Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2012. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2004.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 151 | 0 |
| 2019 Optima | 212 | 1 |
| 2018 Optima | 233 | 2 |
| 2017 Optima | 257 | 3 |
| 2016 OptimaMost complaints | 759 | 5 |
| 2015 OptimaMost complaints | 1,009 | 4 |
| 2014 Optima | 590 | 7 |
| 2013 OptimaMost complaints | 1,386 | 9 |
| 2012 OptimaMost complaints | 920 | 5 |
| 2011 Optima | 594 | 5 |
| 2010 Optima | 75 | 1 |
| 2009 Optima | 116 | 1 |
| 2008 Optima | 144 | 3 |
| 2007 Optima | 167 | 2 |
| 2006 Optima | 155 | 2 |
| 2005 Optima | 144 | 0 |
| 2004 Optima | 225 | 1 |
| 2003 Optima | 141 | 2 |
| 2002 Optima | 107 | 3 |
| 2001 Optima | 143 | 3 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine3,166
- Electrical system936
- Unknown or other848
- Steering758
- Air bags563
- Structure559
- Power train509
- Fuel/propulsion system381
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 1,074 Optima vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 612 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 64 | 38 |
| 2019 | 118 | 62 |
| 2018 | 99 | 52 |
| 2017 | 49 | 31 |
| 2016 | 107 | 59 |
| 2015 | 178 | 110 |
| 2014 | 77 | 36 |
| 2013 | 150 | 75 |
| 2012 | 72 | 41 |
| 2011 | 37 | 24 |
| 2010 | 19 | 11 |
| 2009 | 26 | 17 |
| 2008 | 24 | 19 |
| 2007 | 24 | 17 |
| 2006 | 10 | 7 |
| 2005 | 7 | 5 |
| 2004 | 7 | 3 |
| 2003 | 3 | 2 |
| 2002 | 2 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 10 model-year variants; 10 of 10 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2020 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.8 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.8 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.8 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.8 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.8 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.6 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.6 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.6 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.6 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 9.6 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 10 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 7.4–8.7 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Optima · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.5 | 7.1 | 8.4 |
| 2019 | Optima · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.5 | 7.1 | 8.4 |
| 2018 | Optima FE · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 6.6 | 8.0 |
| 2017 | Optima FE · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 6.6 | 8.0 |
| 2016 | Optima · Full-size · Regular gasoline | 8.4 | 6.1 | 7.4 |
| 2015 | Optima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.2 | 6.9 | 8.7 |
| 2014 | Optima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.2 | 6.8 | 8.7 |
| 2013 | Optima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.9 | 6.7 | 8.5 |
| 2012 | Optima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.9 | 6.7 | 8.5 |
| 2011 | Optima · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
803 Optima cars are on the New Zealand register; 2% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | 26 | 26 | 0 |
| 2018 | 33 | 33 | 0 |
| 2017 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| 2016 | 81 | 80 | 0 |
| 2015 | 73 | 67 | 2 |
| 2014 | 105 | 99 | 5 |
| 2013 | 100 | 98 | 2 |
| 2012 | 141 | 134 | 3 |
| 2011 | 91 | 88 | 1 |
| 2010 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 2006 | 12 | 11 | 0 |
| 2005 | 43 | 43 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 10 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
1,338 Optima cars are on Dutch roads; 26% arrived later as imports, and 124 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 49 | €46,793 |
| 2019 | 393 | €43,715 |
| 2018 | 171 | €42,334 |
| 2017 | 148 | €41,790 |
| 2016 | 146 | €42,995 |
| 2015 | 43 | €36,793 |
| 2014 | 146 | €36,585 |
| 2013 | 209 | €34,790 |
| 2012 | 33 | €36,290 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
3,787 Optima cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 64% petrol, 36% diesel; 56% of all are hybrids. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 48 | 70,000 km |
| 2020 | 549 | 109,000 km |
| 2019 | 929 | 126,000 km |
| 2018 | 831 | 146,000 km |
| 2017 | 670 | 165,000 km |
| 2016 | 377 | 181,000 km |
| 2015 | 90 | 182,000 km |
| 2014 | 101 | 220,000 km |
| 2013 | 114 | 223,000 km |
| 2012 | 78 | 244,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 166 Optima cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 1 of those collisions were fatal and 39 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 27 | 0 | 10 |
| 2024 | 25 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023 | 39 | 0 | 11 |
