Kia · Rondo · 2008
3
Recalls
97
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2008 Kia Rondo has 3 recalls and 97 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (15 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Remedy Status
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
KIA IS RECALLING 6,680 MY 2008-2009 RONDO LX AND EX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4 LITER ENGINE. THE FUEL PUMP MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY RESULTING IN NOT ENOUGH FUEL GETTING TO THE ENGINE. POOR ENGINE STARTING, ENGINE HESITATION, AND OTHER IMPAIRMENT MAY RESULT, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE.
Remedy Status
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP SUB-ASSEMBLY WITH AN IMPROVED PART. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA AT 1-800-333-4542.
KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JANUARY 29, 2008, AND MODEL YEAR 2007 AND 2008 KIA RONDO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 13, 2006, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2008. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. IF THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY BECOMES DAMAGED, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.
Remedy Status
KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Rondo. The contact stated that while driving approximately 24 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop immediately as intended. 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.
After hearing a popping in my front end for two days I took my car into my mechanic. He took a look at it and said he’d never seen anything like it before. My stabilizer bar had completely ripped apart from my subframe. 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. I took my car to my local Kia dealership and they were not interested in helping and said they couldn’t even look at it for diagnosis for at least a month and even then didn’t know if they would cover it. I am 38 weeks pregnant and have two small children and my mechanic said it was a major safety issue to drive it as is. I contacted Kia corporate and they informed me that it would be covered but I would have to get it diagnosed at a dealership first or pay for it out of pocket. I’ve contacted every dealership within two hours of me and they have all said they can’t help or haven’t gotten back to me. Kia says they can’t be of more help because each dealership is independently owned.
MY RONDO SPEEDS UP WHILE I'M DRIVING IT ON THE ROAD, AND IT SMELLS OF GAS INSIDE MY RONDO, IT RUNS HIGH WHEN I START IT AND THERE'S A HESITATION BEFORE IT DRIVES.
MY VEHICLE REVES UP HIGH WHEN I START IT AND WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD JUST CUT OFF AND THERE'S GAS FUMES I SMELLINSIDE MY KIA, IT ALSO HESITATES WHILE DRIVING.
THERE IS A SMELL OF GAS FUMES PERIODICALLY IN THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE, I EVEN SMELL IT WHEN MY VEHICLE IS PARKED AND WHEN I START MY VEHICLE IT HESITATES TO START AND I HAVE TO RESTART IT OVER.
WAS IN CAR ACCIDENT AT 55 MPH 3 CAR WRECK. IMPACT WITH REAR OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. AIR BAGS ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY. WAS ON HIGHWAY.
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. WHEN I REFUEL MY VEHICLE IT HAS DIFFICULTY RESTARTING. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS, IT HAS STARTED TO STALL. LOOKING AT FORUMS I FOUND QUITE A FEW PEOPLE WITH THE SAME "ISSUE" BUT NO SOLUTIONS. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND IT COMES BACK WITH AN EVAP CODE. THE CODES HAVE BEEN CLEARED BUT COME RIGHT BACK ON. I SEE THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN RECALLED, I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE THE FALL OF 2009 AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE I HAVEN'T HAD THIS REPAIRED, BUT FOR SOME REASON THIS DOES NOT SHOW UP WHEN I DO THE RECALL SEARCH. HAS IT ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING THE VEHICLE?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MOVING AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. A PASSERBY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP OR ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE FAILED. THE PASSERBY BANGED ON THE FUEL TANK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE ONLINE AND FOUND MANY UNKNOWN RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER, BUT ALL LINES LED BACK TO ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH A LIVE REPRESENTATIVE. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL DODGE KIA (3 SAUNDERS WAY, WESTBROOK, ME 04092, (207) 854-3200) AND THEY INITIALLY HUNG UP ON HER. THEY LATER STATED THAT THEIR WEBSITE WAS DOWN AND PROMISED A CALL BACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
I TOOK MY 2008 KIA RONDO FOR THE ANNUAL WV STATE INSPECTION TODAY. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A BROKEN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING. HE SAID THAT THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE SPRING SHOULD POP OUT OF IT'S NORMAL POSITION. HE SAID THAT THE END OF THE SPRING COULD RUPTURE THE TIRE AND CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY HANDLING OR NOISES THAT ALERTED ME TO THIS CONDITION, SO I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT MIGHT HAVE BROKEN. I DO NOT SEE ANY KIA RECALLS FOR THIS CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS 112,500 MILES ON IT.
