KiaRio2023Overview/kia/rio/2023/base/

2023 Kia Rio

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Rio.

Transmission Automatic (AV-S1)

The 2023 Kia Rio is characterized by its Automatic (AV-S1) transmission and an EPA fuel economy rating of 32/41/36 mpg. When assessed within the model's complaint history spanning 2000 to 2023, this year represents a high point for the nameplate's reliability. Recording zero recalls and only 12 total owner complaints—primarily classified under the broad "Unknown Or Other" category—the 2023 Rio sits far below the model's 2001 peak of 227 complaints and near its 2000 low of just 3, indicating a mature, stable vehicle with minimal documented issues for researchers to consider.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162015

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy32/41/36 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

Tail / brake / turnAUTOOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S1)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length160.2 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height57.1 in
Wheelbase101.6 in
Curb weight2549 lb
Track (front / rear)59.4 / 59.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined32 / 41 / 36 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume90 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Rio of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5–9.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 2018 EX 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2021S 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-48.60 sec16.80 sec120 hpFWD
2021S 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-48.60 sec16.70 sec120 hpFWD
2018EX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-48.50 sec16.70 sec130 hpFWD
2018EX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-48.70 sec16.60 sec130 hpFWD
2018EX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-49.00 sec16.80 sec130 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.87-.98 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.72-4.38 oz

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 96,000 mi; coolant every 24,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 24,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 8,000 miCabin Air Filter (inspect)
Every 8,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 16,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 24,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 48,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 48,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed)
Every 96,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2023 Kia Rio sits at the tail end of a generation that has seen a clear downward trend in complaints and recalls since a peak in 2013. With only 12 complaints, zero recalls, and zero investigations, the 2023 model is among the best-performing years in the entire federal record, continuing the improvement seen from 2021 onward. The TSB count has also dropped sharply to 19, the lowest since 2000, suggesting the platform is well-sorted and requires fewer dealer-level fixes. The top complaint areas are minimal and non-critical, with no crash or fire reports. This is a strong year to buy, as the data indicates a mature, low-risk model with no outstanding safety issues.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
19
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
12
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 12 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other2
Unknown Or Other,Engine1
Steering1
Engine1
Power Train,Electrical System,Engine1
Steering,Suspension,Wheels1
Steering,Suspension,Unknown Or Other1
Seat Belts1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 19 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_ELE4222026-05-27Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM SOFTWARE UPDATE USING UPDATE.KIA.COM…
PS7972025-12-09Back Over PreventionPITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop…
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
TSB_ELE3782025-03-20Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: KIA CONNECT MODEM RESET (SA611) - This…
TSB_ELE338_R12025-01-09Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: SERVICE ACTION: DISPLAY AUDIO 2.0/AVN5WSOFTWARE UPDATE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Rio. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 Rio have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rio get?

EPA figures are 32 city / 41 highway / 36 combined mpg.