Worst years for a KIA Optima
Owners have filed 10,355 complaints about the KIA Optima with NHTSA across model years 2001 to 2020. More of them are about the engine & cooling than anything else.
Avoid
2013 KIA Optima1,885 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly engine & cooling.
Every KIA Optima year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | B | 203 | 9 | 5 | 58,009 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2019 | D | 318 | 30 | 9 | 20,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2018 | C | 333 | 14 | 17 | 42,100 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2017 | B | 354 | 7 | 14 | 50,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2016 | D | 1,076 | 45 | 37 | 68,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2015 | D | 1,400 | 56 | 115 | 80,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2014 | D | 786 | 35 | 63 | 71,937 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2013 | F | 1,885 | 77 | 171 | 85,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2012 | D | 1,263 | 37 | 120 | 80,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2011 | D | 778 | 38 | 51 | 90,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2010 | C | 99 | 11 | 2 | 70,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2009 | B | 166 | 6 | 10 | 65,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2008 | C | 188 | 26 | 7 | 69,818 | Airbags |
| 2007 | C | 217 | 20 | 6 | 79,000 | Airbags |
| 2006 | B | 214 | 3 | 1 | 64,200 | Airbags |
| 2005 | A | 180 | 7 | 2 | 80,000 | Doors, Latches & Locks |
| 2004 | B | 306 | 14 | 4 | 80,034 | Doors, Latches & Locks |
| 2003 | B | 190 | 10 | 2 | 84,200 | Doors, Latches & Locks |
| 2002 | C | 168 | 28 | 5 | 89,000 | Body & Structure |
| 2001 | C | 231 | 26 | 0 | 78,500 | Body & Structure |
What breaks on a KIA Optima
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Exactly what failed on a KIA Optima
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every KIA Optima, by the month it reached NHTSA.
KIA Optima problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the KIA Optima
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.