← New search

2008 Kia Amanti

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Kia Amanti do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 36.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Amanti years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

22 reports with mileage · 3 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

25 reports
43,118 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH THE TRANSMISSION MADE A HARD SHIFT...THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE JUMP. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD ONLY DRIVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK.

NHTSA ODI #10734804

25,023 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Unknown Or Other

LEFT AND RIGHT REARVIEW MIRRORS ADJUSTING ON THEIR OWN. DEALER REMOVED AND REPLACED SEAT CONTROL SWITCH. DEALER COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM ON PREVIOUS VISIT ON 9/03/10 AND TOLD US TO BRING IT BACK AS SOON AS IT HAPPENED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI #10734800

22,915 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Unknown Or Other

MIRRORS ADJUSTING RANDOMLY ON THEIR OWN.

NHTSA ODI #10734799

99,000 miles · Jul 17, 2015
Exterior Lighting

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULBS 4X IN THE LAST TWO YEASR. THESE BULBS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE AFTERMARKET AUTO PARTS STORES....HAVE TO PURCHASE FROM LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THEY NEVER HAVE THESE BULBS IN STOCK, ALWAYS HAVE TO ORDER AND USUALLY TAKES 3-4 DAYS. JUST REPLACED BOTH THE LEFT & RIGHT ON 01/26/15 AND THE RIG…

Read full complaint

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOW BEAM HALOGEN BULBS 4X IN THE LAST TWO YEASR. THESE BULBS ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE AFTERMARKET AUTO PARTS STORES....HAVE TO PURCHASE FROM LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THEY NEVER HAVE THESE BULBS IN STOCK, ALWAYS HAVE TO ORDER AND USUALLY TAKES 3-4 DAYS. JUST REPLACED BOTH THE LEFT & RIGHT ON 01/26/15 AND THE RIGHT BULB BURNED OUT AGAIN YESTERDAY 4/26/1/5.....EXACTLY 4 MONTHS.....NOT ACCEPTABLE KIA!!!! THE PARTS MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THEY'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS HAPPENING NOT ONLY IN THE AMANTI, BUT IN OTHER MODELS AS WELL. SO FAR BOTH BULBS THAT WERE REPLACED ON 4/26/15 ARE STILL WORKING.

NHTSA ODI #10734794

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2014
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructure

2008 KIA AMANTI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE PADS ISSUE AND CONSUMER REQUESTS EXPLANATION OF WHO DETERMINES VEHICLE MODEL YEAR. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON OCTOBER 12, 2013, HE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ORDERED 2008 PADS AND FOUND THEY DID NOT FIT. HE CHECKED THE INFORMATION ON THE DECAL AFFIXED TO THE…

Read full complaint

2008 KIA AMANTI. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE PADS ISSUE AND CONSUMER REQUESTS EXPLANATION OF WHO DETERMINES VEHICLE MODEL YEAR. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON OCTOBER 12, 2013, HE HAD THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ORDERED 2008 PADS AND FOUND THEY DID NOT FIT. HE CHECKED THE INFORMATION ON THE DECAL AFFIXED TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WARRANTY AND CONSUMER'S INFORMATION MANUALS AND ALL OF THEM SHOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE A 2007 MODEL BUILT IN KOREA IN MAY 2007. THE MECHANIC THEN EXCHANGED THE PADS FOR 2007 AND INSTALLED THEM WITHOUT A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THAT MANY VEHICLES, WERE BUILD IN PREVIOUS YEARS. UPDATED 01/22/14

NHTSA ODI #10559886

63,142 miles · Oct 13, 2013
Electrical SystemVisibility

WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS WILL READJUST AT RANDOM. THIS NOT ONLY MASHED CHANGING LANES UNSAFE, BUT ADDS AN UNNEEDED DISTRACTION TO SET THEM BACK TO A USABLE POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547735

71,000 miles · May 11, 2013
Electrical System

FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE. THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR WAS POINTING DOWN SO I ADJUSTED IT WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. ONCE THE MIRROR WAS IN PLACE I SWITCHED THE MIRROR SELECTOR SWITCH TO THE CENTER NEUTRAL POSITION. THE MIRROR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND ENDED UP POINTING TO…

