5 NHTSA safety recalls cover the Kia Optima Hybrid, across model years 2011–2018. 1 carry a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Every recall repair is free at any Kia dealer.
Is yours affected? Check your Optima Hybrid by VIN — or pick your model year below for every recall, complaint and fix.
Recalls and owner complaints by model year
Of the Kia Optima Hybrid model years, the 2012 drew the most owner complaints (109).
Recalls: NHTSA campaigns covering each Kia Optima Hybrid 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 | 34 |
| 2012 | 3 | 109 |
| 2013 | 2 | 55 |
| 2014 | 0 | 31 |
| 2015 | 0 | 12 |
| 2016 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | 2 | 26 |
| 2018 | 2 | 3 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 | 1 |
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 recalls 2017-2018 Optima Hybrids due to potential engine damage causing fire or crash risk. Free repairs include engine replacement and software update.
Kia recalls 2015 Forte vehicles with potential engine compartment fire risk. Owners must have engine leak checks and software updates done free by dealers.
Kia recalls 2013 Forte vehicles with potential air bag failure during crashes. Owners must contact Kia for free repair to prevent injury risk.
When the Kia Optima Hybrid recalls were issued, by year — a cluster usually means one defect recalled in stages or across a platform.
Owners have filed 275 complaints with NHTSA about the Kia Optima Hybrid; the most reported area is engine. These are reports, not recalls: they are how NHTSA spots defects.
See Kia Optima Hybrid complaints, TSBs and investigations by year →
We have 5 NHTSA safety recalls on record for the Kia Optima Hybrid, covering model years 2011–2018. The most recent was issued Sep 25, 2023 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic).
The 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid has the most, with 3 recalls on record. Every model year with a recall is listed on this page with links to each one.
By system: Engine (2), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1), Latches/Locks/Linkages (1), Air Bags (1).
1 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.