AI Damage2019 KIA RIO: common problems
Owners of the 2019 KIA RIO filed 22 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. The maker issued 54 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 22
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 54
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 27% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 9% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 5% of all complaints
- 7 Backover prevention 5% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 6 complaints (27% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Air bags: 3 complaints (14% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Steering: 2 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 8.
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (9% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (5% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 22 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 8 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 9 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Victim was hit head on by a truck. Victim was going 10-15mph truck faster. Victim was t-boned on the driver side at the front tire. The entire front fender and frame were damaged. Victim sub-stained a bad shoulder injury and ptsd. Air bags did not deploy.
The air bag failed to deploy. The driver sustained back, arm head, foot and right wrist injuries that required medical attention. The other driver did not sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact residence.
I was driving on a city street when I approached a green light it turned yellow I mash down on my brake it engaged for a couple of seconds and it gave on me and I could not get the brake to engage again I could not stop for the light and was involved in an accident.
The air bag failed to deploy. As a result, the contact sustained neck, shoulder, right foot, and left knee injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed destroyed.
Now my tail light is out and cannot be fixed because I cannot access the trunk. There is NO OTHER WAY TO ACCESS THE TRUNK.
There was no accident the radio/backup camera shuts down completely on the inside of the car when the car is too hot inside
2019 Kia Rio Hatchback trunk latch failure buzzing actuator but won't open emergency release does not work dealer says not covered under recall #21V622000 which covers the trunk for 4 door 2019 Kia Rio and this appears to be the same or similar issue with the trunk emergency release not opening creating a safety risk
The engine failure occurred while the vehicle was traveling at high speed on the freeway, resulting in sudden loss of engine power. This created a significant safety risk, as loss of power at freeway speeds increases the likelihood of collision with surrounding vehicles and posed a danger to myself and other…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,212 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 42% least complained about).
On average one model year of the RIO has 28 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 22, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION: CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
POSTCARD OWNER RENOTIFICATION (CS2311) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. Kia has developed a new zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin provides information to install a Theft Deterrent Ignition Cylinder Protector on certain 2010-2022MY…
- PITSTOP
TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The PDW system alerts the driver…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2311) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
IVT OIL PRESSURE SENSOR REPLACEMENT: This bulletin provides information to replace the Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT) Oil Pressure Sensor (OPS) on some 2018-2024MY vehicles listed on page 3 equipped with IVT…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: ANTI-THEFT S/W LOGIC UPGRADE & DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2307) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar…
- This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity…
This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
NHTSA lists 54 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 KIA RIO?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags, steering. Total complaints: 22. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbags did not deploy (14%), smoke, burning smell, fire (14%), warning lights, check engine (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 KIA RIO?
NHTSA lists 54 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 KIA RIO from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.