Kia Optima
Owners filed 7,494 complaints across 20 model years of the Kia Optima. The 2013 drew the most (1,381); the 2010 the fewest (75).
Model years20
Complaints7,494
Recalls59
Fires412
Deaths18
Every Kia Optima model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 145 | 0 | 2 | 6 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2019 | 206 | 1 | 6 | 20 | Engine | Above average | |
| 2018 | 232 | 2 | 10 | 10 | Engine | Above average | |
| 2017 | 255 | 3 | 9 | 4 | Engine | Above average | |
| 2016 | 754 | 5 | 19 | 27 | Engine | Fatalities reported | |
| 2015 | 1,007 | 4 | 74 | 31 | Engine | Fatalities reported | |
| 2014 | 585 | 7 | 42 | 20 | Engine | Fatalities reported | |
| 2013 | 1,381 | 9 | 114 | 48 | Engine | Fatalities reported | |
| 2012 | 919 | 5 | 77 | 25 | Engine | High concern | |
| 2011 | 593 | 5 | 33 | 23 | Engine | Fatalities reported | |
| 2010 | 75 | 1 | 2 | 7 | Power Train | Routine | |
| 2009 | 116 | 1 | 4 | 5 | Power Train | Fatalities reported | |
| 2008 | 144 | 3 | 4 | 20 | Air Bags | Fatalities reported | |
| 2007 | 167 | 2 | 5 | 11 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2006 | 155 | 2 | 1 | 3 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2005 | 144 | 0 | 1 | 7 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | Routine | |
| 2004 | 225 | 1 | 3 | 8 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | Above average | |
| 2003 | 141 | 2 | 2 | 8 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | Routine | |
| 2002 | 107 | 3 | 4 | 15 | Suspension | Routine | |
| 2001 | 143 | 3 | — | 15 | Structure › Frame and Members | Routine |
Which Kia Optima years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2013 is the weakest year on record, with 1,381 complaints concentrated in the engine. It carries 9 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.