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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Kia RONDO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

97 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

69,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 97 complaints (18.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1919.6%
Steering behavior1212.4%
Fuel system concerns1212.4%
Engine operation1010.3%
Transmission and shifting44.1%
Electrical and battery issues22.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags
18
Fuel/Propulsion System
16
Engine
11
Vehicle Speed Control
11
Steering
8
Suspension
8
Electrical System
6
Unknown Or Other
6
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags18
Fuel/Propulsion System16
Engine11
Vehicle Speed Control11
Steering8
Suspension8
Electrical System6
Unknown Or Other6

Air Bags: 18; Fuel/Propulsion System: 16; Engine: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Steering: 8; Suspension: 8; Electrical System: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
10
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
23
75,000 to 99,999
17
100,000 to 149,999
16
150,000 and above
6
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00010
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99923
75,000 to 99,99917
100,000 to 149,99916
150,000 and above6

Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 6

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2008
2
2009
7
2010
7
2011
7
2012
11
2013
10
2014
13
2015
12
2016
7
2017
3
2018
6
2019
7
2020
3
2023
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20082
20097
20107
20117
201211
201310
201413
201512
20167
20173
20186
20197
20203
20232

2008: 2; 2009: 7; 2010: 7; 2011: 7; 2012: 11; 2013: 10; 2014: 13; 2015: 12; 2016: 7; 2017: 3; 2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 3; 2023: 2

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10278076 · 2009-07-23 (July 23, 2009)

SEVERE VIBRATION AND SHAKING FELT IN STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED OVER 50 MPH. DEALERSHIP HAS BALANCED WHEELS, RESURFACED ROTORS, WORKED ON BRAKES, AND IS STILL UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278076 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10299831 · 2010-01-15 (January 15, 2010)

I HAVE 2008 KIA RONDO EX. IT JERKS WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 2ND GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. DURING THE SHIFT, THE VEHICLES SUDDENLY PULLS BACK (FEELS LIKE THE BRAKE WAS SUDDENLY PUSHED) AND THEN ACCELERATES. THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN FOR ME AS IT MAY LEAD INTO ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IN THE WINTER WHEN ROADS ARE SLIPPERY. SOMETIMES EVERYTHING SEEMS WELL. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WITH JERK EFFECT LOW TO HIGH. I HAVE ALREADY REPORTED THREE TIMES ABOUT IT WITH THE KIA DEALER BUT THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEM AND INSISTED THAT NOTHIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299831 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10293119 · 2009-11-21 (November 21, 2009)

REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT 35 MPH AND AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE SEAT BELT NEVER CAUGHT EITHER THROWING DRIVER INTO STEERING WHEEL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293119 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10392697 · 2011-03-23 (March 23, 2011)

MY 2008 KIA RONDO 2.7 ALWAYS HESITATES AFTER I FILL THE GAS TANK, AND RECENTLY IT CUTS OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING, WHEN THIS OCCURS I LOSE MY ABILITY TO STEER THE CAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10392697 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10416344 · 2011-07-30 (July 30, 2011)

I OWN A 2008 KIA RONDO WITH A 2.7 LITER 6 CYL ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS THAT THE 2.4 LITER 4 CYL HAS HAD THAT CAUSED A FUEL PUMP RECALL. IT STALLS BECAUSE IT CAN NOT GET SUFFICIENT GAS. IT DOES NOT WANT TO START AFTER GETTING GAS, AND IT IS HAVING A GAS STARVATION ISSUE. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH THE 4 CYL. I CONTACTED KIA AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE AS A RECALL. AT ONE POINT THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I ALMOST WRECKED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416344 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10266630 · 2009-04-24 (April 24, 2009)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO LX. THE TRANSMISSION IS STALLING AND GRINDING THE GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE THERE MONTHS AGO WHICH IS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE KIA MANUFACTURER SENT A LETTER TO THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150.

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266630 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10660821 · 2014-11-25 (November 25, 2014)

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, OUR KIA RONDO HAS EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS OUR POWER STEERING AND OUR DASHBOARD LIGHTS. THESE HAVE ALL OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. WE DROVE THROUGH A SMALL PUDDLE IN THE ROAD AND OUR POWER STEERING FAILED. AT THE SAME TIME OUR SEATBELT LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND OUR BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND EVERYTHING BEGAN WORKING AGAIN IN ABOUT ONE MINUTE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660821 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11184614 · 2019-03-06 (March 6, 2019)

TAKATA RECALL-THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING FOR PASSENGER. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK FOR THE WINDOWS. AND ONE MORE THING. THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOORS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND EASILY BREAK, SO YOU CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE DOORS.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11184614 at NHTSA ↗