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2023 Kia Rio
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
12 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 13, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2023 Kia Rio, plotted where owners report it happening.
Engine
25%3 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“I’ve been hearing this rattle noise mostly when I crank the vehicle. I took it to go get checked out and they heard it when I first brought it in for them to check. Bu…”
Steering
25%3 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The vehicle has difficulty following a center line, higher than normal steering wheel input is required. Feels like the vehicle is being driven in strong crosswinds at…”
Transmission & drivetrain
17%2 complaints
“I was driving around 10mph when I noticed that the transmission would not shift at all. The RPM would only increase but the car does not accelerate. Kia dealership con…”
Electrical system
17%2 complaints
“I bought a new 2023 Kia Rio on Mar. 13. Within 30 hours of getting it home it was entered by thieves who wrecked the ignition system trying to steal it. The dealer did…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2023 Kia RIO beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2023? See how every Rio model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2023 Kia Rio against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.