2008 Kia AMANTI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
43,118 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 25 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 12.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 8; Electrical System: 7; Power Train: 3; Air Bags: 2; Suspension: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 10; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10290514 · 2009-11-01 (November 1, 2009)
FROM THE DAY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THE THROTTLE TIP HAS BEEN VERY AGGRESSIVE. I BARELY TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD. I FEEL THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AND CAUSE POTENTIAL INJURY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290514 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10376285 · 2011-01-11 (January 11, 2011)
DRIVERS' MIRROR ADJUSTMENT/MEMORY SETTING: THE DRIVERS' MIRROR WILL START CLICKING/MOVING,WHEN I HIT THE REMOTE.WHEN THE MIRRORS TILT DOWN AFTER PUT IN REVERSE,THE DRIVER'S MIRROR WILL NOT RETURN BACK TO THE MEMORY SETTING,WHICH HAS TO BE RESET EVERYTIME,IN ORDER TO PROPERLY USE MIRRORS.I HAVE TURNED OFF THE MEMORY FOR THE MIRRORS,BUT THE MIRROR CONTINUES TO MOVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10376285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10442598 · 2012-01-05 (January 5, 2012)
AT 65 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY -WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ENGINE DIED TO IDLE SPEED AND NO POWER. TRY CROSSING 3 LANES OF FAST TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER AND RAPID DECELERATION ! FORTUNATELY NO IMPACTS BUT SOME TERRIBLE NEAR MISSES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED . THE CODE WAS P2135 -THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH FAILED.THAT CAUSED P2106 &P1295 "LIMP HOME MODE"-WHICH SHOULD BE CHANGED TO " KILLED IN ACTION(KIA) WHILE LIMPING MODE". IF YOU CHECK THE INTERNET, THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM ACROSS A RANGE OF KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES.THERE ARE TSB'S FOR IT.JU…
Owner-reported narrative. 13,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442598 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462496 · 2012-06-21 (June 21, 2012)
WHEN ADJUSTING THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS THEY JUST START MOVING ON THEIR OWN ...SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING .. AND IT'S DANGEROUSE ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY MOVE WITHOUT U REALIZING AND YOU GO TO CHECK THEM AND THEY ARE ALL WEIRD SO YOU HAVE TO ADJUST THEM WHILE DRIVING .. ONCE YOU'VE ADJUSTED ONE THE OTHER ONE WILL MOVE FOR NO REASON.. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472794 · 2012-08-28 (August 28, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS MOVED AND WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO ASSIST HER AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CONTINUE REARRANGING THE MIRRORS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HER AT A LATER DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 10/16/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. U…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480113 · 2012-10-15 (October 15, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP OF THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM AN ECHOING AND ROARING INSIDE HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10495032 · 2013-01-29 (January 29, 2013)
HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON 12/14/12. IT IS A 'SHIFTING/GEAR/TRANSMISSION ISSUE. ITS A 4 YR OLD CAR, BOUGHT FROM DEALER-KIA OF BEDFORD, OH. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON AFTER TRYING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE(ITS REVS IN PLACE LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL). 1) 1ST WORK ORDER, DONE ON 1/3/13, WAS TO REPLACE THE 'FRONT WIRING ASSEMBLY'HARNESS AND ELECTRICAL LED LIGHT ASSEMBLY. 2) 2ND WORK ORDER, DONE ON 1/18/13, REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION INHIBITOR SWITCH AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH... 3)THE 3RD …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10511154 · 2013-05-08 (May 8, 2013)
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME ISSUE (MILEAGE 17900) -PREVIOUS ISSUE WAS JULY 2012. DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE-CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER DOWN TO IDLE ONLY SPEED. FORTUNATELY, THEN & TODAY NO TRACTOR TRAILERS RAN OVER TOP OF THE CAR. COULD MANGE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. KIA IS OBVIOUSLY NOT FIXING THIS POSITION SENSOR/COMPUTER PROBLEM. DRIVING THE CAR IN LIMP MODE TO A GARAGE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS MUST GET UP TO 25MPH THEN USE THE CRUISE CONTROL-IN TRAFFIC IT IS OFF & ON.START & STOP. BE FOREWARNED YOU SHOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,465 miles reported. Look up ODI 10511154 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch
Reported: 2013-04-01 (April 1, 2013)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