2018 Kia Optima Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 8%of 233 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 26,475miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Kia Optima, 8% of the 233 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 26,475 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While I was driving my vehicle on the streets; its an 2018 Kia Optima.on august 2,2019 my car engine caught on fire.people walking on the sidewalk and other drivers stop to alert me that they saw fire from the bottom of the car.then while driving I start to notice extreme smoke coming from the hood so much I couldnt no longer look where I was going.I panicked and mind was racing q how could this happen I got this car new last year may 1,2018. …”
NHTSA complaint #11254060, filed 2019-09, 22,450 miles“2018 Kia 12,000 miles had recall 2 months ago for software update as I was driving to work one day getting on interstate in rush hour traffic my speed at time was probably 60 MPH cant push the gas car just stalls 18 wheeler behind blowing horn I pull car to side of interstate got car to closest Kia dealership I ask what was wrong and they stated they use to replace the motor but now they just put a part called a harness on it part was not in they have to keep car several days”
NHTSA complaint #11206044, filed 2019-05, 12,145 miles“This issue has happened multiple times to not only myself. It my wife as well. As we're driving anywhere above 45mph. A warning display comes on telling us to check the hev, to pull over, and turn off our vehicle. We comply to the warning and when restarting the vehicle, check engine light comes on and then same issue happens again a few minutes after driving. One out of the four times that this issue has occured to us, the vehicle completely died on my wife due to the battery not charging. So when she pulled over and tried to turn the vehicle back on, it wouldn't restart. …”
NHTSA complaint #11374076, filed 2020-11, 30,500 miles“Saturday, january 20, 18:55(approximately) amherst massachusetts, 39 degrees fahrenheit parked car, pulled keys and exited car to help my mother exit. Parked on incline, vehicle started rolling back down driveway had keys in pocket automatic transmission vehicle tried moving back to driver door which had locked or was stuck used all strength to try to keep vehicle stationary, without much h success finally, mother was able to open driver door from inside I am 53, with millions of myles under my belt....mother is 73 both of us strained ourselves, keeping vehicle from moving. …”
NHTSA complaint #11063913, filed 2018-01, 14,770 miles“Car will NOT go pat 60mph and i haven’t had this car just over 6 months. And the camshaft sensors are gone out. Smoke comes out the pipe when mash on gas…. It is really a bad vehicle. And Southeast auto refuses to fix it. I really honestly think the motor is bad in it. Because I been having issues with it since I had it”
NHTSA complaint #11545624, filed 2023-09Related service bulletins
- 11017172Apr 17, 2025TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- 11000787May 16, 2024This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity requirement for each Kia model. A flush is required ONLY when a transmission…
- 10226555Nov 18, 2022TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and fill quantity…
- 10200552Aug 24, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION (DCT) ANTI-JUDDER LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to update the software logic of the Dual…
- 10200551Aug 24, 2021TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 7-SPEED DCT JUDDER INSPECTION AND DUAL CLUTCH ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised…
- 10174520Apr 24, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: - TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. This bulletin provides information relating…
- 10172128Feb 7, 2020TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT (TCU) GEAR SHIFT LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the gear shift logic of the…
- 10162049Jun 11, 2019TSB: TRANSMISSION LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to optimize the logic of the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) on 2017-2018MY Soul (PS) and Forte (YDm)…
- 10143474Jul 25, 2018Q & A - This document is the Q & A for the new Product Improvement Campaign to provide information regarding a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the…
- 10143472Jul 16, 2018DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTICE - This notice advised the dealer service manager of the new Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 27 | 18% |
| 2019 | 17 | 8% |
| 2018 | 19 | 8% |
| 2017 | 21 | 8% |
| 2016 | 74 | 10% |
| 2015 | 49 | 5% |
| 2014 | 20 | 3% |
| 2013 | 64 | 5% |
| 2012 | 54 | 6% |
| 2011 | 25 | 4% |
| 2010 | 24 | 32% |
| 2009 | 33 | 28% |
| 2008 | 18 | 13% |
| 2007 | 13 | 8% |
| 2006 | 14 | 9% |
| 2005 | 3 | 2% |
| 2004 | 8 | 4% |
| 2003 | 8 | 6% |
| 2002 | 6 | 6% |
| 2001 | 12 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2018 Kia Optima
132 complaintsOther or unknown
39 complaintsElectrical system
33 complaintsBrakes
17 complaintsEngine cooling
14 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsFuel system
13 complaintsSteering
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
10 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsSeat 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