Kia Rio VIN Check — Free Recall & Complaint Lookup

Quick answer

The most-reported Rio run is KNADC123016 (2001 builds) with 22 complaints, 8.5× the typical run. Air bags problems make up 20% of reports; 2013 is the worst model year at 3.5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for Rio model years 2001–2022.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Kia Rio has 417 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 7% of every Rio complaint on file.

FIG.01·Kia Rio — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)	Year	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
KNADC123016••••••	2001	22	2	1
KNADC123416••••••	2001	15	1	1
KNADC123616••••••	2001	15	1	—
KNADM4A34D6••••••	2013	12	—	—
KNADC123216••••••	2001	12	3	1
KNADC123516••••••	2001	12	1	—
KNADC123X16••••••	2001	12	—	—
KNADC123816••••••	2001	12	1	2
KNADC123326••••••	2002	12	2	—
KNADC123526••••••	2002	12	1	2
KNADC123916••••••	2001	11	1	3
KNADE123466••••••	2006	10	1	—

ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 405 Rio runs has 10 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 74 Rio VINs so far, most often 2016, 2013, 2018 builds.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Kia Rio the gap between build years is 2.5×: a 2013 car draws 3.5 complaints per run, a 2021 one 1.4.

FIG.02·Kia Rio — complaint rate by model year
Year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Crashes
2023	1.6	11	7	—
2022	1.2	11	9	2
2021	1.4	15	11	2
2020	1.8	25	14	2
2019	2.2	22	10	4
2018	2	28	14	3
2017	1.9	31	16	3
2016	2.9	73	25	6
2015	2.2	47	21	3
2014	2.1	47	22	5
2013	3.5	147	42	7
2012	1.6	52	32	3
2011	1.6	21	13	3
2010	1.6	23	14	8
2009	1.9	37	19	4
2008	2.6	41	16	11
2007	2	40	20	9
2006	2.7	54	20	7
2005	1.7	27	16	4
2004	2.4	41	17	4

ROWS 20·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2013 at 3.5 complaints per run; lightest is 2022 at 1.2. The 2023 line is still collecting reports, so it reads low.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 20% of everything Kia Rio owners report: Air Bags, 228 of 1,105 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Kia Rio — most-reported systems
System	Complaints	Involved a crash	Fire
Air Bags	228	93	—
Engine	226	3	43
Service Brakes	145	16	8
Electrical System	133	2	30
Unknown Or Other	128	9	16
Engine And Engine Cooling	117	4	12
Hydraulic	103	9	3
Power Train	89	5	3

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 11 recall campaigns on the Kia Rio; the 6 below cover build years 2001 to 2022. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Kia Rio — recall campaigns
Campaign	Component	Model years
23V652000	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module	2012–2017
04V179000	Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery	2001–2004
12V244000	Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive	2006–2008
05V557000	Child Seat	2003–2005
22V304000	Steering:column	2021–2022
21V936000	Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder	2020–2021

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

23V652000 was opened in 2023 on cars built from 2012: 11 years on the road before the recall.

The Rio against its rivals

The Rio draws 2.6 complaints per production run; the Volkswagen Golf 1.5 and the Toyota Yaris 2.6.

FIG.05·Kia Rio VIN check vs rivals
Model	Complaints	Runs	Per run	Involved a crash
Kia Rio	1,105	417	2.6	11.9%
Volkswagen Golf	1,260	826	1.5	3.7%
Toyota Yaris	732	285	2.6	19.4%

ROWS 3·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 1,105 reports on the Kia Rio, 11.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, above the norm.

FIG.06·Kia Rio — complaint severity
Outcome	Kia Rio	All vehicles
Complaints filed	1,105	1,115,966
Involved a crash	132 (11.9%)	64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire	85 (7.7%)	26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported	124	58,013
Deaths reported	2	2,728

ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 105% above the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Kia Rio share of that is 1,105 complaints over 417 runs, 0.1% of everything on record.

Everything on the Kia Rio

Recalls46 campaigns Fuel economy36 mpg best Reliability3.5/5 Common problems1,350 complaints DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space25 cu ft Used prices893 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2001–2023

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Kia Rio VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 1,105 NHTSA complaints from 417 Rio runs and 11 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Rio production run has the most complaints?

KNADC123016, a 2001 build, with 22 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Rio run has 2.6.

Which Rio years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2013 is heaviest at 3.5 complaints per run and 2022 lightest at 1.2.

Does the Rio get more complaints than the Volkswagen Golf?

Yes: 2.6 complaints per production run for the Rio against 1.5 for the Volkswagen Golf.

How many Rio complaints involve a crash?

11.9% of 1,105 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 85 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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