2015 KIA Optima Engine Problems
Owners have filed 622 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2015 KIA Optima, 62% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 87,992 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine seized” (11% of reports).
- 622engine complaints
- 87,992median miles at failure
- 9mention a crash
- 6mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $7,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 56%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine seized: mentioned in 66 of 622 complaints (11%)
- Oil changes: mentioned in 36 of 622 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2015 KIA Optima at $7,950, and half of them between $7,150 and $9,450.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2017–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 317 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 622 complaints, 9 mention a crash, 48 a fire, 6 an injury.
KIA Optima engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 102 | 68% | 103,593 |
| 2019 Optima | 92 | 43% | 65,000 |
| 2018 Optima | 131 | 56% | 69,000 |
| 2017 Optima | 164 | 64% | 72,000 |
| 2016 Optima | 426 | 56% | 88,000 |
| 2015 Optima | 622 | 62% | 87,992 |
| 2014 Optima | 284 | 48% | 85,000 |
| 2013 Optima | 613 | 44% | 99,062 |
| 2012 Optima | 398 | 43% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Optima | 256 | 43% | 101,000 |
| 2010 Optima | 9 | 12% | 76,500 |
| 2009 Optima | 14 | 12% | 70,000 |
| 2008 Optima | 19 | 13% | 96,000 |
| 2007 Optima | 16 | 10% | 99,560 |
| 2006 Optima | 7 | 5% | 105,735 |
| 2004 Optima | 3 | 1% | 89,400 |
| 2003 Optima | 2 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Optima | 4 | 4% | 118,049 |
| 2001 Optima | 2 | 1% | 105,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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 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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2015 KIA Optimas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 622 owner complaints about engine for the 2015 KIA Optima (62% of the 1,009 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2015 KIA Optima engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 87,992 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2015 KIA Optima?
Owners report a typical cost of $7,950 (half paid between $7,150 and $9,450), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2015 KIA Optima?
The most frequent phrase is “engine seized”, in 66 of 622 complaints, followed by “oil changes” (36).
Other 2015 KIA Optima problems
- Electrical System problems (135)
- Structure problems (76)
- Steering problems (69)
See all 2015 KIA Optima problems or engine problems across all Optima years.