2019 Kia Rio Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2019 Kia Rio.

20182020
Complaints
26
Crashes
5
Fires
2
Injuries
5
Fatalities
—
Recalls
1

Worst 2019 Kia Rio Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#16 complaints

Engine Problems

Fires:1
#23 complaints

Airbags

Crash-related:3
#32 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2019 Kia Rio.

Engine Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
3
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Other/I Am Not Sure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2019 Kia Rio. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2019 Kia Rio

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~253,074 vehicles.

21V622000Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch
~253,074 affected

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Forte 4-door, Forte Koup 2-door, and 2018-2019 Rio 4-door vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

Other Kia Rio Years

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2019 Kia Rio — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2019 Kia Rio reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2019 Kia Rio has 26 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2019 Kia Rio?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (6 complaints); Airbags (3 complaints); Transmission / Drivetrain (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 2019 Kia Rio?
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Kia Rio include 5 crash-related reports, 2 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2019 Kia Rio have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 253,074 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2019 Kia Rio?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Kia Rio reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2019 Kia Rio

Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.

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