2008 Kia RIO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
46 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
46,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 23 of 46 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 13.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.2% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 23 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
Air Bags: 23; Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Engine: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 7 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2008: 6; 2009: 5; 2010: 7; 2011: 4; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 6; 2016: 6; 2017: 1; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10222953 · 2008-03-31 (March 31, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT'S CHEST STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. HE HAS A PACEMAKER AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 48.
Owner-reported narrative. 48 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226542 · 2008-05-03 (May 3, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER WENT TO ZERO AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE WHEN PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. VEHICLE THEN DIED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP HAD VEHICLE FOR 1 WEEK WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS. VEHICLE HAS YET TO DUPLICATE ISSUE. 3 DAYS PRIOR TO RETURN OF VEHICLE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAD FOUND ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND SOMETHING WAS WRONG AND THEY WERE GOING TO ORDER PARTS. WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CALLED STATING REPAIR…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,616 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231834 · 2008-06-20 (June 20, 2008)
WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL ROAD TRAVELING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, I SWERVED TO AVOID HITTING A DEAR AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. I WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH INJURIES TO MY NECK, BACK, LEFT SHOULDER AND LEFT KNEE. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231834 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10238421 · 2008-08-15 (August 15, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO LX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE NEVER NOTICED ANY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT AND A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10238421 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242039 · 2008-09-13 (September 13, 2008)
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOES NOT COME ON WITH MY WIFE SETTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. SHE WEIGHTS 110# AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT SHE WAS TO LIGHT TO TURN THE AIRBAG ON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A PERSON 110# SHOULD TURN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT YET BUT IF IT DID OCCUR THERE WOULD BE NO AIRBAG PROTECTION FOR THE PASSENGER. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252926 · 2008-12-27 (December 27, 2008)
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED WHEN DRIVERS DOOR WAS CLOSED, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANT. I HAD TO PAY $247.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256496 · 2009-01-27 (January 27, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE OFF. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR SHOULD ALWAYS BE ILLUMINATED UNLESS MORE THAN 70 LBS. IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDICATOR WILL NOT DIM THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NO REPAIRS WILL BE MADE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,026.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,026 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266513 · 2009-04-23 (April 23, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; AN AGGRESSIVE AND FORCEFUL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID STRIKING TWO DEER IN THE ROAD. SUDDENLY, THE BRAKES LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES OR DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION WITH CAUTION. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN CLEANED THE SERVICE BRAKES; ALTHOUGH, HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR IDEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266513 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
12V244000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Reported: 2012-05-31 (May 31, 2012)
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 RIO VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2005, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT CAN EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING. IF SUFFICIENT CRACKING OCCURS, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION SUCH THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT WHETHER A CHILD PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY DURING A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence: AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.
Remedy: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCS SEAT SENSOR MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA campaign record ↗