2019 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
317 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Kia Optima, alongside 1 recall campaign and 2 defect investigations. It scores 17/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports, typically around 72,400 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2019 Kia Optima has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2019 sits among all Optima years
What owners report
“Engine is consuming too much oil engine is shaking and knocking engine light is on reducing speed will cut off in mid drive”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Optima
“Blind spot forward collision detection lane departure warning rear cross traffic warning”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Optima
“It’s a 2019 KIA optima the color is snow pearl white and it is peeling off. The car only has 31262 miles on it it’s peeling on top at the windshield”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Optima
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 67 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 25,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 10,479 and 65,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
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…
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 20V024.
Technical service bulletins
123 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2019 Kia Optima. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2019 Optima TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2019 Kia Optima reliable?
The 2019 Kia Optima drew 317 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 17/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2019 Kia Optima problems?
The top reported problems for the 2019 Kia Optima are engine (89 complaints), driver assistance (55), and other (44).
At what mileage do 2019 Kia Optima problems show up?
Owners most often report 2019 Kia Optima problems around 25,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 10,479 and 65,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Kia Optima have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2019 Kia Optima. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.