2019 Kia Optima: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 204 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
204
Complaints
1
Recalls
20
Crash reports
6
Fire reports
16
Injuries
119.6
Severity index
Severity index 119.6 - High. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 123 2019 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2019 Kia Optima ranks 9 of 123 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 93% of its model-year peers. See the full 2019 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 86 | 42.2% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 41 | 20.1% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 36 | 17.6% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 22 | 10.8% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 19 | 9.3% |
| POWER TRAIN | 16 | 7.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 15 | 7.4% |
| STRUCTURE | 14 | 6.9% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 86 of 204 complaints (42.2%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 34 |
| 2024 | 46 |
| 2025 | 48 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 21 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.9x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V539000 | 19/07/2019 | 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 |
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.