2008 Kia Optima Seat belts Problems
- Complaints
- 2about this part
- Share
- 1%of 144 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 80,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 2 complaints about the seat belts of the 2008 Kia Optima, 1% of the 144 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 80,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10460853, filed 2012-06, 80,000 miles“The rear passenger seat belt was jammed. I pulled it a few times and it became unjammed and I fastened the safety belt around my 4 year old child. Approximately 3-5 minutes later as I was driving I smelled smoke. I started checking the control panel and turned off the A/C and radio and rolled down the windows. The smoke stopped so I continued to drive about a mile and stopped the car in a parking lot. I was there approximately 4 minutes when I smelled smoke and turned my head to the rear of the vehicle towards my child. …”
NHTSA complaint #10467019, filed 2012-07Seat belts: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 | 3% |
| 2019 | 2 | 1% |
| 2018 | 5 | 2% |
| 2017 | 8 | 3% |
| 2016 | 3 | 0% |
| 2015 | 2 | 0% |
| 2014 | 1 | 0% |
| 2013 | 18 | 1% |
| 2012 | 5 | 1% |
| 2011 | 2 | 0% |
| 2010 | 2 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 3 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% |
| 2004 | 6 | 3% |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% |
| 2002 | 2 | 2% |
| 2001 | 5 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2008 Kia Optima
57 complaintsEngine
19 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
14 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaintsExterior lighting
8 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsEngine cooling
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2008 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology