NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Kia Rio Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2008 Kia Rio has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 46 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Kia Rio, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 Kia Rio owner complaints

Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Kia Rio, describing incidents dated March 21, 2008 to December 4, 2021.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 27 complaints
Engine 5 complaints
Service Brakes 5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 3 complaints
Exterior Lighting 2 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 2 complaints

Of the 46 complaints on file, 11 report a crash; across all 46 complaints, owners report 10 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11442672 · Filed December 4, 2021
AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD IS ALLWAYS ON EVER SENS THE CAR WAS PURCHASED.
ODI #11267065 · Filed October 8, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE AND CLUTCH CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PROVIDED A COST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT WHAT TYPE OF CLUTCH WAS NEEDED TO…
ODI #11181015 · Filed February 19, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. THE COMPUTER THAT TELLS THE TRANSMISSION TO SWITCH GEARS IS STUCK AND DOASNT WORK. MY CAR WILL ONLY STAY IN 3RD GEAR AND REVERSE. IT HAS NO POWER AND GOES IN LIMP MODE. I HAVE 3 SMALL KIDS AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH IT LIKE THIS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. PLZ HELP…

Read all 46 complaints

OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT

NHTSA #12V244000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported May 31, 2012 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 72,568 vehicles

Kia campaign SC097 · Owners notified July 26, 2012

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

KIA'S SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SC097.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

2008 Kia Rio 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

2008 Kia Rio 5-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

46 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Kia Rio.

Air Bags

ODI #11442672

Incident: December 4, 2021 · Filed: December 4, 2021

AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD IS ALLWAYS ON EVER SENS THE CAR WAS PURCHASED.

Power Train; Engine

ODI #11267065

Incident: May 23, 2019 · Filed: October 8, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE AND CLUTCH CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO PROVIDED A COST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO THE MANUFACTURER TO FIND OUT WHAT TYPE OF CLUTCH WAS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Vehicle Speed Control; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Engine

ODI #11181015

Incident: January 1, 2019 · Filed: February 19, 2019

TAKATA RECALL. THE COMPUTER THAT TELLS THE TRANSMISSION TO SWITCH GEARS IS STUCK AND DOASNT WORK. MY CAR WILL ONLY STAY IN 3RD GEAR AND REVERSE. IT HAS NO POWER AND GOES IN LIMP MODE. I HAVE 3 SMALL KIDS AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH IT LIKE THIS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. PLZ HELP ME.

Air Bags; Seat Belts

ODI #11001621

Crash 1 injury

Incident: June 24, 2017 · Filed: June 27, 2017

FOLLOWING A TIRE BLOWOUT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THEN OUT OF A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50MPH. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT OPERATE.

Suspension

ODI #10926412

Incident: March 7, 2015 · Filed: November 16, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY AND MADE A LOUD NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING FAILED. THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL BEARING WAS REPLACED APPROXIMATELY NINE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10914494

Crash

Incident: September 29, 2016 · Filed: October 7, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SKIDDED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COLLISION LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,292.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #10864025

Incident: May 9, 2012 · Filed: May 9, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN IGNITION COIL FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10861389

Incident: February 9, 2015 · Filed: April 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 196,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10854461

Incident: January 15, 2016 · Filed: April 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

Air Bags

ODI #10854458

Incident: April 1, 2016 · Filed: April 8, 2016

AIR BAG LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED OVER NIGHT.(VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY) REJECTION INSPECTION STICKER BECAUSE OF AIR BAG LIGHT. KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE "PASSENGER PRESSANCE MODULE" IS MESSED UP AND IS CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. CONCERN; OVER 72,000 '06- '08 KIA RIOS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME THING. BUT MINE WASN'T? AND NOW MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WANTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING THAT I FEEL LIKE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

Other Kia Rio model years

Check your 2008 Kia Rio VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Rio at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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