2008 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 144 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 20 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 22 people were injured and 8 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 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, 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 depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
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.
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.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalJan 17, 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 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 12V014000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmission, lever and linkage, column shiftMar 9, 2011
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 11V153000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
15 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Engine, Electrical system, Feb 6, 2026
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.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 6, 2020, fire
WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 17, 2019
WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN PARK THE CAR ISN'T RECOGNIZING THAT THE CAR IS PARKED CAUSING IT TO CONTINUE TO ROLL. ONCE THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART AND THE GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT.
Power train, Electrical system, Jun 4, 2018
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 system, Other or unspecified, Nov 11, 2017
MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE AND ROLLS AWAY.
Service brakes, Air, Electrical system, May 15, 2017
2008 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEM WITH IGNITION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION WOULD STICK, THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE BACK ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/15/2017 *JS
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, May 3, 2015
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 ISSUES WHERE IT WOULD NOT EJECT CD OR FAIL TO READ THE DISK AT ALL. THEN THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING TOO. JUNE 2014 CAR WOULDN'T START HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY BUT STILL WOULDN'T CHARGE. JANUARY 2015 INSTALLED NEW ALTERNATOR, STILL DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. HAD THE CHARGING SYSTEM INSPECTED FEBRUARY 2015. TURNED OUT TO BE A SHORT OR FAILURE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAS TO GET IT FIXED. FEBRUARY 2015 ELECTRICAL REPAIRS (SWITCH, PLUG, FUSE). MARCH 2015 CAR IS MAKING GRINDING NOISE WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE BREAK, IT IS VERY HARD TO BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP AND MAKES A GRINDING SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS AS WELL. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 2, 2015
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 I WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I DECIDED TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND COULDN'T BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24 2015 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SHIFTER RELEASE MECHANISM INOPERATIVE NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO BE RELEASE IN SWITCH. THEY REPLACED SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AND THE BATTERY. THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH I PAID WAS $870. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON FEBRUARY 25 2015. *TR
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 22, 2014
TODAY, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN MY 2008 KIA, I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOME. THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE AND BUT USUALLY I CAN TURN THE STEERING WHEEL OR MOVE AROUND THE GEARSHIFT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH TODAY MY KEY WILL NOT TURN AND I CAN MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AROUND AND PUSH THE GEARSHIFT OVER AND IT DOES NOTHING. I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO COME IN TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR $107 , ALTHOUGH I TOLD THEM IT SEEMS TO BE THE KEY IGNITION. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH I AM SHOCKED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR IT AND ALSO MY CAR WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHEN I START TO DRIVE AND TURN A CORNER .I ALSO FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Sep 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Electrical system, Seat belts, Jul 23, 2012, fire
THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED. I PULLED IT A FEW TIMES AND IT BECAME UNJAMMED AND I FASTENED THE SAFETY BELT AROUND MY 4 YEAR OLD CHILD. APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES LATER AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED SMOKE. I STARTED CHECKING THE CONTROL PANEL AND TURNED OFF THE A/C AND RADIO AND ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS. THE SMOKE STOPPED SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT A MILE AND STOPPED THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT. I WAS THERE APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES WHEN I SMELLED SMOKE AND TURNED MY HEAD TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TOWARDS MY CHILD. MY CHILD SCREAMED FOR ME THE SAME MOMENT I WAS TURNING MY HEAD AND THERE WERE FLAMES MELTING THE PLASTIC CASING AROUND THE SEAT BELT COVER. THE FLAMES ALMOST REACHED HER HEAD. I FRANTICALLY GOT IN THE BACK SEAT AND REMOVED THE SAFETY BELT AND PULLED HER FROM THE CAR TO SAFETY. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS BURNED FROM THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO BURN INJURIES DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS STOPPED AND ABLE TO REMOVE MYSELF AND MY CHILD BEFORE THE FLAMES ENGULFED MY CAR. *TR
Electrical system, Visibility, Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 20, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE SUN VISORS WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THE CLOSED, UPRIGHT POSITION AND THE DRIVER SIDE CHILD DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT UNLATCH. IN ADDITION, THE SAFETY LOCK FOR THE TRUNK WOULD DETACH AND CAUSE THE TRUNK TO OCCASIONALLY FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY BREAK DOWN AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO SENT HER TO A SECOND DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,800.
Electrical system, Mar 22, 2010
I CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHEN LOCKED MY KEYS IN THE TRUCK OF MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA ACCIDENTLY. WHEN HE USED HIS INSTRUMENT TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR, THE ANTI-THEFT ALARM SOUNDED. HE WAITED UNTIL IT STOPPED AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE TRUNK WITH THE RELEASE BUT IT WOULD NOT OPERATE DUE TO THE CAR SHUUTING DOWN. WHEN I GOT IN THE VEHICLE AND CLOSED THE DOOR IT LOCKED AGAIN AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET OUT. I WAS LITERALLY TRAPPED INSIDE MY CAR. THERE IS NO WAY TO ACCESS THE TRUNK FROM THE INSIDE. YOU CAN ONLY FOLD THE BACK SEAT DOWN BY USING A RELEASE FOUND ONLY INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. IF I HAD BEEN ALONE OR THE DRIVER HAD LEFT, I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE WITH NO MEANS OF EXIT. THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICCE MAY PROTECT THE CAR FROM BEING STOLEN BUT IT SURE DOES NOTHING TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD A BABY INSIDE WITH ME OR IT WAS 100 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND I COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOORS TO GET OUT? I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WAS PROMPTLY TOLD THAT IT WAS REALLY MY FAULT FOR LOCKING MY KEYS IN THE TRUNK IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THE 'NO ACCESS TO THE TRUNK FROM THE INSIDE' IS TO PROTECT AGAINST THIEVES BREAKING INTO MY CAR AND ENTERING THE TRUNK THROUGH THE BACKSEAT AND STEAL SOMETHING SUCH AS MY SUITCASE. WELL, I THINK IT WOULD BE EASIER TO REPLACE A SUITCASE THAN MY LIFE OR THE LIFE OF A CHILD. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR!
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 4, 2008
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS DIM AT LOW SPEEDS AND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES OR JUST SLOWING DOWN. *NJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Electrical system, Air bags, Jul 2, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR IN MOTION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT IT WAS DEACTIVATED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENOR DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHS LESS THAN 105 POUNDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 450.