2019 Kia OPTIMA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2019 Kia OPTIMA has 307 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: i bought my 2019 optima brand new back in november. it is now june and i have had it back to the dealership 3 times for randomly not starting on me. i get the same answer every time. they don't know what it is, nothing comes up on the computer when they plug it in. they say, "if it happens again,. ⚠️ 9 fire reports filed.
307
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
87 complaints- • I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,
- • 2019 KIA OPTIMA, IN JULY OF 2019.1ST INSTANCE, 2/4/2020 (LATE AFTERNOON) I DROVE BACK FROM NEW ALBANY IN AND AS SOON AS I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY ON KEYSTONE, I TRIED TO TURN A CORNER AND THE CEL LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY ACCELERATE (HEAVY HESITATION). THEY SAID DO NOT DRIVE, GET A
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER
“I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
51 complaints- • WAS DRIVING ON I 95 WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO THE MEDIAN TOTALING MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY BRAKES AND UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
- • WAS DRIVING ON I 95 WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO THE MEDIAN TOTALING MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY BRAKES AND UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
- • LAST NIGHT A WARNING MESSAGE POPPED UP THAT SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FRONT CRASH COLLISION SENSOR AND IT WAS TURNING OFF. THE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING HOME AND THIS MORNING IT WAS OFF BUT POPPED BACK UP AFTER AROUND 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING.
“WAS DRIVING ON I 95 WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO THE MEDIAN TOTALING MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY BRAKES AND UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
38 complaints- • I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,
- • I WAS LOOKING ON CREDIT KARMA AND READ THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I HAD NO CLUE AND HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE CONTACT ME IN REGARDS TO THIS! I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY
- • HARD STARTING AND WHEN IT DOES START IT ACTS LIKE IT SLUGGISH. YOU CAN TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON AND IT IS FINE.
“I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
22 complaints- • I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,
- • 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
- • PARKED. STARTED CAR & ALL DASH LIGHTS LIT UP. TRIED RESTARTING NO CHANGE. WHEN BACKING UP THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF IGNITION, PUMPED GAS PEDAL 3 TIMES, RESTARTED & IT SEEMED TO FIX PROBLEM. TOOK CAR IN FOR ELECTRICAL RECALL 1 WEEK LATER & WAS TOLD THIS MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. 2 WE
“I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
19 complaints- • I WAS IN TWO LOW SPEED REAR ENDED CRASHES BECAUSE THE CIB DIDN'T ENGAGE AND I HAD NO BREAKING POWER. ONE WHO ON THE HIGH WAY AND ONCE IN AN EXIT RAMP
- • 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
- • THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. THE ROAD WAS DRY. SPEED WAS 30 MPH OR LESS WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THERE WERE NO CARS AHEAD OF ME, AND I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND ROOM FOR A REGULAR STEADY DECELERATION. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. JUST BEFORE I CROSSED INTO THE CROSSWALK THE CAR
“I WAS IN TWO LOW SPEED REAR ENDED CRASHES BECAUSE THE CIB DIDN'T ENGAGE AND I HAD NO BREAKING POWER. ONE WHO ON THE HIGH WAY AND ONCE IN AN EXIT RAMP”
— 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 307 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: WAS DRIVING ON I 95 WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO THE MEDIAN TOTALING MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY BRAKES AND UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN,
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 2019 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 307
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 9
- Crash reports
- 20
- Injury reports
- 11
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2019 Kia OPTIMA