Kia Rio Complaints (2008)
46 consumer complaints on file.
- #10551111November 6, 2013AIR 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? *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10512119May 15, 2013AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE OCS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10503105March 15, 2013AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SEAT SENSOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V244000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 4/24/13 *CN UPDATED 05/17/2013*JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10449052February 23, 2012FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AFTER FILLUP THE GAS TANK CAR SHAKE AND DIE WHEN RUNING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE 2ND CAR DOING THE SAME THING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10405575June 8, 2011AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2008 KIA RIO. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON MAY 30, 2011. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK WITH THIS LIGHT ON. THE CAR HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT COVERED AFTER 60,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT TO GET THE NEW SENSOR NEEDED AT A COST OF OVER $500. FOR WHAT I HAVE READ ON INTERNET FORUMS, THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SENSORS AND/OR WIRES TO THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING ON THE 2008 KIA RIO SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, IN ADDITION TO OTHER MODELS. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP IN ATHENS, GA, THEY INDICATED I COULD JUST WEAR MY SEAT BELT. I BELIEVE KIA NEEDS TO CONSIDER A RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399496May 8, 2011AIR BAGS
(2008 KIA RIO) - PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILS TO STAY ON.... IT COMES ON MAYBE EVERY 1 OF 5 TIMES.... I HAVE TRIED EVERY THING TO GET IT TO WORK....WHEN STOPPED A STOP SIGN I TURN THE CAR OF AND BACK ON (NOTHING)... IT NEEDS A KEY TO TURN IT ON AND OFF . I HAVE EVEN PUT WEIGHTS ON THE SEAT BUT NOTHING ..... WILL NOT TURN ON ......THEN SOME DAYS IT TURNS ON JUST FINE ..... BUT!!!!!.... IT ALSO TURNS OFF WHILE DRIVING ( AFTER A LOT OF RESEARCH I FOUND MULTI ABLE COMPLAINTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THIS NEEDS A RECALL (A ON OF KEY) AND TO BE LOOKED AT ON ALL CARS LIKE THIS ......THE KIA LOT WILL LOOK AT IT SOON HOPE ITS NOT ON ONE OF ITS I WANT TO WORK DAYS SO I CAN SHOW THEM WHAT I MEAN......ALSO ...THE SENSOR PART COST AROUND $400 AND SEVERAL PEOPLE SAID THEY HAD TO REPLACE THEM 2 OR MORE TIMES .... *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10378229January 22, 2011POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DURING ACCELERATION BETWEEN 50 AND 70 MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STICKS TO 3RD GEAR AND THE VEHICLE SHUDDER OR SHAKES REAL HARD, THE KIA DEALER IS SAYING "NO PROBLEMS FOUND". THIS HAPPENS USUALLY ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MERGING ONTO TRAFFIC, ACCELERATING FROM 40 MPH TO THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE FREEWAY AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO DOWNSHIFT DURING HEAVY ACCELERATION THEN SHIFT BACK TO 4TH GEAR HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STAYS IN 3RD AND THE TACHOMETER GOES TO THE 6,000 RPM REDLINE. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS TO LET OFF THE GAS AND ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO FIX IT SELF WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10376849January 16, 2011AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IN 2008 KIA RIO LX DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, BECAUSE THE LIGHT SAYING "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" IS ON EVEN WHEN ADULT PASSENGER IS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 1 IN 3 TIMES THE VEHICLE IS ENTERED, AND SHIFTING AROUND WITH VEHICLE RUNNING DOES NOT TRIP THE SENSOR TO ACTIVATE THE AIRBAG. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND REPLACED THE SEAT BOTTOM/SENSORS BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IF AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS AND THE SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE PASSENGER COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. I THINK THIS MAY NEED TO BE A RECALL OR DESIGN CHANGE FOR KIA SINCE THE REPLACED SENSOR WAS NOT A FIX TO THE PROBLEM. *LN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10365462November 12, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND NOTICED THAT THE SPLASH GUARD UNDER THE VEHICLE HAD MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT TWO COIL PACKS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO PUMP RAW FUEL INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. BOTH THE COIL PACKS AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,200.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10359001October 4, 2010AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO LX. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE FORCE OF THE CRASH PUSHED THE CONTACTS VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR AND FRONT ENDS OF THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A MONTH BEFORE THE CRASH, A DEER CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000 MILES.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10344603July 21, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2009 KIA RIO HAD STRONG GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CAR CABIN, LAST THURSDAY, JULY 15, 2010 AT APPROXIMATELY 5:15 PM ON LARGE BUSY HIGHWAY. PULLED OFF HIGHWAY AND CHECKED UNDER HOOD AND UNDER CAR CARRIAGE FOR LEAKING GAS. NO LEAKS NOTED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ODOR WAS STRONG MY EYES WERE BURNING AND I GOT A HEADACHE. