There are 3 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2008 Kia Rioin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
EXCESSIVE BRAKE FADE WHEN THERE IS THREE ADULTS IN VEHICLE. HAPPENS EITHER WHEN IT IS WARM,COLD,RAINING,DRY, FLAT OR GOING DOWNHILL. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM.
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS; AN AGGRESSIVE AND FORCEFUL PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO AVOID STRIKING TWO DEER IN THE ROAD. SUDDENLY, THE BRAKES LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES OR DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION WITH CAUTION. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN CLEANED THE SERVICE BRAKES; ALTHOUGH, HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES WHICH THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026