2017 Kia Optima: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 252 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 3 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
252
Complaints
3
Recalls
4
Crash reports
9
Fire reports
7
Injuries
50.0
Severity index
Severity index 50.0 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 136 2017 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2017 Kia Optima ranks 78 of 136 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 43% of its model-year peers. See the full 2017 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 161 | 63.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 33 | 13.1% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 25 | 9.9% |
| POWER TRAIN | 20 | 7.9% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 20 | 7.9% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 15 | 6.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 13 | 5.2% |
| STEERING | 11 | 4.4% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 161 of 252 complaints (63.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 42 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 16 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.7x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V907000 | 19/12/2018 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The h |
| 18V161000 | 08/03/2018 | 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. |
| 23V594000 | 24/08/2023 | 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 require |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.