2008 Kia Rio Problems, Recalls & Reliability
57 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2008 Kia Rio, alongside 1 recall campaign and 0 defect investigations. It scores 20/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 65,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2008 Kia Rio has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2008 sits among all Rio years
What owners report
“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…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2008 Rio
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 42 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 65,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 19,000 and 96,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
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…
Fix: 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.
Technical service bulletins
35 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on airbags and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2008 Kia Rio. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2008 Kia Rio reliable?
The 2008 Kia Rio drew 57 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 20/100, scored against the model's worst year (2001).
What are the most common 2008 Kia Rio problems?
The top reported problems for the 2008 Kia Rio are airbags (27 complaints), brakes & stability (5), and engine (5).
At what mileage do 2008 Kia Rio problems show up?
Owners most often report 2008 Kia Rio problems around 65,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 19,000 and 96,000 miles.
Does the 2008 Kia Rio have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2008 Kia Rio. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.