2008 Kia Amanti Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2008 Kia Amanti has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 3rd worst out of 5 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Electrical System issues dominate at 32% of complaints, mostly side mirrors moving on their own, alongside airbag deployment failures and engine stalling.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #3 of 5 Amanti years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 25
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2008 Kia Amanti problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System8 (32%)
- Other8 (32%)
- Airbags3 (12%)
- Engine3 (12%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (12%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (12%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (8%)
- Brakes1 (4%)
- Fuel System1 (4%)
- Seat Belts1 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Side view mirrors move or tilt on their own while driving, sometimes failing to return to memory settings after shifting.
- Engine suddenly loses power and drops to idle speed at highway speeds, triggering a check engine light and limp-home mode.
- Driver's side airbag deployed in a crash but the passenger airbag failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to restrain the passenger.
- Vehicle battery drains when not driven daily, the sunroof opens on its own, and the electronic panel stops functioning.
- Transmission fails to engage drive and revs as if in neutral, with a malfunction indicator lamp illuminated.
2008 Kia Amanti recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 13V114000Apr 1, 2013Electrical System980,377 vehicles
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
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.
Risk: 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.
2008 Kia Amanti fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2008 compared with other Amanti years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Kia Amanti reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2008 Amanti a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 3rd worst among the 5 model years with data. Electrical System problems, mainly self-moving side mirrors, account for 32% of complaints.
- What is the most common problem with the 2008 Kia Amanti?
- Electrical System issues are the top problem area, making up 8 of 25 complaints (32%), with a median mileage at failure of 43,118 miles for the car overall.
- Does the 2008 Kia Amanti have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists one recall for the 2008 Amanti, campaign 13V114000, covering the Electrical System, with no do-not-drive restriction.
- How does the 2008 Amanti compare to other Amanti years?
- The 2008 model (Complaint Index 50) is worse than the 2007 model (Complaint Index 25, Good verdict) but better than the 2005 (100, Avoid) and 2006 (75, Avoid) models.