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Kia Optima PhevModel year report

2017 Kia Optima Phev Problems

Complaints
23filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
64,000miles, 9 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.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2017 Kia Optima Phev (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia Optima Phev. The part named most often is engine, with 11 complaints (48% of the total), followed by electrical system (8) and other or unknown (4). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 22% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 64,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 2 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 53 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 23 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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: Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “Getting onto the freeway accelerating, when heard rattling and saw smoke, exited the freeway and parked the vehicle. There was no warning or lights that came on prior or during this time. Had the car towed to the nearest Kia dealership in city of carson. I received a phone call on saturday 1/2/2021 from tony at the dealership asking for permission to diagnose the vehicle. I agreed to the diagnostic testing. Received a call back within an hour to notify me that there was a hole in the engine, no repairs could be done and I needed a new engine. I asked how did the hole get in the engine. …”

NHTSA complaint #11386121, filed 2021-01, 64,000 miles

Electrical system: “While driving my Kia hybrid a notice came up on the dash board to immediately pull over and shut off my engine and I was on a major highway going about 75 when I lost total power and my vehicle began to loose power. I was able to get it off the road and immediately called my dealer. I had know about this because a relative and I brought the cars the same day and she experience this 3 times.the dealer said it was a switch that got stuck when the car goes from electric to gas. I spoke with Kia and they said there is no formal recall. But this has now happen to me and a relative I know of. …”

NHTSA complaint #11064175, filed 2018-01, 2,000 miles

Other or unknown: “While driving on an interstate on-ramp, I heard a loud bang from under my hood. I exited to the shoulder and as soon as I stopped, I heard a second, larger bang from the same area. Within a few seconds, flames started coming out of the engine compartment and began to fill the cabin of my vehicle from the area of the air vents and all through the dash. Within five minutes, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. I had no problems with the vehicle up to this point and the maintenance was up to date.”

NHTSA complaint #11432527, filed 2021-09

Air bags: “I took my car into the local Kia dealership after my engine failed while driving down the highway. I was approved for the engine replacement due to the recall. However after my engine was replaced, and still in the shop, the side curtain airbag module gave an error due to low voltage. Now I'm out $1200 for an item that should not fail within the first 6 years. I have had vehicles 3 times as old that did not have safety sensors or features failing. As Kia obviously has issues with airbag modules I believe my vehicle year and model should be included in this recall. …”

NHTSA complaint #11520100, filed 2023-05

Mileage when problems were reported

22% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 57,000 and 87,000 miles.

11%0–1011%10–250%25–5044%50–7511%75–10022%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 64,000 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.

20182019202020214202220232024420254
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.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2017 Kia Optima Phev → · 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. 53 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 53 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Optima Phev

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2018818,8002———Not enough data
20172364,0002———Rising

All Kia Optima Phev model years

Frequently asked questions

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

NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia Optima Phev as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Engine is named most often, in 11 complaints (48% of the total), followed by electrical system with 8.

Has the 2017 Kia Optima Phev been recalled?

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

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

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 64,000 miles and the middle half falls between 57,000 and 87,000 miles; 22% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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.