2017 Kia OPTIMA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2017 Kia OPTIMA has 348 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (48% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2017 kia optima. the contact stated that after a complete stop and when attempting to complete a turn, the engine stalled without warning. the failure occurred numerous times. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing, but a failure code was unable to be locat. ⚠️ 13 fire reports filed.
348
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
4.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
167 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A COMPLETE STOP AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCAT
- • MY CAR HESITATE WHEN PULLING OUT IN THE STREET ..HAPPENS OFTEN AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS AT NORMAL TEMP, NOT WHEN COLD. IT STARTS OUT FOR ABOUT 3 FEET THEN THE ENGINE STALLS, DOES NOT QUIT RUNNING, JUST STALL FOR 3 TO 5 SECONDS. GIVE IT GAS AND NOTHING, THEN ALL AT ONCE IT TAKES OFF. VERY DANEROUS. SOM
- • I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 KIA OPTIMA IN FEB OF 2017 AND ON JULY 17 2018 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP SO A CAR CAN BACK OUT WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHOOK THEN SHUT OFF. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART IT BUT JUST SHOOK AGAIN AND TURNED OFF. MY HUSBAND PUSHED ME TO THE SIDEWA
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A COMPLETE STOP AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCAT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
33 complaints- • WE LEASE A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID WITH TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE. IT HAS 1986 MILES AND IS THREE MONTHS OLD. LAST WEEK THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR ROADWAY WITH NO WARNING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE GET OFF THE ROAD BY CONSTANTLY RESTARTING THE CAR. AFTER ALMOST ONE WEEK
- • WHILE ON AN HOUR'S DRIVE THE BSD (BLING SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM) CEASED TO OPERATE. THE ACTUATOR SWITCH WAS ILLUMINATED, BUT AN ERROR EXCLAMATION POINT APPEARED ON THE DASH NOTING THE BSD FAILURE. I DROVE ON FURTHER UNTIL I CAME TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, ALS
- • I PURCHASED A NEW 2017 KIA OPTIMA IN FEB OF 2017 AND ON JULY 17 2018 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP SO A CAR CAN BACK OUT WHEN THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHOOK THEN SHUT OFF. I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO RESTART IT BUT JUST SHOOK AGAIN AND TURNED OFF. MY HUSBAND PUSHED ME TO THE SIDEWA
“WE LEASE A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID WITH TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE. IT HAS 1986 MILES AND IS THREE MONTHS OLD. LAST WEEK THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR ROADWAY WITH NO WARNING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE GET OFF THE ROAD BY CONSTANTLY RESTARTING THE CAR. AFTER ALMOST ONE WEEK”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
25 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. THE ABS, AIR BAG, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MENTOR KIA IN MENTOR, OH) WHERE I
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE V
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WESELOH KIA CARLSBAD (LOCATED AT 5331 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008 AT (760) 496-3131) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND CA
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. THE ABS, AIR BAG, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MENTOR KIA IN MENTOR, OH) WHERE I”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
22 complaints- • WHILE ON AN HOUR'S DRIVE THE BSD (BLING SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM) CEASED TO OPERATE. THE ACTUATOR SWITCH WAS ILLUMINATED, BUT AN ERROR EXCLAMATION POINT APPEARED ON THE DASH NOTING THE BSD FAILURE. I DROVE ON FURTHER UNTIL I CAME TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, ALS
- • THE CAR STALLS AND INTERSECTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON SO FAR IT HAS STARTED EVERY TIME.
- • THE CAR STALLS AND HESITATES AT TIMES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED
“WHILE ON AN HOUR'S DRIVE THE BSD (BLING SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM) CEASED TO OPERATE. THE ACTUATOR SWITCH WAS ILLUMINATED, BUT AN ERROR EXCLAMATION POINT APPEARED ON THE DASH NOTING THE BSD FAILURE. I DROVE ON FURTHER UNTIL I CAME TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, ALS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
20 complaints- • MISSFIRE ON CYLINDER 3, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CODE P0303. AT 34,900 MILES.
- • POWER TRAIN; SHIFT LOCK SPECIFICALLY: HAD TO USE THE RELEASE CONTROL MORE THAN ONCE. WHILE DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENS, I FEEL A SURGE/ DECLINE IN ACCELERATION(SOMETHING I REQUESTED BE CHECKED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, BUT KIA SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE MY DESCRIPTION).CONTINUES TO DRIVE BUT SLUGGISH TO
- • A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE CAR 61K MILES..BASICALLY THE DEALSHIP IS SAYING THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE
“MISSFIRE ON CYLINDER 3, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CODE P0303. AT 34,900 MILES.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 348 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A COMPLETE STOP AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: WE LEASE A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID WITH TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE. IT HAS 1986 MILES AND IS THREE MONTHS OLD. LAST WEEK THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR ROADWAY WITH NO WARNING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE GET OFF THE ROAD BY CONSTANTLY RESTARTING THE CAR. AFTER ALMOST ONE WEEK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. THE ABS, AIR BAG, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MENTOR KIA IN MENTOR, OH) WHERE I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: WHILE ON AN HOUR'S DRIVE THE BSD (BLING SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM) CEASED TO OPERATE. THE ACTUATOR SWITCH WAS ILLUMINATED, BUT AN ERROR EXCLAMATION POINT APPEARED ON THE DASH NOTING THE BSD FAILURE. I DROVE ON FURTHER UNTIL I CAME TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, ALS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia OPTIMA — Year Comparison
How does 2017 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 348
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 13
- Crash reports
- 6
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2017 Kia OPTIMA