There are 50 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2008 Kia Optimain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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 my research how to fix the issue and learn that kia had extended warranty for 15 years from the first day of service. the warranty currently expired right now. if I knew there was a warranty, I would go to dealer to fix the issue the day that my wife bought the car.
Air bag line came on, dealer states is clock spring.
have taken my kia to halleen kia sandusky dealership for safety recall driver air bags, and to assess my subframe. was turned away because they said the subframe of my car was too rusty and they "didn't feel safe letting their technicians do repairs as per safety recalls" and would not investigate the cars subframe.
This car have a Warranty Extension for OCS Sensor Mat. Warranty extension dated June 2016 Airbag light was first turned on in August 2020 Went to the dealer and said it was related to seat buckle and got it fixed Airbag light again turned on in August 2021 Went to the dealer and said it was related to clock spring and that the driver seat needs to be replaced, which would take time and did not get repaired In November 2021, the airbag light got turned off by itself I am very concerned whether the air bag for my car is really working.
I had my airbag light turned on last year and the dealership fixed the issue. Within a year, the airbag light got turned on again and now they say that it is related to the clock spring and is not covered in the extended warranty.This is a part that should not fail and very important for the safety and security of the driver and the other passengers.
KIA RECALLED OPTIMAS UP UNTIL JANUARY 2008 FOR FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. I HAVE A KIA OPTIMA THAT WAS BUILT IN MARCH 2008. I JUST PAID ALMOST 500.00 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING BECAUSE MY MONTH AND YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHY DID KIA STOP THE RECALL AFTER JANUARY 2008 WHEN THERE WERE STILL 2008'S WITH CLOCK SPRING ISSUES. I STARTED MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD CLOCK SPRING. I'M SURE THESE THINGS DO NOT WEAR OUT BEING THEY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.
OUR SON VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON A 1 WAY STREET AND CROSSING THE 4 CORNER INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A 2018 CHEVY TRAX RUNNING A RED LIGHT. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS HIT HARD, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN, 3 TIRES WERE BLOWN, THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN AND THE CAR WAS NOW FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. DURING THIS PROCESS HIS AIR BAGS (FRONT,SIDE) DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY. NOW THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH HIT HIM HAD FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT ONLY HIS SIDE AIRS DEPLOYED. BASED ON THE IMPACT AND BODY DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED.
CLOCK SPRING DONT WORK CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ON
"AIR BAG" LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURN ON. DEALER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL. CODE B1481.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT TRACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT FOR FRONT PASSENGER WAS ILLUMINATED. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTIC UNIT FOR $95 & GOT LIGHT TO GO OFF FOR NOW BUT STATED THAT THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR IT AT A COST OF $1700.00. APPARENTLY THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. OWNER HAS THE BILL FOR THIS DIANOSTIC SERVICE & ESTIMATE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR THE AIR BAG WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE VEHICLE WAS ONE MONTH OUT OF THE COVERED DATE. UPDATED 03/01/16.*JB *CN
AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHICH DIAGNOSED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS BAD. MUST REPLACE COMPLETE SEAT BOTTOM AND TRACK AT A COST OF ABOUT 1700.00 USD. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS RESET, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT IF ANYONE SITS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THE SYSTEM WILL TRIP AGAIN AND NOT BE ACTIVE. I INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE KIA DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT COUNTER PERSON . THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND NOT A REPAIR FOR THE CUSTOMER TO FINANCE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH AN OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,233.
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. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
WIFE WAS COMING BACK FROM WALKING THE DOGS IN THE PARK, AT THE PARK SHE WAS FEELING DIZZY, WHEN SHE SAT DOWN IN THE CAR SHE WAS FEELING BETTER. AS SHE WAS DRIVING HOME, SHE PASSED A SCHOOL AND SAW THE SIGN TO SLOW DOWN. AFTER THAT, SHE BLACKED OUT AND SHE WOKE UP AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IN A DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. SHE HAD HIT A FENCE THEN HEAD-ON INTO A TREE. THE WHOLE TIME ALL THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IS THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT UPDATED 05-27-15 *BF.....UPDATED 06-12-15 *BF UPDATED 06/23/15*JB
I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 05 THRU 08 ON THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE FRONT AIRBAG. MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I GUESS MINE IS NOT COVERED. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID MINE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BUT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IF THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ISN'T IT COVERED. I GUESS THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE ITS COVERED. *TR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,085.
DRIVER ON OPPOSITE SIDE IF ROAD CROSSED CENTER LANE AND CRASHED INTO THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY CAR, DAMAGING THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE FROM THE HEADLIGHTS TO THE TAILLIGHTS. IT IS WITHIN $1000 OF BEING TOTALED, BUT THE LOW MILEAGE IS WHAT SAVED US BY BRINGING THE VALUE UP. THE DRIVER WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30MPH WHEN HER CAR STRUCK MINE AND SHE DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES AT ALL. SHE HIT MY CAR AND THE CAR BEHIND ME AS WELL. MY SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE IMPACT, AS I FEEL THEY SHOULD HAVE. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, AND THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM THAT I AM AWARE OF. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026