2018 KIA Optima Hybrid Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Optima Hybrid years
- Not enough data 8th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KIA Optima Hybrid. That ranks 8th out of 10 Optima Hybrid model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 100%), typically at around 100,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 3owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 KIA Optima Hybrid problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 100% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 33% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 KIA Optima Hybrid recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
Engine
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC218.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Engine Fires (EA21003) — opened Dec 22, 2021, closed Feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V877.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the message "Turn Engine Off Immediately" was displayed, and the vehicle decelerated to 35 MPH and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed…
While driving down the road the car said it had a major voltage failure and was shutting down. I was in the middle of the street and thankfully was able to coast to the turn lane before the car came to a total stop. since the gas pedal didn't do anything. the car then said there was multiple…
I brought the vehicle into Kia service for the recall including a computer operating system upgrade. After the recall work was done the car driving at high highway speeds failed, and immediately slowed down, almost causing a rear collision. The computer system turned off the drive mechanism and I…
Other KIA Optima Hybrid years
← 2017 Optima Hybrid · 2019 Optima Hybrid →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima Hybrid | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 Optima Hybrid | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 | 2 |
| 2017 Optima Hybrid | 26 | 2 |
| 2016 Optima Hybrid | 4 | 0 |
| 2015 Optima Hybrid | 12 | 0 |
| 2014 Optima Hybrid | 31 | 0 |
| 2013 Optima Hybrid | 55 | 2 |
| 2012 Optima Hybrid | 109 | 3 |
| 2011 Optima Hybrid | 34 | 3 |
See all KIA Optima Hybrid problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 KIA Optima Hybrid?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 KIA Optima Hybrid?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 KIA Optima Hybrid a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Optima Hybrid model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.