2018 Kia Optima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 320 complaints
320
Total Complaints
41,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
12
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

19,100 25th Percentile
41,000 Median Mileage
69,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
125
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
36
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
31
POWER TRAIN
18
SERVICE BRAKES
16
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
13
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
13
STEERING
12
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
9

Severity Assessment

12
Crashes
17
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 18:55(APPROXIMATELY) AMHERST MASSACHUSETTS, 39 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT PARKED CAR, PULLED KEYS AND EXITED CAR TO HELP MY MOTHER EXIT. PARKED ON INCLINE, VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACK DOWN DRIVEWAY HAD KEYS IN POCKET AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLE TRIED MOVING BACK TO DRIVER DOOR..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND THE FORWARD COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOT WARNED OF THE OTHER VEHIC..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND THE FORWARD COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOT WARNED OF THE OTHER VEHIC..."

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