The 2008 Kia Optima's high safety profile includes 1 recall campaigns and 143 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

143

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

11V1530002011-09-03

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2008 Kia Optima has accumulated 143 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with air bags leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Air Bags44

02Power Train12

03Engine9

04Visibility/wiper7

05Unknown Or Other4

143 total across 1 model years (2008–2008)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Kia Optima Fuel Economy

23–25mpg combined

20-21city

28-31hwy

$1,750-$1,900/yr

With 3 configurations tested, the 2008 Kia Optima ranges from 23 to 25 MPG combined. That's a 2 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Optima - Automatic 5-spd

25mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

21 city31 hwy~$1,750/yr-1/10 Poor

Optima - Manual 5-spd

25mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

21 city31 hwy~$1,750/yr-1/10 Poor

Optima - Automatic 5-spd

23mpg

2.7L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city28 hwy~$1,900/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2008 Kia Optima

37States

29%in top 3

If you're near Florida, you're in luck: 12% of listings are there. But with 37 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

FLFlorida

17412%

TXTexas

1188%

CACalifornia

1078%

GAGeorgia

675%

NCNorth Carolina

665%

AZArizona

594%

PAPennsylvania

574%

OHOhio

534%

MOMissouri

504%

ILIllinois

483%

DCWashington DC

423%

NYNew York

353%

MIMichigan

353%

DEDelaware

332%

NJNew Jersey

332%

UTUtah

302%

INIndiana

282%

WAWashington

282%

MDMaryland

262%

OR26

TN24

MN22

OK22

VA20

CO15

ID14

RI14

NV14

AL13

SC12

KY12

NE11

NH11

KS11

NM9

MA8

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2008.

2008 Kia Optima Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 2008 Kia Optima a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 2008 Kia Optima. There are 1 recall to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 2008 Kia Optima?

NHTSA shows 1 recall campaign for the 2008 Kia Optima. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 2008 Kia Optima?

You'll get between 23 and 25 MPG combined from the 2008 Kia Optima, depending on engine and drivetrain. That's a meaningful difference over time. The fuel economy table shows exactly which configs get what.

What are common problems with the 2008 Kia Optima?

AIR BAGS problems top the list with 143 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.