2009 Kia Optima vs 2009 Nissan Altima
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 | 2009 Kia Optima | 2009 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 116 | 1,547 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 33 | 117 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 36 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 21–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 65,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 7 | 859 |
| Electrical System | 16 | 466 |
| Power Train | 33 | 95 |
| Engine | 14 | 107 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 91 |
| Structure | 4 | 90 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 49 |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 14 | 34 |
| Shifting problems | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 11 |
| Stalling | 5 | 58 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 483 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 229 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 16 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 13 |
2009 Kia Optima
2009 Nissan Altima
Compare all Kia Optima vs Nissan Altima 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.