YearToAvoid

2019 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

40/100

#7 most-complained of 11 Optima years

The 2019 Kia Optima ranks 7th worst out of 11 model years, with a Complaint Index of 40 and a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists 208 complaints, 1 recall, 20 crashes, and 6 fires for this year, with Engine issues being the top problem area at 47% of complaints.

Complaints
208
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
20 / 6
Injuries / deaths
16 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
25 city / 35 hwy

Top 2019 Kia Optima problems

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

  1. Engine97 (47%)
  2. Other42 (20%)
  3. Collision Avoidance & Cameras36 (17%)
  4. Electrical System25 (12%)
  5. Brakes22 (11%)
  6. Fuel System17 (8%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain17 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body16 (8%)
  9. Airbags12 (6%)
  10. Lane Departure7 (3%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in several rear-end and frontal collisions, including deer strikes and being rear-ended on the highway.
  • Owners report the forward collision-avoidance system activating unexpectedly at low speeds, causing the vehicle to stop abruptly and get rear-ended.
  • One owner described the forward collision system triggering warning lights while the engine shut off and steering became unresponsive, leading to a rollover.
  • Brakes reportedly failed to stop the vehicle in low-speed situations, resulting in collisions with stationary objects.
  • An owner reported electrical smoldering linked to the Theta II engine that led to the vehicle being totaled.
  • A forward collision warning light reportedly came on stating the sensor was blocked or damaged shortly before a deer-strike crash at highway speed.
2019 Kia Optima complaints: complaints filed per quarter252019 Q12020 Q12021 Q12022 Q12023 Q22024 Q22025 Q22026 Q2
307 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2019 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q1 (25).

2019 Kia Optima recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V539000Jul 19, 2019Collision Avoidance & Cameras11,423 vehicles

    Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking

    Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.

    Risk: Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC179.

2019 Kia Optima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25 MPG
Highway
35 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,250
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.

2019 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
2017Best20255329
2018Good30232228.5
2019Good40208129
2020Best10146029

All Kia Optima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Kia Optima a good year?
NHTSA data gives the 2019 Optima a Complaint Index of 40 and a "Good" verdict, ranking 7th worst among the 11 model years covered. It has fewer complaints (208) than several earlier Optima years like 2013 (1,383 complaints) or 2015 (1,008 complaints).
Does the 2019 Kia Optima have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2019 Optima, campaign 19V539000, covering a software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system on vehicles with the Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. This is not a do-not-drive recall.
What is the top problem area for the 2019 Kia Optima?
Engine complaints make up 47% of all 2019 Optima complaints (97 of 208), with a median mileage at failure of 65,000 miles. Collision Avoidance & Cameras issues are the second largest category at 17%.
How does the 2019 Optima compare to other Optima years?
The 2019 Optima's Complaint Index of 40 is better than the 2011-2016 model years, which range from 50 to 100, but slightly worse than 2017, 2018, and 2020, which score 20, 30, and 10 respectively.
What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Kia Optima?
EPA rates the 2019 Optima at 29 mpg combined (25 city / 35 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250.

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.