18 NHTSA safety recalls cover the Kia Optima, across model years 2008–2019. 3 carry a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Every recall repair is free at any Kia dealer.
Is yours affected? Check your Optima by VIN — or pick your model year below for every recall, complaint and fix.
Recalls and owner complaints by model year
The 2013 Kia Optima has the most recalls (10) and the most owner complaints (1,440).
Recalls: NHTSA campaigns covering each Kia Optima model year on this page. Complaints: owner reports filed with NHTSA for that model year, including trims and variants sold under the model name (e.g. an F-150 page counts F-150 Raptor). Separate scales: compare the shape, not the heights across panels.
| Model year | Recalls | Owner complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 | no data |
| 2009 | 1 | no data |
| 2010 | 1 | 75 |
| 2011 | 6 | 627 |
| 2012 | 6 | 1028 |
| 2013 | 10 | 1440 |
| 2014 | 7 | 620 |
| 2015 | 4 | 1021 |
| 2016 | 5 | 761 |
| 2017 | 4 | 305 |
| 2018 | 3 | 243 |
| 2019 | 1 | 211 |
| 2020 | 0 | 150 |
What these recalls fix, grouped by the vehicle system NHTSA files them under:
Kia recalls 2017 K900s with hydraulic brake system risk of engine fire while parked or driving. Owners must park away from structures until repair.
Kia recalls 2016-2018 Optima models with potential trunk latch failure that may trap occupants, increasing injury risk. Owners must contact Kia for free replacement.
Kia is recalling 2013-2014 Optima vehicles with damaged or missing heat-protective tape on the fuel hose. This could cause fuel leaks and fire risk. Owners should contact Kia for free replacement.
Kia recalls certain 2012-2013 Optima vehicles where headliner plates could detach during side airbag deployment, increasing injury risk. Dealers will secure plates free of charge.
Kia recalls 2017-2018 Optima Hybrids due to potential engine damage causing fire or crash risk. Free repairs include engine replacement and software update.
When the Kia Optima recalls were issued, by year — a cluster usually means one defect recalled in stages or across a platform.
Owners have filed 6,481 complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Optima; the most reported area is engine. These are reports, not recalls: they are how NHTSA spots defects.
See Kia Optima complaints, TSBs and investigations by year →
We have 18 NHTSA safety recalls on record for the Kia Optima, covering model years 2008–2019. The most recent was issued Sep 25, 2023 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic).
The 2013 Kia Optima has the most, with 10 recalls on record. Every model year with a recall is listed on this page with links to each one.
By system: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (3), Fuel System, Gasoline (3), Air Bags (3), Engine (2).
3 of these recalls carry an NHTSA do-not-drive or park-outside warning. If your vehicle is covered by one, follow it until the repair is done and ask the dealer about a tow or loaner. Most other recalls let you keep driving, but book the repair promptly.
Run a VIN recall check: enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact year, then confirm at NHTSA.gov which are still unrepaired on your vehicle. Any Kia dealer can also look it up.
Yes. Federal law requires Kia to fix safety recalls free of charge at any authorized Kia dealer, regardless of the vehicle’s age or how many owners it has had.