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BrakesPart report

2018 Kia Optima Brakes Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
7%of 233 total for the year
Median mileage
29,913miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the brakes of the 2018 Kia Optima, 7% of the 233 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,913 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Takata recall. I was involved in an accident where I was coming off the highway, slid on water and crashed into a steel pole. The breaks did not work at all and when I got out to look at the damage the break pads were in the middle of the street like they had just fall off. None of the airbags deployed and my friend's head cracked the windshield. Car was totaled.”

NHTSA complaint #11153087, filed 2018-11, 7,418 miles

“When I go to accelerate from a stopped position; the car stalls and turns off and then it turns itself back on. Additionally, when I drive over 50 MPH the car/tires start to vibrate.”

NHTSA complaint #11360439, filed 2020-09, 102,000 miles

“I have 63,826 miles on my 2018 Kia Optima s and I drove it to the store and all my light on the dash came on when I would come to a stop and my power steering would go out and about cause me to wreck. I was told that it was my alternator but after getting a new alternator I then drove it to get dinner a few days later when the same thing started happening again and my power steering kept going out again. I have two newborn babies, a 5 year old and a 10 year old in the vehicle with me and had I wrecked when the power steering went out it could have been a bad situation.”

NHTSA complaint #11383186, filed 2020-12, 36,826 miles

“I was driving on a highway and started to hear an noise from the front right while I was on a road trip. Had been driving for about 45 miles and moved over one lane to the right and front right tire blew - had less than 16,000 miles on car. I got the tire replaced at a Kia dealership and wheels aligned. Then,driving on a main road, 45 MPH a few weeks later, got to a passing zone, and passed the car in front of me after accelerating to 65 during the short passing zone. After passing the car I tapped the breaks to slow back down to 45 and the traction, brake, and tmz lights all came on. …”

NHTSA complaint #11307413, filed 2020-02, 15,000 miles

“I have never had any issues with my car, I get maintenance as scheduled so it's odd that this is even happening. On december 6th I went to move my car. I crank the car with no problem. I noticed it kind of hesistated slightly, but continued on with no problem. When I went to put my car in reverse in order to park it stalled and about 5 or 6 of the lights on the dash came on, the steering wheel went hard to manage/steer and as 6 other lights started blinking, I could no longer manipulate my wheel so I allowed the car to roll into the spot because I was on a slight incline and put it in park. …”

NHTSA complaint #11287697, filed 2019-12, 42,100 miles

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202085%
2019199%
2018177%
201762%
2016243%
2015909%
2014427%
20131148%
20128810%
2011478%
201045%
20092118%
200875%
200785%
200521%
200473%
200343%
20021211%
20011410%

Other parts of the 2018 Kia Optima

Engine
132 complaints
Other or unknown
39 complaints
Electrical system
33 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
19 complaints
Engine cooling
14 complaints
Exterior lighting
14 complaints
Fuel system
13 complaints
Steering
12 complaints
Vehicle speed control
10 complaints
Air bags
9 complaints
Body and structure
7 complaints
Seat belts
5 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2018 Kia Optima

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology