3 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
The base of the trunk latch can crack. If it does, the release handle inside the trunk will not open the lid, so anyone shut in the trunk cannot get out on their own. This does not change how the car drives or how you open the trunk normally from outside. It matters most if a child climbs into the trunk to play and the lid closes. A dealer replaces the latch base free of charge.
These cars have a system that watches the road ahead and is supposed to help brake if you are about to hit something. A software mistake means the braking help may not kick in when the car ahead of you is stopped and not moving. Because the system may not react the way you expect, a crash is more likely. The dealer will load corrected software free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019.
Some 2017-2018 Optima Hybrids have a part called a voltage protection device, which is there to protect the large hybrid battery. On these cars it can switch on when it is not supposed to. If that happens while the car is running on battery power alone, the car can lose power as you are driving. Dealers will remove that device and install two redesigned battery management systems with a new type of overvoltage protection.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Kia Optima. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 232 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| 2019 | 206 | 20 | 6 | 16 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: