2017 Kia Rio Problems and Complaints

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 7, 2024

The Kia Rio is an affordable sedan that meets the requirements of an average sedan user. The Rio offers all the standard features and also optional features. It comes with a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine that surprisingly gives excellent quick acceleration. The interior of the Rio even if it is a subcompact sedan has decent space and roomy seats but can be found cramped up sometimes. The cargo space, however, is a little tight but definitely makes it work. Surprisingly there are only a few official complaints against the 2017 Rio, with no recalls or investigation as of the writing date and just 7 complaints.

How does the 2017 Kia Rio compare to the likes of the Hyundai Accent, the Ford Fiesta, and the Chevrolet Sonic? What makes Kia Rio stand out from the competitors and what does it do in terms of issues faced by the competitors? Check out the Youtube video below by "HOWSTUFFINMYCARWORKS" where they list out all the problems and issues faced by the third generation Rio owners. Read ahead to find out if the 2017 Rio is worth investing your money on.

Key observations in the video:

Excessive engine oil burn with the 1.6L GDi engine
Radiator fan & Starter motor fails prematurely
Electrically wires are prone to get chewed by rodents
Wheel bearings prone to be noisy
AC compressor can fail prematurely
The shocks and struts are prone to rapid wear.

2017 Kia Rio User Problems and complaints

Mechanical problem

Minor issues with the engine: Multiple unofficial complaints have come against the Kia Rio engine. These include issues like fuel leaks and engine misfires. As per the dealership, the fuel leaking can be due to a leak in the fuel distribution rack and bad spark plugs can result in the engine misfiring. Both problems can be fixed relatively easily, provided it's under warranty.
Power steering causes too much vibration: Some users of the Kia Rio have complained in unofficial forums about the power steering causing excessive vibrations, and when turning with power steering, the rack can also make excessive noise. A dealership has mentioned that this can be due to insufficient oil lubrication on the steering parts, and most probably happened during the production of the vehicle.

Safety problem

Airbag Failure: According to the user's complaint, one user stated that during an accident where the car was damaged in a way that it was inoperable, the airbag didn't deploy, but thankfully, no injury was reported. Another user reported that during an accident the airbags did not deploy and had caused injuries to the user’s wife including a broken back and chest bone and the user experienced sprained shoulder, neck, and back. It is unclear whether both of the users notified the manufacturer or not.
Latches/locks failure: One user stated that the trunk of the vehicle failed to lock in place properly and it was defective, neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the problem or failure of the lock. Two other users had the same problem where the trunk lock mechanism failed.
Seatbelt failure: Only one user has this problem and it was the same user that claimed that the airbags did not deploy during an accident. The seatbelt also did not secure the passenger or did not lock up during an impact. The user and the passenger sustained injuries.

Miscellaneous Problem:

Vehicle caught on fire: For one user, their vehicle caught on fire. Reasons were not provided as to how it happened, both dealership and manufacturer neither provided why it happened either.
Seats rattling: Some users had complained in unofficial forums about the seats rattling. The reason given by one dealership is the careless tightening of the seats during production, which can be easily fixed.

Recalls for the 2017 Kia Rio

There are no recalls for the 2017 Kia Rio yet.

Should you buy a 2017 Kia Rio

The 2017 Kia Rio is not recommended for the reasons shown. According, to the NHTSA, the sedan has a major safety concern and that is regarded as a side barrier, because of intrusion to the left rear door during the crash test, the interior panel got stuck to the torso of the rear passenger dummy that would cause spinal damages. So, in short, the Kia Rio has a major safety concern regarding the side barrier in impact. The segment competitors all have some issue or the other, and hence, despite having few complaints, manage 4-star ratings by the NHTSA. Unfortunately, affordability really comes at a cost, if not the price tag then something else. Nonetheless, the 2017 Chevrolet Sonic seems to be the only better alternative, with the only subcompact car that has no safety issues and a 5-star safety rating out of the competitors.