2016 Kia RIO Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report engine trouble, particularly excessive oil consumption that can lead to low oil, fouled plugs, a clogged or failed catalytic converter, and in some cases engine replacement. A large share of sampled complaints are about the brake-system recall (23V652000) and the wait for parts rather than an actual failure, and a smaller group covers trunk latches, lighting faults and stalling or no-acceleration events.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake-system recall waiting on parts (HECU)

   • 25 complaints (32%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2024

   Many complaints are about recall 23V652000 for the hydraulic electronic control unit, which can short and cause an engine compartment fire. Owners say they were notified but the remedy part was not available for months, that dealers confirmed parts were on back order, and that the manufacturer had not provided a repair date. Most of these owners state they had not yet experienced a failure. Most were filed in late 2023 through 2024, shortly after the recall notice went out.

   Recall 23V652000

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer whether recall 23V652000 has been completed on the vehicle, and get that in writing before purchase since the part supply has been slow.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A recall notice (NHTSA recall # 23V652) was issued on 14Nov23 where the HECU may experience an electrical short circuit, which in turn can result in a car fire. To this date, the remedy part is not available. If I'm not mistaken, car fires can be a serious issue, therefore, I am reporting the delay in availability of this part. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11565537, filed 2024-01

   “From what I understand kia has no fix for manufacturer recall # SC284UB and NHTSA recall# 23V652. That is unacceptable and unprofessional. Kia is a hugh car dealer and they are saying there is no fix yet! I can't believe kia would put people and families at risk. Kia's action plan to put your car outside and not in your garage , is ridiculous. I was never contacted about this recall, that's unacceptable. Kia needs a fix NOW!”

   NHTSA complaint #11555827, filed 2023-11
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption and engine damage

   • 20 complaints (25%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners describe adding large amounts of oil between changes, sometimes as much as a quart per tank of gas or per day, with no oil warning light before the level drops. Complaints mention low or empty oil on the dipstick, burning-oil smell in the cabin, fouled spark plugs, check engine lights, knocking or ticking, and in some cases a dealer diagnosis that the engine needs replacement or that the catalytic converter is clogged from oil burning. Several owners say oil consumption tests were performed and that coverage was denied or that the vehicle was out of warranty. Reported across a wide mileage range, from roughly 50,000 up past 150,000 miles, and often noticed during routine checks rather than a single event.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burnt smell; ask whether an oil consumption test has been done and whether the excessive oil consumption bulletin was applied. Review service records for converter or engine work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 148,000 miles on the freeway the gas pedal would not give any power, still running but would not go, stalled a few times. Had to pull over and wait, restart and go a few miles, pull over and wait, then go, etc. Come to find out there was not a drop of oil left. After replenishing, still had issues, then noticed the anti-freeze was low. Replenished is now drivable but continues to burn oil. No leaking & I changed the pcv valve with no results. I'm still adding close to a quart of oil everyday. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11328270, filed 2020-06, 148,000 miles

   “My car is experiencing excessive oil consumption. Upon inspection, it was determined that the issue lies with my catalytic converter. I have discovered that this problem has been reported in other Kia vehicles. The information I found suggests that the oil I am using is being bypassed by the catalytic converter, which indicates a potential issue with the Kia car’s design. Engine light won’t go off”

   NHTSA complaint #11700990, filed 2025-11
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stall, loss of power, or engine fire

   • 15 complaints (19%)
   • median 65,501 mi at 3.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or losing power while driving, surging or bucking at highway speed, and the vehicle failing to accelerate or being limited to very low speed. Some owners report smoke or flames from the engine bay, with incidents occurring while parked, shortly after leaving the car, or during driving, and a few describe an engine that would not turn over at all. Dealers in some cases could not reproduce the problem, and in others reported internal engine failure. Scattered from low mileage in the tens of thousands up to about 175,000 miles, with several reports at highway speeds.

   Recall 23V6520001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling, no-start or fire-related inspections, and whether the HECU recall (23V652000) has been completed. Check for a service record of engine replacement or short-block work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving down the road and suddenly my check engine light starts flashing and the vehicle starts surging. I pull over and shut the car off. I get outside to the hood to open it, as there is steam coming out, and as I put my hand on the hood release, a fire erupts from the engine going over my windshield and driver window. Burning my entire car and $2500 worth of belongings to the ground.”

   NHTSA complaint #11557410, filed 2023-11

   “On May 29th 2021 my 2016 Kia Rio engine caught on fire after multiple attempts of letting Kia know that my engine had a possible recall/detect. I was told that my car wasn’t apart of the recall list of considered on the list of the 1.6 million or billion others who’s engines have blown up as well. I have paper work/trail of recent mechanical work/mechanics informing me with “possible recall issues as well”. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11421680, filed 2021-06
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight and tail light failures

   • 5 complaints (6%)
   • median 44,982 mi at 2.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe low-beam headlights that stop working after a body control module replacement, LED tail light sections failing repeatedly, and headlights switching off when a turn signal cancels with lights on automatic. Owners describe paying for repeat assembly or module repairs that did not resolve the fault. Reported from about 20,000 to 80,000 miles, typically noticed during night driving or after a turn.

   What to check: Test all exterior lights, including low beams with the turn signal operating, and ask whether any lighting module or tail light assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am filing a complaint regarding repeated failures of the LED tail light assemblies on my 2016 Kia Rio. This vehicle uses combination tail lights that include both standard bulbs and integrated LED brake lights. The LED portion has failed multiple times over the life of the vehicle. I am now experiencing failure again, requiring replacement of multiple tail light assemblies. Each assembly costs approximately $400, and my vehicle requires four total units. This results in a significant repair cost for what should be a long-lasting component. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11735244, filed 2026-05

   “When haedlights are on automatic and turn on turn signal and make turn when turn signal goes off after making turn it turns off head lights when moving”

   NHTSA complaint #11220517, filed 2019-06, 80,000 miles

Buying note. The most important pre-purchase steps are checking oil level and consumption history and confirming that the brake-system recall 23V652000 and trunk latch recall have been completed. Oil consumption and converter or engine repairs come up often in owner complaints, so service records and a pre-purchase inspection are worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.