Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle's transmission failure. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 198,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 217,000.
Basically the engine secede up while driving from one place to another. Causing Me to suddenly just stop in traffic almost causing an accident . Now the car won't start with a new starter and battery. I have no light on the dash, it currently sits at 124,000 miles on it. It's a grate car I just need the problem fixed
I bought my car in 2008 a Kia optima lx I stored it till 2021. But in 2013 i took my car to El Paso tx. And I felt that beer to the side and stored it again in a garage toil this it's only got 6000 miles can it still qualify for a recall
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle's speed decelerated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road. She exited the vehicle and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The fire was extinguished by other drivers on the scene. The police and fire departments were notified. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine caused the fire. The contact was waiting for the insurance company to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.
My 2008 Kia Optima stalled, without warning, while driving approximately 35-40 MPH on a busy highway near an exit. The car lost all power, including steering. The car ended up riding a guardrail and landed on top of it. The end result was, for me, a broken neck! There was absolutely no warning prior to this happening. I was on my way to pick my 3 year old son up from school. Had he been in the car, this May have been catastrophic! My airbags did not deploy! This is unacceptable. The car is undergoing bodywork repairs and I am scared to death to step foot in this death trap ever again. Calls to the Kia dealer where I bought the car go unanswered, as they usually do. This is serious! If your Optima has stalled while driving without warning please post a complaint. This needs to be a recall!
Tl* 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, [phone]) 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.
My 2008 Kia Optima stalls randomly. It does not matter if the car is stationary or in motion. There are times that I start it and it will stall immediately and sometimes it will stall as I am backing out of my parking space. There are also times when I will be driving and it will stall which has nearly caused an accident. The problem does not produce a check engine light and no one has been able to successfully diagnose the problem. The issue that I am experiencing sounds very familiar to the newer optimas that have recently been recalled. The most recent stalling occurred yesterday, 04/10/2017, and there was a knocking sound along with the stalling out.
While driving down the interstate the engine began to knock. As I pulled off the interstate the engine shut down and would not restart. The car only has 96,000 miles. This motor has been recalled by Hyundai and Kia but only in certain models, while the engine has yet to be recalled for all models. I believe the issue is the connecting rod bearings have failed due to insufficient oil flow. The car's oil level was at the proper amount.
Car has 29,061 miles on it when the engine cracked. The car is 12 years old and well maintained. My dad drove this vehicle and had noticed the car making grinding noise. Prior to and during the day it stopped along a windy road driving 30 miles per hour. I researched this problem there is a noted issue that this happens at this mileage. Kia district manager declined to help with this issue. No car at 29000 miles should have engine crack.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated while traveling approximately 35 MPH, smoke emitted from under the hood and the vehicle stalled. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle failed to restart. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
Engine complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2008 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2008 Kia Optima, 17% of the model year's 144 complaints. The component named most often is engine (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 Kia Optima engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 2008 Kia Optima, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2008 Kia Optima engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 3 fires and 1 injury and 1 death to engine & cooling problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.