The 2022 Kia Rio has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 30 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the unknown or other. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING22V3040002022-05-0530 affected
Defect
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rio and Forte vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
Consequence
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
1injuries
BACK OVER PREVENTION
1
1crashes
ENGINE
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
1
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES
1
STEERING
1
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
1crashes
Total complaints12
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owns a 2022 kia rio. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the contact heard an abnormally loud bang and believed that the vehicle had been struck in the rear by an object. The contact opened the trunk and became aware that the trunk shocks had become detached from…”
“While attempting to raise the passenger side window slightly, the automatic window mechanism malfunctioned. Instead of stopping when lightly engaged, the window rolled all the way up and trapped my right wrist between the glass and the frame. When I pressed the window down button, the window…”
“When my car is running it makes a knocking noise from engine I have taken it th the dealer they heard it but said they can figure out where it's coming from. The engine runs hotter than normal. The rods I think are the cause”
“When traveling 60 mph and slowing to try to stop, brake pedal went all the way to the floor and vehicle would not brake. Had to engage emergency brake to stop vehicle during normal operation on multiple occasions. Once while stopped at a red light, vehicle was completely stopped, then the brake…”
“The contact owns a 2022 kia rio. The contact stated that the rearview camera would intermittently turn on while driving at various speeds. The contact also stated that while in reverse(r), the camera would intermittently display a blank or distorted image. Recently, the contact stated that the…”
“This is neither a failure nor a malfunction but on several occasions I have had the light switch turn off at night while driving. I can reach over and push a button to the left of the steering wheel under the ac/heat vent and in doing so my arm has rolled the headlight switch off. I have to hurry…”
“A deer ran out in front of me. I hit it head on. My hood unlatched and flew up and the hinges cut into the very top of the fenders. I don’t think a hood is supposed to pop open like this.”
“A deer ran out in front of me. I hit it head on. My hood unlatched and flew up and the hinges cut into the very top of the fenders. I don’t think a hood is supposed to pop open like this.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2022 Kia Rio as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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