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Kia RIOModel year report

2011 Kia RIO Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
61,000miles, 20 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
30 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2011 Kia RIO (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2011 Kia RIO. The part named most often is engine, with 7 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags (5) and electrical system (5). 20 of the complaints include a mileage, and 40% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 61,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 51 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Engine: “Ignition coils. Ever since I bought my Kia in 2015 I have had to replace the ignition coils every 3-6 months. At first, when it was still under factory warranty, the dealership kept telling me they cannot find anything wrong with the car even though it would jump and even shut off on me when idling. It took 3 months of me taking the car back and forth to the Kia dealership before the figured out what was going on with my car because the check engine light never came on. It turned out to be the ignition coils. Once they were replaced everything was fine. …”

NHTSA complaint #11182851, filed 2019-02, 100,000 miles

Air bags: “My son was involved in an accident where he rear ended the car in front of him at approximately 35 to 40 MPH. The airbag in the steering wheel did not deploy!! Luckily, he was wearing his seat belt and suffered bruising on his hip and shoulder. I would like to know why the airbags did not deploy. I have viewed other reports online that reported the same thing where the bags did not deploy....updated 01/07/15”

NHTSA complaint #10664814, filed 2014-12, 66,000 miles

Electrical system: “Ignition switch locked up and wouldn't let the key out. Had six mechanics try to get the key unstuck and a Kia personal(over the phone), with no success. Had to tow my car 20 miles paid $165 to tow it, then Kia service center charged me another $430 to fix the problem. Got the car back with an extra set of keys. One set to open the doors and one set to start the car. Guess what else...now the car ignition dings like the keys are still in it even when no keys are in ignition and because of that I can't lock my car! …”

NHTSA complaint #10610218, filed 2014-07, 62,000 miles

Brakes: “So I am going 5mph when I go to push the brakes because the car ahead of me suddenly stops. I don't stop because the car's brakes began pulsating causing me to run into the back of the car ahead of me. When I call the dealership I am told that even though I have owned it for 3 months its considered a wear and tear when I haven't put that many miles on the car yet.”

NHTSA complaint #10425285, filed 2011-09, 13,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

40% of the 20 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

10%0–1010%10–2520%25–5035%50–7515%75–10010%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (20 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 61,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

’11’135’15’18’20’23’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2011 Kia RIO. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RIO · sedan FWDnot rated———4 · 11.8% risk
RIO · wagon FWDnot rated———4 · 11.8% risk

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2011 Kia RIO version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Rio FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic273530$2,250
Rio FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual283330$2,250

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2011 Kia RIO in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 51 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 51 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia RIO

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202312100,9000—36—Too new
20221270,5001—36—Not enough data
202115—2—36—Stable
2020272,7801—3673 · MoreStable
2019224,4501—32—Stable
20182835,7851—3212 · FewerRising
20173136,500243135 · FewerRising
20167950,500243165 · MoreRising
20155260,000143045 · TypicalRising
20145233,000143071 · MoreRising
201315364,626143289 · MoreRising
20125464,000143250 · TypicalFalling
20112461,0000—30—Rising
20102663,0000—3133 · FewerFalling
20093948,2000—3044 · TypicalFalling
20084646,0001—2958 · TypicalFalling
20074657,0181—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20067463,4951—29Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20053751,0001—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20043868,5202—25Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20037430,0003—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212836,7501—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200122348,0003—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Kia RIO model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2011 Kia RIO have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 2011 Kia RIO as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2011 Kia RIO is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 7 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags with 5.

Has the 2011 Kia RIO been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2011 Kia RIO get?

The EPA rates the 2011 Kia RIO (Rio, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 30 mpg combined, 27 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2011 Kia RIO reported?

Among the 20 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 61,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,000 and 70,000 miles; 40% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.