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U.S. public vehicle records

2018 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

231 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

44,163 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 72 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 130 of 231 complaints (56.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation2711.7%
Braking behavior2410.4%
Electrical and battery issues177.4%
Steering behavior125.2%
Fuel system concerns93.9%
Transmission and shifting73.0%

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.

Engine
130
Unknown Or Other
37
Electrical System
31
Power Train
18
Service Brakes
17
Exterior Lighting
13
Fuel/Propulsion System
13
Steering
12
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine130
Unknown Or Other37
Electrical System31
Power Train18
Service Brakes17
Exterior Lighting13
Fuel/Propulsion System13
Steering12

Engine: 130; Unknown Or Other: 37; Electrical System: 31; Power Train: 18; Service Brakes: 17; Exterior Lighting: 13; Fuel/Propulsion System: 13; Steering: 12

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
26
25,000 to 49,999
12
50,000 to 74,999
13
75,000 to 99,999
9
100,000 to 149,999
12
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00026
25,000 to 49,99912
50,000 to 74,99913
75,000 to 99,9999
100,000 to 149,99912
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 159 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.

2018
6
2019
17
2020
20
2021
17
2022
32
2023
43
2024
35
2025
44
2026
17
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20186
201917
202020
202117
202232
202343
202435
202544
202617

2018: 6; 2019: 17; 2020: 20; 2021: 17; 2022: 32; 2023: 43; 2024: 35; 2025: 44; 2026: 17

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 27 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 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 11206044 · 2019-05-07 (May 7, 2019)

2018 KIA 12,000 MILES HAD RECALL 2 MONTHS AGO FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE DAY GETTING ON INTERSTATE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY SPEED AT TIME WAS PROBABLY 60 MPH CANT PUSH THE GAS CAR JUST STALLS 18 WHEELER BEHIND BLOWING HORN I PULL CAR TO SIDE OF INTERSTATE GOT CAR TO CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP I ASK WHAT WAS WRONG AND THEY STATED THEY USE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR BUT NOW THEY JUST PUT A PART CALLED A HARNESS ON IT PART WAS NOT IN THEY HAVE TO KEEP CAR SEVERAL DAYS

Owner-reported narrative. 12,145 miles reported. Look up ODI 11206044 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11265744 · 2019-10-02 (October 2, 2019)

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 KIA OPTIMA IN NOVEMBER 2018. I HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 22,500 MILES ON IT AND HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH UPDATED OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE PER THE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER. ON SATURDAY 9/28 I DROPPED THE CAR OFF FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, AND AS I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IT SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO DIE, BUT IT DIDN'T. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN AND IT GOT ME HOME. THE NEXT DAY, SUNDAY 9/29, IT DROVE WITHOUT PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, BUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN AND STOPPED WORKING. IT WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11265744 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11110921 · 2018-07-12 (July 12, 2018)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND THE FORWARD COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOT WARNED OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE SYSTEM DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN NECESSARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MORITZ KIA FORT WORTH, 8501 I-30 WEST, FORT WORTH, TX) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO S…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110921 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11163260 · 2018-12-24 (December 24, 2018)

WHEN REVERSING THE BRAKES TAKE 5 TO 10 SECONDS TO RELEASE, ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON THE ENTIRE TIME OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163260 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11217052 · 2019-05-31 (May 31, 2019)

WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE CAN ON. I STARTED DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK, BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE WHY THIS LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THIS WAS/IS A NEW CAR. I HAVE LESS THAN 19K MILES ON MY CAR. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR REFUSED TO SPEED UP. THE MAX THAT I COULD DRIVE WAS 60 MPH. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. SO I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE IN JANUARY THAT THEY HAS PLACE A SAFTEY FEATURE ON MY CAR TO KEEP T…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217052 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11241806 · 2019-08-05 (August 5, 2019)

ON 03/29/2019 WAS TRAVELING TO WORK. ON INTERSTATE 53 SOUTHBOUND CAR WENT TO LIMP MODE. NO POWER. MANAGED TO GET TO DEALERSHIP. THEY TRIED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH AFTER THEY TOLD ME THAT ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED THEY MANAGED TO CHANGE WIRING HARNESS. AFTER 1 MONTH IT WAS DONE. I TOOK CAR BACK. 1 OR 2 WEEKS LATER CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WITH SAME PROBLEM. FILED A CLAIM WITH KIA AND BBB TO RESOLVE IT. AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY HAD IN INSPECTIONS ON MY VEHICLE AS THEY STATED FROM KIA CALIFORNIA HQ AND FROM KOREA HQ WITH NO LUCK TO REPA…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11241806 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11282081 · 2019-11-24 (November 24, 2019)

HELLO I AM NYCHOLE AND IN OCTOBER OF 2017 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 KIA OPTIMA . NEVER REALLY HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT UNTIL FRI NOV 22. AS I WAS LEAVING FROM WORK MY CAR DID A VERY ABRUPT JERK THAT I ACKNOWLEDGED BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT BECAUSE MY GAS LIGHT HAD JUST CAME ON. BUT TODAY WHICH IS SUNDAY MY CAR'S EPS (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) LIGHT FLASHED. WEIRDED OUT I LOOK AT THE MANUAL IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. AS I EASED INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX THE CAR DID THAT SAME JERK, THE STEERING WHEEL WENT HARD TO MANAGE/STEER AND 6 OTHER LI…

Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282081 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11416530 · 2021-05-14 (May 14, 2021)

WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES IT HAS A BURNING SMELL/GAS SMELL. IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES OIL.OIL AT LOW LEVEL BEFORE DUE. THIS MAKE AND MODEL IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. IT HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. WHY WERE CONSUMERS ALLOWED TO BUY THIS CAR. PROBLEMS ARE ACTIVE AND ONGOING. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR OR CLOSE TO A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. IT IS A LEMON . THE DEALER WANTS TO DIAGNOSE THE ENGINE, BUT THEY ALREADY KNOW THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11416530 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11433400 · 2021-09-17 (September 17, 2021)

Vehicle is making a noise when trying to accelerate. Have replaced all spark plugs and coil #4. It is making noise still and shaking. Coil has been switched and issues are reading fuel injector or air intake or electrical. Previous reading was head gasket... Only on spark plug 4 coil is it reporting an issue...All dealerships locally are booked to even get a diagnostic test.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11433400 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11063913 · 2018-01-20 (January 20, 2018)

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 18:55(APPROXIMATELY) AMHERST MASSACHUSETTS, 39 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT PARKED CAR, PULLED KEYS AND EXITED CAR TO HELP MY MOTHER EXIT. PARKED ON INCLINE, VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACK DOWN DRIVEWAY HAD KEYS IN POCKET AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLE TRIED MOVING BACK TO DRIVER DOOR WHICH HAD LOCKED OR WAS STUCK USED ALL STRENGTH TO TRY TO KEEP VEHICLE STATIONARY, WITHOUT MUCH H SUCCESS FINALLY, MOTHER WAS ABLE TO OPEN DRIVER DOOR FROM INSIDE I AM 53, WITH MILLIONS OF MYLES UNDER MY BELT....MOTHER IS 73 BOTH OF US STRAINED…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,770 miles reported. Look up ODI 11063913 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11173043 · 2019-01-30 (January 30, 2019)

TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 4 MONTHS AND 3800 MILES WHILE DRIVING ST LOCAL STREETS, KIA DEALERS REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173043 at NHTSA ↗