Kia Optima

1,975 complaints across 11 scored model years and 16 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Kia Optima Full report

Grade 2010–2020

2013 vs model median 2.5×

Model median3× median

Steering 91

Engine 80

Electrical 25

Avoid

2013 · 2015

Best

2010 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Severity-weighted complaint volume and grade by model year for the Kia Optima
Year	vs median	Reports	Grade
2010	0.31×	38	A
2011	1.00×	144	C
2012	2.19×	298	F
2013	2.55×	347	F
2014	1.66×	203	D
2015	2.41×	287	F
2016	1.74×	223	D
2017	0.84×	113	B
2018	0.98×	129	B
2019	0.88×	112	B
2020	0.54×	81	A

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

EPA fuel economy and drivetrain
Combined MPG	29
City / Highway	25.5 / 34.5
Engine	2L, 4 cyl
Drive	Front-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost	$2,150

Recalls

16 campaigns on record, 3 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Recall campaigns, largest first
Campaign	Component	Model years	Units affected
23V652000 Park it	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE	2011–2015	1,730,192
13V114000	EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH	2010, 2011	980,377
17V224000	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE	2011–2014	618,160
18V363000	AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE	2011–2013	507,587
20V519000 Park it	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE	2013–2015	440,370
21V331000 Park it	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE	2013–2015	440,370
23V594000	LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH	2016–2018	319,436
22V560000	STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS	2012, 2013	257,998

+ 8 further campaigns

Others in Midsize Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Other models in the same segment
Model	Years to avoid	Grade
Acura TL	2012	C
Acura TLX	20152020	C
Acura TSX	2010	C
Alfa Romeo Giulia	2017	C
Audi A4	none flagged	B
Audi A4 Allroad	2013	C
Audi A5	none flagged	C
Audi S4	none flagged	B

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2013 Optima

Complaints in window: 347
Severity-weighted: 542.5
Model median (weighted): 213
vs model median: 2.55×
Recall campaigns (weighted): 15
Open investigations: 1

Score 18 F