Model year

2018 Kia Optima

NHTSA lists 2 recalls and 233 complaints for the 2018 Kia Optima (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). NHTSA also lists 4 recalls and 11 complaints under OPTIMA HYBRID and OPTIMA PHEV. Those counts are separate from the numbers above. The components listed on the most complaints are ENGINE (132), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (38), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (31). NHTSA lists 2 investigations. NHTSA rated 2 variants 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 25–42 mpg combined and 33 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $1,600–$2,700, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.

ABOUT THIS DATA

Recalls

23V594000 · Aug 24, 2023

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH

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…

18V161000 · Mar 8, 2018

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Complaints

233 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 10, fire flag on 10, injury field 9, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.

ENGINE132
UNKNOWN OR OTHER38
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM31
POWER TRAIN19
SERVICE BRAKES17
EXTERIOR LIGHTING13
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM13
STEERING12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10

Other NHTSA names

These names matched the same EPA model but are not included in the headline counts above.

Other matched NHTSA names
Name	Recalls	Complaints
OPTIMA HYBRID	2	3
OPTIMA PHEV	2	8

Investigations

Investigations in the NHTSA file (2). "No close date" means the file has no close date. It is not a statement that the investigation is still active.
Action	Subject	Opened	Closed
EA19001	Electrical overstress · AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE	Apr 19, 2019	Sep 19, 2024
DP22003	Loss of Motive Power · ENGINE	Sep 12, 2022	Dec 12, 2023

Safety ratings

NHTSA 5-star variants matched to this model year (3). Rollover possibility is the API's published figure, shown as recorded.
Variant	Overall	Front	Side	Pole	Rollover	Photo
4 DR FWD	5	5	5	5	5 · possibility 0.098	NHTSA photo
Hybrid 4 DR FWD	5	5	5	5	5 · possibility 0.098	—
Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated	Not Rated · possibility 0	—

Fuel economy

EPA configurations. Electric rows show MPGe in the combined column and kWh/100 mi separately. Annual fuel cost is EPA's published fuelCost08 figure.
Configuration	Fuel	City	Hwy	Comb	kWh/100 mi	Range	Annual fuel cost
Optima · 2L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	22	31	25	—	—	$2,700
Optima · 2.4L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	24	34	28	—	—	$2,400
Optima FE · 2.4L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	25	36	29	—	—	$2,300
Optima · 1.6L · Automatic (AM7) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	28	37	31	—	—	$2,150
Optima Hybrid · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline · Hybrid	39	46	42	—	—	$1,600
Optima Plug-in Hybrid · 2L · Automatic (AM6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline · Plug-in Hybrid	38	43	40	33.0	610	$1,700
Optima S · 2.4L · Automatic (S6) · Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gasoline	23	32	26	—	—	$2,600

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Check a vehicle

This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2018 Kia Optima at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.

All Kia Optima model years