NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Kia Rondo Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2008 Kia Rondo has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 97 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 Rondo, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2008 Kia Rondo owner complaints

Owners have filed 97 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Kia Rondo, describing incidents dated June 16, 2008 to November 14, 2023.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 22 complaints
Air Bags 18 complaints
Engine 16 complaints
Structure 11 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control 11 complaints
Suspension 10 complaints

Of the 97 complaints on file, 14 report a crash; across all 97 complaints, owners report 11 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11555630 · Filed November 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Rondo. The contact stated that while driving approximately 24 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop immediately as intended. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where…
ODI #11543589 · Filed September 9, 2023
After hearing a popping in my front end for two days I took my car into my mechanic. He took a look at it and said he’d never seen anything like it before. My stabilizer bar had completely ripped apart from my subframe. He said the metal was as thin as a few pieces of paper and there was rust. He…
ODI #11383788 · Filed December 16, 2020
MY VEHICLE REVES UP HIGH WHEN I START IT AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD JUST CUT OFF AND THERE'S GAS FUMES I SMELLINSIDE MY KIA, IT ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING.

Read all 97 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2008 Kia Rondo in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP22-003: Loss of Motive Power
Closed December 12, 2023

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently

NHTSA #13V114000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 1, 2013 · Kia Motors Corporation

Potentially affected: 980,377 vehicles

Kia campaign SC098 · Owners notified April 19, 2013 · Vehicles built January 31, 2007 – July 30, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Safety consequence

Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #12V014000 · Air Bags — Frontal · NHTSA notice

Reported January 17, 2012 · KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 145,755 vehicles

Kia campaign SC094 · Owners notified July 11, 2012 · Vehicles built September 13, 2006 – March 21, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. IF THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DAMAGED, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.

Safety consequence

IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.

Manufacturer remedy

KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS SC094.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FUEL PUMP SUB-ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #08V459000 · Fuel System, Gasoline — Storage · NHTSA notice

Reported September 11, 2008 · Kia Motors Corporation

Potentially affected: 6,680 vehicles

Kia campaign SC074 · Owners notified September 22, 2008 · Vehicles built November 5, 2007 – July 12, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

KIA IS RECALLING 6,680 MY 2008-2009 RONDO LX AND EX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4 LITER ENGINE. THE FUEL PUMP MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE. POOR ENGINE STARTING, ENGINE HESITATION, AND OTHER IMPAIRMENT MAY RESULT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE.

Safety consequence

UNUSUALLY SEVERE IMPAIRMENT WHILE DRIVING COULD EXPOSE THE DRIVER TO THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SUB-ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED PART. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.

Notes

KIA RECALL NO. SC074.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO 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 Rondo 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control

1 investigation

97 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Kia Rondo.

Service Brakes, Air

ODI #11555630

Incident: November 14, 2023 · Filed: November 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 Kia Rondo. The contact stated that while driving approximately 24 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop immediately as intended. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,000.

Suspension; Structure

ODI #11543589

Incident: September 4, 2023 · Filed: September 9, 2023

After hearing a popping in my front end for two days I took my car into my mechanic. He took a look at it and said he’d never seen anything like it before. My stabilizer bar had completely ripped apart from my subframe. He said the metal was as thin as a few pieces of paper and there was rust. He contacted Kia to see if there were any campaigns on my car and there was one for an anti corrosion coating that was not applied. I took my car to my local Kia dealership and they were not interested in helping and said they couldn’t even look at it for diagnosis for at least a month and even then didn’t know if they would cover it. I am 38 weeks pregnant and have two small children and my mechanic said it was a major safety issue to drive it as is. I contacted Kia corporate and they informed me that it would be covered but I would have to get it diagnosed at a dealership first or pay for it out of pocket. I’ve contacted every dealership within two hours of me and they have all said they can’t help or haven’t gotten back to me. Kia says they can’t be of more help because each dealership is independently owned.

Vehicle Speed Control; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11383788

Incident: June 10, 2020 · Filed: December 16, 2020

MY VEHICLE REVES UP HIGH WHEN I START IT AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD JUST CUT OFF AND THERE'S GAS FUMES I SMELLINSIDE MY KIA, IT ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING.

Vehicle Speed Control; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11374954

Incident: August 16, 2020 · Filed: November 16, 2020

MY RONDO SPEEDS UP WHILE I'M DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD, AND IT SMELLS OF GAS INSIDE MY RONDO, IT RUNS HIGH WHEN I START IT AND THERE'S A HESITATION BEFORE IT DRIVES.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11348672

Incident: April 13, 2020 · Filed: August 11, 2020

THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS FUMES PERIODICALLY IN THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE, I EVEN SMELL IT WHEN MY VEHICLE IS PARKED AND WHEN I START MY VEHICLE IT HESITATES TO START AND I HAVE TO RESTART IT OVER.

Air Bags

ODI #11279090

Crash 1 injury

Incident: November 7, 2019 · Filed: November 8, 2019

WAS IN CAR ACCIDENT AT 55 MPH 3 CAR WRECK. IMPACT WITH REAR OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. AIR BAGS ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY. WAS ON HIGHWAY.

Unknown or Other; Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11269343

Incident: October 11, 2019 · Filed: October 18, 2019

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I REFUEL MY VEHICLE IT HAS DIFFICULTY RESTARTING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, IT HAS STARTED TO STALL. LOOKING AT FORUMS I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE SAME "ISSUE" BUT NO SOLUTIONS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND IT COMES BACK WITH AN EVAP CODE. THE CODES HAVE BEEN CLEARED BUT COME RIGHT BACK ON. I SEE THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED, I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE THE FALL OF 2009 AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAVEN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS DOES NOT SHOW UP WHEN I DO THE RECALL SEARCH. HAS IT ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THE VEHICLE?

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11267312

Incident: September 28, 2019 · Filed: October 9, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. A PASSERBY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP OR ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE FAILED. THE PASSERBY BANGED ON THE FUEL TANK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY UNKNOWN RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, BUT ALL LINES LED BACK TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL DODGE KIA (3 SAUNDERS WAY, WESTBROOK, ME 04092, (207) 854-3200) AND THEY INITIALLY HUNG UP ON HER. THEY LATER STATED THAT THEIR WEBSITE WAS DOWN AND PROMISED A CALL BACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11257241

Incident: July 15, 2011 · Filed: September 22, 2019

THE FUEL PUMP IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY RESULTING IN NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE. POOR ENGINE STARTING AND ENGINE HESITATION. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON BECAUSE OF THIS.

Suspension

ODI #11210387

Incident: May 28, 2019 · Filed: May 28, 2019

I TOOK MY 2008 KIA RONDO FOR THE ANNUAL WV STATE INSPECTION TODAY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A BROKEN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING. HE SAID THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE SPRING SHOULD POP OUT OF IT'S NORMAL POSITION. HE SAID THAT THE END OF THE SPRING COULD RUPTURE THE TIRE AND CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY HANDLING OR NOISES THAT ALERTED ME TO THIS CONDITION, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE BROKEN. I DO NOT SEE ANY KIA RECALLS FOR THIS CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS 112,500 MILES ON IT.

Other Kia Rondo model years

Check your 2008 Kia Rondo VIN

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

Check a Kia VIN