| 2022 | 44 | 1 | 7 |
| 2021 | 31 | 0 | 8 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
10,626 Optima cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 122 | 9 |
| 2019 | 1,579 | 47 |
| 2018 | 2,528 | 69 |
| 2017 | 3,142 | 63 |
| 2016 | 1,201 | 29 |
| 2015 | 583 | 27 |
| 2014 | 571 | 41 |
| 2013 | 314 | 24 |
| 2012 | 566 | 88 |
| 2011 | 20 | 4 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
11,456 Optima cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 80% passed first time, against 80% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 148 | 88% |
| 2019 | 1,676 | 81% |
| 2018 | 2,736 | 83% |
| 2017 | 3,326 | 82% |
| 2016 | 1,284 | 83% |
| 2015 | 627 | 75% |
| 2014 | 598 | 69% |
| 2013 | 347 | 70% |
| 2012 | 714 | 62% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Optima | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 6.9% | 5.7% |
| Brakes | 6.8% | 3.9% |
| Visibility | 3.8% | 3.7% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.8% | 5.7% |
| Steering | 1.8% | 0.7% |
| Suspension | 1.8% | 3.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 1.1% | 1.5% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.5% | 1.1% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
70,043 new Kia Optima cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2011 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Spain (2).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2 | 167 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 309 | 38 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 5,861 | 59 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 12,311 | 103 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 13,522 | 148 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 15,255 | 111 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 8,705 | — |
| 2015 | 3,168 | — |
| 2014 | 3,280 | — |
| 2013 | 3,231 | — |
| 2012 | 4,290 | — |
| 2011 | 109 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Optima in 7 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
Due to an internal leak of brake fluid, a short circuit may occur in the electrical circuit for the ABS/ESC (anti-lock braking system / electronic stability control) system. This may lead to an increase in current and overheating in the fuse box, increasing th…
Due to an internal leak of brake fluid, a short circuit can occur in the electrical circuit for the ABS/ESC (Anti-lock Braking System / Electronic Stability Control) system. This can lead to an increase in current and overheating in the fuse box, increasing th…
Due to an internal leak of brake fluid, a short circuit can occur in the electrical circuit for the ABS/ESC (Anti-lock Braking System / Electronic Stability Control) system. This can lead to an increase in current and overheating in the fuse box, increasing th…
Due to a manufacturing error, the engine might overheat due to fuel or oil leaks and subsequently break down. This may endanger the following traffic and can cause a fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance …
The non-return valve in the vacuum pump may not function properly. This may lead to failure of braking power assistance thus increasing the risk of an accident.
A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system may cause the brake assist function not to engage as expected. As a result, the system may not detect another vehicle standing in front of the moving car, increasing the risk of an accident.
A fault in the brake light switch may result in the brake light not coming on when the brake pedal is pressed or in the brake light remaining on. Moreover, in vehicles with automatic transmission it may not be possible to move the lever out of the ‘P’ position…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
22 campaigns cover the Optima; the latest 12 are below.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles. The right and left headliner plates may not be secured properly, which can result in the plates detaching in the event of a side curtain air bag deployment.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 20V-100. The low pressure fuel hose may be damaged, or missing heat-protective tape, which can result in a fuel leak.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) or 2.0L GDI Turbo engines. The low pressure fuel hose may deteriorate and crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Kia Forte, Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima and 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid and Sedona vehicles. In the event of a crash, the air bag control unit (ACU) may short circuit, preventing the frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners from deploying.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
NHTSA recalls