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KLUNK
KLUNK

2008 Kia Rio

The Verdict

88 Smooth Ride

The 2008 Kia Rio has 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (30 complaints) and body (7 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 88/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Kia Rio, consider the 2022 model year which has 79% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2022 has 79% fewer complaints

View the 2022 Kia Rio dashboard →

88

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

We email you when NHTSA issues a new recall on the 2008 Kia Rio. No spam, no marketing.

Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20017813457217
2002351831658
20031910172711
20041627187
20051015182
20061034992
2007672553
2008753061
20091211792
2010441061
201154870
2012959290
2013222245593
2014588273
20156107281
201611149412
2017954111
2018705150
201991461
202092555
202173122
202261120
202370131

By Category

Electrical
30
Body
7
Engine
6
Brakes
5
Transmission
1

By Severity

1
21
2
15
4
13

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 2

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

56mo ago
Engine 1

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.

82mo ago
Engine 1

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.

90mo ago
Electrical 4

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.

110mo ago
Body 1

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.

117mo ago
Electrical 4

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.

119mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNEDA 2008 KIA RIO5. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING.AS A RESULT, THE TIRES SPUN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND OVER A CURB, SLIGHTLY STRIKINGTHE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL.THEAIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 09/29/16*LJ *TR

121mo ago
Engine 2

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.

124mo ago
Electrical 2

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.

124mo ago
Electrical 1

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.

125mo ago
Electrical 1

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.

125mo ago
Brakes 1

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.

133mo ago
Electrical 2

2008 KIA RIO-PURCHASED 10/2008, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES AT ALL TIMES WHILE CAR IS OPERATED, BEGINNG LATE 2009 EARLY 2010 PROBLEM AROSE. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AT KIA SINCE 2009 AND THEY NEW OF THIS PROBLEM YET NEVER RESOLVED THE ISSUE.. 7/16/15 KIA MOTORS OF KAILUA-KONA HAWAII SCANNED CAR FOR CODE, CODE SHOWS B1448 OCS MAT DEFECT, THEY WANT ME TO PAY 1200$ FOR A TANAKA AIRBAG RECALL. WHY IS MY VIN# NOT SHOWING UP FOR RECALL? THEIRS OTHER VIN WITH SAME RECALL PROBLEMS? MY CAR WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO THIS PROBLEM DONE BY WEST COAST DETAILINGS. CAR PASSED EVERY YEAR BEFORE WHY NOT NOW? DUE TO THIS OCS MAT DEFECT CODE B1448-AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AT ALL TIMES WHILE CAR IS OPERATED, SAFETY OF LIVES ARE KEY FACTORS NOT PROFIT BEFORE PEOPLE OR REPUTATION OF KIA / HYUNDAI CORPORATION.

133mo ago
Electrical 1

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

137mo ago
Electrical 2

2008 KIA RIO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AIRBAG WARNING SYSTEM PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING WHILE HIS WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATED THE AIR BAG WAS OFF. THERE WERE OTHER TIMES WHEN THE LIGHT INDICATED IT WAS ON. THE DEALER STATED THE PASSENGER WAS TOO LIGHT, AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. *JB

138mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONLY WHEN AN OCCUPANT WAS PRESENT AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

139mo ago
Electrical 1

KIA HAS A RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000) FOR YEAR 2006-2008 RIO VEHICLES, MY KIA RIO IS A 2008 HOWEVER IT IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE VIN DUE TO I'M GUESSING BEING MANUFACTURED AFTER THE CUT OFF DATE, HOWEVER THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS NOW COME ON AND THE PASSENGER WARNING LIGHT NO LONGER WORKS. I HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED TODAY AND KIA INFORMED ME IT WAS THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT HAD CRACKED. FROM THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. 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. I'M ASKING/WONDERING HOW I CAN GET MY VEHICLE ON THE RECALL LIST IF POSSIBLE. THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME I NEED TO HAVE THE ENTIRE SEAT REPLACED AT $2500 TO FIX THE ISSUE. IS THIS HOW THE SENSOR WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL OR ARE THEY ABLE TO REPLACE JUST THE CRACKED SENSOR? ITS SOUNDING A LITTLE FISHY THAT THEY CANT REPLACE JUST THE SENSOR. MY VEHICLE IS STILL AT KIA SO I DON'T HAVE MY VIN# ON ME AT THE MOMENT. I WOULD LIKE A REPLY IF POSSIBLE AND CAN GIVE MY VIN AT THAT TIME. *TR

139mo ago
Electrical 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

141mo ago
Electrical 2

THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED & WILL NOT GO OFF. AFTER HAVING A DIAGNOSTICS RUN ON IT I WAS TOLD I HAD TO REPLACE OCS MAT SENSOR. YOU CAN'T BUY JUST THE SENSOR, YOU HAVE TO BUY THE SEAT WHICH CONTAINS THE SENSOR FOR $800. WHEN I CALLED KIA $ QUESTIONED THE RECALL, I WAS TOLD MY VIN DID NOT QUALIFY. FUNNY HOW I SEE SO MANY COMPLAINTS THAT READ JUST LIKE MINE ABOUT A 2008 KIA RIO. I THINK THE RECALL SHOULD EXTEND FURTHER TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER FROM BEING RIPPED OFF. *TR

143mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAG). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000.

145mo ago

49 total

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