Your vehicle report
2019 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
- 212
- Received Mar 2019 to Oct 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Engine burns excessive oil between changes36 complaints · 17% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Paint peels off roof and hood22 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Engine stalls and loses power while driving17 complaints · 8.0% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #19V539000Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.
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: Jul 2023
- Paint peels off roof and hoodFirst signal: Sep 2022
- Engine stalls and loses power while drivingFirst signal: Jun 2023
Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 20 crashes, 7 fires, 16 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 15 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
Brakes
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Body, doors & glass
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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 48 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 29 |
| Total | 212 |
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 | 36 | 17% | 12.8× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jul 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.7% |
| Paint peels off roof and hood | 22 | 10% | 23.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2022 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.5% |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 17 | 8.0% | 6.7× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jun 2023 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.7% |
| Automatic emergency braking applies without reason | 13 | 6.1% | 2× | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 9 | 4.3% | 3.4× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2026 Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 3.6% |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 6 | 2.8% | – | |
| Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up | 5 | 2.4% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 4 | 1.9% | – | |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 4 | 1.9% | 3.9× | BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2026 · Recent surge Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 2.2% |
| Engine suddenly shuts off while driving | 4 | 1.9% | – | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 4 | 1.9% | – | |
| Infotainment screen ghost-touches and changes on its own | 3 | 1.4% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 3 | 1.4% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 3 | 1.4% | – | |
| Head gasket leaks coolant into engine | 3 | 1.4% | – |
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 #19V539000July 19, 201911,423 vehicles affected
forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.
Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC179.
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 2019 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