no report yet
Brake lights: switch
Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
2010 Kia OptimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 75 owner complaints about the 2010 Kia Optima, most often about the power train. It is covered by 1 safety recall.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.
Complaints by system
Where the 2010 Kia Optima has problems
75 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
24Power train1 crash/fire/injury
17Air bags6 crash/fire/injury
13Electrical system
9Engine
6Vehicle speed control1 crash/fire/injury
4Service brakes
3Latches/locks/linkages
2Seat belts
2Engine and engine cooling
1512 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 24 | 1 |
| Air bags | 17 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 0 |
| Engine | 9 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 2 |
| 12 other systems | 15 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
1 recall
2010 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.
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 power train problems start?
73kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 21 power train complaints. 81% were reported before 100,000 miles.
2under 30k miles17under 100k miles4100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2010 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
2010 Kia Optima safety ratings
2010 Kia Optima 4-DR w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
Frontal crashNot rated
Side barrierNot rated
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2010 Kia Optima, and the recalls they led to.
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
In owners' words
What Optima owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The car lurches or jerks when slowing down or stopping at about 20 mph. Lurch or jerking is enough to jerk to the driver. Has anyone got answer to why the Kia Optima 2010 does this.
Car has very hard downshift at low speed going from 2nd gear to 1st. Seems to be alot of these complaints and would be nice to know of a fix for this problem!
TAKATA RECALL - HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST, USUALLY AROUND THE 20MPH MARK! IT'S A SUDDEN JERK AS IF IT HAS BEEN SLAMMED INTO A A LOWER GEAR
Own a 2010 Optima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.