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U.S. public vehicle records

2019 Kia OPTIMA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

206 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

30,225 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 88 of 206 complaints (42.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior2914.1%
Engine operation178.3%
Electrical and battery issues94.4%
Fuel system concerns83.9%
Steering behavior62.9%
Transmission and shifting52.4%

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
88
Unknown Or Other
41
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
30
Electrical System
22
Service Brakes
18
Power Train
17
Fuel/Propulsion System
15
Structure:Body
14
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine88
Unknown Or Other41
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings30
Electrical System22
Service Brakes18
Power Train17
Fuel/Propulsion System15
Structure:Body14

Engine: 88; Unknown Or Other: 41; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 30; Electrical System: 22; Service Brakes: 18; Power Train: 17; Fuel/Propulsion System: 15; Structure:Body: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
23
25,000 to 49,999
9
50,000 to 74,999
8
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
5
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00023
25,000 to 49,9999
50,000 to 74,9998
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9995
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 154 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.

2019
11
2020
13
2021
17
2022
14
2023
34
2024
46
2025
48
2026
23
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
201911
202013
202117
202214
202334
202446
202548
202623

2019: 11; 2020: 13; 2021: 17; 2022: 14; 2023: 34; 2024: 46; 2025: 48; 2026: 23

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 29 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 11268064 · 2019-10-12 (October 12, 2019)

I WAS DRIVING ONE NIGHT ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF MY CAR. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES BUT STILL HIT THE DEER WHICH DAMAGED MY FRONT DRIVERS SIDE FENDER AND LIGHTS. I WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR. I DIDN'T CALL THE AMBULANCE AT THE TIME BECAUSE I HAD TO GO RIGHT BACK TO WORK. AT THE TIME I ALSO DID NOT THINK THAT THE ACCIDENT AFFECTED ME BUT I BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE WHIPLASH FROM SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES THAT IT DID IN FACT DAMAGE MY SPINE. I KEPT GOING TO THE DOCTOR'S AND HOSPITALS TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH M…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268064 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11310756 · 2020-02-22 (February 22, 2020)

WHEN MY PHONE IS PLUGGED INTO THE CHARGER, MY SCREEN WILL GO BLACK ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND UNPLUG MY PHONE AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON FOR THE SCREEN TO COME BACK ON. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE MY BRAKES LOCK UP ON ME, AND I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN, AND I HAVE EVEN HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM IN MOTION DRIVING AND GO TO STOP. THE RADIO SCREEN THOUGH HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHETHER I AM DRIVING OR IN PARK.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11310756 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11312045 · 2020-02-28 (February 28, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,800.

Owner-reported narrative. 74,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11312045 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11479201 · 2022-08-14 (August 14, 2022)

The skid plate under the vehicle has two pieces. The main larger piece and a small piece that comes off to change the oil. The screws used to hold up the smaller part of the skid plate tend to puncture the oil pan because one of the screws holding the skid plate is directly underneath the oil pan. If people are unaware of the oil being gone it can seize the motor and stall the vehicle. After researching and looking at different forums, this is a common issue that takes place.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479201 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11363214 · 2020-10-07 (October 7, 2020)

PARKED. STARTED CAR & ALL DASH LIGHTS LIT UP. TRIED RESTARTING NO CHANGE. WHEN BACKING UP THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. TURNED OFF IGNITION, PUMPED GAS PEDAL 3 TIMES, RESTARTED & IT SEEMED TO FIX PROBLEM. TOOK CAR IN FOR ELECTRICAL RECALL 1 WEEK LATER & WAS TOLD THIS MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. 2 WEEKS LATER IT OCCURRED AGAIN. SAME SOLUTION USED WITH SUCCESS.

Owner-reported narrative. 34,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363214 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11415708 · 2021-05-09 (May 9, 2021)

I'VE HAD THIS CAR GOING ON THREE YEARS SOMETIMES NOT ALL THE TIME I WILL GO TO START IT AND IT WILL BARELY START SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WHEN I GOT MY OIL CHANGE AND THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY BUT THEY'RE SAYING THE BATTERY IS GOOD AND THE STARTING SYSTEM THE CAR WILL JUST BE SITTING IN MY GARAGE AND I TRY TO START IT IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BARELY STARTING AND THEN THE NEXT TIME I STARTED IT'S FINE

Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415708 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11458448 · 2022-03-26 (March 26, 2022)

We own 2 2019 Kia optimas, one my 20yr old daughter drives. On her way to school she smelled a burning smell. On her way home at a dangerous intersection she smelled a strong burning smell & the car just stopped. I told her to get out of the car quickly, she had to climb to the right side as it was too unsafe to exit from the left. Thankfully she wasn’t on a 55 mile/hr road bc it just stopped abruptly & surely would have been hit as brake lights would not have warned. The car was towed to the dealership where it was purchased & under warranty o…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11458448 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11556499 · 2023-11-22 (November 22, 2023)

The morning of 9/26/2023 as I was driving on the freeway road and I experienced an intermittent reduction in engine power and had to pull over on the side of the freeway road. This was a very traumatizing experience and I was very lucky that I was not hit while awaiting to be towed. After my mechanic inspected my vehicle we received error code P1233 and advised me to call the dealership as this is something covered under an extended warranty. I scheduled an appointment for 9/27/2023 however, I dropped my car off on 9/26/2023 since I was able …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11556499 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11373422 · 2020-11-06 (November 6, 2020)

WAS DRIVING ON I 95 WHEN THE VEHICLE PULLED ME INTO THE MEDIAN TOTALING MY CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO APPLY BRAKES AND UNABLE TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11373422 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11186816 · 2019-03-14 (March 14, 2019)

I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS. IT CURRENTLY HAS 1600 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING STUDDERING AND SHAKING. HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT ON 3/15. EVEN HAVE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE INVOLVED.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11186816 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11481102 · 2022-08-25 (August 25, 2022)

Double clutch failure replacement twice in 3 years Transmission being replaced My son has same model and year of car and has had double clutch replaced once. Beat friend also owns same year and model Kia with same double clutch issue Transmission fails to engage from stopped position to starting off from dead start. Car begins to shake and shutter and the transmission kicks in When parked downhill, car will not engage into reverse and lunges forward. Serious problems with this models double clutch transmission. Internet search rev…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11481102 at NHTSA ↗