2008 KIA OPTIMA

What owners reported to NHTSA, ranked by how often and how seriously.

This is complaint data, not a random sample.

It only includes owners who chose to file a federal complaint, so it over-represents dramatic and safety-related problems and under-represents minor issues an owner just had fixed without reporting. Read this as what NHTSA complainants report most, not as this vehicle's true failure rate. Full methodology.

Component ranking

  1. #1

    airbag system

    47 unsafe

    47
    incidents
    Typical range: 12,000–92,000 mi

    Median 65,000 mi, based on 54 reports (22% had no usable mileage)

    • "THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WITH A 115LB WOMAN IN THE SEAT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE WEB AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIR BAG MUST ACTIVATE IN THE EVENT THE OCCUPANT IS 100LB OR MORE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INDICATED THAT THEIR SPEC. IS 115LB. *TR"~2,000 mi, complaint #678443
    • "I HAVE A 2008 KIA OPTIMA THAT I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2007 I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I HAVE A PASSENGER THE AIRBAG LIGHTS STATES THAT AIR BAG IS OFF THIS IS SCARY ARE MY PASSENGERS NOT BEING PROTECTED BY THE AIR BAG. *TR"~30,000 mi, complaint #828883
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONLY WHEN SOMEONE WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON IT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG MAY NOT D…"~65,000 mi, complaint #919205
    • "OUR SON VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON A [REDACTED ADDRESS] AND CROSSING THE 4 CORNER INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A 2018 CHEVY TRAX RUNNING A RED LIGHT. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS HIT HARD, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN, 3 TIRES WERE BLOWN, THE RE…"~86,500 mi, complaint #1462872
    • "WHILE TRAVELING AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 55 MPH A DEER RAN INTO THE SIDE OF MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH SIDE AIR BAGS IN WHICH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS PUSHED IN ON THE DRIVER AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WIDOW WAS DESTROYED INFLICTING CUTS ON THE D…"~689,000 mi, complaint #989202
  2. #2

    engine stall or no start

    2 stranded, 8 unsafe

    10
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=12, median 62,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "2008 KIA OPTIMA EXV6, SINCE NEW, WHEN LIGHTLY BRAKING WHILE DECELERATING FROM 40 MPH, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND HAS AN ACCELERATION SURGE AT AROUND 25 MPH. WHEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE KIA'S WERE MADE THAT WAY. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT CA…"~600 mi, complaint #697327
    • "2008 KIA OPTIMA STALLS WHILE IN MOTION. VEHICLE WILL SHUT ITSELF OFF. IT IS AS IF SOMEONE REACHES OVER AND TURNS THE KEY OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED WITH THE CAR STANDING STILL AND WITH THE CAR IN MOTION. STALLING USUALLY OCCURS WITHIN FIRST FEW MINUTES OF OPERAT…"~28,000 mi, complaint #799986
    • "2008 KIA OPTIMA 4CYL AUTOMATIC. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, HOT ALL THE TIME, USE AIR ALMOST ALL YEAR. CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE IN MOTION WITHIN FIRST FEW MINUTES WHILE AC IS ON WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO STOP SIGNS OR WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS WHERE I HAVE TO GET AC…"~45,000 mi, complaint #871243
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE…"~96,000 mi, complaint #1019195
    • "MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA WAS A GOOD CAR WIITH NO PROBLEMS AT ALL SO WHEN MY CAR CUT OFF ON I 95 DURING RUSH HR. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. AS I WAS ENTERING THE RAMP FOR I-95 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON . I HAD A CLICKIN NOISE IN ENGINE BUT WITHIN LESS THEN 2 MIN. AS…"~171,001 mi, complaint #1080464
  3. #3

    transmission automatic

    1 stranded, 7 unsafe, 1 broken

    9
    incidents

    Commonly reported, insufficient mileage data - n=11, median 115,000 mi, no reliable range below 25 reports.

    • "MY CAR SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT LEVER EXPLAINED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V153000, HOWEVER. MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A DAMAGE BUSHING IN THE SHIFT CABLE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS…"~65,000 mi, complaint #1198711
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED WHEN SHIFTING OUT OR INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE…"~70,000 mi, complaint #1148654
    • "MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE AND ROLLS AWAY."~115,000 mi, complaint #1424134
    • "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."~160,000 mi, complaint #1585407
    • "WHILE BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPACE IN THE EMPLOYEE PRIVATE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY I STOPPED PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD A LITTLE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD I TRIED THE SHIFTER IN ALL GEARS STILL NO MOVEMENT HAD THE CAR…"~170,025 mi, complaint #1396364
  4. #4

    other

    4 unsafe, 4 annoyance

    8
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=9)

