2019 Kia Optima problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (58) · Service Brakes (15) · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings (13)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kia Optima model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
52 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking 2019-07-19 · campaign 19V539000 · 11,423 vehicles
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.
Risk: Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC179.
Service bulletins (130)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-11 · SC367_OWNR · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: owner notification (sc367) - this document is the owner notification advising that kia is conducting an important voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic control module (ecm) to ensure compliance with emissi
Engine 2026-09-10 · SC367_TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin: voluntary emissions service campaign: this bulletin provides information to upgrade the electronic control module ‘ecm’ system software for certain 2019-2020 my optima vehicles manufactured from may 21, 2018, through june 1, 2020, equipped with the 1.6l t-gdi engine to en
Engine 2026-09-10 · SC367_STKR · Emissions
sc367_stkr: voluntary emissions service campaign completion label/sticker
Engine 2026-09-10 · SC367_POC · Emissions
sc367_poc: proof of correction card
Engine 2026-09-09 · SC367_QA · Emissions
voluntary emissions service campaign: question and answer (sc367) – this document is the question and answer guide containing the most frequently asked questions regarding voluntary emissions service campaign sc367.
Engine 2026-09-09 · SC367_DPSM · Service Campaign
voluntary emissions service campaign: dealer parts and service manager memo (sc367) - this document is the announcement to dealer parts and service managers advising that kia is conducting an important voluntary emissions service campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the electronic con
Showing the 6 most recent of 130 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-09 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“car smelled of what seemed like motor oil while driving. parked, saw white smoke, and confirmed an engine fire. i was clearly in life threatening danger, especially with a full tank of gas. fire developed rapidly into a roaring blaze. entire front of car melted. car is currently being investigated by manufacturer and cause is unknown. no warning …”
2026-10-08 · Engine“vehicle shut off while driving at 40mph, engine seized ,will not crank .suspected conecting rod bearing failure under safety recall sc200, i call kia 18003334542 denied recall repair and bearing clearance test stating vehicle is rebuilt title. federal safety recall cannot be denied due to rebuilt title per nhtsa .requesting recall remedy.…”
2026-09-30 · Fuel/Propulsion System“on xxx, towbin kia service (henderson, nv) officially diagnosed my 2019 kia optima (vin: [xxx], mileage: 118,325) with a critical component failure: "low pressure fuel pump is leaking from top hat" (invoice #xxx). despite documenting a severe, volatile raw fuel leak that presents an immediate fire and explosion hazard, the dealership refused to kee…”
2026-09-29 · Engine“the vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of engine power while being driven on the interstate at highway speeds. the vehicle lost the ability to accelerate normally beyond approximately 60 mph, the check engine light began flashing rapidly, and the vehicle entered “limp home mode.” this sudden loss of power occurred in heavy traffic and cre…”
2026-09-24 · Visibility/Wiper“on december 26, 2023, this vehicle received a complete engine assembly replacement at an authorized dealership under a manufacturer warranty repair order. following the engine overhaul, the vehicle developed a severe, raw gasoline smell entering the passenger cabin through the climate control ac vents while sitting at an idle.the vehicle was brough…”
2026-09-23 · Unknown Or Other“my car was parked when my kia optima panoramic sunroof exploded. it was between 8:00-8:30 a.m. friday xxx. it sounded like an explosion. i was sleeping and the explosion woke me up. the sunroof was closed and the car was parked. we r not aware of anything coming in contact with the sunroof. actually the sunroof exploded from inside the car. the br…”
2026-09-08 · Power Train“while driving, my vehicle suddenly began shuddering and shaking. the vehicle lost power and would not accelerate properly. i had to press the brake pedal unusually hard. after parking, the vehicle would not move properly in reverse or drive. i turned the vehicle off and restarted it, and it moved only a short distance before shuddering again and lo…”
2026-08-18 · Engine · 200,000 mi“the contact owns a 2019 kia optima. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. no warning lights were illuminated. the vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the fa…”
2026-07-21 · Engine · 146,000 mi“the contact owns a 2019 kia optima. the contact stated that while driving at various speeds on two occasions, the vehicle lost power with the check engine warning light illuminated. the vehicle was driven over to the side of the road and then towed to the dealer twice; however, the failure was not duplicated on the first visit. during the second vi…”
2026-07-18 · Fuel/Propulsion System“strong smell of gasoline from the rear of the vehicle started around 60,000 miles . car dealership said it’s normal but i don’t smell other cars like this …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.