2008 Kia OPTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls

HAD IN POSSESSION FOR 2 DAYS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA, PULLED TO THE RIGHT. COULDN'T BE FINANCED. RECEIVED A 2008 KIA OPTIMA RIGHT OFF OF DELIVERY TRUCK,IT PULLS TO THE RIGHT EVEN WORSE. TOLD DEALERSHIP OF PROBLEM. TOLD IT WAS MOST LIKELY LOW TIRE PRESSURE AND SENT IT FOR AN ALIGNMENT. STILL PULLS TO RIGHT. I WAS TOLD AS A JOKE TO TURN ON BLINKER IF I WAS TO LET GO OF WHEEL! THE FRONT END OF BOTH NEW CARS, FROM 2 DIFFERENT YEARS, LOOKING DOWN ON THE HOOD, ARE TWEAKED. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS FLUSH AND PASSENGER SIDE IS OFF AND SITS FUNNY. NO ACCIDENTS YE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10225780 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR IN MOTION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT IT WAS DEACTIVATED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENOR DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHS LESS THAN 105 POUNDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233048 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE DOWN A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE LOW BEAMS ACTIVATED, A BLIND SPOT WOULD APPEAR THREE CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF HIS VIEW. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 07/31/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233497 at NHTSA ↗

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WITH A 115LB WOMAN IN THE SEAT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE WEB AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIR BAG MUST ACTIVATE IN THE EVENT THE OCCUPANT IS 100LB OR MORE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INDICATED THAT THEIR SPEC. IS 115LB. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234538 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE A PASSENGER WAS PRESENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ADULT PASSENGER WOULD EITHER HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE OR CARRY A 10 LBS. WEIGHT WHILE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD ONLY DETECT 110 LBS. AND UP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18.

Owner-reported narrative. 18 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235326 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

DEALER HAS PUT OFF FOR OVER A MONTH REPAIRING FUNCTIONALITY OF PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM. SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. ONE MONTH WITH RUN AROUND AND DEALER SEEMINGLY UNABLE TO EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE NOTIFIED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247123 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2011-03-09 (March 9, 2011)

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.

Reported: 2012-01-17 (January 17, 2012)

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.

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.