YearToAvoid

2017 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

46/100

#8 most-complained of 14 Rio years

The 2017 Kia Rio has 31 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 46, and ranks 8th worst out of 14 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Rio years. Engine issues (11 complaints, 35% share) are the top concern, alongside two recalls covering brakes and the trunk latch.

Complaints
31
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
3 / 6
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
31
27 city / 36 hwy

Top 2017 Kia Rio problems

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

  1. Engine11 (35%)
  2. Brakes7 (23%)
  3. Other6 (19%)
  4. Airbags3 (10%)
  5. Electrical System3 (10%)
  6. Structure & Body3 (10%)
  7. Seat Belts1 (3%)
  8. Steering1 (3%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses power while driving around 40-60 mph, sometimes with warning lights and smoke from the engine compartment.
  • Vehicles have caught fire near the hood or engine bay, in some cases while driving at highway speeds like 70 mph.
  • Brakes have reportedly failed to stop the vehicle during a fire event, requiring use of the parking brake.
  • Airbags failed to deploy during crashes involving trees, poles, and fences, despite significant vehicle damage.
  • Trunk latch mechanism fails to open from inside, outside, or with the remote release, sometimes recurring after a first failure.
2017 Kia Rio complaints: complaints filed per month5Sep 2018Jul 2020Dec 2022May 2023Dec 2023Apr 2024Feb 2025Jun 2026
36 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2018 to Jun 2026; peak May 2023 (5).

2017 Kia Rio recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V652000Sep 25, 2023Brakes1,730,192 vehiclesPark Outside

    Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

  2. NHTSA 23V594000Aug 24, 2023Structure & Body319,436 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch

    Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

    Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.

2017 Kia Rio fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
31 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,100
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.

2017 compared with other Rio years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2015Avoid9252130
2016Avoid8577231
2017Good4631231
2018Good3128132
2019Good3821132

All Kia Rio years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Kia Rio reliable?
Compared to other Rio model years, the 2017 ranks 8th worst out of 14 years with a complaint index of 46, giving it a 'Good' verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
What problems does the 2017 Kia Rio have?
NHTSA complaints point to engine problems as the top issue, making up 35% of complaints (11 of 31), including reports of fires. Brakes account for 23% of complaints.
Does the 2017 Kia Rio have any recalls?
Yes, two recalls affect the 2017 Rio: one for brakes (park outside advised) and one for a trunk latch base that can crack and prevent opening the trunk from inside.
How many complaints has NHTSA received for the 2017 Kia Rio?
NHTSA has logged 31 complaints for the 2017 Kia Rio, including 3 crashes, 6 fires, and 4 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 36,500 miles.
What is the worst Kia Rio model year?
Among the years with data, the 2013 Rio has the highest complaint index at 100 and an 'Avoid' verdict, compared to the 2017's index of 46 and 'Good' verdict.

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.