2019 KIA Optima

Typical pattern

3.4% of complaints about the 2019 KIA Optima came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2019 vehicle — around the middle of the 191 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.2 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (88 complaints), typically at 5.6 yr or about 65,000 miles.

Complaints: 321
Median age at failure: 5.2 yr
Median mileage: 20,000 n=74
Crash / fire / tow: 14.3% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System

0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y

Engine

88 reports · 65,000 mi

5.6 yr

10.2%

Collision avoidance

44 reports · 54,000 mi

4.8 yr

22.7%

Other

41 reports · 10,479 mi

4.0 yr

4.9%

Electrical system

23 reports · 18,000 mi

5.3 yr

13%

Service brakes

18 reports · 20,000 mi

4.1 yr

27.8%

Power train

17 reports · 30,000 mi

5.8 yr

Fuel / propulsion

15 reports

6.5 yr

6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V539000 2019-07-19

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 vehicle is detected.

Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 5 mo in service

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS. IT CURRENTLY HAS 1600 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING STUDDERING AND SHAKING. HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT ON 3/15. EVEN HAVE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE INVOLVED.

Power train 9,200 mi 1.3 yr in service

IF I SLOW DOWN THEN SPEED UP IT TAKES OFF SLOW. IF I GO UP A HILL IT PUTTS AND WHEN I DRIVE IT JUST FEELS LIKE ITS PUTTERING THE WHOLE TIME. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP OF COURSE THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING BUT THIS IS A NEW CAR I KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG. I JUST GOT THE CAR IN MARCH DROVE FINE NO ACCIDENTS OR ANYTHING AND IT'S KIND OF DISAPPOINTING THAT MY CAR IS LIKE THIS BUT KNOW ONE KNOWS WHAT'S WRONG.

Power train mileage not reported 5.7 yr in service

This vehicle is a lemon. It is a 2019 with 81,000 miles. How in the world does the engine start knocking when i have consistently, kept up with the maintenance on this vehicle. If i do not hear something soon im weakening legal action. Since May 18TH i have been without a car.i am a single mom and this is so difficult. Mind you it was towed July 5th from where it broke down on me.

Electrical system 9,000 mi 1.4 yr in service

WHEN MY PHONE IS PLUGGED INTO THE CHARGER, MY SCREEN WILL GO BLACK ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND UNPLUG MY PHONE AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON FOR THE SCREEN TO COME BACK ON. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE MY BRAKES LOCK UP ON ME, AND I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN, AND I HAVE EVEN HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM IN MOTION DRIVING AND GO TO STOP. THE RADIO SCREEN THOUGH HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHETHER I AM DRIVING OR IN PARK.

Other Optima model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.