NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 209 owner complaints for the 2019 Kia Optima (including the hybrid).
1Safety recalls
209Owner complaints
20Complaints citing a crash
6Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: forward collision avoidance. Most-reported area: engine (90 complaints, 43%; median mileage when it happened: 65,000). Includes the Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. Kia replaced the Optima with the K5 for 2021.
1 safety recall for the 2019 Kia Optima
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
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.
The fix and full notice
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.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.
NHTSA listing: OPTIMA. Kia campaign SC179.
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.
What owners report
The areas named in the 209 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Optima. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Engine90 · 43%
Median 65,000 miles at failure (17 reports)
Forward collision avoidance36 · 17%
Most named: warnings (30); automatic emergency braking (10)
Electrical system23 · 11%
Brakes20 · 10%
Powertrain17 · 8%
Fuel and propulsion system16 · 8%
Body structure14 · 7%
Most named: body (14)
Unknown or other42 · 20%
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 2019 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 2016 Optima drew the most (53) and the 2019 drew 41.
Owner complaints
2019: 209 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Complaints
2016
758
2017
304
2018
243
2019
209
2020
148
Safety recalls
2019: 1 recallTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Kia Optima
Model year
Recalls
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.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Kia Optima 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 9.8%
Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk 9.8%
Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Questions
What are the most common 2019 Optima problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: engine (90), forward collision avoidance (36), electrical system (23). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2019 Kia Optima safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2019 Kia Optima earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
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 Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: OPTIMA, OPTIMA PHEV.
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.