Most common 2023 Kia Rio problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Rio complaints by model year
Best Rio years: 2011, 2022, 2010. Years to avoid: 2013, 2016, 2001, 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
What 2023 Kia Rio owners say
Steering
Hi [redacted] My Kia Rio 2023 S vin number is [redacted] . 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. …
Hi [redacted] 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. …
Engine & cooling
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.
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. …
2023 Kia Rio engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | CVT | FWD | 32 / 41 / 36 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2023 Kia Rio a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2023 Rio rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Rio at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Kia Rio?
The steering — 3 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2023 Kia Rio have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2023 Kia Rio. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Rio?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2022 and 2010. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2016, 2001, 2002 and 2003. See the full Kia Rio years comparison.
At what mileage do 2023 Kia Rio problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 101,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.