How many open recalls are there on the 2021 Kia Rio?

There are 2 active NHTSA recall campaigns on file for the 2021 Kia Rio.

Are recall repairs free?

Yes. Federal law requires manufacturers to remedy any safety recall at no cost to the owner, regardless of warranty status, mileage, or whether you are the original owner. The dealership performs the work and bills the manufacturer. You should never pay out of pocket for a recall repair.

How do I check if a specific recall has been performed on my Kia?

Run your VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls or use the VIN decoder at the top of this page. The federal system shows the completion status of every safety recall on your specific vehicle, including campaigns the original owner may have addressed before you bought it.

How long do I have to claim a recall repair?

Most safety recalls have no expiration date — manufacturers must honor them indefinitely. A small subset of voluntary service campaigns and "customer satisfaction programs" do expire, typically 7-10 years from issue date. The campaigns listed on this page are full safety recalls; if your vehicle is covered, you can claim the repair at any time.

What if my dealer says they can't fix the recall?

Two situations: (1) parts shortage — manufacturers sometimes issue recalls before remedy parts are available; you may have to wait, but the dealer should give you a written acknowledgment that your vehicle is on the list. (2) Dealer error — if the dealer claims your VIN doesn't qualify when NHTSA's system says it does, escalate to NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline (1-888-327-4236). NHTSA can compel the manufacturer to honor the campaign.

When was the most recent recall on this vehicle issued?

The most recent recall in our records was campaign 22V304000, dated 2022-05-05. The oldest active campaign on file dates to 2021-12-01.

ProblemsByVin Recalls / 2021-KIA-RIO

2 active campaigns

2021 Kia Rio recalls

Every active NHTSA recall campaign for this vehicle, ranked by severity. Each entry shows the consequence if left unfixed and the manufacturer's prescribed remedy.

Critical

Severe

Moderate

Recall timeline

When were recalls issued for the 2021 Kia Rio? Recalls have been issued across 2 different years between 2021 and 2022.

Critical Severe Moderate

Embed this recall timeline

Free to use on your site, post, or video — just keep the "Source" credit line below the chart. Preview the widget →

<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/recall-timeline/2021-kia-rio/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2021 Kia Rio recall timeline" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2021-kia-rio/recalls/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2021 Kia Rio recall timeline — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

severe NHTSA 22V304000 May 5, 2022

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles

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.

severe NHTSA 21V936000 December 1, 2021

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Rio vehicles

Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

← Back to 2021 Kia Rio overview

Recall data sourced from the NHTSA recallsByVehicle public API. Each campaign number above links to the official federal record; you can also verify the full recall history at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Kia/Rio. Campaign numbers, consequences, and remedies are reproduced from the official record. Manufacturers are required to provide the remedy free of charge for safety recalls — contact your nearest dealer with the campaign number to schedule the repair.