R1 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: IVT/CVT SW LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND/OR IVT/CVT REPLACEMENT (SA476) - 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 improve the software logic of the...

TSB_TRA097_R1 — POWER TRAIN

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: IVT/CVT SW LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND/OR IVT/CVT REPLACEMENT (SA476) - 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 improve the software logic of the...

TSB_TRA097 — POWER TRAIN

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: IVT/CVT SW LOGIC IMPROVEMENT AND/OR IVT/CVT REPLACEMENT (SA476) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the software logic of the IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission)/CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) on some 2020MY Rio (SC) vehicles produced from July 1, 2019 through August 10, 2020 equipped with...

TSB_CHA109 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: MDPS LOGIC UPDATE FOR DTC C125901 & C111201 (SA456) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) software on some 2020MY Rio vehicles produced September 28, 2020 through November 21, 2020, which may exhibit reduced steering assist...

TSB_CHA109 — STEERING

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: MDPS LOGIC UPDATE FOR DTC C125901 & C111201 (SA456) - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Electronic Power Steering (EPS) software on some 2020MY Rio vehicles produced September 28, 2020 through November 21, 2020, which may exhibit reduced steering assist...

TSB_BOD209 — STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: LEFT REAR DOOR CAVITY WAX APPLICATION (SA426) - This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and if necessary, add rust inhibitor (wax) to the left rear door panel of some 2020MY Rio (SC) vehicles produced from April 01, 2020 through April 04, 2020 which may...

Showing 10 of 11 technical service bulletins.

NHTSA Investigations for the 2020 KIA RIO

There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.

Other Model Years of the KIA RIO

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Other KIA Models

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