2015 Kia Optima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1370 complaints
1370
Total Complaints
78,500mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
56
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

52,000 25th Percentile
78,500 Median Mileage
108,010 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
609
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
137
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
125
STRUCTURE:BODY
72
STEERING
67
SERVICE BRAKES
48
POWER TRAIN
47
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
44
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
38
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
32

Severity Assessment

56
Crashes
110
Fires
42
Injuries
1
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"AS THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES THAT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS FEELING AS IF THE STEERING DOES NOT PROPERLY CENTER. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THE ISSUE BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED AS ..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE DRIFTED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WA..."
"PAINT ON HOOD ROOF TRUNK HAD SPOTS IN PAINT ORANGE PEEL IN PAINT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR"

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