Reliability & cost of ownership
Kia Optima Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Kia Optima? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Kia Optima problems by model year
59 recall entries and 7492 owner complaints on file across 20 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 0 | 145 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2019 Optima | 1 | 206 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2018 Optima | 2 | 232 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2017 Optima | 3 | 255 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2016 Optima | 5 | 754 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2015 Optima | 4 | 1007 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2014 Optima | 7 | 584 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2013 Optima | 9 | 1381 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2012 Optima | 5 | 919 | 5.0 | Full reliability report → |
| 2011 Optima | 5 | 593 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2010 Optima | 1 | 75 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2009 Optima | 1 | 116 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2008 Optima | 3 | 143 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2007 Optima | 2 | 167 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2006 Optima | 2 | 155 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2005 Optima | 0 | 144 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2004 Optima | 1 | 225 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2003 Optima | 2 | 141 | No NCAP test | Full reliability report → |
| 2002 Optima | 3 | 107 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 2001 Optima | 3 | 143 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Kia Optima, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine3149 complaints
- electrical system933 complaints
- unknown or other844 complaints
- steering756 complaints
- air bags561 complaints
- structure559 complaints
- service brakes529 complaints
- power train506 complaints