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.

2.8

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
51,400 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 transmission problems

transmission problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Kia Rio:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2008 Kia Rio Owner Comments

problem #1

Jan 182011

Rio 4-cyl

  • 51,400 miles

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

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.

- Dallas, TX, USA

Not what you are looking for?