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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

116 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

64,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 97 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 116 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior3832.8%
Transmission and shifting2521.6%
Steering behavior97.8%
Electrical and battery issues76.0%
Engine operation21.7%

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.

Power Train
29
Air Bags
28
Service Brakes
17
Engine
14
Electrical System
12
Vehicle Speed Control
11
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
9
Exterior Lighting
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train29
Air Bags28
Service Brakes17
Engine14
Electrical System12
Vehicle Speed Control11
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)9
Exterior Lighting8

Power Train: 29; Air Bags: 28; Service Brakes: 17; Engine: 14; Electrical System: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 9; Exterior Lighting: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
18
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
35
75,000 to 99,999
19
100,000 to 149,999
10
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00018
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99935
75,000 to 99,99919
100,000 to 149,99910
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 3

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 19 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.

2009
2
2010
6
2011
9
2012
6
2013
15
2014
23
2015
13
2016
16
2017
7
2018
4
2019
5
2020
4
2021
4
2023
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20092
20106
20119
20126
201315
201423
201513
201616
20177
20184
20195
20204
20214
20231
20241

2009: 2; 2010: 6; 2011: 9; 2012: 6; 2013: 15; 2014: 23; 2015: 13; 2016: 16; 2017: 7; 2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2021: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 25 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10311766 · 2010-02-18 (February 18, 2010)

BOUGHT A KIA OPTIMA A FEW MONTHS AGO AND RECENTLY IT HAS DEVELOPED A DANGEROUS SHIFTING PATTERN WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST ABOUT 20MPH IT JERKS THE !@#$%'.OUT OF YOU AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE BRAKING AT THE TIME YOU MEET A SNAP FROM SEAT BELT AS YOU FLY TOWARDS WINDSHIELD CAUSING SEVER NECK AND BACK PAIN THIS IS GETTING WORSE , DEALER WILLING TO FIX BUT KIA IS IGNORING THE ISSUE AS I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM , I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER ITS PROBABLY JUST COMPUTER ORIENTED BUT KIA HAS TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR , CONTACTED KIA…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311766 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10394045 · 2011-04-02 (April 2, 2011)

I HAVE A 2009 KIA OPTIMA LX WHEN I GO TO BRAKE AROUND 20 MPH IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING HARD CAUSING ME TO JERK IN THE SEAT. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME I DO FEEL THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION AND I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10394045 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10376650 · 2011-01-14 (January 14, 2011)

2009 KIA OPTIMA LX/EX SEDAN 4 DOOR TRANSMISSION 15,000 MILES EXTREME HARD DOWN SHIFT WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP FROM SECOND TO FIRST., ALMOST LIKE IT THROWS THE CAR INTO PARK, ENOUGH THAT IT COULD THROW YOU INTO WINDSHIELD IF NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, IT ONLY HAPPENS 20% OF THE TIME ON ICE AND SLICK ROADS IT CAN CAUSE YOU TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10376650 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10360753 · 2010-10-16 (October 16, 2010)

MY CONCERN INVOLVES ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN DRIVING ON A BRIGHT DAY, THE PANEL ILLUMINATION IS SO DIM THAT THE ODOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN WITHOUT MOVING MY HEAD ALMOST NEXT TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER GAUGES, ARE ALSO DIMLY ILLUMINATED. AT NIGHT AND ON OVERCAST DAYS, THE PROBLEM IS LESS SEVERE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 914 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360753 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10609060 · 2014-07-08 (July 8, 2014)

KIA OPTIMA IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULDN'T TURN CAR ON AND WHEELS LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 71,936 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10489059 · 2012-12-17 (December 17, 2012)

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN OCT 2012. DEALER STATED THE BATTERY WAS BAD. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT RETURNED NOV. 2012 DEALER NOW STATES AIR BAG FAULTY BUT NOT COVERED BY KIA RECALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489059 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10495300 · 2013-01-30 (January 30, 2013)

AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK AND PARKING MY VEHICLE AT HOME, THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY IN 40 DEGREE WEATHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HRS. I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND MY CAR ON FIRE AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED AND DISPATCHED TO MY HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED IT WAS PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE IS NO REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED OR ANY OTHER ACCESSORIES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY, PERH…

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10495300 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10458183 · 2012-05-12 (May 12, 2012)

THE FIRST SIGNS OF ANY TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE STARTED IN FEBRUARY/MARCH OF 2011 WHEN THE SHIFTING ON THE VEHICLE WAS ERRATIC ON TAKEOFF AND ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, ROUGHLY SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT TOOK TWO OCCASIONS TO "FIX" THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SHIFTING APPEARED TO SUBSIDE IT STILL HAD THE OCCASIONAL ISSUE ON TAKE-OFF. THE ISSUE PROGRESSIVELY GOT TO THE POINT WHEN I LOST TOTAL ENGINE POWER WHILE CROSSING LANES OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST GETTING HIT. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT NO MATTER …

Owner-reported narrative. 18,970 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458183 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11624035 · 2024-11-07 (November 7, 2024)

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal knocking noise and then stalled. The contact stated that the battery and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the vehicle stalled several times while driving to the mechanic. The mechanic had diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there were metal shavings in the oil pan and that the engine needed to b…

Owner-reported narrative. 152,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11624035 at NHTSA ↗