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND TOOK CAR IN. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, IT WAS NORMAL IN HOT WEATHER FOR IT TO VENT. THE SERVICE REP DID NOTE THE STRONG ODOR OF GAS. TOOK IT HOME AND GARAGED IT WITH GAS HOT WATER HEATER IN THE GARAGE. NEXT MORNING I AWOKE ON THE THIRD FLOOR CONDO TO THE SMELL OF GAS. WENT TO THE GARAGE AND THE ODOR WAS SO STRONG IN THE GARAGE, IT OVERWHELMED ME. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO KIA AND THEY EXAMINED IT AND SAID IT WAS NORMAL. NOTIFIED THE 1-800 KIA NUMBER. I HAD THE LOCAL KIA CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER, IT WAS NOT DUE FOR THAT YET BUT THEY SAID IT MIGHT HELP. IT HAS TO BE TOXIC TO BE INHALING THAT KIND OF FUME. HOW CAN ANYONE CONSIDER THIS NORMAL? I THOUGHT WE HAD EMISSIONS STANDARDS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM THIS. IS MY GARAGE GOING TO IGNITE? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10322487March 27, 2010UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH BOUND ON THE HIGHWAY GOING TOWARD THE PET STORE (THE DESTINATION I WANTED TO GO TO). I SLOWED DOWN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, I DONT RECALL WHETHER THERE WAS A LIGHT THAT WAS CHANGING OR NOT . LIKE I SAID I DID SLOW DOWN AND APPLY MY BRAKES, AND THAT IS WHEN I FELT SOMETHING WRONG. MY VEHICLE DID A JERK WHICH CAUSED ME TO GO IN AN OFF HANDED DIRECTION AND TRYING TO CORRECT THIS I SWERVED TO STRAIGHTEN UP MY VEHICLE, AND IT DID NOT WORK OUT , I WENT TOWARDS THE MIDDLE MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY ROAD.... I KNEW I WAS GOING TO HIT THE POLES IN THE MEDIAN. THAT IS THE LAST THING I REMEMBER SEEINING. THE POLICE RECORD WILL SHOW I WENT HEAD ON WITH A TRACTOR TRAILER. MY MAIN CONCERN ABOUT THIS WHOLE ACCIDENT WAS I FELT SOMETHING HAPPENED OR WENT WRONG WITH MY CAR WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. (EX. BRAKES LOCKING UP....) I NEED THIS INCIDENT INVESTIGATED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10318096March 9, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD ABNORMALLY ACCELERATE WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS BUT COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE FAILURE ON 2 OCCASIONS AT NO EXPENSE TO THE OWNER, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. ALSO, WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 5MPH AND UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A WHINING SOUND. THE DEALER ADVISED THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21632. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10307452February 8, 2010EQUIPMENT
HEATER FAN BLOWS COLD AIR AT IDLE, REGARDLESS OF ENGINE TEMPERATURE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10305833February 4, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE WHEN THERE IS THREE ADULTS IN VEHICLE. HAPPENS EITHER WHEN IT IS WARM,COLD,RAINING,DRY, FLAT OR GOING DOWNHILL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10291497November 9, 2009AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS HEADED WEST DOWN A TWO-WAY STREET WHEN A CAR RAN THE STOP SIGN AND CRASHED INTO ME AS I WAS ENTERING INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE CAR WAS GOING A HIGH SPEED WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. MY WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS SMASHED IN, MY CAR HAD BEEN HIT SO BAD UNTIL THE GADGETS IN THE CABINET OF MY CAR WERE ALL OUT OF PLACE. MY PASSENGER HEAD WAS BUSTED OPEN AND I SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, BACK AND RIB INJURIES. WE WERE BOTH WEARING SEAT BELTS. MY PASSENGER WEIGHTED OVER 170 POUNDS WHICH MEAN HER AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AS WELL AS MINES BUT THEY DID NOT. I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH THE PERSON WHOSE FAULT IT WAS INSURANCE COMPANY. I HAVE DID RESEARCH ONLINE AND REALIZED THAT OTHER KIA CARS DATING BACK TO 2000 MODELS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. I HAVE A 2008 KIA RIO LX I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10286902October 9, 2009STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP I WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WENT TO GO AROUND A CURVE AND STEERING LOCKED UP,THE CAR WAS TOTAL LOST. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273005June 6, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP ALTHOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE. THE CAR CROSSED THE STREET BEHIND MY HOUSE AND FINALLY CRASHED INTO A GROUP OF TREES. I THINK THAT THE THROTTLE GOT STUCK, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHY IT HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND ENDED UP BEING TAKEN TO THE JUNK YARD. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266513April 23, 2009SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; AN AGGRESSIVE AND FORCEFUL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID STRIKING TWO DEER IN THE ROAD. SUDDENLY, THE BRAKES LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES OR DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION WITH CAUTION. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN CLEANED THE SERVICE BRAKES; ALTHOUGH, HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10256496January 27, 2009AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN AN OCCUPANT IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR IS SUPPOSED TO BE OFF. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR SHOULD ALWAYS BE ILLUMINATED UNLESS MORE THAN 70 LBS. IS SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDICATOR WILL NOT DIM THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT NO REPAIRS WILL BE MADE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,026.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0