Reliability report
Kia Rio reliability and common faults
Based on 200,305 roadworthiness tests, led by the UK MOT. Each country is compared only with its own average for cars of the same age.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom · MOT
24.4%
fail rate · average 23.5%
worse than average
96,719 MOT tests (DVSA)
🇳🇱 Netherlands · APK
52.5%
with defects · average 49.0%
worse than average
99,424 APK inspections (RDW)
🇱🇹 Lithuania · inspection
60.5%
first-time pass · average 63.8%
worse than average
4,162 inspections
Testing regimes differ from country to country – don’t compare the figures between countries; compare each one only with its own average. MOT data: contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Weak spots
What goes wrong on the Kia Rio
How often each area fails compared with the average car of the same age (vertical line = average, 100%). Red – more often than average.
Seat belts and airbagsconfirmed in 2 countries
Plates and identification
Steeringconfirmed in 2 countries
Visibility
Brakesconfirmed in 2 countries
Tyres
Lights and electrics
Suspension
Body and structure
Exhaust and emissions
Wheels
Driving controls
Most common test failures
- 1Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm
- 2Tyre insufficient tread
- 3Tyre pressure not at correct value
- 4Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing
- 5Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault
- 6Low beam incorrectly adjusted
- 7Windscreen wiper system gives insufficient visibility
- 8Mechanical parts of the brake system show wear
- 9Ball joint dust cover damaged and not sealing
- 10Low beam / high beam doesn't work (properly)
- 11Tyre damaged
- 12Excessive leakage of other fluids
Results by vehicle age
| Age | 🇬🇧 MOT fail rate | 🇳🇱 APK defects |
|---|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 9.0% avg 9.9% | 28.4% avg 27.0% |
| 6–8 years | 13.2% avg 15.3% | 38.1% avg 36.7% |
| 9–11 years | 22.6% avg 22.9% | 49.8% avg 44.4% |
| 12–15 years | 34.3% avg 30.3% | 58.3% avg 55.4% |
| 16–20 years | 38.4% avg 34.6% | 68.7% avg 64.7% |
| 21+ years | 41.8% avg 31.4% | — |
🇱🇹 First-time pass rate in Lithuania – by year of manufacture
| Year | Rio | Average for year | Inspections |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 93.4% | 83.2% | 106 |
| 2018 | 82.0% | 79.5% | 133 |
| 2017 | 83.0% | 76.6% | 318 |
| 2016 | 66.6% | 72.8% | 308 |
| 2015 | 68.5% | 71.1% | 368 |
| 2014 | 65.6% | 68.0% | 511 |
| 2013 | 60.3% | 65.9% | 582 |
| 2012 | 57.5% | 63.7% | 630 |
| 2011 | 61.6% | 61.2% | 138 |
| 2008 | 48.1% | 52.4% | 129 |
| 2007 | 49.6% | 50.6% | 129 |
| 2006 | 40.6% | 48.7% | 175 |
| 2005 | 45.3% | 46.6% | 117 |
| 2004 | 45.2% | 44.5% | 115 |
| 2003 | 39.4% | 42.9% | 142 |
Kia Rio – FAQs
How reliable is the Kia Rio?+
In the UK the Kia Rio fails 24.4% of MOT tests, against an average of 23.5% for cars of the same age – worse than average. In the Netherlands, inspectors found defects at 52.5% of APK inspections (average there 49.0%) – worse than average. In Lithuania 60.5% pass their roadworthiness test first time (average for those years there 63.8%) – worse than average.
What goes wrong most often on the Kia Rio?+
Compared with the average car of the same age, testers find faults more often in these areas: seat belts and airbags, steering, visibility, brakes.
What should I check when buying a used Kia Rio?+
The most common inspection failures: Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm; Tyre insufficient tread; Tyre pressure not at correct value; Number plate light doesn't work (properly) / missing; Airbag / seatbelt system warning light indicates a fault. Before you buy, also check the free MOT history on GOV.UK and the car’s history by reg or VIN (mileage, damage, theft).
More Kia models
Sources: anonymised MOT test results (DVSA) – contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0; APK inspection defects (RDW, open data); Lithuanian roadworthiness test results (data.gov.lt). Initial tests only; retests are not counted. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons (licence).