2015 KIA Optima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Optima years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 1,009 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 KIA Optima. That ranks 2nd out of 20 Optima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (622 complaints, 62%), typically at around 87,992 miles. Complaints mention 31 crashes, 74 fires, 23 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 4 defect investigations involving it.
- 1,009owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 4NHTSA investigations
- 31complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2015 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 622 | 62% | 87,992 | “engine seized” (11%) | $7,950 |
| Unknown or Other | 139 | 14% | 61,278 | — | — |
| Electrical System problems | 135 | 13% | 81,250 | “caught fire” (7%) | — |
| Structure problems | 76 | 8% | 56,000 | “white pearl” (24%) | — |
| Steering problems | 69 | 7% | 39,125 | “steering column” (19%) | — |
| Power Train | 49 | 5% | 82,794 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 49 | 5% | 34,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 46 | 5% | 90,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 41 | 4% | 113,500 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 4% | 61,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 3% | 100,795 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 26 | 3% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 2% | 42,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 10 | 1% | 57,400 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 10 | 1% | 126,662 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 9 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 6 | 1% | 29,800 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 1% | 74,810 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 0% | 45,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 3 | 0% | 11,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 3 | 0% | 63,550 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 0% | 62,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 2 | 0% | 85,051 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 0% | 160,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2015 KIA Optima recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Engine; fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
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
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
- 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.
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
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 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the ABS warning light remained illuminated after the vehicle was powered off. The contact stated that the parking brake warning light unexpectedly illuminated while the vehicle was being operated. The…
My energy in my car started messing up with only 150,000 miles it had a long knocking sound and it would not got over 20 miles while driving
My 2015 KIA optima experienced a catastrophic engine fire while I was driving. There was no warning, I just heard a boom in the engine bay the breaks stopped working and all electrical cut out. As I'm coasting, because I'm unable to stop, flames started to come in through under the dash. I couldn't…
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that for over 8 years, the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware that there was an oil leak on the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer…
The engine in my vehicle failed while putting the car into reverse to back into my garage. I thank God I wasn't on the road when this happened. I took the car into a mechanic who confirmed that the engine was locked and that the car was very low on oil(even though I had my oil changed by him a few…
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 | 1,009 | 4 |
| 2014 Optima | 589 | 7 |
| 2013 Optima | 1,386 | 9 |
| 2012 Optima | 920 | 5 |
| 2011 Optima | 594 | 5 |
| 2010 Optima | 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 2015 KIA Optima?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 622 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2015 KIA Optima?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2015 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 2015 has far more complaints than most years, 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.