2005 Kia Optima vs 2005 Toyota Prius
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Kia Optima | 2005 Toyota Prius |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 144 | 1,051 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 22 | 222 |
| Investigations | 2 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 102 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–23 | 46 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Toyota Prius |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 346 |
| Electrical System | 29 | 178 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 128 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 109 |
| Service Brakes | 0 | 82 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 64 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 66 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 0 | 68 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 14 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 71 |
| Check engine light | 5 | 17 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 55 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 42 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 15 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 12 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 11 |
2005 Kia Optima
2005 Toyota Prius
Compare all Kia Optima vs Toyota Prius years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.