NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Kia Amanti Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Kia Amanti has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 25 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kia dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Kia Amanti. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 Kia Amanti owner complaints

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Kia Amanti, describing incidents dated November 12, 2008 to June 30, 2021.

Most-cited components

Unknown or Other 8 complaints
Electrical System 7 complaints
Air Bags 3 complaints
Power Train 3 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints
Engine 2 complaints

Of the 25 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 25 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11472547 · Filed July 6, 2022
The contact owns a 2008 Kia Amanti. The contact stated there were several failures with the clockspring assembly feature causing the horn and cruise control to become inoperable. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be…
ODI #11423020 · Filed June 30, 2021
[XXX] This was a persistent problem since the car was new; yet, undiscovered by the dealer after their examination. Continued complaint produced no result. Engineer's analysis: Rear Sway Bar End Linkage is designed to rotate during a (leaning outward) pitched road cornering and the resulting…
ODI #11317044 · Filed March 9, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT OPERATE EVERYDAY THE BATTERY WILL RUN DEAD. THE SUNROOF WILL INDEPENDENTLY OPEN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS…

Read all 25 complaints

Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently

NHTSA #13V114000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 1, 2013 · Kia Motors Corporation

Potentially affected: 980,377 vehicles

Kia campaign SC098 · Owners notified April 19, 2013 · Vehicles built November 21, 2006 – June 2, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Safety consequence

Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2008 Kia Amanti 4-DR w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

25 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Kia Amanti.

Air Bags

ODI #11472547

Incident: May 25, 2021 · Filed: July 6, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Kia Amanti. The contact stated there were several failures with the clockspring assembly feature causing the horn and cruise control to become inoperable. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanic confirmed the failure with the clockspring assembly. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

Suspension

ODI #11423020

Incident: June 30, 2021 · Filed: June 30, 2021

[XXX] This was a persistent problem since the car was new; yet, undiscovered by the dealer after their examination. Continued complaint produced no result. Engineer's analysis: Rear Sway Bar End Linkage is designed to rotate during a (leaning outward) pitched road cornering and the resulting torsional forces on the frame. Both rear shock absorbers interfere with the travel of the Sway Bar end linkage during their designed rotational dynamic range. This interference of rotation destroys the shock absorber by repetitive striking and inhibits full functional rotation of the sway bar and end linkage. A mechanic (Jig-Saw Auto; Carson City, Nevada 06/24/2021) replaced damaged shocks hoping to fix the problem; but, it did not. When another mechanic (Les Schwab North Carson City, NV 06/30/2021) put the KIA car on a lift, and discovered the problem a quote was given for a repair of the new shocks which were now damaged. When, by chance, a licensed engineer (yours truly) examined the area, the design flaw was discovered. Replacement of parts would result in damage to parts from the design flaw. --[XXX] , Licensed P.E. in CA and IL. [XXX] cell ph. On Behalf of Dr.[XXX] DDS. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Electrical System; Air Bags

ODI #11317044

Crash

Incident: March 9, 2010 · Filed: March 9, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT OPERATE EVERYDAY THE BATTERY WILL RUN DEAD. THE SUNROOF WILL INDEPENDENTLY OPEN. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC PANEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW ELECTRONIC PANEL WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTION THAT ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A DEER AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO INJURIES TO EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,500.

Electrical System

ODI #11124384

Incident: September 4, 2018 · Filed: September 4, 2018

POWER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ARE MOVING WHILE DRIVING OR WHEN SHIFTING TRANSMISSION FROM PARK TO REVERSE/NEUTRAL/DRIVE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS WHEN I GO TO LOOK OUT THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS THEY ARE CONSTANTLY IN A DIFFERENT POSITION THEN HOW THEY SHOULD BE SET. I'M CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THE MIRRORS AND THEY CONTINUE TO MOVE ALL OVER THE PLACE ON THEIR OWN.

Electrical System; Unknown or Other; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10745532

Incident: August 1, 2013 · Filed: August 1, 2015

THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WILL MOVE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT A COMMAND. TOO OFTEN WHEN I WANT TO CHANGE LANES, THE MIRROR IS NOT IN THE CORRECT POSITION. DANGEROUS

Unknown or Other

ODI #10734818

Incident: July 10, 2015 · Filed: July 17, 2015

LEFT AND RIGHT OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRORS SELF ADJUSTING AGAIN!! DEALER TOLD US WHEN THEY FIXED IT THE LAST TIME THAT THIS PART WAS RE-ENGINEERED AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. THE FIX WORKED UP UNTIL NOW AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN!!!! HAVEN'T CONTACTED THE DEALER YET.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10734813

Incident: March 22, 2013 · Filed: July 17, 2015

OUTSIDE RIGHT AND LEFT REARVIEW MIRRORS SELF ADJUSTING. INSTALLED YET ANOTHER NEW MEMORY SWITCH #88995 3F200

Unknown or Other

ODI #10734812

Incident: January 14, 2013 · Filed: July 17, 2015

LEFT AND RIGHT OUTSIDE MIRRORS ADJUSTING ON THEIR OWN ALL THE TIME!! DEALER SPECIAL ORDERED PARTS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM. NEW PARTS WERE INSTALLED ON 1/24/13.

Unknown or Other

ODI #10734808

Incident: August 27, 2012 · Filed: July 17, 2015

OUTSIDE LEFT AND RIGHT MIRRORS SELF ADJUSTING. DEALER REPLACED BOTH MIRRORS THIS TIME ON 9/07/12

Unknown or Other

ODI #10734806

Incident: December 12, 2011 · Filed: July 17, 2015

OUTSIDE LEFT AND RIGHT REARVIEW MIRRORS SELF ADJUSTING. DEALER INSTALLED ANOTHER NEW MEMORY SEAT SWITCH

Other Kia Amanti model years

Check your 2008 Kia Amanti VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kia Amanti at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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