KiaRio2008Overview/kia/rio/2008/base/

2008 Kia Rio

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 Rio.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2008 Kia Rio is a compact passenger car built on Kia’s efficient platform, powered by an automatic 4‑speed transmission that delivers EPA‑rated 25 city, 35 highway, and 29 combined miles per gallon. Its 3.5‑quart engine oil requirement—5W‑20 or 5W‑30 API—underscores the vehicle’s modest maintenance demands, while the 4‑speed automatic keeps power delivery smooth for urban and highway driving alike. Within the broader 2000‑2023 complaint timeline, the Rio’s 49 owner complaints—including a single recall and a predominance of air‑bag issues—are modest compared to the 227 complaints that peaked in 2001, indicating a relatively reliable model year within the series.

Model year202320222021202020192018201720162008

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy25/35/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 500 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 500 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.9 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase98.4 in
Curb weight2434 lb
Track (front / rear)57.9 / 57.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined25 / 35 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume92 cu ft
Cargo volume12 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Rio of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

9.4–9.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 9.40 sec — 2006 Rio5 SX 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2006Rio5 SX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-49.40 sec17.20 sec110 hpFWD
2006Rio5 SX 5-door Hatchback 1.6L I-49.90 sec17.30 sec110 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.5
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8-11 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings22-24 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts101-108 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Main Bearings40-43 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs14-19 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub145-188 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance0.6-0.8 ohms

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.87-.98 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.72-4.38 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test14-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177-182 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)49.8 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13.8-15.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression184-206 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI
Engine Oil Pressure14.5 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 10,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (replace) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect) · Timing Belt (inspect)
Every 37,500 miFuel Filter (replace)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2008 model year records 49 complaints, positioning it between the 2007 low of 46 and the 2006 high of 74, while representing a significant decline from the first-generation peak of 227 complaints seen in 2001. With one recall and zero investigations, it falls within the stable 2006-2010 period that predates the sharp complaint increases observed in 2012 and 2013, though its 36 technical service bulletins mark a notable rise from the 24 and 26 recorded in the prior two years. Air bags constitute the dominant concern with 25 complaints—roughly half the year's total—alongside 13 crash-related complaints and zero fire incidents. Situated in the trough between the first-generation issues and the third-generation spike, the 2008 Rio offers relatively moderate federal filing activity for this vehicle line, making it a comparatively sound choice provided thorough pre-purchase inspection of the supplemental restraint system.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
36
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
49
Owner complaints
13 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 49 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags25
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Air Bags,Seat Belts2
Exterior Lighting,Service Brakes2
Power Train,Engine1
Vehicle Speed Control,Electronic Stability Control (Esc),Engine1
Suspension1
Air Bags,Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

12V244000Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-InactiveReported 31/05/2012

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 36 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
TSB_TRA046_R42024-05-16Power TrainThis bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and…
TSB_TRA046_R32022-11-18Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides…
TSB_BOD055_R12021-09-13StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
TSB_ENG066_CLSD2021-05-19Electrical SystemTSB_ENG066_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Rio. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2008 Rio take?

3.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2008 Rio have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Rio get?

EPA figures are 25 city / 35 highway / 29 combined mpg.