repaired · 2026 Q2
Trunk lid: latch
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
2018 Kia Optima HybridProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 3 owner complaints about the 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-594 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 24, 2023. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid has problems
3 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
3Engine
1Electrical system
1Fuel/propulsion system
1Power train
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2018 Kia Optima Hybrid recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Engine
Risk. A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other Optima Hybrid year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Optima Hybrid median. How we score
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Kia Optima Hybrid safety ratings
2018 Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.8% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
In owners' words
What Optima Hybrid owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Turn Engine Off Immediately" was displayed, and the vehicle decelerated to 35 MPH and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed…
While driving down the road the car said it had a major voltage failure and was shutting down. I was in the middle of the street and thankfully was able to coast to the turn lane before the car came to a total stop. since the gas pedal didn't do anything. the car then said there was multiple…
I brought the vehicle into Kia service for the recall including a computer operating system upgrade. After the recall work was done the car driving at high highway speeds failed, and immediately slowed down, almost causing a rear collision. The computer system turned off the drive mechanism and I…
Own a 2018 Optima Hybrid?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.