2010 KIA Optima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Optima years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 20th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 KIA Optima. That ranks 20th out of 20 Optima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (24 complaints, 32%), typically at around 73,000 miles. Complaints mention 7 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 75owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 7complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2010 KIA Optima 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 24 | 32% | 73,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 17 | 23% | 63,125 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 13 | 17% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 9 | 12% | 76,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 8% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 5% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | 5% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 4% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 3% | 67,750 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 3% | 99,500 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 3% | 66,825 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 3% | 31,576 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 3% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 1% | 54 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1% | 118,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 1% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | 1,500 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 82,000 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1% | 68,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2010 KIA Optima recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch
Problem: Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
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
- Loss of Motive Power (DP22003) — opened Sep 12, 2022, closed Dec 12, 2023.
- Throttle control system vulnerabilities (DP21003) — opened Nov 12, 2021, closed Jun 20, 2023.
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 engine on my 2010 Kia Optima suddenly seized without warning around 150,000 miles. The vehicle had no knocking sounds or warning signs prior to failure. A mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a seized engine. This created a sudden loss of vehicle operation. I am concerned this may be related to…
1.We were driving and the car just cut off. Not from the lack of fuel but cut off in the middle of traffic. (Available for inspection) 2.The car stopping in traffic running about 65 mph causes the safety of all on the highway. A very dangerous situation. 3. The problem has showed itself numerous…
I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise itâs been parked
Car would not engage into âParkâ while attempting to park car in driveway. Shifter would not engage in any gear. Tried to reset button in center console. Contacted mechanic, he towed to garage. Plastic clip connected to cable broke. Earlier Kiaâs had a recall due to this issue, why not all…
Rod bearing knocking noise. Vehicle stopped running when slowing down. Car is available for inspection. No warning lights come on. The rod bearing can pierce the engine and cause oil to leak and then a fire. Problem first identified by Monroe and then another independent when the car died in front…
Other KIA Optima years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 151 | 0 |
| 2019 Optima | 212 | 1 |
| 2018 Optima | 232 | 2 |
| 2017 Optima | 256 | 3 |
| 2016 Optima | 758 | 5 |
| 2015 Optima | 1,009 | 4 |
| 2014 Optima | 589 | 7 |
| 2013 Optima | 1,386 | 9 |
| 2012 Optima | 920 | 5 |
| 2011 Optima | 594 | 5 |
| 2010 | 75 | 1 |
| 2009 Optima | 116 | 1 |
| 2008 Optima | 144 | 3 |
| 2007 Optima | 167 | 2 |
| 2006 Optima | 155 | 2 |
| 2005 Optima | 144 | 0 |
| 2004 Optima | 225 | 1 |
| 2003 Optima | 141 | 2 |
| 2002 Optima | 107 | 3 |
| 2001 Optima | 143 | 3 |
See all KIA Optima problems by year, every KIA model, or the KIA VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2010 KIA Optima?
Owners most often report power train, air bags, electrical system problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 24 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2010 KIA Optima?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2010 KIA Optima a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Optima model years, the 2010 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.