KiaModel report

Kia Optima Problems by Model Year

NHTSA recorded 7,532 consumer complaints across the 20 model years of the Kia Optima (2001–2020) that have at least 5 complaints. 2013 has the most, with 1,387. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (3,168 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.

Best and worst Optima years →

All Optima model years

Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	TSBs	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2020	151	60,000	0	100	23 · Fewer	Rising
2019	212	30,224	1	130	50 · Typical	Rising
2018	233	45,325	2	155	49 · Typical	Rising
2017	257	54,000	3	179	48 · Typical	Rising
2016	760	68,000	5	226	98 · More	Rising
2015	1,010	80,000	4	200	100 · More	Stable
2014	591	71,688	7	268	100 · More	Stable
2013	1,387	83,450	9	235	100 · More	Stable
2012	920	80,000	5	241	100 · More	Falling
2011	594	90,000	5	228	96 · More	Falling
2010	75	70,500	1	34	0 · Fewer	Falling
2009	116	64,000	1	33	20 · Fewer	Falling
2008	144	61,500	3	30	41 · Typical	Falling
2007	167	75,500	2	31	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2006	155	61,894	2	37	Not compared (before 2008)	Stable
2005	144	76,000	0	22	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2004	225	82,500	1	15	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2003	141	84,200	2	15	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising
2002	107	85,000	3	14	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2001	143	81,500	3	14	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising

Parts named most often, all years

Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.

Engine3,168 40%
Electrical system936 12%
Other or unknown864 11%
Steering759 9.6%
Air bags564 7.1%
Body and structure560 7.1%
Brakes534 6.8%
Transmission and drivetrain509 6.4%

Example complaints

One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

2015: “While driving doesn't matter the speed, my car doesn't accelerate and jerks, it had does these many times and I take it into the shop, at least 3 times now, and they can't find anything. Since it doesn't do it when they test drive it, they don't know what is wrong. But it is very annoying, since there are times I have been on a highway and my car doesn't speed up.”

NHTSA complaint #11573059, filed 2024-02, 125,935 miles

2011: “When I go to fill up with fuel it won't allow me to pump but very little fuel before it spills out. I have to put very little in at a time before the pump clicks off. I haven't been able to completely fill up my tank since may without it taking 45 mins or so and it spilling out. I was parked at the gas station when this happened, with the car off.”

NHTSA complaint #11396380, filed 2021-02, 170,000 miles

2014: “The car has lifetime engine warranty and Kia dealership confirmed the same and they are still rejecting me to fix my engine even I offered to pay a fair part of the repair, the engine is consuming oil like crazy 1 quart per 250 miles its makes ticking sound when accelerating and Kia seems like they dont care even if it has a lifetime engine warranty”

NHTSA complaint #11399847, filed 2021-03, 112,000 miles

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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology