2018 Kia Optima vs 2020 Kia Optima
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 | 2018 Kia Optima | 2020 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 230 | 137 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 155 | 93 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–42 | 24–42 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 44,163 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 129 | 92 |
| Electrical System | 33 | 12 |
| Power Train | 18 | 25 |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 14 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 13 | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 45 | 32 |
| Check engine light | 27 | 28 |
| Stalling | 26 | 15 |
| Vibration / shaking | 19 | 12 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 22 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 11 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 6 |
2018 Kia Optima
2020 Kia Optima
Compare all Kia Optima 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.