Read full complaint

FIRST NOTICED PROBLEM WHEN MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE. THE DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR WAS POINTING DOWN SO I ADJUSTED IT WHILE ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. ONCE THE MIRROR WAS IN PLACE I SWITCHED THE MIRROR SELECTOR SWITCH TO THE CENTER NEUTRAL POSITION. THE MIRROR IMMEDIATELY STARTED MOVING ON ITS OWN AND ENDED UP POINTING TOWARD THE SKY. I HAD A NEAR MISS WITH A SMALL CAR IN MY BLIND SPOT. EVEN BEING FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL MORE NEAR MISSES. THE DEALERSHIP SIMPLY DISCONNECTS THE BATTERY FOR A FEW MINUTES AND SENDS ME ON MY WAY. THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW HOURS BUT IT ALWAYS COMES BACK. BOTH SIDE MIRRORS ARE DOING THE SAME THING BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE IS MORE AFFECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511532

24,465 miles · May 8, 2013
Engine

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME ISSUE (MILEAGE 17900) -PREVIOUS ISSUE WAS JULY 2012. DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE-CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER DOWN TO IDLE ONLY SPEED. FORTUNATELY, THEN & TODAY NO TRACTOR TRAILERS RAN OVER TOP OF THE CAR. COULD MANGE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. KIA IS OBVIOUSLY NOT FIXING…

Read full complaint

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME FOR THE SAME ISSUE (MILEAGE 17900) -PREVIOUS ISSUE WAS JULY 2012. DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE-CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER DOWN TO IDLE ONLY SPEED. FORTUNATELY, THEN & TODAY NO TRACTOR TRAILERS RAN OVER TOP OF THE CAR. COULD MANGE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OUT OF THE WAY. KIA IS OBVIOUSLY NOT FIXING THIS POSITION SENSOR/COMPUTER PROBLEM. DRIVING THE CAR IN LIMP MODE TO A GARAGE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS MUST GET UP TO 25MPH THEN USE THE CRUISE CONTROL-IN TRAFFIC IT IS OFF & ON.START & STOP. BE FOREWARNED YOU SHOULD FORCE KIA TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE. I SEE SOMEONE ELSE HAS PUT IN A COMPLAINT-I WONDER HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE NOT COMPLAINED. (LIKE MY FIRST EXPERIENCE). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511154

42,000 miles · Jan 29, 2013
Power Train

HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON 12/14/12. IT IS A 'SHIFTING/GEAR/TRANSMISSION ISSUE. ITS A 4 YR OLD CAR, BOUGHT FROM DEALER-KIA OF BEDFORD, OH. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON AFTER TRYING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE(ITS REVS IN PLACE LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL). 1) 1ST WORK ORDER, …

Read full complaint

HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON 12/14/12. IT IS A 'SHIFTING/GEAR/TRANSMISSION ISSUE. ITS A 4 YR OLD CAR, BOUGHT FROM DEALER-KIA OF BEDFORD, OH. THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON AFTER TRYING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE, AND THE CAR WON'T MOVE(ITS REVS IN PLACE LIKE ITS IN NEUTRAL). 1) 1ST WORK ORDER, DONE ON 1/3/13, WAS TO REPLACE THE 'FRONT WIRING ASSEMBLY'HARNESS AND ELECTRICAL LED LIGHT ASSEMBLY. 2) 2ND WORK ORDER, DONE ON 1/18/13, REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION INHIBITOR SWITCH AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH... 3)THE 3RD PROBLEM HAS JUST OCCURRED YESTERDAY, 1/28/13. SAME ISSUE, I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, GOING INTO 'DRIVE' AND LOST THE 'SHIFTING/ACCELERATION' CAPABILITY. PUT CAR BACK INTO PARK FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN TRIED AGAIN AND THE 'GEAR' POPPED INTO 'DRIVE'. BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY SINCE YESTERDAY. THE 'MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP' HAS REMAINED ON SINCE THIS 3RD INCIDENT ON 1/28/13. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE FIXABLE. THERE IS A BASIC WARRANTY THAT IS STILL ACTIVE ~ 7 MONTHS OR @18,000 MILES LEFT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10495032

55,000 miles · Oct 15, 2012
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP OF THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER STRUCK HER…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER STRAP OF THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN THE PASSENGER. AS A RESULT, THE PASSENGER STRUCK HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD AND SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SUFFERED FROM AN ECHOING AND ROARING INSIDE HER HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI #10480113

Official recalls

1

13V114000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

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.

Consequence & remedy

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.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.