2008 Kia Optima vs 2009 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2008 Kia Optima | 2009 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 143 | 116 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 30 | 33 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 20 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 67,235 mi | 65,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 57 | 28 |
| Power Train | 18 | 33 |
| Engine | 18 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 15 | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 11 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 9 |
| Steering | 4 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 18 | 14 |
| Stalling | 14 | 5 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 6 |
2008 Kia Optima
2009 Kia Optima
Compare all Kia Optima vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.