The 2019 Kia Optima's elevated safety profile includes 1 recall campaigns and 193 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

193

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

19V5390002019-19-07

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

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.

Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2019 Kia Optima has accumulated 193 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with engine leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Engine47

02Unknown Or Other19

03Air Bags10

04Forward Collision Avoidance10

05Structure9

193 total across 1 model years (2019–2019)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Kia Optima Fuel Economy

24–41mpg combined

21-39city

30-45hwy

$1,050-$1,800/yr

With 6 configurations tested, the 2019 Kia Optima ranges from 24 to 41 MPG combined. That's a 17 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Optima Hybrid - Automatic (AM6)

41mpg

2.0L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

39 city45 hwy~$1,050/yr9/10 Clean

Optima Plug-in Hybrid - Automatic (AM6)

40mpg

2.0L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

38 city43 hwy~$1,100/yr10/10 Clean

Optima - Automatic (AM7)

31mpg

1.6L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

27 city37 hwy~$1,400/yr7/10 Clean

Optima FE - Automatic (S6)

29mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

25 city35 hwy~$1,500/yr6/10 Average

Optima - Automatic (S6)

27mpg

2.4L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

24 city33 hwy~$1,600/yr6/10 Average

Optima - Automatic (S6)

24mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

21 city30 hwy~$1,800/yr5/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2019 Kia Optima

37States

29%in top 3

If you're near Florida, you're in luck: 12% of listings are there. But with 37 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

FLFlorida

17412%

TXTexas

1188%

CACalifornia

1078%

GAGeorgia

675%

NCNorth Carolina

665%

AZArizona

594%

PAPennsylvania

574%

OHOhio

534%

MOMissouri

504%

ILIllinois

483%

DCWashington DC

423%

NYNew York

353%

MIMichigan

353%

DEDelaware

332%

NJNew Jersey

332%

UTUtah

302%

INIndiana

282%

WAWashington

282%

MDMaryland

262%

OR26

TN24

MN22

OK22

VA20

CO15

ID14

RI14

NV14

AL13

SC12

KY12

NE11

NH11

KS11

NM9

MA8

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2019.

Buying a 2019 Kia Optima?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 2019 Kia Optima a good car to buy?

The 2019 Kia Optima has 1 recall on record. There is 1 recall on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is engine, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2019 Kia Optima?

There are 1 documented recall for the 2019 Kia Optima. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 2019 Kia Optima?

Fuel economy ranges from 24 to 41 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $907 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2019 Kia Optima?

ENGINE is the number-one complaint area for the 2019 Kia Optima, based on 193 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.