Is your car affected?
Check by VIN to confirm the
exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components, master cylinder
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Rio vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.
Risk and remedy
Risk: Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 11, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC223.
Canadian recalls (1)
Show 1 Canadian recall
Brakes
2021-12-02 · campaign 2021-730 · 29 vehicles
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the brake master cylinder could fail and cause reduced braking. If this happens, the driver may experience increased brake pedal travel and a change in brake pedal feel (soft or low pedal).
Safety Risk:
Reduced brake performance can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Kia will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the brake master cylinder.
Owner complaints (27)
Owners filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Rio (3 crashes, 5 fires, 1 injuries, 3 deaths reported). Among 24 model years of this model, it ranks #17 for the most complaints (median 39).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Unknown or other | 8 | |
| Engine | 5 | |
| Power train | 5 | |
| Electrical system | 5 | |
| Steering | 4 | |
| Service brakes | 3 | |
| Wheels | 2 | |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2020 Kia Rio.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2020 Kia Rio 4 DR FWD | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 Kia Rio 5 HB FWD | – | – | – | – |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2020 Kia Rio version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Rio 1.6 L Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 33 | 41 | 36 | $1,850 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.