2008 Kia Rio Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2008 Kia Rio, and owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2008 Kia Rio
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
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 classification system (ocs) will cease to function such that the system will not be able to…
Remedy: 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.
46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 Kia Rio have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash. Reports cite 10 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 52,354 miles. Complaints peaked in 2010 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Air bag light on the dash board is allways on ever sens the car was purchased.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, December 4, 2021 · Air bags
“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 r”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 8, 2019 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2008 Kia Rio. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 29 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 25–27 / 32–35 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Kia Rio model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Rio model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Kia Rio | 0 | 3 |
| 2001 Kia Rio | 3 | 223 |
| 2002 Kia Rio | 1 | 128 |
| 2003 Kia Rio | 3 | 74 |
| 2004 Kia Rio | 2 | 38 |
| 2005 Kia Rio | 1 | 37 |
| 2006 Kia Rio | 1 | 74 |
| 2007 Kia Rio | 1 | 46 |
| 2008 Kia Rio | 1 | 46 |
| 2009 Kia Rio | 0 | 39 |
| 2010 Kia Rio | 0 | 26 |
| 2011 Kia Rio | 0 | 24 |
| 2012 Kia Rio | 1 | 54 |
| 2013 Kia Rio | 1 | 153 |
| 2014 Kia Rio | 1 | 52 |
| 2015 Kia Rio | 1 | 52 |
| 2016 Kia Rio | 2 | 77 |
| 2017 Kia Rio | 2 | 31 |
| 2018 Kia Rio | 1 | 28 |
| 2019 Kia Rio | 1 | 21 |
| 2020 Kia Rio | 1 | 27 |
| 2021 Kia Rio | 2 | 15 |
| 2022 Kia Rio | 1 | 11 |
| 2023 Kia Rio | 0 | 12 |
Checking a specific 2008 Kia Rio
How do I know if my 2008 Kia Rio has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2008 Kia Rio; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 12V244000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Optima7,512 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.