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Kia Optima HybridModel year report

2017 Kia Optima Hybrid Problems

Compared with other Kia Optima Hybrid years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2014

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
26filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
23,000miles, 19 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
42 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 39 city / 46 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid. The part named most often is engine, with 16 complaints (62% of the total), followed by electrical system (6) and other or unknown (5). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 68% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 23,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 67 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 31 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Kia Optima Hybrid model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “My vehicle has had multiple issues with its hybrid battery management system since purchase. It has been towed 4 times. While driving my car will start to jerk and a warning system telling me there is a problem with the battery management system (bms) and the power train. It will tell me to pull over or to contact the service department. This car has had its battery replaced and software upgraded numerous times, but I keep having the same issue. I'm concerned the battery system is faulty and it's dangerous to drive at this point, as nothing preceeds the issues - they happen out of nowhere.”

NHTSA complaint #11348408, filed 2020-08, 35,000 miles

Electrical system: “My car will not turn completely off! I was driving if the freeway and hit an object, not sure what. When I got home I couldn't turn my car off completely. The car think that it's off but the engine still revs.”

NHTSA complaint #11220808, filed 2019-06, 18,000 miles

Other or unknown: “Takata recall- when braking pr pumping the brakes there is a knocking noise, this also happens when releasing the brake pedal on flat roads or hills. There is a creaking noise when releasing the brake after putting car from park to drive or reverse.”

NHTSA complaint #11112578, filed 2018-07, 8,775 miles

Brakes: “Brake line has air in it for the second time in a matter of a few months, first time it took Kia dealership 4 days to repair. This current time it should take 2 days. When braking hard at a slow or high speed, there is a loud noise coming from brake area. S”

NHTSA complaint #11221314, filed 2019-06, 24,280 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

68% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,775 and 90,000 miles.

32%0–1032%10–255%25–500%50–7511%75–10021%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (19 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 23,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

2018620192020202120222023202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Optima Hybrid · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 4555 · 9.8% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2017 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2016: same overall rating; 2018: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Optima Hybrid FWD2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid6-speed automatic394642$1,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 67 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 67 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Optima Hybrid

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20172623,000254250 · TypicalRising
20151256,2000537—Not enough data
20143145,000053718 · FewerFalling
20135668,000253753 · TypicalRising
201210987,200353674 · MoreStable
20113480,5003—3650 · TypicalRising

All Kia Optima Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 16 complaints (62% of the total), followed by electrical system with 6.

Has the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid (Optima Hybrid, 2.0L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 42 mpg combined, 39 city and 46 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid reported?

Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 23,000 miles and the middle half falls between 8,775 and 90,000 miles; 68% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.