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Kia RIOModel year report

2008 Kia RIO Problems

Compared with other Kia RIO years

Typical for this model

58/100 1.2× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2010

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
46filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
46,000miles, 39 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
29 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Kia RIO (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 46 consumer complaints for the 2008 Kia RIO. The part named most often is air bags, with 27 complaints (59% of the total), followed by brakes (5) and engine (3). 39 of the complaints include a mileage, and 54% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 46,000 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 10 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 35 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the sensor/control module-inactive and 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Compared with the other 10 Kia RIO model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 58 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Electrical system (1), Electronic stability control (1), Other or unknown (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Steering (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “I have driver/passenger and side airbags. I was blindsided by a dodge dakota on the passenger side. Her vehicle slammed both of my doors on the passenger side so badly neither one would open and my daughter had to climb out of my side. One was directly at the side airbag, my car was totaled to say the least as it had multiple damage to it. What should I do about the airbags not deploying?”

NHTSA complaint #10551111, filed 2013-11, 75,852 miles

Brakes: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10735040, filed 2015-07, 96,000 miles

Engine: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11181015, filed 2019-02

Vehicle speed control: “While driving on the interstate at 70 MPH, vehicle speedometer and tachometer went to zero and there was no response when pressing on gas pedal. Vehicle then died and had to be restarted. Vehicle was taken to dealership. Dealership had vehicle for 1 week was unable to find anything wrong and would not replace any parts. Vehicle has yet to duplicate issue. 3 days prior to return of vehicle dealership stated they had found issues with the vehicle and something was wrong and they were going to order parts. …”

NHTSA complaint #10226542, filed 2008-05, 2,616 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

54% of the 39 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,000 and 87,292 miles.

28%0–1010%10–2515%25–5010%50–7518%75–10015%100–1503%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (39 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 46,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2009720112013201520172021
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2008 Kia RIO. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
RIO · hatchback FWDnot rated4 / 5———
RIO · sedan FWDnot rated4 / 5———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2008 Kia RIO version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Rio FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic253529$2,300
Rio FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual273229$2,300

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Kia RIO → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 35 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 35 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia RIO

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202312100,9000—36—Too new
20221270,5001—36—Not enough data
202115—2—36—Stable
2020272,7801—3673 · MoreStable
2019224,4501—32—Stable
20182835,7851—3212 · FewerRising
20173136,500243135 · FewerRising
20167950,500243165 · MoreRising
20155260,000143045 · TypicalRising
20145233,000143071 · MoreRising
201315364,626143289 · MoreRising
20125464,000143250 · TypicalFalling
20112461,0000—30—Rising
20102663,0000—3133 · FewerFalling
20093948,2000—3044 · TypicalFalling
20084646,0001—2958 · TypicalFalling
20074657,0181—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20067463,4951—29Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20053751,0001—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20043868,5202—25Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20037430,0003—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200212836,7501—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200122348,0003—26Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Kia RIO model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Kia RIO have?

NHTSA recorded 46 consumer complaints for the 2008 Kia RIO as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Kia RIO is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 27 complaints (59% of the total), followed by brakes with 5.

Has the 2008 Kia RIO been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Kia RIO get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Kia RIO (Rio, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 25 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Kia RIO reported?

Among the 39 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 46,000 miles and the middle half falls between 9,000 and 87,292 miles; 54% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.