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Kia RIOModel year report

2017 Kia RIO Problems

Compared with other Kia RIO years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

35/100 0.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
31filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
36,500miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns 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
4 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
31 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 36 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2017 Kia RIO (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia RIO. The part named most often is engine, with 11 complaints (35% of the total), followed by brakes (7) and other or unknown (6). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 63% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 36,500 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 6 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 65 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the control unit/module and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 10 Kia RIO model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 35 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “This vehicle has electrical issues none stop. One day it randomly stalled out while still in motion and lost all power. No power at all. It was “repaired” and I had it for 2 weeks and it again lost all power while in motion. It put my life completely at risk as I had to pull over into a parking lot after losing all power turning in the middle of a very busy main intersection. …”

NHTSA complaint #11518898, filed 2023-04

Brakes: “My son and I were driving home from work on IH-35 and I noticed smoke coming from under my hood. Then within seconds, flames appeared moving quickly towards the windshield. I attempted to move to the shoulder and after doing so, I was unable to stop since the brakes were no longer working. I had to use the parking brake when it slowed down and then once stopped, my son and I jumped out of the vehicle and within 3-5 seconds, the entire car was overcome with fire which then exploded.”

NHTSA complaint #11600593, filed 2024-07

Other or unknown: “The trunk is not able to be opened manually, except through the key fob. When trying to close the trunk, the latching mechanism will not engage and the trunk is unable to latch shut. Both incidents happened while the vehicle was stationary.”

NHTSA complaint #11281417, filed 2019-11, 45,000 miles

Air bags: “Was envolved in a wreck to where I went off the road hit a stop sign,,a telephone box,,a oak tree then a pine tree and none of the airbags deployed now my wife has a broken back and chest bone,,I got a busted up knee a sprang sholder neck and back”

NHTSA complaint #11130901, filed 2018-09, 6,054 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

63% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,063 and 99,000 miles.

38%0–100%10–2525%25–500%50–7513%75–10013%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 36,500 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.

20182019202020212022202311202420252026
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 2017 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 · hatchback FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 11.6% risk
RIO · sedan FWD★★★★☆4 / 4554 · 11.6% risk

Neighbouring years: 2016: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

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

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2017 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-cyl6-speed manual273631$2,150
Rio FWD1.6L 4-cyl6-speed automatic273630$2,250
Rio Eco FWD1.6L 4-cyl6-speed automatic273631$2,150

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

Recall details for the 2017 Kia RIO → · Check a 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. 65 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 65 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 2017 Kia RIO have?

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia RIO as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2017 Kia RIO is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 11 complaints (35% of the total), followed by brakes with 7.

Has the 2017 Kia RIO been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2017 Kia RIO do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2017 Kia RIO 4 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2017 Kia RIO get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Kia RIO (Rio, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 31 mpg combined, 27 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2017 Kia RIO reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 36,500 miles and the middle half falls between 8,063 and 99,000 miles; 63% 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.