YearToAvoid

2018 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

30/100

#8 most-complained of 11 Optima years

The 2018 Kia Optima has a Complaint Index of 30 and ranks 8th worst of 11 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Optima years. Engine problems dominate at 63% of complaints, with 2 recalls on file.

Complaints
232
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
10 / 10
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
28.5
24.5 city / 35 hwy

Top 2018 Kia Optima problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine146 (63%)
  2. Electrical System42 (18%)
  3. Other38 (16%)
  4. Brakes19 (8%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain18 (8%)
  6. Fuel System13 (6%)
  7. Steering12 (5%)
  8. Airbags9 (4%)
  9. Structure & Body8 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts5 (2%)

What owners report

  • Engine bay smoke and fire while driving at low speeds, sometimes with no warning lights before flames appeared.
  • Owners report the engine consuming oil quickly without visible leaks, with smoking starting after dealer inspection.
  • Frontal airbags failed to deploy during rear-end and frontal collisions, including one crash where the vehicle was totaled.
  • Brake pedal reportedly failed to stop the vehicle during low-speed parking lot maneuvers.
  • Electrical system complaints describe headlight bulbs repeatedly blowing and bulb connections catching fire.
2018 Kia Optima complaints: complaints filed per quarter232018 Q12019 Q32020 Q42022 Q12023 Q22024 Q32025 Q4
318 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2022 Q3 (23).

2018 Kia Optima recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V594000Aug 24, 2023Structure & Body319,436 vehicles

    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 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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 18V161000Mar 8, 2018Fuel System1,710 vehicles

    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.

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

2018 Kia Optima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,275
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.

2018 compared with other Optima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution70754528
2017Best20255329
2018Good30232228.5
2019Good40208129
2020Best10146029

All Kia Optima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Kia Optima reliable?
Compared with other Optima model years, the 2018 rates "Good," with a Complaint Index of 30 and rank 8 of 11 years (worst-first), well below the 2013 Optima's index of 100.
What is the biggest problem with the 2018 Kia Optima?
Engine issues make up 63% of complaints (146 of 232), including reports of fires and oil consumption, at a median mileage of 71,400 miles.
Does the 2018 Kia Optima have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a trunk latch base that may crack (campaign 23V594000) and one for a Voltage Protection Device issue on Optima hybrid models (campaign 18V161000). Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has logged 232 complaints for the 2018 Optima, including 10 crashes, 10 fires, and 9 injuries, with no reported deaths.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Kia Optima?
EPA rates the 2018 Optima at 28.5 mpg combined (24.5 city / 35 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,275.

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.