AI Damage2019 KIA Optima: common problems
Owners of the 2019 KIA Optima filed 212 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 99 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 212
- involving a crash
- 20
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 99
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 43% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 17% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 9% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 7% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- Engine: 92 complaints (43% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
- Forward collision avoidance: 36 complaints (17% of all), 8 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electrical system: 23 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 36.
- Service brakes: 19 complaints (9% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Powertrain: 17 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 3 complaints
- 2 L · hybrid · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 2 L · plug-in hybrid · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speed
- dual-clutch (DCT), 7-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 212 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 92 | 0 | 25 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 36 | 8 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 0 | 36 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 5 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 17 | 0 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 14 | 1 | 5 |
| Air bags | 12 | 9 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 18 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Breaks locked or failed and was forced off road into a ditch, car totalled
Forward collision warning failed to assist resulting in a collision that is considered a total loss.
While depressing the brake pedal, the attention level high / collision warning message was displayed. The air bag did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to her back and shoulder and she had several bruises. The contact was seen at the hospital where medical treatment was received. A police report was filed.
On sept 1st I was in an accident. I hit a parked car. My car was totaled. I suffered a fractured sternum and possible concussion. All of airbags failed to deploy. PALO ALTO POLICE RECORD,22-02889
I was driving and the lights come on the forward collision lights and the engine turned off I had no control over the vehicle I couldn't even turn the wheel. It turned right on its own and threw me up on a bank and I rolled twice. The car was out of control. I've never been so terrified in my life.
My car didn't stop the brakes wouldn't stop i hit a stationary Tractor i got a ticket due to me hitting the light pole too
My daughter hit a deer at 65 mph causing total loss 5 miles prior to the accident the forward collision warning light came on stating it was inactive due to the sensor being blocked or damaged.
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The driver sustained neck and back pain and his daughter, who was seated behind the driver's seat, sustained neck pain. The contact mentioned that both occupants would be taken to the emergency room for their injuries.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 310 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Optima has 323 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 212, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC367) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting an important Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2019-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured from May 21, 2018, through…
- SC367_STKR
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN COMPLETION LABEL/STICKER
- SC367_POC
PROOF OF CORRECTION CARD
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
QUESTION AND ANSWER (SC367) – This document is the Question and Answer Guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign SC367.
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC367) - This document is the announcement to dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting an important Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC367) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting an important Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER PROTECTOR AND DECAL INSTALLATION (CS2312) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin…
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 104 ) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control…
- TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN
VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are…
- CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN
OWNER NOTIFICATION (CS2312) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting Customer Satisfaction Campaign. A software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method has been made…
NHTSA lists 99 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 KIA Optima?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Total complaints: 212. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (24%), oil leak or consumption (17%), engine failure or replacement (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 KIA Optima?
NHTSA lists 99 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 KIA Optima from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.