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2018 Kia OptimaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 233 owner complaints about the 2018 Kia Optima, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-594 the manufacturer reports only 40% of affected cars repaired.

2018 Kia Optima
45
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the Optima median · #8 of 20 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 40%Owner complaints23327 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage69kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 21, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2018 Kia Optima has problems

233 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
Engine13210
Electrical system332
Power train193
Service brakes172
Exterior lighting141
Engine and engine cooling140
Fuel/propulsion system130
Steering120
Vehicle speed control100
12 other systems3412

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

2 recalls

2018 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.

40%repaired · 2026 Q2

Trunk lid: latch

Recall 23V-594 · Aug 24, 2023 · 319,436 vehicles · 128,774 repaired

Risk. A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

81%repaired · 2019 Q3

Hybrid propulsion system

Recall 18V-161 · Mar 8, 2018 · 1,710 vehicles · 1,380 repaired

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.

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 engine problems start?

69kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 34 engine complaints. 74% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 31% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
10under 30k miles25under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2018 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

2018 Kia Optima safety ratings

2018 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
2018 Kia Optima frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crash★★★★★
2018 Kia Optima side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrier★★★★★
2018 Kia Optima side pole test, NHTSA
Side pole★★★★★
  • Rollover: 5 stars (9.8% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: Optional
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2018 Kia Optima, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Loss of Motive PowerDP22003 · closed Dec 12, 2023
    No recall
  2. Electrical overstressEA19001 · closed Sep 19, 2024
    Led to recall 20V-024
In owners' words

What Optima owners report

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

My 2018 Kia Optima has the Theta II 2.4L engine. In February 2026, the dealer performed an engine/powertrain computer reprogramming. In August 2026, the engine failed and the vehicle was taken to an authorized Kia dealer, where the engine was replaced under the Theta II engine warranty. The vehicle…
Complaint 11772835 · Oct 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The failure persisted while driving, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was…
Complaint 11762830 · Sep 8, 2026 · 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and failed to exceed 52 MPH. The vehicle shut off. The contact stated that the engine was running rough while stationary and the vehicle shut off without warning. The…
Complaint 11758363 · Aug 20, 2026 · 136,000 miles

Own a 2018 Optima?

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