Known Recalls

Model year record

2008 Kia RIO

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 57 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 12V244000

Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Component
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Manufacturer
KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
Vehicles affected
72,568
Reported to NHTSA
2012-05-31
Owners notified
2012-07-26

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

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

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags2365,000 mi
Air bags: frontal4800 mi
Engine330,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic310,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling269,200 mi
Exterior lighting286,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline232,000 mi
Service brakes286,000 mi
Vehicle speed control250 mi
Electrical system: ignition130,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)1—
Equipment119,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility1—
Power train1103,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission151,400 mi
Seat belts1125,000 mi
Seats1130,000 mi
Steering132,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint150 mi
Suspension: front: wheel bearing190,000 mi
Unknown or other1—
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal12,616 mi
Visibility14,000 mi

The 2007 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2009 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.