Skip to content
Kia RIOModel year report

2020 Kia RIO Problems

Compared with other Kia RIO years

More complaints than typical for this model

73/100 1.7× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2017, 2018

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
27filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
2,780miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
36 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 33 city / 41 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Kia RIO (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2020 Kia RIO. The part named most often is other or unknown, with 8 complaints (30% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and engine (5). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,780 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 1 an injury, 3 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 68 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 31 technical service bulletins 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 73 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more 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: Seats (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Other or unknown: “My car was parked at my place after getting out of it around 8:30am. I returned to my vehicle at 12pm and the inside was burnt because a fire started in the middle consul.”

NHTSA complaint #11395163, filed 2021-02, 19,333 miles

Electrical system: “marker lights on the right side won't work both went off line and licence light same side is out same time and bulbs ,fuse replaced and still not working the kia service will not fix in kia of manharttan in kansas andi have 68,000 miles and they didn't offer a basic warrantty to be long when online for my my car and suppose to be under warranty for 110;00”

NHTSA complaint #11446245, filed 2022-01

Engine: “While driving, my 2020 Kia RIO has stalled when accelerating while turning at a traffic light and while attempting tp pass a car on interstate. Also several time when jnust driving. Very scary feeling.”

NHTSA complaint #11395702, filed 2021-02, 300 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I believe my Kia Rio S falls victim to the recall 2020 Kia Rio models have faced. Brake performance has been severely degraded on my vehicle over the past few weeks despite doing all recommended maintenance. When I first got my 2020 Kia Rio S I could brake with 5% pressure applied to the brakes, now it takes about 25-30% pressure and it seemingly is increasing every day. I have contacted the manufacturer and they advised me it would be a $2000 service charge minimum.”

NHTSA complaint #11543523, filed 2023-09

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 300 and 19,333 miles.

63%0–1013%10–2525%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%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: 2,780 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20202021820222023202420252026
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.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2020 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-cylCVT334136$1,850

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 2020 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. 68 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 68 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 2020 Kia RIO have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2020 Kia RIO as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2020 Kia RIO is reported most often?

Other or unknown is named most often, in 8 complaints (30% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 2020 Kia RIO been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia RIO get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Kia RIO (Rio, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 36 mpg combined, 33 city and 41 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Kia RIO reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,780 miles and the middle half falls between 300 and 19,333 miles; 100% 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. 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.