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Kia OPTIMA HYBRID problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

274 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

76,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 to 2020 model years. Data snapshot: . 238 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 147 of 274 complaints (53.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues5520.1%
Braking behavior5219.0%
Engine operation3211.7%
Steering behavior238.4%
Transmission and shifting176.2%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine
147
Electrical System
66
Power Train
32
Unknown Or Other
27
Steering
20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
19
Service Brakes
17
Vehicle Speed Control
17
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine147
Electrical System66
Power Train32
Unknown Or Other27
Steering20
Service Brakes, Hydraulic19
Service Brakes17
Vehicle Speed Control17

Engine: 147; Electrical System: 66; Power Train: 32; Unknown Or Other: 27; Steering: 20; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 19; Service Brakes: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 17

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
42
25,000 to 49,999
27
50,000 to 74,999
45
75,000 to 99,999
57
100,000 to 149,999
54
150,000 and above
13
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00042
25,000 to 49,99927
50,000 to 74,99945
75,000 to 99,99957
100,000 to 149,99954
150,000 and above13

Under 25,000: 42; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 45; 75,000 to 99,999: 57; 100,000 to 149,999: 54; 150,000 and above: 13

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (57). 36 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2012
2
2013
7
2014
11
2015
14
2016
13
2017
40
2018
70
2019
44
2020
9
2021
7
2022
8
2023
15
2024
20
2025
5
2026
9
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20122
20137
201411
201514
201613
201740
201870
201944
20209
20217
20228
202315
202420
20255
20269

2012: 2; 2013: 7; 2014: 11; 2015: 14; 2016: 13; 2017: 40; 2018: 70; 2019: 44; 2020: 9; 2021: 7; 2022: 8; 2023: 15; 2024: 20; 2025: 5; 2026: 9

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 55 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 52 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10486653 · 2012-12-01 (December 1, 2012)

MY VEHICLE DON'T START EVERY TIME I TRIED TO START IT THE ELECTRICAL SIT MOVES BACK AND FORWARD, I HAVE TO TOWED MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME, I AM GETTING SO FRUSTRATED THAT A NEW CAR HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER BECAUSE SOMETHING ITS WRONG, NEXT MONTH I WILL BE OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEN WHAT I GOING TO DO? PLEASE SOME ONE NEED TO CHECK THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE ITS A NIGHTMARE FOR THE CITIZENS. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE TO PAY FOR 4 YEARS A CAR THE I CANT EVEN RELIABLE ON, I AM A BUSY MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN AND THIS PROBLEM IT'…

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486653 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11061074 · 2018-01-07 (January 7, 2018)

CAR STALLED ALL OF SUDDEN WITH SHUDDER ON ROUTE 7 IN VIRGINIA AND THEN IMMEDIATELY WAS YAKEN INTO PARKING LOT FOR SAFETY REASONS. IN TRYING TO PARK CAR WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. THE CAR WAS ON FOR ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES THEN RANDOMLY STOPPED. AFTER ANOTHER TEN MINUTES CAR WOULD NOT START AND THEN RANDOMLY STARTED. CAR WAS ASAP DRIVEN WITH ENGINE SHUDDER BACK TO HOME DRIVIEWAY AND PARKED FOR SAFETY. CAR NOW AGAIN WOULD NIT SHUT DOWN AND KEPT RUNNING. ON BITH TIMES WHILE CAR REFUSED TO SHUT DOWN THE GAUGE SHOWED CEHCK ENGINE EPS LIGHT AND INDICATED…

Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11061074 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10888077 · 2016-07-25 (July 25, 2016)

WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY; AN AUDIBLE RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY; A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS 'CHECK BRAKE' APPEARS IN THE DRIVER'S DIGITAL DISPLAY; ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE INCREASES THE RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW RAPIDLY - NOT IDLE AS IF IT WERE NOT IN GEAR, BUT JUST AS IF THE DRIVER WAS BREAKING SUDDENLY. THE ONLY KNOWN METHOD OF CORRECTING TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 91,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10888077 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11232147 · 2019-07-15 (July 15, 2019)

WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY LOSING ACCELERATION.; A RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD THERE IS CONSISTENT BEEPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY. A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS CHECK BRAKE APPEARS IN THE DRIVERS DISPLAY; ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE INCREASES THE RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW RAPIDLY. NOT IDLE AS IF IT WERE NOT IN GEAR, BUT JUST AS IF THE DRIVER WAS BREAKING SUDDENLY. THE ON…

Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11232147 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11203947 · 2019-04-26 (April 26, 2019)

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE, CAR KEPT STALLING SO BOUGHT A 300 DOLLAR BATTERY. WELL THE CAR STALLED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, TOOK IT TO THE KIA SERVICE CENTER JUST TO TELL ME THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE ON THESE VEHICLES SO WHATS TAKING LONG TO RECALL THESE ENGINE MISHAPS. CALLED CUSTOMER CARE AND WAS INFORMED WITH NO HELP WHATSOEVER. SEVERAL CONSUMERS HAVE COME OUT OF POCKET FOR THESE NEGLECTED ENGINE FAILURES AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.

Owner-reported narrative. 91,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203947 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11163367 · 2018-12-25 (December 25, 2018)

THERE'S A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING . FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND ON THE FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM . IT APPEARS TO BE A PLASTIC COUPLER IN THE STEERING MOTOR THAT DETERIORATES CAUSING A METAL ON METAL GRINDING. I NOTICED THIS WHILE TURNING AT AT STREET CORNERS OR CHANGING LANES ON HIGHWAY. NHTSA NUMBER: 10090941. THIS APPARENTLY HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE . WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY INFO WAS INCLUDED .

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163367 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11582463 · 2024-04-11 (April 11, 2024)

The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, after starting the vehicle, the steering wheel became stiff. The “Steering Assist Fault” messages were displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the steering gear had failed. The dealer was contacted for a second opinion, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11582463 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10992076 · 2017-05-29 (May 29, 2017)

WHEN DRIVING MY KIA, AS I APPROACH A STOP AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD - ALMOST AS IF A CAR IS HITTING US FROM BEHIND. IT IS FORCEFUL AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. NOW, AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE STREETS.

Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992076 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2011
3
2012
3
2013
2
2014
0
2015
0
2016
0
2017
2
2018
2
2020
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20113
20123
20132
20140
20150
20160
20172
20182
20200

2011: 3; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 0; 2015: 0; 2016: 0; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2020: 0

Year-by-year records

Kia OPTIMA HYBRID model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
2011343Not available
201210930
2013542-1
2014310-2
20151200
2016400
2017262+2
2018320
202010Not available