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2008 Kia Optima
The 2008 Kia Optima appears in 3 NHTSA recall campaigns (exterior lighting, air bags and power train) and in 120 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is air bags: 333.3 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 160.2 per 1,000 across all 2008 model-year vehicles and against 100.8 per 1,000 for the Kia Optima line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 159.4 complaints per model year across the 19 Kia Optima model years on this register; 18 complaints reported a crash and 3 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2014 (18); the most recent in the file is dated 9 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 3 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: 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.
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 campaign number is SC098.
Filed by Kia Motors Corporation (manufacturer campaign SC098).
Defect, as filed: 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.
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.
Filed by KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (manufacturer campaign SC094).
- 11V153000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFTReported 9 Mar 2011 · 70,115 units
Defect, as filed: 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.
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.
Filed by KIA MOTORS CORPORATION (manufacturer campaign SC088).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2008 Kia Optima (black) against all 2008 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2008 | Optima line | All 2008 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 333.3 | 100.8 | 160.2 |
| Electrical System | 86.7 | 95.6 | 142.9 |
| Engine | 80 | 181 | 62.5 |
| Power Train | 60 | 54.6 | 75.7 |
| Visibility | 46.7 | 22 | 17.5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 46.7 | 32.4 | 41.8 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 50 | 333.3 | 100.8 | 160.2 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 86.7 | 95.6 | 142.9 |
| Engine | 12 | 80 | 181 | 62.5 |
| Power Train | 9 | 60 | 54.6 | 75.7 |
| Visibility | 7 | 46.7 | 22 | 17.5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 46.7 | 32.4 | 41.8 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 7 | 46.7 | 12.1 | 11.7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | 40 | 37.5 | 40.3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 33.3 | 22.5 | 26.6 |
| Unknown or Other | 5 | 33.3 | 46.9 | 34.8 |
| Steering | 4 | 26.7 | 110.2 | 83.4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | 26.7 | 10.9 | 33.2 |
| Seats | 4 | 26.7 | 7.9 | 9 |
| Structure | 3 | 20 | 61 | 47.5 |
| Tires | 3 | 20 | 7.9 | 14.3 |
| Suspension | 2 | 13.3 | 33.8 | 30.7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 13.3 | 10.9 | 21.8 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 13.3 | 11.1 | 9.5 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 1 | 6.7 | 64.2 | 14.4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 1 | 6.7 | 11.4 | 18.2 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 6.7 | 23 | 41.5 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 6.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | 6.7 | 20 | 30.6 |
120 unique complaints, 150 component mentions; 21 injuries and 8 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP22003 | Defect petition | Loss of Motive Power | engine | 12 Sep 2022 | 12 Dec 2023 | — |
| DP21003 | Defect petition | Throttle control system vulnerabilities | vehicle speed control:throttle | 12 Nov 2021 | 20 Jun 2023 | — |
| PE10046 | Preliminary evaluation | Transmission Shift Cable Detachment | power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl) | 22 Nov 2010 | 5 Apr 2011 | 11V153000 |
Other Kia Optima model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 | 141 | 64,270 |
| 2002 | 3 | 102 | 73,842 |
| 2003 | 2 | 138 | 62,341 |
| 2004 | 1 | 221 | 36,538 |
| 2005 | 0 | 142 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 150 | 215,870 |
| 2007 | 2 | 152 | 215,870 |
| 2008 | 3 | 120 | 1,196,247 |
| 2009 | 1 | 103 | 980,377 |
| 2010 | 1 | 61 | 980,377 |
| 2011 | 5 | 367 | 3,907,969 |
| 2012 | 5 | 439 | 3,185,590 |
| 2013 | 9 | 440 | 4,280,952 |
| 2014 | 7 | 178 | 3,515,367 |
| 2015 | 4 | 182 | 2,682,585 |
| 2016 | 5 | 65 | 403,321 |
| 2017 | 3 | 16 | 392,799 |
| 2018 | 2 | 10 | 321,146 |
| 2019 NHTSA | 1 | 1 | 11,423 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Kia Optima model years · Kia: 34 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2008 Kia Optima have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 13V114000, was reported to NHTSA on 1 Apr 2013 and concerns exterior lighting:brake lights:switch. Across all model years the Kia Optima line has 22 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2008 Kia Optima?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 3 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2008 Kia Optima complain about most?
Air Bags: 50 of 150 component mentions (333.3 per 1,000). Next is electrical system with 13. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.