2008 Kia Optima Problems
What owners have reported about the 2008 Kia Optima, which problems come up most, at what mileage, and which recalls to check.
From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.
Is the 2008 Kia Optima a good year?
It's one of the better years for the Optima. Owners have filed 144 complaints with NHTSA, the 11th most of 13 Optima model years. The most reported problems involve the airbags, engine and transmission.
144 complaints 3 recalls 11th worst of 13 Optima years
Top 2008 Kia Optima problems
Airbag problems
57 complaints (40%) name the airbags, most often the frontal and sensor / control module.
Engine problems
24 complaints (17%) name the engine, most often the engine.
Transmission problems
18 complaints (13%) name the transmission, most often the manual transmission and floor shift.
Electrical problems
15 complaints (10%) name the electrical system, most often the 12v / 24v / 48v battery and ignition.
Which parts fail most
Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.
Mileage when it failed
Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (100 of 144). The amber line is the middle value, about 66,000 miles.
When problems were reported
Complaints by the year the problem happened.
2008 Kia Optima recalls
Switch
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. 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.
Fix: Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Recall 13V114000 · Apr 2013Frontal
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. 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.
Recall 12V014000 · Jan 2012Column shift
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. 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the shift cable and reinstall if necessary free of charge.
Recall 11V153000 · Mar 2011Get an email when your 2008 Kia Optima gets a new recall
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Optima years to avoid
Total NHTSA complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so their totals will keep climbing. See the full comparison.
Common questions
Is the 2008 Kia Optima a reliable year?
It's one of the better years for the Optima. Owners have filed 144 complaints with NHTSA, the 11th most of 13 Optima model years. The most reported problems involve the airbags, engine and transmission.
What are the most common 2008 Kia Optima problems?
Owners most often report problems with the airbags, engine, transmission and electrical system. 57 complaints (40%) name the airbags, most often the frontal and sensor / control module.
At what mileage do 2008 Kia Optima airbags problems start?
Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 29,000–85,000 miles, with a middle value near 65,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2008 Kia Optima have?
3. Switch (13V114000); Frontal (12V014000); Column shift (11V153000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.
Should I buy a used 2008 Kia Optima?
Ask for service records covering the airbags, confirm the recall work was done, and compare with the 2010, 2009 and 2008 models, which have the fewest complaints.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Counts include each complaint once per model year.