repaired · 2026 Q2
Trunk lid: latch
Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
2017 Kia OptimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 258 owner complaints about the 2017 Kia Optima, most often about the engine. It is covered by 3 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 November 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Makizox, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Kia Optima has problems
258 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
166Engine8 crash/fire/injury
25Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
21Power train
20Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
15Exterior lighting
13Vehicle speed control
11Steering
8Forward collision avoidance
8Engine and engine cooling
3812 other systems2 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 166 | 8 |
| Electrical system | 25 | 3 |
| Power train | 21 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | 1 |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | 1 |
| Steering | 11 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 8 | 1 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 8 | 0 |
| 12 other systems | 38 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2017 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.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2019 Q3
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, 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.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
71kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 48 engine complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 33% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
8under 30k miles38under 100k miles10100k 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.
Engine
10 owners mentioned a cost$7,657median
Middle half: $2,458 – $11,500
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
2017 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
2017 Kia Optima safety ratings
2017 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- 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 2017 Kia Optima, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Electrical overstressLed to recall 20V-024
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
In owners' words
What Optima owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My 2017 Kia Optima LX with the 2.4L Theta II GDI engine has repeated engine misfires caused by oil-fouled spark plugs. The engine burns 1 to 2 quarts of oil every week on only 200 to 250 miles of driving, 4 to 10 quarts per 1,000 miles, far above the 1 quart per 1,000 miles threshold in Kia’s own…
3 weeks ago I had my vehicle towed to Car Pros Kia in the city of [XXX]. They said that there was an issue with the engine which should be covered under the extended lifetime warranty that KIA issued Me 2 years ago due to a recall and a system update that they required that I do on my vehicle. We…
While driving at highway speed, my engine began to produce a loud knocking noise without prior warning. Within few seconds, the engine seized completely causing sudden loss of motive power.This caused a dangerous situation— loss of power steering and barking at highway speed, leaving me stranded in…
Own a 2017 Optima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.