Reliability & cost of ownership
Kia Optima Hybrid Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Kia Optima Hybrid? 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 Hybrid problems by model year
12 recall entries and 274 owner complaints on file across 10 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima Hybrid | 0 | 1 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2019 Optima Hybrid | 0 | 0 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2018 Optima Hybrid | 2 | 3 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2017 Optima Hybrid | 2 | 26 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2016 Optima Hybrid | 0 | 4 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2015 Optima Hybrid | 0 | 12 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2014 Optima Hybrid | 0 | 31 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2013 Optima Hybrid | 2 | 54 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2012 Optima Hybrid | 3 | 109 | 5.0 | Reliability forecast → |
| 2011 Optima Hybrid | 3 | 34 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Kia Optima Hybrid, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine147 complaints
- electrical system71 complaints
- service brakes37 complaints
- power train32 complaints
- unknown or other27 complaints
- steering20 complaints
- hydraulic19 complaints
- vehicle speed control17 complaints