YearToAvoid

2011 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

17/100

#16 most-complained of 19 Rio years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2011 Kia Rio has 24 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 17 out of 100 — #16 highest of 19 Rio model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (9 complaints, 38% of the total). Complaints report 4 crashes and 3 injuries.

Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
27.5 city / 34 hwy

Top 2011 Kia Rio problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine9 (38%)
  2. Airbags5 (21%)
  3. Electrical System5 (21%)
  4. Brakes4 (17%)
  5. Other2 (8%)
  6. Steering2 (8%)
  7. Structure & Body2 (8%)
  8. Fuel System1 (4%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (4%)
2011 Kia Rio complaints: complaints filed per month5Sep 2011Oct 2013Dec 2014Aug 2017Jan 2019Apr 2020Dec 2024
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2011 to Mar 2025; peak Sep 2011 (5).

2011 Kia Rio recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 Kia Rio fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27.5 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Rio years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2009Caution6739030
2010Caution5026030.5
2011Best1724030
2012Caution5654131.5
2013Avoid100153132

All Kia Rio years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Kia Rio a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Kia Rio ranks #16 of 19 among Rio model years (Complaint Index 17/100, verdict: Best). It has 24 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Kia Rio?
The most reported problem areas are engine (9 complaints), airbags (5 complaints), and electrical system (5 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 61,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Kia Rio have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2011 Kia Rio in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Kia Rio?
EPA rates the 2011 Kia Rio at 30 MPG combined (27.5 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.