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Kia OptimaModel year report

2017 Kia Optima Problems

Compared with other Kia Optima years

Typical for this model

48/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2020

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
257filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
54,000miles, 85 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns 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
29 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 36 hwy

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

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine-related problems, led by engine noise and knocking, loss of power or stalling while driving, and unusually high oil use between changes. Many complaints describe a check engine light with a diagnostic code tied to the knock sensor detection system, and some report the dealer replacing or recommending replacement of the engine. The sampled complaints cluster at moderate to higher mileage, with a separate group of electrical and lighting complaints appearing much earlier.

  1. Engine

    Engine knock and oil consumption (possible engine

    • 147 complaints (57%)
    • median 72,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (46 state mileage)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $7,157 (median of 12 quotes)
    • filed 2017–2026

    Owners describe a knocking or rattling sound from the engine compartment, sometimes with shaking and a flashing check engine light, often at highway speed. Many say the engine used far more oil than expected between changes, with owners adding oil weekly or checking the dipstick only to find it nearly dry. According to complaints, dealers ran oil consumption tests, replaced the knock sensor, or told owners a new engine was needed; several reports note the vehicle was not repaired or that the manufacturer was contacted. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 130,000 miles, often during highway driving.

    Recall 18V9070004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for the full service history, including whether an oil consumption test was done and what it showed. Check the oil level and look for a fuel or exhaust smell on the dipstick, and have a mechanic listen for knock at cold start and scan for stored codes.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I've taking my leases vehicle into carson of Kia 3 times for oil light they replaced the oil pressure switch twice of the 3 times while driving after the cars warms up I get ticking noise you can hear the better when when driving next to a retaining wall at this I've filed a complaint with the manufacturer and after reviewing the work order from the dealer all they offer me was 2 months of car payment which I decline so I'm contracting NHTSA for help and advise”

    NHTSA complaint #11374003, filed 2020-11, 18,000 miles

    “Purchased 2017 Kia Optima from DriveTime in 2021. Car burns a lot of oil, as I am constantly getting the oil changed or adding oil. A few months after purchase, all of a sudden it loses power & decelerates while I’m driving on the interstate. Had to pull over & let car sit for a few minutes. Every 10 mins I had to do this. Had it checked out the next day at Kia dealership & was told nothing was wrong. I let the car sit for about a month b/c I was afraid to drive it. Finally decided to drive it & the issue seem to resolve itself. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11508832, filed 2023-02, 117,843 miles
  2. Engine

    Loss of power, stalling and limp mode

    • 65 complaints (25%)
    • median 68,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (29 state mileage)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $3,300 (median of 5 quotes)
    • filed 2017–2026

    Owners report the vehicle suddenly losing acceleration or shutting off while driving, sometimes with a check engine light and reduced-power mode. Several describe having to shut the ignition off and restart the engine to keep moving, and some say the dealer could not duplicate the problem. A few link the event to a knock sensor code or to a prior engine-related recall repair. Reported from very low mileage up to roughly 130,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether any software update or knock sensor work was performed and whether the check engine light has ever come on. A pre-purchase scan for stored and pending codes is worthwhile.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While I was driving probably about 45 miles an hour or so my car started to shake really hard then it shut off. Once it shut off the low oil light came on along with the check engine light and the low battery light as well. After that the car went completely dead. I turned the key to the off position and then tiredness it back on with with no problem. For my car to shut off while driving on a major street causes major concerns. One what if it happens again and I get in an accident or cause an accident.”

    NHTSA complaint #11220785, filed 2019-06, 39,000 miles

    “Bought on 9-12-2019 with approximately 15,400+ miles. It now has 15,750+ miles. It has stalled/powered off on me twice. First time was oct 7, 2019, parked on the curb when I was picking up my daughter from school, when she got in the car and I was about to drive off from the curbside and when I lifted my foot off the brake and stepped on the gas, the car wouldn't move. I realized the power off so I switched the ignition to off and turned it on again to start the engine again. I thought it was just a little glitch. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11302909, filed 2020-01, 15,450 miles
  3. Exterior lighting

    Headlights turning off or flickering while driving

    • 12 complaints (5%)
    • median 68,000 mi at 3.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2017–2024

    Complaints describe headlights switching off and back on by themselves, both in automatic mode and with the switch in the normal on position. Owners say it happens while parked as well as at highway speed, and that it has recurred over months. One report notes the dealer found faulty wiring during a related diagnosis. Reported from about 7,000 to 100,000 miles, with several cases in the 60,000-mile range.

    What to check: Test the headlights in both auto and manual modes at night or in a garage, and watch for flicker or dropouts. Ask whether any wiring or lighting repairs have been done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When car is driving, or sitting the head lights will go on and off by themselves. Like when its dark they will shut off. Then come back on, switch is on automatic mode. Then when you switch to turn lights on it will do on and off. Been happening for several months, finally did it on my husband he was thinking I had lost my mind.”

