Recalled components: brakes and fuel system. Most-described problem: engine failure or replacement (253 complaints, 25%). Most-reported area: engine (627 complaints, 61%; median mileage when it happened: 86,000).
More complaints than most Optima years
The 2015 drew 81 owner complaints in its first three years, against 53 for a typical Optima year: 1.5 times as many. It is not a year to avoid, which takes at least twice the typical count and at least 50 complaints.
Years to avoid: 2012 and 2013. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Kia campaign SC284.
Brakes
May 10, 2021
antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · control unit/module
Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Kia campaign SC212.
Brakes
Aug 27, 2020
antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · control unit/module
Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles.
The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Components: Engine; Fuel system: delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittings. Kia campaign SC172.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation that names the 2015 Kia Optima, not counting audit queries; it is closed. An investigation means NHTSA is reviewing reports of a problem. It is not a finding that the vehicle has a defect.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.
NHTSA listings: OPTIMA, OPTIMA HYBRID. Component: Air bags (air bag/restraint control module). This investigation names 46 models.
An engineering analysis is a deeper review, usually opened after a preliminary evaluation. NHTSA lists investigations by make, model and model year only, so one can apply to only some versions of a model, such as one engine; its summary says which.
What owners report
Owners have filed 1,021 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Optima. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Problems owners describe
Engine failure or replacement253 · 25%
Median 89,600 miles at failure, from 134 reports with mileage
Stalling or shutting off205 · 20%
Median 90,400 miles at failure, from 119 reports with mileage
Smoke or a burning smell138 · 14%
Median 84,000 miles at failure, from 96 reports with mileage
Check engine light104 · 10%
Median 99,000 miles at failure, from 69 reports with mileage
Loss of power or limp mode103 · 10%
Median 95,700 miles at failure, from 57 reports with mileage
Won't start58 · 6%
Median 88,000 miles at failure, from 35 reports with mileage
Engine knocking, ticking or rattling44 · 4%
Median 100,200 miles at failure, from 24 reports with mileage
Hesitation or slow acceleration40 · 4%
Median 95,700 miles at failure, from 30 reports with mileage
Median 86,000 miles at failure, from 321 reports with mileage
Electrical system140 · 14%
Most named: ignition, anti-theft, immobilizer/proximity, key/sender (4) · Median 78,500 miles at failure, from 59 reports with mileage
Brakes90 · 9%
Median 89,500 miles at failure, from 46 reports with mileage
Body structure77 · 8%
Most named: body (76) · Median 55,700 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Steering71 · 7%
Median 39,000 miles at failure, from 49 reports with mileage
Powertrain50 · 5%
Median 82,400 miles at failure, from 22 reports with mileage
Fuel and propulsion system46 · 5%
Median 90,000 miles at failure, from 20 reports with mileage
Unknown or other140 · 14%
Median 62,000 miles at failure, from 43 reports with mileage
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%. Mileage is shown where at least 15 owners reported it.
Kia Optima recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2015 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2013 Optima drew the most (148) and the 2015 drew 81.
Owner complaints
2015: 1,021 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Complaints
2010
75
2011
627
2012
1,028
2013
1,438
2014
617
2015
1,021
2016
760
2017
305
2018
243
2019
211
2020
148
Safety recalls
2015: 4 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Recalls
2010
1
2011
6
2012
6
2013
10
2014
7
2015
4
2016
5
2017
4
2018
3
2019
1
2020
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 1,021 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Kia Optima, the problems described most are engine failure or replacement (253), stalling or shutting off (205), and smoke or a burning smell (138). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2015 Kia Optima safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2015 Kia Optima earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2015 Kia Optima?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026, lists no open investigations for the 2015 Kia Optima, not counting audit queries. It lists one closed investigation, which closed on Sep 19, 2024.
How do I check if my Optima has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Kia dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Oct 2, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Oct 2, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: OPTIMA, OPTIMA HYBRID.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.