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NHTSA Safety Recalls

Kia Optima Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 22 recall campaigns for the Kia Optima, across 18 model years from 2001 to 2019. The 2013 has the most (9); the fewest among years with a recall is 2019 (1).

Kia Optima years to avoid by our method: 2012 (3.1× the median year), 2013 (3.5× the median year), 2015 (2.8× the median year) and 2016 (2.2× the median year).

Model years
18

2001–2019, with a recall

Recall campaigns
22
Most recalls
2013

9 recalls

Owner complaints
7,529

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 7,529 complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Optima across 20 model years; the most, 1,386, concern the 2013.

Owners marked a crash on 313 of the Kia Optima complaints (4%) and a fire on 416.

Across all Kia Optima model years, owners name the engine most often (at least 3,148 complaints), then the electrical system (936).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Kia Optima in 2023: 752, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Kia Optima is service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module, in 11 model-year listings.

The newest Kia Optima recall, 23V652000, was reported on September 25, 2023 and concerns the service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module.

NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2005 Kia Optima, model year owners have filed complaints about.

Kia Optima years to avoid

The 2013 Kia Optima stands out most: 194 complaints between 2012 and 2016, 44% of them naming the engine.

The 2013 also carries 9 recalls, against a median of 2.5 for the ranked Kia Optima years.

The best-measured Kia Optima years are 2002 (0.4×), 2005 (0.5×) and 2004 (0.6×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Kia Optima, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
2020015142
1.0×
2019121255
1.1×
2018223360
1.2×
2017325752
1.0×
2016avoid5760115
2.2×
2015avoid41,009145
2.8×
20147590103
1.9×
2013avoid91,386194
3.5×
2012avoid5920142
3.1×
2011559478
1.8×
201017528
0.7×
2009111623
0.8×
2008314439
0.9×
2007216743
0.8×
2006215543
1.0×
2005014420
0.5×
2004122529
0.6×
2003214133
0.6×
2002310728
0.4×
2001314364
1.0×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Kia Optima years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Kia Optima

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE11
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS11
  • SUSPENSION:FRONT4
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH4
  • AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE3
  • LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH3
  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT3
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2

Kia Optima model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Kia Optima recall campaign (22)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Kia Optima, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
23V652000September 25, 2023service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module2011–2015fire and injurypark outside1,730,192
23V594000August 24, 2023latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch2016–2018injury319,436
22V560000August 1, 2022structure: body: roof and pillars2012–2013crash and injury257,998
22V093000February 17, 2022fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2013–2014fire72,848
21V331000May 10, 2021service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module2013–2015firepark outside440,370
20V519000August 27, 2020service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module2013–2015firepark outside440,370
20V100000February 21, 2020fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2013–2014fire141,774
19V539000July 19, 2019forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking2019crash11,423
18V907000December 19, 2018fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2011–2017fire71,653
18V363000June 1, 2018air bags: air bag/restraint control module2011–2013crash and injury507,587
18V161000March 8, 2018hybrid propulsion system2017–2018crash1,710
17V224000March 31, 2017engine and engine cooling: engine2011–2014crash618,160
17V007000January 6, 2017air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2016crash and injury1
16V705000October 3, 2016power train: axle assembly: axle shaft2016crash12,214
16V231000April 21, 2016air bags: frontal2016injury and death17
13V114000April 1, 2013exterior lighting: brake lights: switch2008–2011crash980,377
12V014000January 17, 2012air bags: frontal2006–2008crash and injury145,755
11V153000March 9, 2011power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift2006–2008crash and injury70,115
09V183000May 27, 2009suspension: front2001–2004crash36,538
04V180000April 12, 2004fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly2002–2003fire25,803
03V067000March 4, 2003electrical system: starter assembly2001–2002—11,501
01V156000May 1, 2001air bags: side/window2001—16,231

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Kia Optima. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 22, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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