2019 Kia Optima: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 290 complaints
290
Total Complaints
20,000mi
Median Mileage
ENGINE
Top Issue
30
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

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

9,007 25th Percentile
20,000 Median Mileage
57,813 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE
79
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
37
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
27
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
19
SERVICE BRAKES
18
POWER TRAIN
14
STRUCTURE:BODY
14
AIR BAGS
12
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
12
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
9

Severity Assessment

30
Crashes
6
Fires
22
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS. IT CURRENTLY HAS 1600 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING STUDDERING AND SHAKING. HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT ON 3/15. EVEN HAVE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE INVOLVED."
"I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,..."
"I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,..."

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