NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Optima Opus Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 Optima Opus has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Optima dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Optima Opus. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2008 Optima Opus owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2008 Optima Opus, describing incidents dated May 8, 2012.

Most-cited components

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10671047 · Filed January 8, 2015
BRAKES REPLACED TWICE, ROTORS, CALIBERS, BRAKE HOSE, BREAK LINES,STARTER,WINDSHIELD PUMP,AND ALL AT DIFFERENT TIMES! THIS CAR WAS BRANDNEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THIS IS NOT MY FIRST CAR NEW THAT I PURCHASED SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING! I NORMALLY BUY EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS A NEW CAR AND NEVER HAD…

Read the full complaint

Battery Equalizers/DC-DC Converters-Possible Fire

NHTSA #13V457000 · Electrical System · NHTSA notice

Reported September 19, 2013 · North American Bus Industries, Inc.

Potentially affected: 4,061 vehicles

Repair completion: 82.22% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign 20136 · Vehicles built January 1, 2000 – December 31, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

North American Bus Industries (NABI) is recalling certain model year 2000-2011 LFW, CLFW, BRT, 2007-2009 Blue Bird L4RE, and 2000-2009 Optima Opus transit buses equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

Safety consequence

Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

NABI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on January 27, 2014. Owners may contact NABI at 1-256-831-4296. NABI's recall number is 20136.

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.

PINCH BOLTS

NHTSA #12V189000 · Steering — Column · NHTSA notice

Reported May 2, 2012 · NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Potentially affected: 50 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign 20122 · Owners notified June 7, 2012 · Vehicles built August 8, 2007 – September 21, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES (NABI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 OPTIMA OPUS29 AND OPUS34 MODEL TRANSIT BUSES, MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 8, 2007, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. THE PINCH BOLTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT MAY LOOSEN TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY MAY FALL OUT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE.

Safety consequence

SEPARATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

NABI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 7, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NABI AT 1-256-831-4296.

Notes

THIS IS NABI RECALL 20122.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

HORIZON LED SIDE DESTINATION SIGN/POSSIBLE FIRE

NHTSA #09V495000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported December 29, 2009 · NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Potentially affected: 2,370 vehicles

Owners notified January 29, 2010

Defect description

NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. (NABI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2009 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2002, AND SEPTEMBER 15, 2009, AND EQUIPPED WITH LUMINATOR HORIZON LED SIDE DESTINATION SIGNS. THE CONNECTOR BOARD CAN CORRODE DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE UNDER THE CONNECTOR.

Safety consequence

THE CORROSION COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

NABI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LUMINATOR WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE LUMINATOR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-054. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LUMINATOR AT 1-972-516-3033 OR NABI AT 1-256-831-4296.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2008 Optima Opus. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Optima Opus.

Exterior Lighting; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility; Service Brakes

ODI #10671047

Incident: May 8, 2012 · Filed: January 8, 2015

BRAKES REPLACED TWICE, ROTORS, CALIBERS, BRAKE HOSE, BREAK LINES,STARTER,WINDSHIELD PUMP,AND ALL AT DIFFERENT TIMES! THIS CAR WAS BRANDNEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THIS IS NOT MY FIRST CAR NEW THAT I PURCHASED SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING! I NORMALLY BUY EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS A NEW CAR AND NEVER HAD MORE PROBLEMS THEN I HAD HAVE WITH THIS ONE AND WONDERED IF ANYONE ELSE HAD SAME ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH IN THIS SHORT TIME FROM REPLACING ONE PART AFTER ANOTHER? TODAY WHICH IS JANUARY 8TH 2015 I WAS COMING HOME AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP SIGN I HAD NO BREAKS AND AFTER PUTTING EMERGENCY BREAK ON (WHICH BROKE) THE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH SAID BREAKS!! I HAVE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN A CAR THEN I DO WITH THIS ONE. LAST SUMMER OUT FOR A DRIVE MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE AREA WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED OVER AND THOUGHT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE! ONCE AGAIN HAD IT TOWED! IT WAS THE BREAK HOSE SO THEY THOUGHT AND REPLACED IT AND FOUND IT WAS THE CALIBER, I JUST SPENT 3HRS WAITING AT SHOP TO HAVE THAT FIXED AND COME TO THINK OF IT, I'VE SPENT ALOT MORE TIME AT SHOP ON THE OTHER FIXED PARTS, I KNOW CARS NEED THINGS REPLACED FROM WEAR&TEAR BUT GIVE ME A BREAK AND IM NOT LAUGHING ABOUT THIS EITHER! NOW IM OUT OF MY CAR AGAIN AND ASKING FOR RIDES TO WORK AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE NO BRAKELINES. THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR MAYBE READING THIS! [XXX] P.S. PLEASE SEND THROUGH MAIL ANY RECALLS BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER GOT ANY! THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Other Optima Opus model years

Check your 2008 Optima Opus VIN

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

Check an Optima VIN