Problems · NHTSA complaints
2008 Kia Rio problems
Owners filed 49 complaints about the 2008 Kia Rio with NHTSA between Mar 2008 and Dec 2021. The most-cited component is air bags (30).
Complaints
49
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags30
- Vehicle speed control4
- Engine3
- Exterior lighting3
- Service brakes, hydraulic3
- Power train2
- Seat belts2
- Suspension2
- Service brakes2
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Electrical system1
- Seats1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
6
5
7
4
1
3
6
6
7
1
0
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
30 reports10 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports1 crash
“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.”
Engine
3 reports
“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.”
Exterior lighting
3 reports
“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.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
3 reports1 crash
“EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE WHEN THERE IS THREE ADULTS IN VEHICLE. HAPPENS EITHER WHEN IT IS WARM,COLD,RAINING,DRY, FLAT OR GOING DOWNHILL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.”
Power train
2 reports
“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”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.