2017 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2017 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID has 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (42% of all complaints), specifically: the vehicle is getting stuck on electric mode and not switching over to gas and losing power. having to pull over and turn car off and back on the reset it. car only has 2500 miles. taking back to dealer asap. was driving on major interstate 70 mph error message from car said transmission error se. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 crash reports 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

16 complaints

42%

• THE VEHICLE IS GETTING STUCK ON ELECTRIC MODE AND NOT SWITCHING OVER TO GAS AND LOSING POWER. HAVING TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE RESET IT. CAR ONLY HAS 2500 MILES. TAKING BACK TO DEALER ASAP. WAS DRIVING ON MAJOR INTERSTATE 70 MPH ERROR MESSAGE FROM CAR SAID TRANSMISSION ERROR SE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GALPIN KIA, 8425 SEPULVEDA BLVD, NORTH HILLS, CA 91343), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. T
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE GAS MOTOR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY TURN START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE VEHICLE IS GETTING STUCK ON ELECTRIC MODE AND NOT SWITCHING OVER TO GAS AND LOSING POWER. HAVING TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE RESET IT. CAR ONLY HAS 2500 MILES. TAKING BACK TO DEALER ASAP. WAS DRIVING ON MAJOR INTERSTATE 70 MPH ERROR MESSAGE FROM CAR SAID TRANSMISSION ERROR SE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GALPIN KIA, 8425 SEPULVEDA BLVD, NORTH HILLS, CA 91343), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. T
• TAKATA RECALL- WHEN BRAKING PR PUMPING THE BRAKES THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE, THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON FLAT ROADS OR HILLS. THERE IS A CREAKING NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AFTER PUTTING CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE.
• The contact owned a 2017 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while her mother was driving at an undisclosed speed, a smoke odor was detected. Another driver alerted the contact's mother that there was a fire coming from underneath the vehicle. The contact's mother pulled over and exited the v

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GALPIN KIA, 8425 SEPULVEDA BLVD, NORTH HILLS, CA 91343), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

5 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE GAS MOTOR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY TURN START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE
• HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON STATING HYBRID ENGINE MALFUNCTION TURN OFF IMMEDIATELY. IF I DON'T GET TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY, I LOSE POWER UNTIL I DO. WHEN I HAVE MY PHONE ATTACHED TO THE CARPORT PROGRAM, IT REGISTERS THAT TH
• MY CAR WILL NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF! I WAS DRIVING IF THE FREEWAY AND HIT AN OBJECT, NOT SURE WHAT. WHEN I GOT HOME I COULDN'T TURN MY CAR OFF COMPLETELY. THE CAR THINK THAT IT'S OFF BUT THE ENGINE STILL REVS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE GAS MOTOR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY TURN START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

4 complaints

11%

• TAKATA RECALL- WHEN BRAKING PR PUMPING THE BRAKES THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE, THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON FLAT ROADS OR HILLS. THERE IS A CREAKING NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AFTER PUTTING CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE.
• BRAKE LINE HAS AIR IN IT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS, FIRST TIME IT TOOK KIA DEALERSHIP 4 DAYS TO REPAIR. THIS CURRENT TIME IT SHOULD TAKE 2 DAYS. WHEN BRAKING HARD AT A SLOW OR HIGH SPEED, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM BRAKE AREA. S
• MY VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ITS HYBRID BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL START TO JERK AND A WARNING SYSTEM TELLING ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS) AND THE POWER TRAIN. IT WILL TELL ME TO PULL OV

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TAKATA RECALL- WHEN BRAKING PR PUMPING THE BRAKES THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE, THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON FLAT ROADS OR HILLS. THERE IS A CREAKING NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AFTER PUTTING CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

2 complaints

• MY VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ITS HYBRID BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL START TO JERK AND A WARNING SYSTEM TELLING ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS) AND THE POWER TRAIN. IT WILL TELL ME TO PULL OV
• The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repa

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH ITS HYBRID BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SINCE PURCHASE. IT HAS BEEN TOWED 4 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WILL START TO JERK AND A WARNING SYSTEM TELLING ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS) AND THE POWER TRAIN. IT WILL TELL ME TO PULL OV”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 38 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: THE VEHICLE IS GETTING STUCK ON ELECTRIC MODE AND NOT SWITCHING OVER TO GAS AND LOSING POWER. HAVING TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE RESET IT. CAR ONLY HAS 2500 MILES. TAKING BACK TO DEALER ASAP. WAS DRIVING ON MAJOR INTERSTATE 70 MPH ERROR MESSAGE FROM CAR SAID TRANSMISSION ERROR SE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GALPIN KIA, 8425 SEPULVEDA BLVD, NORTH HILLS, CA 91343), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE GAS MOTOR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY TURN START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: TAKATA RECALL- WHEN BRAKING PR PUMPING THE BRAKES THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE, THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON FLAT ROADS OR HILLS. THERE IS A CREAKING NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AFTER PUTTING CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)