2020 Kia OPTIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 97 of 144 complaints (67.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 16 | 11.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 7.6% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 4.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.1% |
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 | 97 |
| Power Train | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
Engine: 97; Power Train: 26; Unknown Or Other: 16; Electrical System: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Air Bags: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Service Brakes: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 117 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 18 |
| 2024 | 25 |
| 2025 | 50 |
| 2026 | 27 |
2019: 1; 2020: 5; 2021: 5; 2022: 13; 2023: 18; 2024: 25; 2025: 50; 2026: 27
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 16 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11286741 · 2019-12-03 (December 3, 2019)
THERE IS A VERY LIMITED AND INADEQUATE SPACE BETWEEN THE THE BOTTOM OF THE DASHBOARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH CAN IMPEDE A DRIVER FROM MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP.THE SAME LACK OF SPACE BETWEEN THE DASHBOARD AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL.NOTHING HAPPENED IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11286741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11298277 · 2020-01-09 (January 9, 2020)
THE FCW FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM SEEMS TO NOT GET ACTIVATED UNDER ANY CIRCUSNSTANCES. I HAVE CHANGED THE SENSITIVITY OF THE SYSTEM TO ALL LEVELS AND IT NEVER SEEMS TO DETECT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. IT NEVER WARNS YOU OF AN INMINENT COLLISION. THE CAR IS ALWAYS IN MOTION WHEN I TRIED THE SYSTEM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11298277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11337484 · 2020-07-04 (July 4, 2020)
THE FCW FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM SEEMS TO NOT GET ACTIVATED UNDER ANY CIRCUSNSTANCES. I HAVE CHANGED THE SENSITIVITY OF THE SYSTEM TO ALL LEVELS AND IT NEVER SEEMS TO DETECT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. IT NEVER WARNS YOU OF AN COLLISION.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11337484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11353811 · 2020-09-08 (September 8, 2020)
I OWN A 2020 KIA OPTIMA (MY SECOND ONE IN LESS THAN A YEAR). THREE WEEKS AGO, I APPLIED MY BRAKES BEFORE ENTERING A CURVE. IN THE PROCESS, I HIT A BUMP (NOT A POT HOLE) IN THE ROAD'S AND MY BRAKES DISENGAGED AND I THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE THE BRAKE WERE GOING TO ENGAGE IN TIME FOR ME MISS A HIT ON COLLUSION. THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN, YESTERDAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH A KIA OPTIMA. IN MY 2016, THE SAME THING WAS OCCURRING. THE SERVICE SHOP REPLACE A ROD OR S…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374574 · 2020-11-13 (November 13, 2020)
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT
Owner-reported narrative. 21,148 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11378067 · 2020-12-06 (December 6, 2020)
MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN A FORD 150 PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. FORWARD COLLISION WORKED & SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO 35MPH. I HIT THE TRUCK DOING SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHAT SO EVER.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,297 miles reported. Look up ODI 11378067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413990 · 2021-04-26 (April 26, 2021)
FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN FEELING A LEFT TO RIGHT MOVEMENT AT TIMES WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SO AFTER FURTHER CHECKING I NOTICED IT MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN MOVED BY HAND MY CAR ONLY HAS 36128 MILES SO WHY IS THIS COMING LOOSE ALREADY?
Owner-reported narrative. 38,118 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11414072 · 2021-04-27 (April 27, 2021)
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL IF THE SHOE SIZE IS US10+. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE KNEE AIRBAG MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414072 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.