Model year guide

2008 Kia Rondo

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2008 Kia Rondo is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 62 on record.

2008 Kia Rondo — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2008 Kia Rondo at a glance

Safety recalls3
Owner complaints97
Combined21–22 mpg
Typical price$3,516

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2008 Kia Rondo recalls 3

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #12V014000 · 17/01/2012

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…

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.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch NHTSA Campaign #13V114000 · 01/04/2013

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, …

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:storage NHTSA Campaign #08V459000 · 11/09/2008

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.

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 5 Oct 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2008 Kia Rondo common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.

2008 Kia Rondo safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2008 Kia Rondo 4-DR. w/SAB. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2008 Kia Rondo MPG & running costs

Combined21–22 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,125

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2008 Kia Rondo worth?

Low
$1,600
Typical price
$3,516
High
$5,600

From 61 comparable 2008 Kia Rondo listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2008 Kia Rondo costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,625
Fuel only$15,625
Per mile$0.21

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2008 Kia Rondo trims & engines on record

Trims
LX · EX · UN
Engines
2.7L 6-cyl 185 hp · 2.4L 4-cyl 162 hp

2008 Kia Rondo vehicles on record

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Other Kia Rondo model years

2009 2007

2008 Kia Rondo — frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Kia Rondo have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2008 Kia Rondo. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kia Rondo?

Across all 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, fuel/propulsion system, structure.

What is the 2008 Kia Rondo safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2008 Kia Rondo crash-test ratings of frontal 5★, side 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2008 Kia Rondo get?

The 2008 Kia Rondo has U.S. EPA estimates of 21–22 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

How much is a 2008 Kia Rondo worth?

Comparable 2008 Kia Rondo listings run roughly $1,600–$5,600, typically around $3,516 (from 61 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.