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Kia Optima PhevYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 33 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on record for the Kia Optima Phev.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints33Top: EngineSafety recalls22017–2020 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Kia Optima Phev years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Optima Phev median. Tap a year for its full report.

'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2020Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2019Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls2018Not rated–/1008 complaints · 2 recalls2017Not rated–/10023 complaints · 2 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Kia Optima Phev problems

All model years combined: 33 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine150
Electrical system111
Power train30
Air bags20
Fuel/propulsion system20
Hybrid propulsion system20
Service brakes20
Steering21
Vehicle speed control20
5 other systems50
2 recalls

Kia Optima Phev recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

40%Trunk lid: latch23V-594 · 2017–2018 · Aug 24, 2023 · 319,436 vehicles70%Engine21V-844 · 2017–2018 · Oct 29, 2021 · 10,731 vehicles
3 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Optima Phev

  1. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · 2017–2020 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  2. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · 2016–2020 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
  3. Engine FiresEA21003 · 2017–2018 · closed Feb 5, 2024
    Led to recall 23V-877