2020 Kia Optima Recalls and Problems
NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 148 owner complaints for the 2020 Kia Optima (including the hybrid).
Most-reported area: engine (100 complaints, 68%). Includes the Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. Kia replaced the Optima with the K5 for 2021.
0 safety recalls for the 2020 Kia Optima
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2020 Kia Optima in its recall file dated Sep 27, 2026. Recalls can still be issued later, so check your VIN from time to time.
What owners report
The areas named in the 148 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Optima. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Kia Optima recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2020 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 2020 drew 25.
Owner complaints
2020: 148 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| Model year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 758 |
| 2017 | 304 |
| 2018 | 243 |
| 2019 | 209 |
| 2020 | 148 |
Safety recalls
2020: 0 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
| 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% |
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Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD Rollover risk 9.8% |
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Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD |
Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Questions
What are the most common 2020 Optima problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: engine (100), powertrain (28), electrical system (14). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2020 Kia Optima safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 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 HYBRID, 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.