AI Damage2008 KIA Rondo: common problems
Owners of the 2008 KIA Rondo filed 97 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 97
- involving a crash
- 14
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 19% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 16% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 10% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 8 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 18 complaints (19% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 16 complaints (16% of all).
- Engine: 11 complaints (11% of all).
- Structure: 11 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 11 complaints (11% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 4 complaints
- 2.7 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 4 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 97 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 18 | 8 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving approximately 35 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and the ability to steer seized. The failure resulted in a head on collision with another vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but was not repaired.
The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries to the head, the eye, and the left side of his face that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Husband driving , car stopped suddenly, he hit brakes , brakes failed, and rear ended car in front, who then hit car in front, who then hit car in front. 1 or 2 people injured and was taken to hospital. We are sore, but will survive. Was recall on part that was replaced ,faulty brake light switch.
The air bags failed to deploy on both occasions. As a result, I sustained neck and back injuries. The vehicle was drivable and not towed, but driven to a dealer/private mechanic. The failure could not be replicated. The air bags were not repaired or recalled at time of either incident/accident.
I tried unsuccessfully (3 time) to turn off my cruise control as traffic got slower. I was unable to get the cruise control to turn off by using the off (cancel) button on the steering wheel, tapping the brake to turn it off didn't work either.
The contact stated the vehicle gear shift selector was unintentionally bumped and shifted into drive, causing the vehicle to roll away in the reverse position. The vehicle proceeded to crash into a nearby house. The vehicle engine was shut off at the time of the failure and the keys were not in the ignition.
The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the ABS pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 166,000.
He said the metal was as thin as a few pieces of paper and there was rust. He contacted Kia to see if there were any campaigns on my car and there was one for an anti corrosion coating that was not applied.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,640 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Rondo has 59 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 97, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 KIA Rondo?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, fuel/propulsion system, engine. Total complaints: 97. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (22%), fuel system, fuel smell (11%), hesitation when accelerating (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 KIA Rondo?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 KIA Rondo from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.