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: service brakes
7 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Service brakes, Engine, Jul 18, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT CONTINUED TO MOVE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SONS KIA (100 SONS DR, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253, (678) 619-1393) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CLAIMING THAT THE SHIFTER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Jan 19, 2016, crash
POLICE REQUEST FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION OF 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE DETECTIVE OF WINCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT IN WINCHESTER TN...UPDATED*BF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH AN ALLEGED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN MULTIPLE FATALITIES. THE DRIVER OF THE 2008 KIA OPTIMA WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED IN THE AREA OF 90 MPH. THE DRIVER TRAVELED DOWN THE TURNING LANE AND STRUCK A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR FROM THE REAR. THE FORD WINDSTAR WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION INTO A THIRD VEHICLE WHICH WAS STOPPED IN THE TURNING LANE. THE KIA OPTIMA CAME TO REST IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. THE DRIVER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND IT COULD NOT BE STOPPED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 93 MPH AND THE RPM'S WERE STUCK AT 4500. THE IGNITION WAS STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL. *JB
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
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Jan 11, 2012, crash
TL* 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 INJURIES TO THE RIGHT WRIST. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED (AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT CASE NUMBER: 1200904053). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Dec 1, 2008, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH IN THE RAIN ON A HIGHWAY AND APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IT LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE REAR-ENDED THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE AND CAUSED A MULTI-VEHICLE TRAFFIC COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE "AIR BAG" WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REMAINED ON UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS STRAPS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE ARRIVED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES AND WAS DRIVEN TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,600.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Nov 1, 2008, crash
I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT, AND WHILE BRAKING, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND HIT A CONCRETE POLE. *TR