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2008 Kia Rio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.5.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

39 reports with mileage · 7 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports0 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

46 reports
96,000 miles · Jul 19, 2015
Exterior LightingService 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 ODI #10735040

3,500 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Air Bags

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 DEFEC…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10734866

130,000 miles · Apr 3, 2015
Air BagsSeats

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

NHTSA ODI #10703533

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2015
Air Bags

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 IND…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10690382

90,000 miles · Feb 12, 2015
Air Bags

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 DIAGNOS…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10682898

33,256 miles · Jan 20, 2015
Air Bags

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 A…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10676821

106,000 miles · Dec 17, 2014
Air Bags

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 TH…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10664899

110,125 miles · Oct 3, 2014
Air Bags

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 COMPLAI…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10641286

46,000 miles · Aug 4, 2014
Air Bags

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.…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10618642

86,000 miles · Feb 19, 2014
Exterior LightingService Brakes

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

NHTSA ODI #10564990

Official recalls

1

12V244000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

May 31, 2012

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 DETECT WHETHER A CHILD PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY DURING A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.