2017 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
255 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
54,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 86 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 164 of 255 complaints (64.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 29 | 11.4% |
| Braking behavior | 19 | 7.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 7.5% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 6.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 164 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Electrical System | 23 |
| Power Train | 21 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 |
| Steering | 11 |
Engine: 164; Unknown Or Other: 33; Electrical System: 23; Power Train: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 20; Exterior Lighting: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 13; Steering: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 17 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 17; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 169 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 16 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 37 |
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 42 |
| 2026 | 19 |
2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 16; 2020: 22; 2021: 17; 2022: 37; 2023: 61; 2024: 27; 2025: 42; 2026: 19
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 29 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 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 10986336 · 2017-05-18 (May 18, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A COMPLETE STOP AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COMPLETE A TURN, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT A FAILURE CODE WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TEST DRIVEN, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,300.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10986336 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11019438 · 2017-08-24 (August 24, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF WYLER KIA (LOCATED AT 5815 DIXIE HWY, FAIRFIELD, OH 45014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH THE CONTACT. …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019438 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11011362 · 2017-07-28 (July 28, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. THE ABS, AIR BAG, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MENTOR KIA IN MENTOR, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT KEPT THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11011362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11097716 · 2018-05-23 (May 23, 2018)
TAKATA RECALL BREAK LIGHTS NOT COMING ON. I NOTICED I HAD A NOTIFICATION COME ON MY DASHBOARD THAT READ ''CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS' AND BOTH OF MY BREAK LIGHTS WERE FLASHING ON THE IMAGE OF THE CAR ON THE DASH. IT WOULD COME OFF AND ON RANDOMLY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I CAN SMACK MY BREAK LIGHTS AND THEY COME BACK ON, AND ONCE I PRESS MY BREAK THEY GO BACK OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11097716 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10971009 · 2017-04-06 (April 6, 2017)
WE LEASE A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID WITH TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE. IT HAS 1986 MILES AND IS THREE MONTHS OLD. LAST WEEK THE CAR WHILE IN MOTION JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR ROADWAY WITH NO WARNING. MY WIFE WAS ABLE GET OFF THE ROAD BY CONSTANTLY RESTARTING THE CAR. AFTER ALMOST ONE WEEK WE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A FAILURE OF THE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WOULD NOT CHARGE THE MAIN BATTERY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,980 miles reported. Look up ODI 10971009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11277726 · 2019-11-02 (November 2, 2019)
I WAS DRIVING TODAY AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS MOVING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11277726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11465829 · 2022-05-23 (May 23, 2022)
March 2022, (approximately 72,000 miles)while driving to work my car shut off. I was in drive at a red light. Noticeable decreased acceleration and vibration. Took it to the dealership for routine oil change and mentioned incident. Technician was not able to find cause. Ok so be it. Now May at a little over 73,000 miles multiple lights began to illuminate and flash. Still with decreased acceleration it was noticed on a Friday morning on my way to work: 1. Oil light flashed on and off for approximately 2 minutes. 2. Air bag light stays on 3. El…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11465829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11492794 · 2022-11-08 (November 8, 2022)
On June 5th 2022 as I was traveling out of state with my wife and daughter the car lost power on the highway. I pulled over to the side when safe and noticed whitish grey smoke puffing from under the hood by the hinges. Being a fire lieutenant, I recognized this as the car being on fire. We exited the vehicle, my daughter was asleep in the back seat, so it was a panic to wake her and make sure she got out away from traffic. Within the 3 minutes I was on the phone with 911 the car was engulfed. A few minutes after the first Chief arrived the fir…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11492794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11518826 · 2023-04-25 (April 25, 2023)
This is how I am feeling and the reason for being an unhappy customer. I shouldn't have to keep buying gallons of oil to put in my car every other day. Oil change was done on Sept 6th along with spark plugs put in due to oil consumption. Took my car again to Kia on Sept 21th because there was no oil in my vehicle, so they put oil in. Then on Sunday Oct 2nd I had to spend $44 on a gallon of oil because there was no oil in it once again. It’s a recall and should be fixed regardless if it doesn't shut off while I'm driving, hearing the knocking n…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11518826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11398715 · 2021-03-02 (March 2, 2021)
I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR. IT IS AN LX WITH THE 2.4L ENGINE GDI. IT'S THE STANDARD ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED "OFF" AFTER A FIRMWARE UPDATE. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CAR REALLY PERFORMED AND ROLLED NICELY. BY THAT I MEAN, THERE WAS NO DETECTABLE DRAY WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IN DRIVING THE CAR NOW, THE CAR JUST SEEMS TO LUG, AS IT TAKES MORE ACCELERATION TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THE TRANSMISSION "HANGS UP" AT AROUND 40MPH, WITH NO LOAD ON THE ENGINE. THE TACH AT 40MPH OR THEREABOUTS, READS AROUND 1900-2…
Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11398715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11408554 · 2021-04-17 (April 17, 2021)
KIA OPTIMA 2017 HYBRID. 26K MILEAGE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECOME VERY CLUNKY, CAR JERKS WHEN SHIFTING ON ANY GEAR. NOT STABLE DRIVING, STRANGE NOISES UNDER THE HOOD ESPECIALLY WHEN VEHICLE GOES UPHILL AND EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROAD CAR TWITCHES. NO OIL LEAKS FROM THE BOTTOM.
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11408554 at NHTSA ↗