2018 Kia Rio problems and complaints
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kia Rio. The most-reported areas: Engine (15), Electrical System (5), Air Bags (5).
Key takeaways
- 28 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 1 reported injury.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 15 | 54% |
| Electrical System | 5 | 18% |
| Air Bags | 5 | 18% |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 | 18% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | 7% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 7% |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 | 7% |
| Seats | 1 | 4% |
| Structure | 1 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 4% |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 4% |
| Power Train | 1 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2018 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System,air Bags,engine - filed 2026-08-05
The Components that have malfunctioned are the airbags, exaust system, electrical systems, sensors, gaskets, and a few other things. We had 5 failed clockspring repairs. The first (3?) under warranty, we paid for another when they said it was our fault, then that mechanic said that it needed to go back to a dealership ...
Engine - filed 2026-05-23
Vehicle has excessive oil consumption defect acknowledged in Kia TSB ENG222. Repeated catalytic converter failures indicate potential overheating risk similar to 2019 Gamma engine recall for fire hazard. Engine burning oil creates risk of critically low oil levels leading to engine failure/stalling while driving. Multi...
Electrical System,air Bags,engine - filed 2026-03-26
The first problem part is the airbag. The clockspring was fixed twice under warranty. Then the dealership said they wont keep doing it and blamed me wrongly. I had a private mechanic repair the same part twice due to the code it was giving but it turns out thats not what's wrong with it. The entire airbag and electrica...
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More for the 2018 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.