CarComplaints.com Notes: The only reason we don't give the 2008 Kia Rio our top award is because of poor side & rear crash test ratings.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,611 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Kia Rio seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 Kia Rio Owner Comments

problem #4

Apr 162010

Rio 4-cyl

  • 47,097 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Green Bay, WI, USA

problem #3

Sep 022008

Rio

  • 800 miles
The passenger side air bag does not come on with my wife setting in the front seat. She weights 110# and the dealership stated that she was to light to turn the airbag on. It seems to me that a person 110# should turn the airbag system on. We feel that there is a problem with the design of the system. There was no accident yet but if it did occur there would be no airbag protection for the passenger. Please take action as this is a real safety issue.

- Elkhart, IN, USA

problem #2

Jun 152008

Rio

  • 6,500 miles
While driving on a local road traveling between 35-40 mph, I swerved to avoid hitting a dear and hit a telephone pole head on. I was taken to the emergency room with injuries to my neck, back, left shoulder and left knee. My air bag did not deploy.

- Newton, NJ, USA

problem #1

Mar 212008

Rio 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Rio. While driving 45 mph, the contact rear ended another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the contact's chest struck the steering wheel. He has a pacemaker and was transported to the hospital. A police report was filed. The fuel system was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 48.

- Houston, TX, USA

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