Kia OptimaYears to avoid, problems & recalls
Based on 7,544 NHTSA owner complaints across 20 model years, the Kia Optima years to avoid are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, and the strongest years are 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2010. The Optima has 22 safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Kia Optima 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 median. Tap a year for its full report.
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
Most common Kia Optima problems
All model years combined: 7,544 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3176 | 339 |
| Electrical system | 939 | 136 |
| Steering | 759 | 27 |
| Air bags | 564 | 164 |
| Structure | 560 | 76 |
| Power train | 510 | 26 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 381 | 49 |
| Exterior lighting | 359 | 14 |
| Service brakes | 314 | 52 |
| 29 other systems | 1995 | 197 |
Kia Optima recalls
Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.
Showing the 12 newest of 22 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.
NHTSA investigations of the Optima
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Electrical overstressLed to recall 20V-024
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 20V-088
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 18V-907
- Scope and TimelinessLed to recall 17V-224
- Transmission Shift Cable DetachmentLed to recall 11V-153
- POWER DOOR LOCK FAILURENo recall