2020 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
202 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Kia Optima, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 9/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports, typically around 116,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2020 Kia Optima has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2020 sits among all Optima years
What owners report
“My engine has failed. This is the second car I’ve had from Kia that the rod barring has failed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Optima
“Was on highway going 65, check engine light started flashing loss power. Couldn't go over 2000 rpms car would struggle to accelerate, car had been using up oil like crazy the week before. Stopped at an autozone car read code P1326.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Optima
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 30 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 60,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 21,148 and 116,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2020 Kia Optima.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
93 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2020 Kia Optima. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2020 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 2020 Kia Optima reliable?
The 2020 Kia Optima drew 202 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 9/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2020 Kia Optima problems?
The top reported problems for the 2020 Kia Optima are engine (101 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (25), and other (16).
At what mileage do 2020 Kia Optima problems show up?
Owners most often report 2020 Kia Optima problems around 60,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 21,148 and 116,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Kia Optima have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2020 Kia Optima. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
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.