2009 Kia Optima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 166 complaints
166
Total Complaints
65,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN
Top Issue
6
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

37,638 25th Percentile
65,000 Median Mileage
89,429 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN
29
AIR BAGS
28
SERVICE BRAKES
17
ENGINE
14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
11
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
8
STEERING
7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4

Severity Assessment

6
Crashes
10
Fires
5
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"KIA MOTORS, 2009, OPTIMA, DASHBOARD, SPECIFICALLY THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF THIS AREA DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS TO VIEW WHILE DRIVING, CREATING HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS FROM SPEEDING TOO FAST TO FATAL ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DESIGN DEFECT REGARDING THE INABILITY TO SEE THIS IM..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA . WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND UP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED SIX TIMES. THE REPAIR HAS NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO AN IN..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA . WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND UP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED SIX TIMES. THE REPAIR HAS NOT REMEDIED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO AN IN..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28