2008 Kia Optima Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2008 Kia Optima has a complaint index of 47, ranking 9th worst among 16 model years, and carries a Good verdict. Airbags are the top problem area (40% of complaints, 57 total), with three recalls covering electrical, airbag, and transmission systems.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 47/100
- #9 of 16 Optima years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 144
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 20
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 22
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 25
- 21 city / 31 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 22 / 8
Top 2008 Kia Optima problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags57 (40%)
- Engine29 (20%)
- Electrical System22 (15%)
- Transmission & Powertrain18 (13%)
- Visibility & Wipers14 (10%)
- Structure & Body10 (7%)
- Other9 (6%)
- Brakes7 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (4%)
- Fuel System5 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during crashes, including a highway rollover into a tree and a side-impact collision.
- Some drivers describe airbags deploying unexpectedly at low speed, striking the driver and causing loss of control.
- Owners report sudden brake lockup or ABS activation causing loss of steering control and rear-end collisions.
- Several complaints describe the engine stalling without warning at highway speed, including a loss of power steering.
- Suspension or tire failures reportedly caused vehicles to pull hard to one side, leading to crashes.
- One owner reported smoke and an electrical smell coming from the control panel while driving.
2008 Kia Optima recalls
3 NHTSA recall campaigns 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.
- NHTSA 12V014000Jan 17, 2012Airbags145,755 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 11V153000Mar 9, 2011Transmission & Powertrain70,115 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:column shift
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.
Risk: 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.
2008 Kia Optima fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 31 MPG
- Combined
- 25 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,600
- 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 Optima years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2008 Kia Optima reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2008 Optima a complaint index of 47 and a Good verdict, ranking 9th worst out of 16 model years for this model.
- What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kia Optima?
- Airbags account for 40% of complaints (57 total), followed by engine issues at 20% (29 complaints) and electrical system problems at 15% (22 complaints).
- Does the 2008 Kia Optima have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2008 Optima, covering the electrical system, an airbag clock spring assembly, and a shift cable installation issue in the transmission.
- At what mileage do 2008 Kia Optima problems typically show up?
- Median mileage at failure varies by system: airbag complaints cluster around 51,887 miles, engine complaints around 74,000 miles, and transmission complaints around 130,000 miles.
- How does the 2008 Optima compare to other Optima years?
- With a complaint index of 47, the 2008 Optima performs better than the 2011-2016 model years, which range from 67 to 100 and mostly carry Caution or Avoid verdicts.