Wednesday, September 23, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2018 Chevrolet Impala vs 2018 Kia Optima

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2018 Chevrolet Impala2018 Kia Optima
NHTSA complaints59232
Recall campaigns12
Service bulletins (TSBs)881155
Investigations02
Crash reports610
Fire reports010
NCAP overall rating5/55/5
EPA MPG (combined)22–2525–42
Median reported incident mileage45,365 mi45,663 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentChevrolet ImpalaKia Optima
Engine7131
Electrical System1133
Power Train1118
Service Brakes717
Steering712
Exterior Lighting414
Air Bags69
Fuel/propulsion System213

Symptoms owners describe

Oil consumption045
Check engine light027
Stalling026
Vibration / shaking019
Loss of power014
Misfire / rough idle011
Hesitation / surging07
Clunking / rattling06

Compare all Chevrolet Impala vs Kia Optima 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.