    • "THIS REPORT IS SIMILAR TO REPORTS 10523036 AND 10523357 IN THIS DATABASE. PASSENGER SIDE VISOR FAILED APPROXIMATELY 1.5 YEARS INTO THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE: IT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO THE FULL FLUSH POSITION WITH THE CAR ROOF, OBSCURING DRIVER VISIBILITY TO…"~18,000 mi, complaint #997306
    • "THE SUN VISOR BROKE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. IT WILL NOT STAY UP. I HAVE TRIED MANY DO-IT-YOURSELF FIXES, BUT IT CONTINUES TO FALL DOWN, WHICH INTERFERES WITH VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DARK. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. NO MAT…"~75,000 mi, complaint #930092
    • "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…"~123,000 mi, complaint #1033475
    • "WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CAR BURST INTO FLAMES"~130,000 mi, complaint #1674764
    • "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 dis…"~217,000 mi, complaint #2174310
  5. #5

    engine internal

    1 stranded, 6 unsafe

    7
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "CAR HAS 29,061 MILES ON IT WHEN THE ENGINE CRACKED. THE CAR IS 12 YEARS OLD AND WELL MAINTAINED. MY DAD DROVE THIS VEHICLE AND HAD NOTICED THE CAR MAKING GRINDING NOISE. PRIOR TO AND DURING THE DAY IT STOPPED ALONG A WINDY ROAD DRIVING 30 MILES PER HOUR. I RES…"~29,061 mi, complaint #1644306
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND IDLING, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD PUFFING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT DIAGNOSED AS A RESIGNATOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…"~50,000 mi, complaint #1000015
    • "MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA WHEN SHE NOTICED A LOUD CLATTERING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SHE PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION. A GENTLEMAN THERE CHECKED THE OIL AND SAID THAT IT WAS LOW, HE ADDED 2 QUARTS, I CHANGE THE OIL IN THIS VE…"~54,000 mi, complaint #964746
    • "WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK. AS I PULLED OFF THE INTERSTATE THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR ONLY HAS 96,000 MILES. THIS MOTOR HAS BEEN RECALLED BY HYUNDAI AND KIA BUT ONLY IN CERTAIN MODELS, WHILE THE ENGI…"~96,000 mi, complaint #1612834
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECELERATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS…"~127,000 mi, complaint #1184532
  6. #6

    sunroof

    2 unsafe, 3 annoyance

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=7)

    • "MESSAGE: I HAVE A 2008 KIA OPTIMA THAT AFTER A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET THAT KIA MOTOR COMPANY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR SUN VISORS ON THE CAR THAT I HAVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE. I SEND…"~45,405 mi, complaint #1126742
    • "TL* 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 MANUFACTUR…"~56,000 mi, complaint #1113779
    • "THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN FROM ITS STOWED POSITION, DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH. THIS BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD AND OTHER TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE VISOR BACK…"~67,235 mi, complaint #1168736
    • "THE DRIVERS SIDE SUNVISOR BROKE THIS TIME, DROPS DOWN INTO LINE OF SIGHT. THE PASSENGER SIDE SUNVISOR BROKE OVER TWO YEARS AGO, WAS FINALLY REPLACED LAST CHRISTMAS. *TR"~76,000 mi, complaint #941878
    • "MY DRIVERS SIDE SUN VISOR BEGAN FAILING IT WOULDN'T STAY UP ANY LONGER THEN THE INSIDES FINALLY SNAPPED BREAKING THE PLASTIC INSIDE. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE IS DOING THE SAME. IT OBSTRUCTS FIELD OF VISION AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE BLOCKAGE OF SUN WHEN NEEDE…"~90,000 mi, complaint #1032600
  7. #7

    unintended acceleration

    5 unsafe

    5
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND ACTIVATED THE OPENING OF THE REAR TRUNK WHEN SUDDENLY THE RADIO UNIT BEGAN TO FUNCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO…"~6,835 mi, complaint #772408
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THEY TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVS UP AND IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANTED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THEY TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHI…"~34,000 mi, complaint #870872
  8. #8

    lighting exterior

    2 unsafe, 2 annoyance

    4
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT PROVIDING THE APPROPRIATE LIGHTING DISTANCE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $100 TO REPLACE EACH BULB. THE BUMPER WOU…"~1,000 mi, complaint #715785
    • "I TOOK MY CAR IN ON 4 SEP 2014 I GOT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH FROM [XXX] 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 AB…"~69,818 mi, complaint #1126432
  9. #9

    brake hydraulics

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "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…"~2,600 mi, complaint #698286
    • "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 W…"~160,000 mi, complaint #1586042
  10. #10

    key fob and immobilizer

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "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 S…"~61,000 mi, complaint #1122650
    • "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 CA…"~72,000 mi, complaint #1161642
  11. #11

    tire failure

    3 unsafe

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "FIRST OF 2 SIDEWALL BLOW OUTS NO EXTERNAL CAUSE. *TR"~2,000 mi, complaint #872927
    • "SIDE WALL BLOW OUT REPLACED TIRE NO EXTERNAL CAUSE. *TR"~22,000 mi, complaint #872933
  12. #12

    transmission manual clutch

    2 unsafe, 1 broken

    3
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE, HE SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL; HOWEVER, THE GEAR FAILED TO ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA TO A…"~79,000 mi, complaint #1604333
    • "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. I…"~88,000 mi, complaint #1701273
    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE SHIFTER CABLE DETACHED AND THE VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN PARK BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN DRIVE PO…"~134,000 mi, complaint #1721093
  13. #13

