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U.S. public vehicle records

2010 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

75 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

70,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 75 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1114.7%
Transmission and shifting68.0%
Electrical and battery issues34.0%
Steering behavior22.7%
Engine operation11.3%

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
24
Air Bags
16
Electrical System
13
Engine
9
Vehicle Speed Control
6
Service Brakes
4
Unknown Or Other
4
Latches/Locks/Linkages
3
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Power Train24
Air Bags16
Electrical System13
Engine9
Vehicle Speed Control6
Service Brakes4
Unknown Or Other4
Latches/Locks/Linkages3

Power Train: 24; Air Bags: 16; Electrical System: 13; Engine: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Service Brakes: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 3

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
13
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
20
75,000 to 99,999
15
100,000 to 149,999
8
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00013
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,99920
75,000 to 99,99915
100,000 to 149,9998
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 14 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.

2010
3
2011
2
2012
7
2013
16
2014
6
2015
10
2016
8
2017
2
2018
5
2019
4
2020
2
2021
3
2022
3
2023
1
2025
2
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20103
20112
20127
201316
20146
201510
20168
20172
20185
20194
20202
20213
20223
20231
20252
20261

2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 7; 2013: 16; 2014: 6; 2015: 10; 2016: 8; 2017: 2; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10334436 · 2010-06-03 (June 3, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A RENTED 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE GEAR SHIFT HAD LOCK UP AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL OR THE PARK POSITION. SHE STATED THE MANUAL READ TO START CAR, THE GEAR SHIFT MUST BE IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE FOOT MUST BE ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE SLIGHTLY MOVED THE KEY, THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED HEAD …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334436 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10448625 · 2012-02-21 (February 21, 2012)

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT BRAKING ASSISTANCE, CAR JERKS AS THE TRANSMISSION DOES A HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR WHEN REACHING 20 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE DOWNSHIFT IS ENOUGH TO JOLT THE DRIVER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448625 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10450072 · 2012-03-02 (March 2, 2012)

WHEN SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF USING THE BRAKES, THE CAR JERKS AS THE TRANSMISSION DOES A HARD DOWNSHIFT CAUSING ENOUGH JERK TO THE DRIVER. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10450072 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10554972 · 2013-12-05 (December 5, 2013)

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH OUR 2010 KIA OPTIMA, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. THE TPMS, (!) AND THE AIRBAG "OFF/ON" LIGHTS ALL GO OFF AND ON CONTINUALLY. THEY WILL BE ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN GO OFF AND STAY OFF FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE BRAKES ALSO JERK OUR CAR VERY ROUGHLY FORWARD WHEN WE ARE BRAKING. EVEN IF WE ARE GOING 5 MPH, WE PRESS ON THE BRAKES, THEN THE CAR GIVES A BIG JERK BEFORE IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554972 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10907502 · 2016-09-18 (September 18, 2016)

THE ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME.I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE KEY SOMETIME.THE CAR IS STATIONARY. THIS START IN MAY 2016 AND CONTINUE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10907502 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10562433 · 2014-01-31 (January 31, 2014)

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A VEHICLE REAR-ENDED MY 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE DRIVER HIT MY KIA SO HARD, I HIT THE MUSTANG IN FRONT OF ME. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON EITHER IMPACT. KIA WAS DRIVABLE, BUT THERE WERE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY THE CAR DROVE (I.E. STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT, WHEEL SHAKING, ETC). THIS WAS THE EVENING OF 01/23/2014. ON 01/29/2014, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED VEHICLE (TOTALING THE KIA) @ 28-30 MPH. AGAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE IMPACT LIFTED ME UP AND MY HEAD SHATTERED THE…

Owner-reported narrative. 63,150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10562433 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11311465 · 2020-02-25 (February 25, 2020)

MY OPTIMA HAS 104,000 MILES. JUST LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS, I LOST CONTROL AS THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON DURING THIS PERIOD FOR BETWEEN 5-30 SECONDS AS YOU LOOSE ALMOST ALL CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE'S STEERING. JUST AS YOUR VEHICLE GAINS POWER STEERING AGAIN, A SCREECHING SOUNDS COMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (MAYBE BELTS RE-ENGAGING). IT HAS BEEN RAINING HER THE PAST WEEK AND THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES. SOMETIMES DIRECTLY AFTER DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, AND SOMETIMES JUST WHILE DRIVING.…

Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311465 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11195570 · 2019-04-11 (April 11, 2019)

DRIVING CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON RD AVERAGE SPEED 40 NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON RESTARTED STALLED ALL THE WAY HOME AND HUGE KNOCKING SOUND

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11195570 at NHTSA ↗