2018 KIA Optima Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Optima years
- More complaints than other years 8th of 20 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 232 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 KIA Optima. That ranks 8th out of 20 Optima model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (131 complaints, 56%), typically at around 69,000 miles. Complaints mention 10 crashes, 10 fires, 9 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 232owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 10complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 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 | 131 | 56% | 69,000 | “oil consumption” (20%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 37 | 16% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 33 | 14% | 39,463 | — | — |
| Power Train | 18 | 8% | 26,475 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 7% | 29,913 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 6% | 98,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 6% | 32,663 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 6% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 12 | 5% | 42,100 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 4% | 22,500 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 9 | 4% | 46,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 7 | 3% | 15,625 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 2% | 32,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 1% | 57,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 0% | 300 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 121,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | 13,151 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 0% | 15,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2018 KIA Optima 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.
Hybrid propulsion system
Problem: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Risk: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.
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.
- 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 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The failure persisted while driving, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure persisted while driving. The vehicle was…
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate and failed to exceed 52 MPH. The vehicle shut off. The contact stated that the engine was running rough while stationary and the vehicle shut off without warning. The…
See attached document for complaint.
I was run off the road by a drunk driver I hit a tree at 35MPH MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID MY SEAT BELT LOCK!!!! I NOW HAVE MULTIPLE INJURIES I HAVE BROKEN BONES ALL THROUGHOUT MY FACE!!!!! A SEVERE CONCUSSION!!!!! Any time I call the the customer care center and try and get information or…
Iâve had my 2018 kia optima for round about two years.I only got this car because they refused to replace my previous engine on my 2015 Kia optima,even though I had a warranty but thatâs another story(Kia on the Blvd).This car have given me problems from the start.Going through oil in less than…
Other KIA Optima years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 151 | 0 |
| 2019 Optima | 212 | 1 |
| 2018 | 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 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.
Similar KIA models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 KIA Optima?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, electrical system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 131 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 KIA Optima?
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 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Optima model years, the 2018 has 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.