2022 Kia Rio problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Visibility/Wiper (1) · Structure:body (1) · Steering (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Rio model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Steering:column 2022-05-05 · campaign 22V304000 · 30 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Risk: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 27, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall SC235.
Service bulletins (20)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-05-28 · TSB_ELE422 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: infotainment system software update using update.kia.com - this bulletin provides information and service procedures for updating the infotainment systems on applicable kia vehicles using the kia navigation updater available at update.kia.com. the software update may impr
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2025-12-09 · PS797 · Other
pitstop: technical operations: external damage to ultrasonic sensor: this pitstop provides information related to parking distance warning (pdw) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. the pdw system alerts the driver while parking, by calculating distance based on the difference in signal
Power Train 2025-04-17 · TSB_TRA046_R5 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: transmission fluid application guide - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid ty
Electrical System 2025-03-20 · TSB_ELE378 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: service action: kia connect modem reset (sa611) - this bulletin outlines the procedure for resetting the modem in certain 2016-2025my kia vehicles listed on page 3 that are equipped with kia connect services. the affected vehicles may encounter the following issues: remot
Electrical System 2025-01-09 · TSB_ELE338_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: service action: display audio 2.0/avn5wsoftware update (sa569) - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information to update the softw
Electrical System 2024-12-19 · TSB_ELE347_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: display audio 2.0v/avn5w software update - this bulletin has been revised to include additional information. new/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. this bulletin provides information to update the software on display audio 2
Showing the 6 most recent of 20 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-16 · Electrical System“the rear camera fails to function most of the time. it is a safety issue because i am unable to see cars or objects behind me when i am backing up. i am also unable people passing behind me when i am backing out of a parking space in a parking lot.…”
2026-08-21 · Unknown Or Other“my abs system goes in and out making my breaks really unsafe especially going downhill. cruise control goes at whatever speed it wants. i set it for 73 on the interstate which has a speed limit of 70 and i look down and my car is set to 73 but my actual gage is going up into the 80's! i use my cruise to keep me from getting tickets... and my crui…”
2026-03-10 · Latches/Locks/Linkages · 69,000 mi“the contact owns a 2022 kia rio. the contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the contact heard an abnormally loud bang and believed that the vehicle had been struck in the rear by an object. the contact opened the trunk and became aware that the trunk shocks had become detached from the latch. the contact was able to open and close th…”
2025-08-27 · Unknown Or Other“while attempting to raise the passenger side window slightly, the automatic window mechanism malfunctioned. instead of stopping when lightly engaged, the window rolled all the way up and trapped my right wrist between the glass and the frame. when i pressed the window down button, the window continued to roll upward, increasing the pressure on my w…”
2025-06-09 · Back Over Prevention · 72,000 mi · 💥 crash“the contact owns a 2022 kia rio. the contact stated that the rearview camera would intermittently turn on while driving at various speeds. the contact also stated that while in reverse(r), the camera would intermittently display a blank or distorted image. recently, the contact stated that the rear-view camera had failed to operate as needed. the d…”
2025-02-25 · Engine“when my car is running it makes a knocking noise from engine i have taken it th the dealer they heard it but said they can figure out where it's coming from. the engine runs hotter than normal. the rods i think are the cause…”
2024-11-12 · Service Brakes“when traveling 60 mph and slowing to try to stop, brake pedal went all the way to the floor and vehicle would not brake. had to engage emergency brake to stop vehicle during normal operation on multiple occasions. once while stopped at a red light, vehicle was completely stopped, then the brake pedal lowered to the floorboard and the vehicle start…”
2024-05-15 · Visibility/Wiper“the windshield wipers only work consistently on the last two settings. when you push the wiper gear down to the initial setting where you can adjust the speed with the dial, it struggles to move or doesn’t move at all. i can hear the wiper gear trying to lift the wipers, but nothing happens. …”
2024-03-03 · Exterior Lighting“this is neither a failure nor a malfunction but on several occasions i have had the light switch turn off at night while driving. i can reach over and push a button to the left of the steering wheel under the ac/heat vent and in doing so my arm has rolled the headlight switch off. i have to hurry up and turn them back on. the switch should lock …”
2023-04-13 · Steering“issue 1) power steering wheel stopped working after practicing parking in preparation for a drivers test. issue 2) fuel indicator did not worked as expected, takes 3 to 5 min (in motion) to get the indicator in the right position. i took the vehicle to the dealership, it was scanned and according to them, no dtc was stored, i got videos when both…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.