    NHTSA complaint #11341507, filed 2020-07, 73,200 miles

    “Bought my Kia 1 ago & always had a problem w/headlights always turning on & off when in auto mode. Trunk latch had to be replaced due latch not locking when trying to close trunk. Dealership said they get 20-30 latch issues w/my make & model of Kia every week. After vehicle starts car just dies & engine light comes on. At times car will stay on but stutters like its going to die.”

    NHTSA complaint #11353263, filed 2020-09, 68,000 miles

Buying note. Check the oil level and service records carefully, and ask specifically about oil consumption tests, knock sensor work, and any recall repairs completed. A pre-purchase inspection that scans for stored engine codes and checks lighting and shifting behavior gives a clearer picture than the paperwork alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 257 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia Optima. 85 of the complaints include a mileage, and 48% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 54,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 9 a fire, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 179 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 12 Kia Optima model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 48 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: Seat belts (8), Brakes (6), Air bags (5), Body and structure (5), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (4), Suspension (3), Electronic stability control (2), Hybrid propulsion system (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “My 2017 Kia Optima caught on fire on october 15, 2020. I was driving to the store and heard a ticking sound and some noises. The check engine light also came on. I pulled over in the left turning lane on the highway to exit the vehicle. I heard a popping sound and saw flames. I exited the vehicle and immediately called 911. My car burst into flames.”

NHTSA complaint #11365296, filed 2020-10, 96,500 miles

Other or unknown: “We lease a 2017 Kia Optima hybrid with technology package. It has 1986 miles and is three months old. Last week the car while in motion just stopped in the middle of traffic on a major roadway with no warning. My wife was able get off the road by constantly restarting the car. After almost one week we found out that it was a failure of the battery management system would not charge the main battery.”

NHTSA complaint #10971009, filed 2017-04, 1,980 miles

Electrical system: “The wiring harness was replaced in my 2017 Kia Optima in 2019 at approximately 45,000 miles. Kia replaced my engine january 2020 because it was consuming large amounts of oil. I just got my car back in january 28, 2021 with a supposedly new engine. On march 3, 2021, my car caught fire while pulling out of my neighborhood actually driving down the street. Smoke and flames were coming out from underneath the hood the of the car. The entire front end of the car burned. Thankfully, the fire department got the fire out and no one was injured.”

NHTSA complaint #11399073, filed 2021-03, 74,200 miles

Fuel system: “While on an hour's drive the bsd (bling spot detection system) ceased to operate. The actuator switch was illuminated, but an error exclamation point appeared on the dash noting the bsd failure. I drove on further until I came to stop at a traffic light. This had happened a couple of months ago, also. I turned off the engine and pulled the key. I waited 30 seconds and restarted the car. They system came back online. Further along on the drive it happened again, as I was driving on a hilly road. When I went to give the car more gas, the car did not respond. …”

NHTSA complaint #11118626, filed 2018-08, 11,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

48% of the 85 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 23,000 and 92,973 miles.

12%0–1016%10–2520%25–5015%50–7518%75–10018%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (85 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 54,000 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.

2018202020226120242026
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. 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 · 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 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); plug-in hybrid figures are for gasoline-only (hybrid mode) driving, so no annual cost is shown.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Optima FWD1.6L 4-cyl7-speed automatic283731$2,150
Optima FWD2.0L 4-cyl6-speed automatic223125$2,700
Optima FWD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic243428$2,400
Optima FE FWD2.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic253629$2,300
Optima Plug-in Hybrid FWD2.0L 4-cyl · plug-in hybrid6-speed automatic384340 gas only—

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 → · 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. 179 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 179 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Optima

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202015160,000052923 · FewerRising
201921230,224152950 · TypicalRising
201823345,325252849 · TypicalRising
201725754,000352948 · TypicalRising
201676068,000552898 · MoreRising
20151,01080,0004526100 · MoreStable
201459171,6887526100 · MoreStable
20131,38783,4509527100 · MoreStable
201292080,0005527100 · MoreFalling
201159490,000552796 · MoreFalling
20107570,5001—250 · FewerFalling
200911664,0001—2520 · FewerFalling
200814461,5003—2541 · TypicalFalling
200716775,5002—25Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200615561,8942—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200514476,0000—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200422582,5001—22Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200314184,2002—22Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200210785,0003—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200114381,5003—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising

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

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Kia Optima?

Owners of this model year most often describe engine-related problems, led by engine noise and knocking, loss of power or stalling while driving, and unusually high oil use between changes. The issues reported most often: Engine knock and oil consumption (possible engine; Loss of power, stalling and limp mode; Headlights turning off or flickering while driving.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2017 Kia Optima have?

NHTSA recorded 257 consumer complaints for the 2017 Kia Optima as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

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

Engine is named most often, in 165 complaints (64% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 33.

Has the 2017 Kia Optima been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2017 Kia Optima 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 get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Kia Optima (Optima FE, 2.4L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 25 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

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

Among the 85 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 54,000 miles and the middle half falls between 23,000 and 92,973 miles; 48% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. 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.