Model year
2008 Kia Rio
NHTSA lists 1 recall and 46 complaints for the 2008 Kia Rio (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 0 recalls and 3 complaints under RIO5. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are AIR BAGS (23), AIR BAGS:FRONTAL (4), ENGINE (3). NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here. EPA rates it 29 mpg combined (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $2,300, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2001 223 complaints
- 2002 128 complaints
- 2003 74 complaints
- 2004 38 complaints
- 2005 37 complaints
- 2006 74 complaints
- 2007 46 complaints
- 2008 46 complaints
- 2009 39 complaints
- 2010 26 complaints
- 2011 24 complaints
- 2012 54 complaints
- 2013 153 complaints
- 2014 52 complaints
- 2015 52 complaints
- 2016 78 complaints
- 2017 31 complaints
- 2018 28 complaints
- 2019 22 complaints
- 2020 27 complaints
- 2021 15 complaints
- 2022 12 complaints
- 2023 12 complaints
Recalls
12V244000 · May 31, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL: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…
Complaints
46 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 11, fire flag on 0, injury field 10, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Other NHTSA names
These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.
| Name | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| RIO5 | 0 | 3 |
Investigations
No investigations are matched to this name.
Safety ratings
NHTSA star ratings from before model year 2011 use an older method and are not shown here.
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio · 1.6L · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 | 35 | 29 | — | — | $2,300 |
| Rio · 1.6L · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 27 | 32 | 29 | — | — | $2,300 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2008 Kia Rio at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.