2008 Kia Optima transmission problems

Filed Feb 6, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · 217,000 miles · WA

Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 2008 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle's transmission failure. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 198,000. It was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 217,000.

Filed Mar 2, 2025 · Airbags, Lights · KS

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 seized. Unrelated. Lighting: third brake light constantly flickers. All Lighting including head lights flicker on and off. Worse when slowing down. Lights on dash board, dome, rear light and head light Bulbs have been replaced. At night when the head lights flicker I cannot see the road. Airbags: the air bag light on dash is always on. Codes have been ran and there are so many. Tried resetting codes it comes back on soon after. Not sure how to go about trying to fix it. All of this has been happening since I purchased the car in November 2024.

Filed Jun 26, 2021 · Transmission · KS

I went to back out of my driveway and ended up in the middle of the road and not able to shift into drive. The dash shows that I am currently stuck in neutral and am not able to change gears. I looked up recalls and I see that there is a Power Train: Automatic Transmission Lever and Linkage Column shift recall from March 2011. I bought this car in June 2011. When I and the Kia dealership here in town look up my VIN number, it is not showing any recalls currently. How do I go about getting this fixed if it is in fact the exact issue from the Recall no: 11V153000? The dealership would not even look at the recall information I have found. I have not had any issues related to this until yesterday afternoon. I ended up pushing my car up into my driveway for now.

Filed Jun 2, 2021 · Transmission · VA

My vehicle locked up while turning around in a driveway so I could park at my daughter's house on the street. It was working fine before that. It got stuck in the drive mode and then I couldn't get it to start or move. I'm referring to the federal safety agency Campaign ID # 11V15300. I am currently stuck at my daughter's home in Norfolk, Virginia

Filed Jun 2, 2021 · Transmission · VA · crash

While driving, I tried to reverse my vehicle and it got stuck in drive , and wouldn't and my gear shift no longer responded to the gear and my vehicle was locked in place in drive mode.

Filed Jan 20, 2021 · Transmission · 134,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was parking the vehicle, the shifter cable detached and the vehicle kept rolling. The contact stated that the gear shifter was in park but the transmission was still in drive position. The contact stated that his daughter had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that he temporary fix the vehicle and later the vehicle was taken to taylor kia of boardman, 7870 market st, youngstown, oh 44512, and was diagnosed that the entire shift cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

Filed Jul 17, 2020 · Transmission · 57,960 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. The contact stated that while in reverse, the gear shifted without warning into neutral. The contact managed to stop the vehicle but was unable to change the gear from neutral to drive. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the shifter cable was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 11v153000 (power train) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 57,960.

Filed Sep 18, 2019 · Transmission · 79,000 miles · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. While the contact was waiting to have the oil changed in the vehicle, he shifted from park into neutral; however, the gear failed to engage. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed by aaa to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the shifter cable disconnected from the shifter. The vehicle was not repaired. Greenway kia of rivergate (1536 gallatin pike n, madison, tn 37115, (615) 860-9888) was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.

Filed Jul 18, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · 160,000 miles · GA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kia optima. While attempting to park the vehicle, it continued to move without warning while in the park position. The contact had to apply the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Once the emergency brake was applied, the vehicle was unable to start. The vehicle was towed to sons kia (100 sons dr, mcdonough, ga 30253, (678) 619-1393) where it was diagnosed that the throttle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 13v114000 (service brakes, hydraulic, exterior lighting); however, the dealer refused to replace the transmission shifter claiming that the shifter was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

Filed Jun 25, 2018 · Transmission · 136,000 miles · TX

My husband went to walmart to drop off a movie. When he came out he saw one of the employees holding the car from behind because it was rolling back. My husband put the car in park and turned it off and the car still rolled back. When he got in the car and turned it on the head board showed it was on 'n'. No check engin light or any other warning light was on. The shift gear was stuck on n. And if manual brake is not on then the car will roll back. You can move the gear stick in car to park or drive but the actual car is stuck on n. Shift gear will not change from n. If it had not been for the walmart employee stopping our car than it could have been alot worse by crashing into other cars behind it or even running over somebody causing a fatality!!! Called kia company to report it but they denied it being related to the recall that shows online on kia optimas 2006-2008. They told me only specific optimas have that recall. We haven't ever had any issues with our car since we bought it new in 2008. We have always maintained it and taken good care of it. This is a first for our car and this incident we had with our car is the same description as the recall. We feel that kia should cover this cost due to it being a manufactuer error. The recall states ' incorrectly installed cables have the potential to come loose from the transmission, disabling the shifter. If the cable comes loose, a car in park wouldn't shift into any gear while a vehicle already in gear wouldn't shift to reverse, neutral or park. If a car was parked and accidentally left in gear, and if the parking brake was not applied, the car could potentially roll away and cause an accident or injury.' kia should be held responsible and take care of the problem and stop saying only specific vehicles have the recall. Well my car did!! Its a 2008 kia optima and had the same incident happen thats on recall. Help!!