Monday, September 14, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2018 Kia Optima vs 2018 Lincoln Continental

Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 11, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.

Metric2018 Kia Optima2018 Lincoln Continental
NHTSA complaints23119
Recall campaigns22
Service bulletins (TSBs)155135
Investigations20
Crash reports101
Fire reports100
NCAP overall rating5/55/5
EPA MPG (combined)25–4219–21
Median reported incident mileage45,325 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentKia OptimaLincoln Continental
Engine1300
Electrical System334
Power Train180
Service Brakes170
Exterior Lighting141
Engine and Engine Cooling140
Fuel/propulsion System130
Steering120

Symptoms owners describe

Oil consumption450
Check engine light270
Stalling260
Vibration / shaking190
Loss of power140
Misfire / rough idle110
Hesitation / surging70
Clunking / rattling60

Compare all Kia Optima vs Lincoln Continental 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.