2015 Kia Optima Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
38/100
#6 most-complained of 9 Optima Hybrid years
The 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid has a complaint index of 38, ranking 6th worst out of 9 model years and earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Optima Hybrid years. It logged 12 complaints, 2 fires, no crashes, and no recalls.
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 36.5
- 35 city / 38 hwy
Top 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System6 (50%)
- Engine5 (42%)
- Steering2 (17%)
- Brakes1 (8%)
- Other1 (8%)
- Structure & Body1 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (8%)
What owners report
- Owners report the engine catching fire and producing smoke from the engine compartment while driving at low speed.
- Some vehicles reportedly caught fire minutes after being parked, without warning, leading to a total loss.
- The steering wheel has been reported to seize or stick around 15 to 35 mph, sometimes accompanied by an electronic stability control warning light.
- Headlights have reportedly flickered and gone out completely while driving, unrelated to fog or high-beam lights.
- Owners describe the vehicle stalling at highway speed with a warning message about a hybrid battery issue, requiring it to be shut off immediately.
- Some owners report the hybrid warning light illuminating with an audible warning to pull over, followed by a complete loss of power while electrical accessories stayed on.
- Engine knocking sounds have been reported at moderate speeds, in one case leading to a dealer diagnosis that the engine needed replacement.
2015 Kia Optima Hybrid recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2015 Kia Optima Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 35 MPG
- Highway
- 38 MPG
- Combined
- 36.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,775
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2015 compared with other Optima Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid reliable?
- Compared to other Optima Hybrid years, 2015 ranks 6th worst out of 9 with a complaint index of 38 and a 'Good' verdict. It has fewer reported problems than the 2011-2014 model years, which carry 'Caution' or 'Avoid' verdicts.
- Does the 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid, compared to 3 recalls each for the 2011 and 2012 model years.
- What problems does the 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid have?
- The top problem area is the Electrical System, accounting for 50% of complaints, followed by Engine issues at 42%. There were 2 reported fires and 0 crashes among the 12 total complaints.
- At what mileage do 2015 Kia Optima Hybrid problems typically occur?
- Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 56,200 miles. Electrical System complaints show a median of 61,200 miles, and Engine complaints show a median of 62,000 miles.
- How does the 2015 Optima Hybrid compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 38, the 2015 model performs better than 2011 (63), 2012 (100), 2013 (88), 2014 (75), and 2017 (50), but worse than 2016 (25) and 2018 (13).