2009 Kia Optima Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 9%of 116 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 64,905miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2009 Kia Optima, 9% of the 116 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 64,905 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“In the past month I have noticed when coming to a stop and applying the brakes on my 2009 Kia Optima that the car jerks like it doesn't want to stop. I have had my brake pads checked and they are fine. I have however noticed that when I'm coming to a stop and put the car in neutral I stop fine with no jerking. …”
NHTSA complaint #10499505, filed 2013-02, 160,000 miles“When I brake and slow down my Kia Optima and it gets to 20 MPH or lower, it will jerk suddenly as if the transmission is changing abruptly and dangerously. This has been an ongoing issue and not just a recent occurrence.”
NHTSA complaint #10610081, filed 2014-07, 83,000 miles“When braking at 25 miles per hour or less the vehicle has a very hard jerking motion. The way your vehicle jerks can make you overreact and it can cause a serious accident on the road. Noticed that I was not the only 1 having this issue with this vehicle. Went to 2 or 3 different transmission places . They all said the same thing that the vehicle needed some transmission work . Then I looked online and found that several others were having this problem and that the vehicle just needed to be relearned or something like that. …”
NHTSA complaint #10482678, filed 2012-10, 90,000 miles“The vehicle lurches when slowing down between 2nd gear and 1st gear. The lurch is strong enough to jerk passengers forward in their seats. I took it to the dealership in stamford, ct on april 27, 2012. They replaced the stop lamp switch. The fix lasted until 63,000 miles, almost 9 months later. It is happening again. I took it back to the dealership in plano, tx. They said it was a computer upgrade issue. The upgrade did not fix the problem. Kia is now telling me there is no refund, no fix, and that I'm not part of the recall for this same part on later year models.”
NHTSA complaint #10507521, filed 2013-04, 46,810 miles“The car jerks violently forward as it downshifts at approximately 20 MPH. The shift is strong enough to throw a person through the windshield if you were not wearing a seat belt. There are many other people with this same issue and Kia should face this issue and recall these cars.. They are dangerous and should be fixed. I could easily see this causing an accident, especially in bad weather.”
NHTSA complaint #10562503, filed 2014-02, 28,500 milesVehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6 | 4% |
| 2019 | 10 | 5% |
| 2018 | 10 | 4% |
| 2017 | 13 | 5% |
| 2016 | 29 | 4% |
| 2015 | 36 | 4% |
| 2014 | 21 | 4% |
| 2013 | 39 | 3% |
| 2012 | 40 | 4% |
| 2011 | 19 | 3% |
| 2010 | 6 | 8% |
| 2009 | 11 | 9% |
| 2008 | 7 | 5% |
| 2007 | 5 | 3% |
| 2006 | 7 | 5% |
| 2004 | 5 | 2% |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% |
| 2002 | 2 | 2% |
| 2001 | 7 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2009 Kia Optima
33 complaintsAir bags
28 complaintsBrakes
21 complaintsElectrical system
16 complaintsEngine
14 complaintsElectronic stability control
9 complaintsExterior lighting
9 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsOther or unknown
3 complaintsEngine cooling
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2009 Kia Optima
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology