Verdict
2023 Kia Rio: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2023 Kia Rio — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for sedan.
Owners filed 12 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 52% of 2023 sedans. Steering leads the reports (25%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2023 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
12
Reports to NHTSA, 2023
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
36
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 52% of 2023 sedans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2023 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Steering issues lead owner complaints (25% of 12 reports), followed by unknown or other (25%).
Share of all 12 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11652873, ODI 11566798, ODI 11563553.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2023 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
- Not rated
2023 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
- Not rated
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio | 1.6L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AV-S1) | 32 | 41 | 36 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2023 Kia Rio: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2023 Kia Rio?
Owners filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the 2023 Kia Rio — fewer complaints than 52% of comparable 2023 sedans, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2023 Kia Rio?
The most-reported problem areas are Steering (25% of complaints) and unknown or other (25%).
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Rio have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2023 Kia Rio as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Rio get?
The EPA rates the 2023 Kia Rio at 36 mpg combined.