2020 Kia Optima problems and recalls

67% of owner complaints on the 2020 Kia Optima related to the Engine (96 of 143).

143
Complaints
0
Recalls
6
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
4
Injuries
53.1
Severity index

Severity index 53.1 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.1p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 57 of 103 by severity index among 2020 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 45% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2020 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 96 complaints (67.1%)96 67%Power TrainPower Train: 25 complaints (17.5%)25 17%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 16 complaints (11.2%)16 11%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 13 complaints (9.1%)13 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 11 complaints (7.7%)11 8%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 8 complaints (5.6%)8 6%Service BrakesService Brakes: 8 complaints (5.6%)8 6%Air BagsAir Bags: 7 complaints (4.9%)7 5%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE9667.1%
POWER TRAIN2517.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1611.2%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM139.1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM117.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING85.6%
SERVICE BRAKES85.6%
AIR BAGS74.9%

Complaints filed per year

025502019: 12020: 52021: 52022: 132023: 182024: 252025: 502026: 26 (partial year)192021222324255026
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20191
20205
20215
202213
202318
202425
202550
2026 (year to date)26
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 4.0x those in 2020 to 2022 (93 against 23).

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 2026-09-07. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.