Your vehicle report
2018 Kia Optima
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 233
- Received Jan 2018 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine burns excessive oil between changes42 complaints · 18% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Engine stalls and loses power while driving30 complaints · 13% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Headlights dim or fail at night14 complaints · 6.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #23V594000Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
- Recall #18V161000Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
- Engine burns excessive oil between changesFirst signal: Sep 2022
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Apr 2021
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 10 crashes, 10 fires, 9 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 17 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
1 more problem
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 32 |
| 2023 | 43 |
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2025 | 44 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 19 |
| Total | 233 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 42 | 18% | 15× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 1.4% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 30 | 13% | 11.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Apr 2021 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.6% |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 14 | 6.0% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 9 | 3.9% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 7 | 3.0% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 2.6% | 3.1× | |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 6 | 2.6% | – | NHTSA recall #18V161000 |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 5 | 2.1% | – | NHTSA recall #23V594000 |
| Fuel pump fails and engine stalls | 4 | 1.7% | – | |
| Engine knocking from rod or main bearings | 4 | 1.7% | – | |
| Power steering cuts out while driving | 4 | 1.7% | – | |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 3 | 1.3% | 8.9× | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Rear door latch fails to open or close | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines | 3 | 1.3% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 3 | 1.3% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #23V594000August 24, 2023319,436 vehicles affected
latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
NHTSA recall #18V161000March 8, 20181,710 vehicles affected
hybrid propulsion system
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2018 Kia Optima.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN