KnownCarProblems2008 Kia Optima Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 144 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Kia Optima, most often about the air bags (40% of complaints, typically around 47,500 miles). It is 15th of 20 Optima model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2008 Kia Optima problems
Air bags
57 complaints · 40%Half of these problems showed up before 47,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
My husband and daughter were involved in an accident where they struck a tree. The car was totaled and their was extensive damage to the front of the vehicle. The impact was more on the passenger front of vehicle. My daughter was the passenger and she is full grown so she should of been detected in the seat. The…
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 25 MPH, the air bag inadvertently deployed with substantial force and struck the contact in the face. The impact of the air bag deployment knocked the contact unconscious for several minutes, which resulted in the vehicle crashing into an unoccupied…
Engine
24 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
2008 Kia Optima. I had been driving around town for about 20 minutes. It was 93 degrees outside air was running. Came to a stop at red light and the engine shut off the radio still worked the check engine light. And the other lights that come on when you start the car. There was no warning to this the before it…
I bought my Kia Optima in 2009, it was 1 yr old at that time. I had to replace my timing belt in march of 2017 and I am having to replace it again. It is may of 2019. My car only has 70,000 miles on the original engine.
Transmission
18 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 130,000 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission, automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. While the vehicle was parked, the contact was unable to change gears without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for further inspection. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 12v014000 (air bags); however, the clock spring assembly failed. The…
The gear shifter is freely allowed to move, yet the electrical system is registering that the car hasn't left neutral. (example: when I place the car in p(ark), the display above the odometer will remain in n(eutral). The shifter is freely allowed to move when the car is on and the brake is pressed down as usual.
Electrical
15 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery, ignition, instrument panel.
February 2013 started experiencing electrical issues. Example: rear window brake light stopped working (had to have replaced), then trouble with turn signal light would at times not work. The air conditioner started blowing hot air: added coolant and fr( july 2013) but still isn't working right. Then cd player had…
On february 21 2015 I drove the car to the store when I turned the car off the key would not come out of the ignition. I called Kia dealer and they had no solution. The Kia dealer gave me an appointment for tuesday february 24 2015. I was able to drive the car home and put it in the garage. On sunday february 22 2015…
Visibility and wipers
14 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: glass, side/rear.
Driver side visor would not go back up flush to the interior ceiling. I hit my head on it constantly getting in and out of the vehicle. I took the car to the dealer and they said it would cost $143 plus labor which I cannot afford. He advised maybe I could find a cheaper one on the internet. Going on the internet is…
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the sun visors on the front passenger and driver side failed to remain closed. The contact discovered that both sun visors were fractured. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable.…
Lights
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who detected that the brake light would not illuminate upon depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 13v114000 however, the VIN was not included…
I took my car in on 4 sep 2014 I got this car in good faith from [] I have had my car back at least 3 time already and I will be taking it back on november 3, 2014 where my light have been flashing and my light is out again. My gas pedal when I am going about 40 or 50 and I have to get out of the way of other cars and…
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 101,500 miles.
I had to have my 2008 Optima taken to the only dealership in town for a broken shifting cable. I went on the internet for some information and I read that Optima has had several problems over the years with the shifting cable on the car over different years. Internet is saying that at the end october that Kia is going…
There is currently a recall on the same year make and model of my car, yet my car is not cover. I was told that my car was not included because it was manufactured in a different area. However I am having the same issue that is caused by the recall on the part that is currently out. I wanted to file a formal complaint…
Brakes
7 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 97,000 miles. Parts named most often: disc.
February 2013 started experiencing electrical issues. Example: rear window brake light stopped working (had to have replaced), then trouble with turn signal light would at times not work. The air conditioner started blowing hot air: added coolant and fr( july 2013) but still isn't working right. Then cd player had…
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact was driving 65 MPH when the brake was applied and the ABS system activated without warning. The failure caused the steering wheel to seize and the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The driver of the second vehicle was injured. The contact also sustained…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2008 Kia Optima recalls
Lights: switch
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.
Full defect summary
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 depressi
Air bags: frontal
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Transmission: column shift
Risk: If the driver leaves the vehicle without engaging the parking brake, there is a possibility that the vehicle can roll injure a person in its path or cause a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the shift cable and reinstall if necessary free of charge. The safety recall began on march 23, 2011. Owner may contact kia at 1-800-333-4542.
Full defect summary
Kia is recalling certain model year 2006-2008 optima vehicles manufactured from september 29, 2005, through june 13, 2007. There is a possibility that the shift cable may have been installed incorrectly, causing tension in the cable. If present, this condition could cause the cable to detach from the shifter assembly's dowel pin preventing the transmission from being shifted. The shift lever can then be moved into the park (p) position while the vehicle's transmission is still in the last used gear before detachment.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Loss of motive power
Summary
The national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated july 13, 2022, petitioning the agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain hyundai motor america, inc. And kia america, inc. Vehicles spanning model years (my) 2005-2021. The petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) of the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated october 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (etc) system on certain kia vehicles resulting in the opening of dp21-003. Accordingly, model year (my) 2005-2016 kia optima/k5, my 2006-2015 kia sorento, my 2007-2016 hyundai elantra, my 2007-2016 hyundai santa fe, my 2006-2015 hyundai sonatas are all part of the subject population. The petition was originally filed as a vehicle owner questionnaire that can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under reference (odi) number 11439675.on november 12, 2021, odi opened defec
Transmission shift cable detachment
Summary
During manufacture the automatic transmission shift cables in certain subject vehicles were installed incorrectly causing extra tension on the cable.this condition can cause the shift cable to detach from the gear shifter assembly's dowel pin preventing the transmission from being shifted.the shift lever can be moved into the park (p) position while the vehicle transmission is still in the last used gear before detachment.if this were to occur, and if the driver leaves the vehicle without engaging the parking brake, the vehicle may inadvertently roll away thus creating the risk of a crash.kia is conducting a safety recall (11v-153) to correct the subject problem in approximately 70,115 model
Questions about the 2008 Kia Optima
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kia Optima?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (57 complaints, typically around 47,500 miles); engine (24 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); transmission (18 complaints, typically around 130,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2008 Kia Optima have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 1, 2013 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2008 a bad year for the Kia Optima?
- It is 15th of 20 Optima model years by number of complaints, with 144 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.