Vehicles › Kia › Kia Optima
2018 Kia Optima
The 2018 Kia Optima appears in 2 NHTSA recall campaigns (latches/locks/linkages and hybrid propulsion system) and in 10 consumer complaints filed with the agency.
The component named most often is power train: 214.3 of every 1,000 component mentions for this year, above the 77.8 per 1,000 across all 2018 model-year vehicles and against 54.6 per 1,000 for the Kia Optima line as a whole.
That is fewer than the average of 159.4 complaints per model year across the 19 Kia Optima model years on this register; 2 complaints reported a crash and 0 a fire.
Complaints were received in the largest number in 2018 (6); the most recent in the file is dated 7 May 2019.
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation has opened 2 investigations naming this model year.
Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA. Recall text is the manufacturer's Part 573 report as filed with NHTSA. Complaint file through 15 May 2019; recall file through 29 Sep 2026.
Recalls by model year:
Recall campaigns
Defect, as filed: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
Filed by Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer campaign SC278).
Defect, as filed: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Consequence: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.
Filed by Kia Motors America (manufacturer campaign SC162).
Each entry links to the NHTSA record. NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are free of charge at an authorised dealer; check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Component mentions per 1,000 for the 2018 Kia Optima (black) against all 2018 model-year vehicles in the file (yellow). A complaint can name more than one component.
| Per 1,000 component mentions | 2018 | Optima line | All 2018 vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 214.3 | 54.6 | 77.8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 142.9 | 0.5 | 11.1 |
| Air Bags | 142.9 | 100.8 | 27.2 |
| Structure | 142.9 | 61 | 48.9 |
| Service Brakes | 142.9 | 23 | 70.2 |
| Unknown or Other | 142.9 | 46.9 | 123.9 |
| Component | Mentions | Per 1,000 | Line | All 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 | 214.3 | 54.6 | 77.8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 142.9 | 0.5 | 11.1 |
| Air Bags | 2 | 142.9 | 100.8 | 27.2 |
| Structure | 2 | 142.9 | 61 | 48.9 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 142.9 | 23 | 70.2 |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 142.9 | 46.9 | 123.9 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 71.4 | 95.6 | 106.9 |
10 unique complaints, 14 component mentions; 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported by complainants. Complaint narratives are not republished.
Complaints by year received
Investigations
| Action | Type | Subject | Component | Opened | Closed | Recall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DP22003 | Defect petition | Loss of Motive Power | engine | 12 Sep 2022 | 12 Dec 2023 | — |
| EA19001 | Engineering analysis | Electrical overstress | air bags: air bag/restraint control module | 19 Apr 2019 | 19 Sep 2024 | 20V024 |
Other Kia Optima model years
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints | Units in campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 | 141 | 64,270 |
| 2002 | 3 | 102 | 73,842 |
| 2003 | 2 | 138 | 62,341 |
| 2004 | 1 | 221 | 36,538 |
| 2005 | 0 | 142 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 150 | 215,870 |
| 2007 | 2 | 152 | 215,870 |
| 2008 | 3 | 120 | 1,196,247 |
| 2009 | 1 | 103 | 980,377 |
| 2010 | 1 | 61 | 980,377 |
| 2011 | 5 | 367 | 3,907,969 |
| 2012 | 5 | 439 | 3,185,590 |
| 2013 | 9 | 440 | 4,280,952 |
| 2014 | 7 | 178 | 3,515,367 |
| 2015 | 4 | 182 | 2,682,585 |
| 2016 | 5 | 65 | 403,321 |
| 2017 | 3 | 16 | 392,799 |
| 2018 | 2 | 10 | 321,146 |
| 2019 NHTSA | 1 | 1 | 11,423 |
Model years with a single campaign and fewer than 25 complaints have no page here; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record for that year.
All Kia Optima model years · Kia: 34 model lines
Questions and answers
How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Optima have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns name this model year; the most recent, 23V594000, was reported to NHTSA on 24 Aug 2023 and concerns latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch. Across all model years the Kia Optima line has 22 campaigns.
Is there an open NHTSA investigation into the 2018 Kia Optima?
NHTSA's investigation file lists 2 actions naming this model year; the table above shows each action's opening and closing dates. An action with no closing date was still open when the file was produced.
What component do owners of the 2018 Kia Optima complain about most?
Power Train: 3 of 14 component mentions (214.3 per 1,000). Next is forward collision avoidance with 2. Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.
How do I get a recall repaired?
NHTSA states that safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by the manufacturer's authorised dealers. Each campaign's remedy text above is the manufacturer's statement as filed with NHTSA. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Where does this data come from?
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, downloaded 29 Sep 2026. Complaint counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; component figures count each component a complaint names. The NHTSA record linked from each campaign is authoritative.
Provenance
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Office of Defects Investigation flat files (recalls, complaints, investigations), public domain, files dated 29 Sep 2026 (recalls) and 15 May 2019 (complaints). Complaints since 1 Jan 1995. Counts are unique complaint numbers per make, model and model year; per-1,000 rates divide a component's mentions by all mentions for the same group. Errors in processing are corrected at the next daily build; see corrections and the methodology.