TAKATA RECALL - I PURCHASED MY 2008 KIA RONDO EX AT WHITE BEAR MITSUBISHI ON NOV. 20. 2018 . & DROVE IT FOR TWO OR THREE DAYS . I WAS BACKING OUT OG PARKING SPACE & I HEARD A LOUD NOISE & A BANG & MY KIA STOPPED ON THE SPOT . I GOT OUT TO LOOK WHAT HAPPENED & MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT . A FRIEND TRIED TO BLOW IT UP WITH AIR THING & NO LUCK . SOME GUYS CAME OUT TO HELP ME TRY TO CHANGE TBE TIRE & THATS WHEN HE DESCOVERED THAT THE COUL SNAPPED IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES & WENT THROUGH MY TIRE COMPLETELY . SO MY KIA HAS BEEN PARKED EVER SINCE THAT DAY . I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE IM HAVING . PLEASE HELP ME OUT HERE.
TODAY 9/15/2018 APPROX. 3PM I HAD THE MOST FRIGHTENING NERVE WRECKING EXPERIENCE WITH MY KIA RONDO 2008. I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE SLOWING DOWN GOING INTO THE PARKING SPACE ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR ACCELERATED JUMPED THE MEDIAN MISSING THE CAR ON MY LEFT AND MISSING THE CAR ON MY RIGHT KNOCKED SOME SHRUBS BEFORE IT BARELY MISSED HITTING THE TREE. THERE WAS A THICK BRANCH STUCK IN THE BACK WHEEL, DRIVER SIDE AND DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PANEL UNDER THE CAR. THANKING GOD NO ONE WAS WALKING BY OR MOVING CARS. I CALLED KIA AND HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT THERE FOR THE TECHNICIAN TO INSPECT IT. THIS IS REALLY REALLY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS CAR UNTIL IT IS FULLY CHECKED. KIA THIS IS MY LIFE .
SMELLED GAS AND LOOKED UNDER CAR AND SAW GAS LEAKING FROM THE GAS TANK AREA. CAN NOT DRIVE CAR DUE TO GAS LEAK AND SAFETY ISSUE.
STEERING SYSTEM HAS EXPERIENCED A THUMPING GRIND ON REVERSE TURNS WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS FULLY ENGAGED. REPAIRED MULTIPLE TIMES BY LUBING STOPS. BRAKE CALIPERS DO NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN LINE IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE CRADLE MOUNTING EXCESS CONDENSATION HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH THE CRADLE AND BROKEN APART. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE COIL SPRING DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON. PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT NOT WORKING. PASSENGER SEAT BELT WARNING CAME ON WHEN DRIVING EVEN THOUGH NO ONE SITTING IN SEAT. DEALER SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH SEAT AT FIRST. REPLACED SEAT BUT STILL PROBLEM. TURNED OUT TO BE MODULE UNDER DASH. COST ALMOST $1000 FOR MODULE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA DULUTH (1701 W MICHIGAN ST #2, DULUTH, MN 55806), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH, AND MY MECHANIC COULD NOT TURN IT OFF. SOMETIMES, AFTER EMERGING FROM A 90-DEGREE TURN (I.E., AT AN INTERSECTION), THE CAR'S BRAKES WILL SUDDENLY ENGAGE ON THEIR OWN (AND USUALLY "PUMP"), RENDERING THE ACCELERATOR INOPERABLE AND THE BRAKES UNCONTROLLABLE, WHILE THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF. THIS HAS LASTED FOR AS LONG AS TEN SECONDS, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLOW ALMOST TO A STOP IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY KIA OWNER TO EXPERIENCE THIS.
WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, OUR KIA RONDO DECIDES TO ACT LIKE IT STALLS OUT PUTTING ALL THE DASH LIGHTS ON AND LOOSING CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. SERPENTINE BELT SCREECHES AND ALL COMES BACK LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED. THIS CONDITION ONLY HAPPENS IN THE RAIN. WE REPLACED THE SERPENTINE BELT AND IT WAS OK FOR A FULL YEAR AND NOW ITS BACK AGAIN. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP REPLACED THE BELT. EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP CANNOT REENACT THE PROBLEM. THEY LITERALLY DOUSED THE BELT WITH WATER TO TEST THE STEERING LOSS. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE CANNOT FIND ANY COMMON ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. VERY DANGEROUS AS THE CAR DOES THIS RIGHT AFTER HITTING A SMALL PUDDLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA RONDO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
TAKATA RECALL-THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING FOR PASSENGER. THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT WORK FOR THE WINDOWS. AND ONE MORE THING. THE HANDLES TO OPEN THE DOORS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND EASILY BREAK, SO YOU CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE DOORS.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2008 Kia Rondo has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 97 owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Kia Rondo.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2008 Kia Rondo.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2008 Kia Rondo are air bags (15 reports), fuel/propulsion system (11 reports), suspension (6 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2008 Kia Rondo. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.