1.3

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
128,500 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2008 Kia Optima:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #2

Jul 092019

Optima

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. While attempting to park the vehicle, it continued to move without warning while in the park position. The contact had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Once the emergency brake was applied, the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was towed to sons Kia (100 sons dr, mcdonough, ga 30253, (678) 619-1393) where it was diagnosed that the throttle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 13V114000 (service brakes, hydraulic, exterior lighting); however, the dealer refused to replace the transmission shifter claiming that the shifter was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

- Locust Grove, GA, USA

problem #1

Mar 042014

Optima 4-cyl

  • 97,000 miles
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't fix the issue. Had the charging system inspected February 2015. Turned out to be a short or failure due to electrical issue has to get it fixed. February 2015 electrical repairs (switch, plug, fuse). March 2015 car is making grinding noise when pressing down on the break, it is very hard to bring the car to a full stop and makes a grinding sound when making turns as well.

- Bay City , MI, USA