The Lemon Index
2016
2018Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 16,760 in the U.S. in 2017 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 5 complaints in its first 3 years.
5 owner complaints, first 3 years 30–31 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2017 Honda Fit 182017 Toyota Yaris2017 Nissan Versa 34
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 5 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 23V652000 (brakes) and 23V594000 (latches/locks/linkages) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Do all the seat belts latch and retract?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Kia's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 5 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Transmission problems in every Kia Rio year →
Check engine light on? Codes owners of the Kia Rio (2015–2019) name most: B1448. Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 28K miles (10K to 45K km) on the car (5 of all 5 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
The car was involved in a major accident. The car hit a fence knocked it down & hit a tree it is completely inoperable. The car was totaled. None of the airbags deployed.
2017 Kia Rio owner · NHTSA complaint 11221014
More owner reports
Was run off the road at 55 mph hitting a stop sign a telephone box a oak tree then a pine tree and the airbags did not deploy or did the seat belts lock up wife has a broken back and chest bone
NHTSA complaint 11124725
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 19.9M views · 2012–2017 Kia Rio
Prices people quote
- Price when new$17,1206 videos▶ Hear it
Most-watched topics
- Oil changes & service259K views
2012 - 2017 Kia Rio Oil Change DIYBuckeye Ballistics · 127K views · 4 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors195K views
Kia Rio Door Latch Repair/ Installation - Door Locks FIXED 2012-2017EnoughAboutCars · 195K views - Heat, A/C & blend door189K views
How to change the cabin air filter on a Kia Rio 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017Mountain Man Mo · 81K views · 3 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical119K views
Starter install 2013 Kia Riojpulley · 79K views · 2 videos
Show 4 more
- Intake, EGR & engine sensors105K views
How to Replace the Crankshaft Position Sensor on a Kia Rio 2012-2017 P0335 OBD2 Error CodeMountain Man Mo · 72K views · 2 videos - Cooling system88K views
How to refill coolant in a Kia Rio / Hyundai Accent (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)Mountain Man Mo · 58K views · 2 videos - Timing chain & engine76K views
2016 Kia Rio 1.6L GDI Timing chain replacement quick overview and key pointsTad’s Workshop · 59K views · 2 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank65K views
Fuel Filter Replacement: 2012 Kia Rio 1.4Lbuild that stuff · 45K views · 2 videos
Before you buy, watch
KIA #RIO Problems After 1 Year of Ownership - 2014 Kia Rio 1.4 CRDI 5dr Dieselwetryanything · 38K views
Kia Rio 3rd Gen 2012 to 2017 common problems, issues, defects and complaintsHOWSTUFFINMYCARWORKS · 31K views
2012 Kia Rio SX Hatchback Start Up, Exhaust, Test Drive, and In Depth ReviewSaabkyle04 · 547K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2017 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Recalls 2
- Brakes · recall issued 2023
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- Latches/locks/linkages · recall issued 2023
The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Rio 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Kia Rio 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2,050–$2,150 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl.
Every Kia Rio year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 21 Kia Rio years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2017 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/kia-rio/?y=2017" title="Kia Rio reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="606" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/kia-rio/2017/">Lemon Index</a> (2017 Kia Rio reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2017 Kia Rio reliable?
We can't score it: only 16,760 were sold in the U.S. in 2017 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2017 Kia Rio problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (60%), seat belts (20%) and doors, locks & latches (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Kia Rio have?
2 safety recalls (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Kia Rio get?
30 to 31 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Kia Rio safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2017 Kia Rio have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2017 Kia Rio cost in fuel a year?
About $2,050 to $2,150 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Kia Rio have?
1.6L 4-cyl.
What Kia Rio year is better than the 2017?
Nearby, the 2018 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about a quarter as many complaints as the average car).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works