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2008 Kia Amanti Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Kia Amanti has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Side mirror self-adjustment while driving.” Kia uses Hyundai Motor Group's powertrains, so service intervals mirror Hyundai's. Kia Promise covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance. Kia owners with the Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Optima, Sorento, Sportage 2011-2019) should adhere strictly to oil intervals due to known oil-consumption issues in Kia TSBs.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2008 Kia Amanti.

Reported to NHTSA

Side mirror self-adjustment while driving

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY

14 NHTSA complaints · 2011-01 → 2018-09

“MIRRORS ADJUSTING RANDOMLY ON THEIR OWN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10734799
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10511532
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA AMANTI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRRORS MOVED AND WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10472794

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Automatic transmission shift fault

POWER TRAIN

2 NHTSA complaints · 2013-01 → 2015-07

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10734804
“HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON 12/14/12. IT IS A 'SHIFTING/GEAR/TRANSMISSION ISSUE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10495032

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Throttle position sensor stall to idle

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, POWER TRAIN

2 NHTSA complaints · 2012-01 → 2013-05

“AT 65 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY -WITHOUT ANY WARNING, ENGINE DIED TO IDLE SPEED AND NO POWER. TRY CROSSING 3 LANES OF FAST TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER AND RAPID DECELERATION ! FORTUNATELY NO IMPACTS BUT SOME TERRIBLE NEAR MISSES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10442598
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10511154

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger air bag non-deployment in crash

AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2012-10 → 2020-03

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10480113
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11317044

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L on Optima, Sorento, Sportage (2011-2019): full synthetic only, never extend.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Telluride and Sorento AWD owners benefit from rotation every 5,000 miles to prevent uneven wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads and rotors every 7,500 miles. Forte and Soul front pads typically last 40,000-55,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required for ABS and ESC pump longevity.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Kia SP-IV — same as Hyundai.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped plugs rated 105,000 miles on most Kia engines. 1.6T (Forte GT, Soul Turbo): 60,000 miles. 3.5L Lambda II V6 (Telluride, Sorento): 105,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Kia Long-Life Coolant (pink, same as Hyundai): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not mix with green or orange coolant.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD)

Every 60,000 mi

On AWD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Optima, Forte, and Sportage; behind the dashboard panel on Telluride.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

9 crashes 1990–2024

How the 9 occupant deaths break down

9

driver deaths

0

passenger deaths

9

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2013 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

2

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2008 Kia Amanti reflects Kia's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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