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2023 Kia Rio problems

The most common problem on the 2023 Kia Rio is engine and cooling. It has fewer complaints than a typical Rio model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
12
Recalls
0
Service bulletins
19
Worst area
Engine
Fuel economy
36mpg

The worst 2023 Kia Rio problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Engine
    3
  • Steering
    3
  • Electrical
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Transmission
    2

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Engine
    3
  • Steering
    3
  • Electrical
    2
  • Suspension
    2
  • Transmission
    2
  • Body
    1
  • Seat belts
    1
  • Wheels
    1

Recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Technical service bulletins for the 2023 Kia Rio 19

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 19 bulletins for the 2023 Kia Rio

2023 Kia Rio fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.6L 4‑cylFWD324136

What 2023 Kia Rio owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 13, 2025 · MA

Paint peeling. Took a month to have the dealer /warranty repair the roof in July 2025. Then in Sept 2025 have 2 more areas doing the same thing. Reached back out to dealer end of Sept then mid Oct following up find out service person is gone, start over with new service person, follow up early Nov, again mid Nov and find out that service person is gone. Contact manager and he wants us to start over again with him. Need to send car out for quotes to give to warranty even though this has already been repaired once and we were told this is a known issue. Now trying to go through a Kia dealer that has a body shop on site to try and get warranty approval and repair done before vehicle hits 36K even though this should be covered regardless (and purchased extended warranty but also not covered)

Filed Aug 10, 2025 · Engine · MS

I’ve been hearing this rattle noise mostly when I crank the vehicle. I took it to go get checked out and they heard it when I first brought it in for them to check. But when they got it to the back for mechanic to listen for it, of course it didn’t do it. They kept my car a whole day to try n find the issue/hear the noise and was unsuccessful. I’ve been told that it could possibly have something to do with the car timing or something with the engine. My car only has 34000 miles on it and it’s making this noise. They won’t approve me to trade it in or anything to help fix the problem or get me in something better.

Filed Apr 4, 2025 · Steering · AZ

The vehicle has difficulty following a center line, higher than normal steering wheel input is required. Feels like the vehicle is being driven in strong crosswinds at any speed above 55 MPH. The vehicle is very, very difficult to keep centered when crosswinds are present. The steering wheel input feels sticky and not smooth at any speed above 40 MPH. A 4-wheel alignment revealed a 0.3 degree of toe mis-adjustment on the RR wheel, no adjustment settings are present. Remaining wheels were within specs. No adjustment for the electronic steering assist. Additionally, the vehicle is equipped with the Highline TPMS, however, it is not displayed on the LCD. Dealer and Kia Corp. states it should display, however no fix is available.

Filed Nov 22, 2024 · Engine · 100,900 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle restarted; however, the transmission failed to shift into gear. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The following day the contact was able to start the vehicle and the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer found no failure with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,900.

Filed Apr 23, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · PR

When I started my car, during the warm-up process, it dropped revs and turned off. After several tries, it turned on. While driving, when the vehicle was stopped, it began to jerk slightly. The safety risk is that the car, while I am driving, could turn off and cause an accident, in which people could be at risk, including me. I wouldn't want this to escalate because the dealer doesn't take action on the matter. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to evaluate the condition, they say that the technicians did not find anything, that the car did not emit any codes. And therefore they couldn't do anything. Note that I bought that car completely new, 0 miles, in March of last year. And in January the problem started. It is also worth noting that the car had to have a rack&pinion change in less than a year, due to a noise it made when the guide turned. All maintenance has been done with the official Auto Grupo Kia dealership on Kennedy, in Puerto Rico. I fear my safety and that of others behind the wheel, if the major fault in my car is not fixed.

Filed Jan 21, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · MI

Hi [XXX] I just collected my Kia Rio from service at LaFontaine. On driving in the freeway I noticed I had to make frequent adjustments to the steering when going straight and there was oversteering (minor tilt of the steering wheel result in exaggerated larger turn of the car). This does not happen when driving at lower speed outside of the freeway. I will monitor this as I am not sure if this was because I was switching between cars and/or that particular stretch of road is slippery. According to the technicians the alignment is back to spec so I will let you know if this issue persists as I drive the Rio more in the coming days. Hi Team The car veers to the left when driving with steering wheel straight. Tested in a clear non wet road. Please advise on next step. When driving on freeway there are over steering and understeering issues. Extremely dangerous. Yours sincerely [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jan 4, 2024 · Steering, Suspension · MI

Hi [XXX] My Kia Rio 2023 S vin number is [XXX] . Bought a couple months back new at Summit Place Kia Auburn Hills michigan. Once I drive off I realised the steering wheel alignment is off. The car does not drive straight when steering wheel is straight. I called my salesman and he asked me to bring it in for servicing at Summit Place. They did a wheel alignment there and found misalignment at factory condition. A few months later the same issue got worse and was noticeable again when driving. I called my salesman and he told me bringing it into service will incur a service charge as this issue is not under warranty. However, I believe this constant misalignment is from a manufacturing defect causing safety issue and you could access the servicing records that said the wheel alignment was already off at the first emergency servicing. I have also made sure all my tire pressures are topped up to the recommended pressures Kindly advise and rectify this road safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 12, 2023 · Seat belts · HI

The contact owns a 2023 Kia Rio. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he became aware that the vehicle failed to sound a seat belt warning chime to indicate that the passenger’s side seat belt was not buckled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Aug 9, 2023 · Transmission · MD

I was driving around 10mph when I noticed that the transmission would not shift at all. The RPM would only increase but the car does not accelerate. Kia dealership confirmed that the transmission is dead.

Filed Aug 9, 2023 · MD

I was driving normally and suddenly the transmission would not shift at all. The engine would just rev freely and the car did not accelerate at all. I was able to creep slowly to the dealership as I was near it. The dealership confirmed that the transmission had a problem a day after it was in the dealership.

Compare the 2023 Kia Rio

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Other model years

200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023

Questions about the 2023 Kia Rio

Is the 2023 Kia Rio reliable?

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2023 Kia Rio, fewer than a typical Rio model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Rio?

Engine and cooling, with 3 complaints. Next is steering (3).

How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Rio have?

No recalls on record.

What year does the Kia Rio have bad engine?

The Kia Rio model years with the most engine complaints are 2013 (56 complaints), 2001 (53 complaints) and 2016 (42 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2023 Kia Rio get?

Official estimates for the 2023 Kia Rio range from 36 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 32 city and 41 highway.

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