    alignment and pull

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "HAD IN POSSESSION FOR 2 DAYS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA, PULLED TO THE RIGHT. COULDN'T BE FINANCED. RECEIVED A 2008 KIA OPTIMA RIGHT OFF OF DELIVERY TRUCK,IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN WORSE. TOLD DEALERSHIP OF PROBLEM. TOLD IT WAS MOST LIKELY LOW TIRE PRESSURE AND SENT I…"complaint #667357
    • "EARLIER THIS YEAR WE PURCHASED A NEW 2008 KIA OPTIMA LX/EX 4D. YESTERDAY MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON FLORIDA'S TURNPIKE HE WAS SLOWING DOWN TO GET OFF ON AN EXIT WHEN THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AND IT STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. HE TRIED VERY HARD TO GAIN…"complaint #748962
  14. #14

    battery and charging

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=3)

    • "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…"~97,000 mi, complaint #1179617
  15. #15

    corrosion and rust

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "RECEIVED THE VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE THE UNDERBODY COMPONENTS SPRAYED WITH WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED A RUST INHIBITOR OR PREVENTATIVE, SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP 8/24/15 FOR THE APPLICATION WHEN THE…"complaint #1212545
    • "have taken my kia to halleen kia sandusky dealership for safety recall driver air bags, and to assess my subframe. was turned away because they said the subframe of my car was too rusty and they "didn't feel safe letting their technicians do repairs as per saf…"complaint #1864755
  16. #16

    fuel tank and lines

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "WHEN I FILL MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA WITH GASOLINE, THE PUMP SHUTS OFF BUT GAS GUSHES OUT OF THE TANK. MY LOCAL DEALER HAS CLAIMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. THE SERVICE DEPT. RARELY ANSWERS THEIR TELEPHONE SO I CAN'T EVEN CALL THEM TO GET THE PROB…"~45,000 mi, complaint #857956
    • "WHEN I FILL MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA WITH GASOLINE, THE PUMP SHUTS OFF BUT GAS GUSHES OUT OF THE TANK. *KB"~48,000 mi, complaint #897807
  17. #17

    steering electric assist

    2 unsafe

    2
    incidents

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=5)

    • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LOCK AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND WHEN RESTARTING IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD EXP…"~34,500 mi, complaint #807001
    • "THIS IS THE 3RD TO 4TH TIME THE CAR LOOSING POWER STEERING AFTER DRIVING THRU A PUDDLE AT A LOW SPEED. WE HAVE TAKEN THIS TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC TWO TIMES WITH REALLY NO KNOWN CAUSE. MECHANIC REPLACED THE BELT BUT APPARENTLY THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *T…"~114,000 mi, complaint #1123695
  18. #18

    abs module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "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…"~100,000 mi, complaint #899614
  19. #19

    adas blind spot

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE DOWN A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE LOW BEAMS ACTIVATED, A BLIND SPOT WOULD APPEAR THREE CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF HIS VIEW. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE F…"~2,000 mi, complaint #677122
  20. #20

    control module

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "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…"~131,500 mi, complaint #1473101
  21. #21

    fuel pump

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "2008 KIA OPTIMA FUEL PUMP BODY FAILURE. THE PUMP BODY CRACKS AND THE COMPUTER SETS EVAPORATED. LEAKAGE CODE. WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OF THESE FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.THIS SHOWS A PATTERN OF DEFECTS AND IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS IF THIS CAR IS I…"complaint #1523944
  22. #22

    glass and windshield

    1 annoyance

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=2)

    • "TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AIR WOULD SEEP THROUGH THE WINDOW WHILE IT WAS CLOSED. THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE WIND AT SPEEDS OF 40 AND 60 MPH. ONE DEALER SUGGESTED DRIVING WITH THE REARVIEW MIRROR CLOSED TOWARDS THE DOOR. A…"~4,000 mi, complaint #722994
  23. #23

    interior trim

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "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…"~51,300 mi, complaint #991626
  24. #24

    seat mechanism

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "REFERENCE: DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEAT THIS LETTER IS IN REFERENCE TO A FAULTY SEAT IN THE 2008 KIA OPTIMA EX, ONE I CURRENTLY OWN. I AM BRINGING THIS MATTER TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE OF THE DANGER THIS REPRESENTS TO DRIVERS OF KIA VEHICLES THAT HAVE ELECTRIC A…"~119,000 mi, complaint #994306
  25. #25

    seatbelt and pretensioner

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "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 TURNE…"complaint #929687
  26. #26

    starter

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=0)

    • "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"complaint #1378006
  27. #27

    timing belt or chain

    1 unsafe

    1
    incident

    Mileage: suppressed (fewer than 10 mileage-bearing reports; n=1)

    • "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."~70,000 mi, complaint #1565024

NHTSA investigations

Search NHTSA's own recall and complaint database for KIA OPTIMA directly.