2008 KIA Optima Air Bags Problems
Owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2008 KIA Optima, 40% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 51,887 miles. The words owners use most often: “air bag” (58% of reports).
- 57air bags complaints
- 51,887median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 35%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Air bag: mentioned in 33 of 57 complaints (58%)
- Passenger seat: mentioned in 11 of 57 complaints (19%)
- Clock spring: mentioned in 9 of 57 complaints (16%)
- Side airbag: mentioned in 5 of 57 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do air bags problems happen?
Based on 43 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 57 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 9 an injury.
KIA Optima air bags complaints by model year
| Model year | Air Bags complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 7 | 5% | 21,148 |
| 2019 Optima | 12 | 6% | 14,084 |
| 2018 Optima | 9 | 4% | 46,000 |
| 2017 Optima | 5 | 2% | 24,989 |
| 2016 Optima | 23 | 3% | 28,581 |
| 2015 Optima | 26 | 3% | 66,000 |
| 2014 Optima | 16 | 3% | 48,000 |
| 2013 Optima | 62 | 4% | 85,700 |
| 2012 Optima | 48 | 5% | 84,000 |
| 2011 Optima | 31 | 5% | 98,000 |
| 2010 Optima | 17 | 23% | 63,125 |
| 2009 Optima | 28 | 24% | 70,100 |
| 2008 Optima | 57 | 40% | 51,887 |
| 2007 Optima | 65 | 39% | 75,000 |
| 2006 Optima | 46 | 30% | 50,000 |
| 2005 Optima | 22 | 15% | 55,000 |
| 2004 Optima | 26 | 12% | 57,500 |
| 2003 Optima | 17 | 12% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Optima | 19 | 18% | 49,000 |
| 2001 Optima | 27 | 19% | 81,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Air bags:frontal
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Occupant airbag sensor doesn't recognize whether someone is sitting or not. The occupant airbag sensor light goes on and off whether there is a passenger sitting on the seat or not. Kia has extended warranty on this issue however it doesn't let customer know about this part is defected. I was doing…
Power train: at low idle or while slowing down, the car will lose power for a minute until you get on the accelerator and it all comes back on. Alternator had been replaced. And is going to be replaced again soon. Not sure if it's just a bad part. Power steering pump was replaced. The pulley…
Air bag line came on, dealer states is clock spring.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2008 KIA Optimas have air bags problems?
No. NHTSA has 57 owner complaints about air bags for the 2008 KIA Optima (40% of the 144 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2008 KIA Optima air bags?
Yes: 1 safety recall list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do air bags problems start?
The median reported mileage is 51,887 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2008 KIA Optima?
The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 33 of 57 complaints, followed by “passenger seat” (11).
See all 2008 KIA Optima problems or air bags problems across all Optima years.