2017 Kia Rio problems and complaints
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Rio. The most-reported areas: Engine (11), Service Brakes (7), Unknown Or Other (6).
Key takeaways
- 31 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 4 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 35% |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 23% |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 | 19% |
| Hydraulic | 6 | 19% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 10% |
| Air Bags | 3 | 10% |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 | 6% |
| Power Train | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2017 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD | 4/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-06-24
The engine of my Kia Rio 2017 is the system that is failing it is sudden with no warning and has been diagnosed by Kia themselves stating that the engine will seize. My safety is put at risk because the car may seize while in traffic causing difficulty steering and breaking. This problem was first confirmed by an indep...
Engine - filed 2026-05-19
As my car was driving my vehicle encountered sudden changes and my engine light went on. As the vehicle stopped driving on its own there was smoke coming from the hood and a fire stared shortly after underneath the car.
Engine - filed 2026-03-27
I was driving my 2017 Kia Rio at approximately 70 mph when the vehicle began shaking violently. I heard a loud mechanical sound from the engine compartment that sounded like something broke loose and was being thrown around. I immediately began pulling over as smoke started entering the cabin. As soon as I stopped, the...
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More for the 2017 Kia Rio
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.