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2007 Kia OptimaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 167 owner complaints about the 2007 Kia Optima, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

2007 Kia Optima
55
CarFlaw IndexSolid year19% below the Optima median · #13 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints16721 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage74kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 27, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2007 Kia Optima has problems

167 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
Air bags656
Exterior lighting270
Visibility/wiper200
Engine166
Electrical system141
Power train133
Visibility130
Vehicle speed control52
Service brakes52
15 other systems335

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2007 Kia Optima 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.

–no report yet

Air bags: frontal

Recall 12V-014 · Jan 17, 2012 · 145,755 vehicles

Risk. IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER,…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Lever and linkage: column shift

Recall 11V-153 · Mar 9, 2011 · 70,115 vehicles

Risk. IF THE DRIVER LEAVES THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE CAN ROLL INJURE A PERSON IN ITS PATH OR CAUSE A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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.

Mileage at failure

When do air bags problems start?

74kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 49 air bags complaints. 71% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
12under 30k miles35under 100k miles14100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Air bags

9 owners mentioned a cost

$1,600median

Middle half: $1,400 – $1,800

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2007 vs. every other Optima 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 median. How we score

'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2007 Kia Optima safety ratings

2007 Kia Optima 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2007 Kia Optima frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2007 Kia Optima side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2007 Kia Optima, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesDP21003 · closed Jun 20, 2023
    No recall
  2. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
  3. Transmission Shift Cable DetachmentPE10046 · closed Apr 5, 2011
    Led to recall 11V-153
In owners' words

What Optima owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving, the airbag warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V014000 (Air Bags); however, the contact stated…
Complaint 11760054 · Aug 27, 2026 · 82,000 miles
2007 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING COLLISION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TAKEN TO THE JUNKYARD DUE TO THE PROGRAMMING DEFECT.
Complaint 11504643 · Jan 31, 2023
The contact owned a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 5-10 MPH, the vehicle before her vehicle slowed down suddenly. The contact slammed the brakes and the air bags deployed and deflated. However, the brake pedal hesitated to respond and became soft, causing the contact to crash…
Complaint 11486391 · Sep 26, 2022

Own a 2007 Optima?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.