2008 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
143 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 109 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 44 of 143 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 11.2% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 44 |
| Engine | 18 |
| Power Train | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
Air Bags: 44; Engine: 18; Power Train: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 13; Electrical System: 13; Unknown Or Other: 8; Exterior Lighting: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 29 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 29; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 7
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 34 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2008: 11; 2009: 5; 2010: 12; 2011: 11; 2012: 17; 2013: 10; 2014: 18; 2015: 16; 2016: 5; 2017: 7; 2018: 7; 2019: 6; 2020: 4; 2021: 8; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10236263 · 2008-07-29 (July 29, 2008)
MY NEW KIA HAS ABOUT 700 MILES ON IT, AND WHEN I PARK IT ON AN INCLINE SUCH AS THE ONE ENTERING MY GARAGE AND I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND PLACE IT INTO 1ST GEAR (IT IS A STANDARD SHIFT), THE CAR SLIPS BACKWARD. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE COMPRESSION IN THE CAR IS TOO LOW TO HOLD THE CAR IN 1ST GEAR ALONE, AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MUST ALSO BE APPLIED. MY QUESTION IS: I HAVE A 3 YR OLD GRANDSON, BUT LET'S SUPPOSE HE IS 5 AND HE WANTS TO GO OUT AND PLAY, WHICH HE COULD DO UNSUPERVISED, AND HE DECIDES HE…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247422 · 2008-11-01 (November 1, 2008)
I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT, AND WHILE BRAKING, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND HIT A CONCRETE POLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10349564 · 2010-08-16 (August 16, 2010)
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 EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE OVER A DOZEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT WITHOUT A PROPER DIAGNOSIS, THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAG…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349564 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10416730 · 2011-08-02 (August 2, 2011)
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 ACROSS QUICKLY THEN LET OFF GAS TO MAKE TURN. CAR BECOMES HARD TO STEER WHEN ENGINE CUTS OFF, WORSE THAN A CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING, SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT WONT MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO THE MEDIAN SAFELY. CAN START THE CAR AGAIN, BUT IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO THROW CAR INTO …
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10416730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10673104 · 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)
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 OCCURRED, THE KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10673104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11045297 · 2017-11-11 (November 11, 2017)
MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE AND ROLLS AWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11045297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10343692 · 2010-07-16 (July 16, 2010)
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 OPERATION AND WITH HOT OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES. FIRST VISIT TO KIA RESULTED IN REPLACED FUEL TANK (CODES FOR BAD ROLL OVER VALVE). PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR ABOUT A YEAR THEN CAME BACK. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF. SHOP CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEREFORE…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343692 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691455 · 2015-03-02 (March 2, 2015)
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 CAR HOME AND PUT IT IN THE GARAGE. ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22 2015 I WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I DECIDED TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND COULDN'T BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24 2015 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THAT…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10691455 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714223 · 2015-05-03 (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'…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714223 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11161480 · 2018-12-14 (December 14, 2018)
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 IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE FUEL WILL BURST OUT OF THE TANK AS A RESULT THIS FUEL SENDER CRACKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11161480 at NHTSA ↗