2020 Kia Rio problems and complaints
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Rio. The most-reported areas: Unknown Or Other (8), Electrical System (5), Power Train (5).
Key takeaways
- 27 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 3 involve a crash, 5 a fire, 1 reported injury.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 8 | 30% |
| Electrical System | 5 | 19% |
| Power Train | 5 | 19% |
| Engine | 5 | 19% |
| Steering | 4 | 15% |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 11% |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 7% |
| Wheels | 2 | 7% |
| Seats | 1 | 4% |
| Suspension | 1 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2020 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System,seats,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-08-30
My 2020 Kia Rio S caught fire spontaneously while parked and unattended for 5 hours at my work parking lot. The vehicle was turned off and had not been involved in a collision. I was notified of the fire after it had already started. The fire caused catastrophic damage to the passenger compartment and resulted in a tot...
Power Train - filed 2026-03-17
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while coming to a stoplight, the vehicle unexpectedly stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle did not need to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed by t...
Service Brakes - filed 2025-09-30
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 brak...
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More for the 2020 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.