2008 Kia Rio Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2008 Kia Rio, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags2749.1%
- Engine59.1%
- Brakes59.1%
- Driver assistance35.5%
- Exterior lighting23.6%
- Fuel system23.6%
- Other / unspecified23.6%
- Suspension23.6%
- Transmission11.8%
- Powertrain (other)11.8%
- Seat belts11.8%
- Steering11.8%
- Visibility11.8%
- Interior & seats11.8%
- Electrical11.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD IS ALLWAYS ON EVER SENS THE CAR WAS PURCHASED.
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.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED BULBS AND CHECKED FUSE BUT STILL NOTHING. GOOD SAMARITAN PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AT A RED LIGHT TO LET ME KNOW, LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME.
MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THANKFULLY, I HAD A FRIEND FOLLOWING ME TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM, OR ELSE THIS COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE ON 2 OCCASIONS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. ALSO, WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 5MPH AND UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A WHINING SOUND. THE DEALER ADVISED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21632. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. REPLACED BULBS AND CHECKED FUSE BUT STILL NOTHING. GOOD SAMARITAN PULLED UP NEXT TO ME AT A RED LIGHT TO LET ME KNOW, LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AND I WAS ONLY A FEW BLOCKS FROM HOME.
MY BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THANKFULLY, I HAD A FRIEND FOLLOWING ME TO NOTICE THE PROBLEM, OR ELSE THIS COULD HAVE LED TO AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER FILLUP THE GAS TANK CAR SHAKE AND DIE WHEN RUNING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE 2ND CAR DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
2009 KIA RIO HAD STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CAR CABIN, LAST THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 PM ON LARGE BUSY HIGHWAY. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND UNDER CAR CARRIAGE FOR LEAKING GAS. NO LEAKS NOTED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ODOR WAS STRONG MY EYES WERE BURNING AND I GOT A HEADACHE. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND TOOK CAR IN. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, IT WAS NORMAL IN HOT WEATHER FOR IT TO VENT. THE SERVICE REP DID NOTE THE STRONG ODOR OF GAS. TOOK IT HOME AND GARAGED IT WITH GAS HOT WATER HEATER IN THE GARAGE. NEXT MORNING I AWOKE ON THE THIRD FLOOR CONDO TO THE SMELL OF GAS. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG IN THE GARAGE, IT OVERWHELMED ME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO KIA AND THEY EXAMINED IT AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. NOTIFIED THE 1-800 KIA NUMBER. I HAD THE LOCAL KIA CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER, IT WAS NOT DUE FOR THAT YET BUT THEY SAID IT MIGHT HELP. IT HAS TO BE TOXIC TO BE INHALING THAT KIND OF FUME. HOW CAN ANYONE CONSIDER THIS NORMAL? I THOUGHT WE HAD EMISSIONS STANDARDS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM THIS. IS MY GARAGE GOING TO IGNITE? *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER FILLUP THE GAS TANK CAR SHAKE AND DIE WHEN RUNING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE 2ND CAR DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
HEATER FAN BLOWS COLD AIR AT IDLE, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE ON 2 OCCASIONS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. ALSO, WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 5MPH AND UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A WHINING SOUND. THE DEALER ADVISED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21632. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
DURING ACCELERATION BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICKS TO 3RD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDER OR SHAKES REAL HARD, THE KIA DEALER IS SAYING "NO PROBLEMS FOUND". THIS HAPPENS USUALLY ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MERGING ONTO TRAFFIC, ACCELERATING FROM 40 MPH TO THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE FREEWAY AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO DOWNSHIFT DURING HEAVY ACCELERATION THEN SHIFT BACK TO 4TH GEAR HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STAYS IN 3RD AND THE TACHOMETER GOES TO THE 6,000 RPM REDLINE. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS TO LET OFF THE GAS AND ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX IT SELF WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WENT TO GO AROUND A CURVE AND STEERING LOCKED UP,THE CAR WAS TOTAL LOST. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RED AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. A SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS MALFUNCTIONING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2006 TO 2008 KIA RIOS FOR THIS SAME FATIGUE FAILURE ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THE GENERAL FIX IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT COSTING APPROXIMATELY 1500 OR MORE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .