2008 KIA OPTIMA — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

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N/A

Safety Rating

188

Owner Complaints

26 Crashes 7 Fires 12 Deaths

3

Recalls

ACTIVE RECALL

4

Service Bulletins

1

Investigation

Overview of the 2008 KIA OPTIMA

The 2008 KIA OPTIMA has received a total of 188 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT. 4 technical service bulletins have been issued by Kia America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Air Bags (44 complaints), Engine (18 complaints), and Power Train (16 complaints).

Recalls for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA

NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA, potentially affecting up to 1,196,247 vehicles.

Recall 13V114000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

| 980,377 vehicles affected

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...

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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...

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Recall 12V014000 — AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

| 145,755 vehicles affected

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...

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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Recall 11V153000 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

| 70,115 vehicles affected

Defect: 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...

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

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Owner Complaints for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA

188 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.

Air Bags
Complaints: 44 10 Crashes 10 Injuries 1 Death
Engine
Complaints: 18 1 Crash 3 Fires 1 Death
Power Train
Complaints: 16 1 Crash
Air Bagsfrontal
Complaints: 13 1 Crash 1 Death
Electrical System
Complaints: 13 2 Fires
Unknown Or Other
Complaints: 8 1 Fire
Exterior Lighting
Complaints: 7 1 Crash 1 Injury
Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints: 7 2 Crashes 6 Injuries 6 Deaths
Visibilitywiper
Complaints: 7
Visibility
Complaints: 6
Engine And Engine Cooling
Complaints: 4 1 Crash 1 Injury
Seats
Complaints: 4
Service Brakes Hydraulic
Complaints: 4 4 Crashes 5 Injuries 3 Deaths
Steering
Complaints: 4
Structurebody
Complaints: 4 2 Crashes 3 Injuries
Fuelpropulsion System
Complaints: 3
Suspension
Complaints: 3 1 Crash 2 Injuries
Tires
Complaints: 3 1 Crash 1 Injury
Fuel System Gasoline
Complaints: 2
Seat Belts
Complaints: 2 1 Crash 1 Fire 2 Injuries
Service Brakes
Complaints: 2
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
Complaints: 1
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
Complaints: 1
Electrical Systemignition
Complaints: 1
Electrical Systeminstrument Panelspeedometerodometer
Complaints: 1
Electronic Stability Control Esc
Complaints: 1
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
Complaints: 1
Exterior Lightingheadlights
Complaints: 1
Latcheslockslinkages
Complaints: 1
Otheri Am Not Sure
Complaints: 1
Power Trainautomatic Transmissionlever And Linkagefloor Shift
Complaints: 1
Power Trainmanual Transmission
Complaints: 1
Service Brakes Airdiscrotor
Complaints: 1
Structurebodydoor
Complaints: 1
Visibilityglass Siderear
Complaints: 1

Most Recent Complaints

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle's transmission failure. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 198,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 217,000.
#11716258 | ENGINE | | 217,000 miles
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle's transmission failure. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 198,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 217,000.
#11716258 | POWER TRAIN | | 217,000 miles
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle's transmission failure. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 198,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 217,000.
#11671023 | AIR BAGS | | N/A miles
Occupant airbag sensor doesn't recognize whether someone is sitting or not. The occupant airbag sensor light goes on and off whether there is a passenger sitting on the seat or not. Kia has extended warranty on this issue however it doesn't let customer know about this part is defected. I was doing my research how to fix the issue and learn that kia had extended warranty for 15 years from the first day of service. the warranty currently expired right now. if I knew there was a warranty, I would go to dealer to fix the issue the day that my wife bought the car.
#11645823 | AIR BAGS | | N/A miles
Power train: at low idle or while slowing down, the car will lose power for a minute until you get on the accelerator and it all comes back on. Alternator had been replaced. And is going to be replaced again soon. Not sure if it's just a bad part. Power steering pump was replaced. The pulley seized. Unrelated. Lighting: third brake light constantly flickers. All Lighting including head lights flicker on and off. Worse when slowing down. Lights on dash board, dome, rear light and head light Bulbs have been replaced. At night when the head lights flicker I cannot see the road. Airbags: the air bag light on dash is always on. Codes have been ran and there are so many. Tried resetting codes it comes back on soon after. Not sure how to go about trying to fix it. All of this has been happening since I purchased the car in November 2024.

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Safety Rating for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA

NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 KIA OPTIMA in its New Car Assessment Program.

Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA

Kia America, Inc. has issued 4 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.

TSB-GEN085 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

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 similar hardware, including threaded...

WTY002BULLETINOP — AIR BAGS

WARRANTY BULLETIN: WTY002 (REVISION #1) - 2006~2010MY OPTIMA PASSENGER SEAT OCS SENSOR MAT WARRANTY EXTENSION (WTY002) - THIS BULLETIN PROVIDES INFORMATION RELATED TO THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) SENSOR MAT IN 2006 ~ 2010 MY OPTIMA (MG) VEHICLES. IF THE SENSOR MAT IS NOT WORKING...

WTY002OWNEROPT — EQUIPMENT

OWNER LETTER: WTY002 OPTIMA - DEAR KIA OPTIMA OWNER: KIA MOTORS AMERICA’S HIGHEST COMMITMENT IS TO YOUR SAFETY. TO THAT END, KIA IS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) SENSOR MAT TO 15 YEARS WITH UNLIMITED MILEAGE, STARTING FROM THE DATE OF FIRST SERVICE....

SC-122 — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

KIA: AN ADDITIONAL APPLICATION OF ANTI-CORROSION PROTECTION WILL BE APPLIED ON SOME VEHICLES UNDERBODY COMPONENTS TO HELP PREVENT CORROSION. MODEL 2004-09 SPECTRA, 2006-10 OPTIMA, 2006-11 RIO 2007-10 RONDO AND 2010-13 SOUL. *PE

NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 KIA OPTIMA

NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2008 KIA OPTIMA.

Investigation PE10046 — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION Closed

Opened:

Transmission Shift Cable Detachment

Other Model Years of the KIA OPTIMA

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Other KIA Models

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