2008 Kia Rondo problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (15) · Fuel/Propulsion System (12) · Vehicle Speed Control (11)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Rondo model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
84 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V114000 · 980,377 vehicles
Defect: 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 20
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags:frontal 2012-01-17 · campaign 12V014000 · 145,755 vehicles
Defect: 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 C
Risk: IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (19)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure 2021-09-13 · TSB_BOD055_R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 bulletin provides information relating to some kia models tha
Engine And Engine Cooling 2018-03-02 · PS539 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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.
Equipment:mechanical 2017-01-18 · TSB-GEN085R1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware - by design, certain fasteners, which are designed to lock into place once fully attached, are utilized in various kia models and are strictly intended for ?one time use.? some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washe
Latches/Locks/Linkages 2016-11-04 · TSB-GEN085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
tsb: mandatory replacement of locking/security hardware - by design, certain fasteners utilized in various kia models are strictly intended for ?one time use?. though not limited to the following, some examples are: axle shaft nuts with stake collar, cotter pins, washers with locking tabs and other
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 2016-04-04 · PS443 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
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 that may be related to the use of aftermarket usb charging cab
Equipment 2015-07-16 · QASC122 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
questions and answers for voluntary service campaign sc122 underbody additional anti-corrosion treatment
Showing the 6 most recent of 19 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-11-17 · Service Brakes, Air:antilock:abs Warning Light · 166,000 mi“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 …”
2023-09-09 · Suspension“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 …”
2020-12-16 · Vehicle Speed Control · 187,025 mi“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.…”
2020-11-16 · Vehicle Speed Control“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.…”
2020-08-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System“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.…”
2019-11-08 · Air Bags · 68,000 mi · 💥 crash“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.…”
2019-10-18 · Unknown Or Other · 229,000 mi“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 bu…”
2019-10-09 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 150,000 mi“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…”
2019-09-22 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 75,182 mi“the fuel pump is not operating properly resulting in not enough fuel getting to the engine. poor engine starting and engine hesitation. the check engine light is on because of this.…”
2019-05-28 · Suspension · 112,500 mi“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 ha…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.