2008 Kia Rio Service and Repair Manual
Every 2008 Kia Rio left the factory with one published set of specifications, and this service and repair manual carries exactly that set — written for the 2008 model year, its engine and its trims, so the figures and sequences you follow are the ones Kia issued for this car rather than values carried over from a neighboring Rio generation.
Engines covered
- 1.6L inline-four — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline
Body styles covered
- 4-door sedan
Trims covered
- Base
- EX
- EX Convenience
- LX
- SX
Known issues on the 2008 Rio. One recall is on federal record for this model year, filed against the frontal air bag sensor and control module. On certain 2006–2008 Rio vehicles manufactured from February 20, 2005 through December 9, 2007, the front passenger seat occupant sensor mat can experience fatigue cracking, and air bag deployment with a child in the front passenger side seat increases the risk of injury. Owners have filed 57 complaints for the year and Kia has issued 34 technical service bulletins. The factory diagnostic and repair procedures behind those systems are in this manual.
From tracing an air bag warning light through the occupant sensing circuit to a timing check or scheduled service on the 1.6L DOHC, it keeps your 2008 Rio on the procedure and specification Kia published for it.
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.
AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.
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.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provid
This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission is replaced.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmis
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This b
TSB_ENG066_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED
TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides information regarding the use of USB ports and 12V power outlets to connect/charge mobile phones. Customers may experience issues with their head units th
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requ
PITSTOP - ENGINE COMPONENT RE-USE GUIDELINES - In general, parts and components removed during engine repairs should be considered serviceable, and should be thoroughly cleaned and transferred to the new engine.
Showing the 8 most recent of 35 technical service bulletins on file with NHTSA.
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 O
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 KIA RIO5. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO TWENTY BALES OF HAY. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO PROVIDE RESTRAINT. THE CONTACT WAS AIRLIFTED AND TRANSPORTED TO A TRAUMA HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
FOLLOWING A TIRE BLOWOUT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THEN OUT OF A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50MPH. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT OPERATE.
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. *TR
TL*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.
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
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SKIDDED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COLLISION LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,292.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO LX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, SHE NEVER NOTICED ANY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT AND A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 5,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNEDA 2008 KIA RIO5. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING.AS A RESULT, THE TIRES SPUN AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD AND OVER A CURB, SLIGHTLY STRIKINGTHE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A WALL.THEAIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 0
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
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED WHEN DRIVERS DOOR WAS CLOSED, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANT. I HAD TO PAY $247.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Showing the 15 most serious of 49 complaints filed with NHTSA.
