Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2018 KIA Optima

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

2
Open recalls
223
NHTSA complaints
2
Defect investigations
154
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

223 filed
9
Crashes
10
Fires
8
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Engine
    127
  • Unknown OR Other
    36
  • Electrical System
    31
  • Power Train
    18
  • Service Brakes
    16
  • Exterior Lighting
    13
  • FUEL/PROPULSION System
    13
  • Steering
    12

Recalls

2 campaigns
23V594000·LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH2023-08-24

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."

RiskA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

FixDealers 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.

18V161000·HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM2018-03-08

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.

RiskIf 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.

FixKia 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.

NHTSA investigations

2 actions
DP22003·ENGINE2022-09-12 → 2023-12-12

Loss of Motive Power

EA19001·AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE2019-04-19 → 2024-09-19

Electrical overstress

Led to recall20V024

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