YearToAvoid

2009 Kia Optima Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA has 33 owner complaints about transmission problems in the 2009 Kia Optima, 28% of all 116 complaints for this model year. That is #5 highest transmission complaint count among 16 Optima model years. These complaints report 1 fire and 1 injury. Median mileage at failure: 62,000 miles.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
33
28% of 116
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
62,000 mi
Related recalls
0

When 2009 Kia Optima transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 18, 2010, latest Mar 28, 2021.

2009 Kia Optima transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2010Dec 2011Feb 2013Sep 2014Mar 2015Feb 2016Feb 2020
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2010 to Mar 2021; peak Jan 2013 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2009 Kia Optima

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Optima model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20053 (2%)
  2. 200614 (9%)
  3. 200713 (8%)
  4. 200818 (13%)
  5. 200933 (28%)
  6. 201024 (32%)
  7. 201125 (4%)
  8. 201254 (6%)
  9. 201364 (5%)
  10. 201420 (3%)
  11. 201549 (5%)
  12. 201673 (10%)
  13. 201721 (8%)
  14. 201818 (8%)
  15. 201917 (8%)
  16. 202027 (18%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2009 Kia Optima have transmission problems?
NHTSA has 33 owner complaints about the transmission in the 2009 Kia Optima, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Median mileage at failure is 62,000 miles.
Which Kia Optima year has the most transmission complaints?
The 2016 Kia Optima has the most transmission complaints (73), compared with 33 for the 2009.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2009 Kia Optima?
No NHTSA recall campaign for the 2009 Kia Optima is classified under transmission & powertrain. Complaints alone do not trigger a recall; check the full recall list and your VIN.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.