2008 Kia Optima air bags problems
58 complaints about air bags have been filed for the 2008 Kia Optima, which is 31% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 58 31% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 52,000 miles 43 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 11 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 10 and 2
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When air bags problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 14 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 5 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 7 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 1 |
What the data shows
Of the 43 air bags complaints that report mileage, the median is about 52,000 miles, and 53% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 11 crashes, 10 injuries, 2 deaths.
What owners wrote
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 85 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact went into an embankment and crashed into a telephone pole. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained minor injuries and the front passenger was killed. The vehicle was towed to a police impound lot. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
We were hit in the passenger side and the entire side of the car was crushed and none of the air bags ever deployed and the passenger side seat belt did not lock. I had reported the fact that when someone was sitting in the passenger seat that the airbag light was not coming on to the car dealership that I purchased the car from but they just made excuses that the person sitting in the seat was not heavy enough even though they weighed over 150lbs.
Other problems reported for the 2008 Kia Optima
- Engine 24 complaints
- Drivetrain & axles 16 complaints
- Electrical system 16 complaints