2018 Kia Optima problems and recalls

56% of owner complaints on the 2018 Kia Optima related to the Engine (130 of 231).

231
Complaints
2
Recalls
10
Crash reports
10
Fire reports
9
Injuries
70.4
Severity index

Severity index 70.4 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 70.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 34 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 72% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 130 complaints (56.3%)130 56%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 37 complaints (16.0%)37 16%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 33 complaints (14.3%)33 14%Power TrainPower Train: 18 complaints (7.8%)18 8%Service BrakesService Brakes: 17 complaints (7.4%)17 7%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 14 complaints (6.1%)14 6%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 14 complaints (6.1%)14 6%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 13 complaints (5.6%)13 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE13056.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3716.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3314.3%
POWER TRAIN187.8%
SERVICE BRAKES177.4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING146.1%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING146.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM135.6%

Complaints filed per year

022442018: 62019: 172020: 202021: 172022: 322023: 432024: 352025: 442026: 17 (partial year)18192021222324254426
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20186
201917
202020
202117
202232
202343
202435
202544
2026 (year to date)17
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.8x those in 2020 to 2022 (122 against 69).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V16100008/03/2018HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEMKia 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.
23V59400024/08/2023LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCHKia 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

Other Kia Optima model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 9 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-08-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.