Problems · NHTSA complaints

2007 Kia Optima problems

Owners filed 167 complaints about the 2007 Kia Optima with NHTSA between Sep 2007 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (65).

Complaints
167
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags65
  2. Exterior lighting27
  3. Visibility/wiper20
  4. Engine16
  5. Electrical system14
  6. Power train13
  7. Visibility13
  8. Vehicle speed control5
  9. Service brakes5
  10. Equipment5
  11. Structure4
  12. Engine and engine cooling4
  13. Seat belts3
  14. Suspension3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20075
20086
200911
201021
201111
201213
201318
201419
201514
201619
20176
20186
20195
20205
20211
20221
20233
20241
20251
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

65 reports6 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2007 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving, the airbag warning light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 12V014000 (Air Bags); however, the contact stated that the vehicle experienced failure described in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 82,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2026Air bagsODI 11760054

Exterior lighting

27 reports
“My headlights are preventing me from passing motor vehicle inspection low beam are on doesn't look like their on so I have to drive with high beams and with that no one flashes me. Because all four are on but u can't tell if the low ones on it looks like I just have my parking lights on.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 8, 2024Exterior lightingODI 11618621

Visibility/wiper

20 reports
“MY LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAVE NO VISIBILITY AND I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE USED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IT COSTS $400 FOR BOTH SIDES THAT I DONT HAVE I REPLACED MY LOW AND HIGH BEAM BULBS THE HIGH BEAMS WORK JUST FINE BUT AS I WAS DOING RESEARCH A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL HAVE THE SAME REOCCURRING PROBLEM I SEEN WHERE THEY HAVE RECALLED 2011 AND UP FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT I GUESS DECIDED TO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE OLDER MODELS I CAN UNDERSTAND THAT BUT THAT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK AND MY DAUGHTERS NOW IT IS GETTING DARKER EARLIER AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO DRIVE AROUND WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 3, 2020Exterior lighting, Air bags, Visibility/wiperODI 11372805

Engine

16 reports1 crash5 fires
“After adding oil..Car stopped while driving…Smoke and Fire occurred.. Now engine will not start.. 2 Mechanics Stated “Engine needs to Be Replaced”… A/C Front Blower Doesn’t Work Console Has a Short and Doesn’t Work”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2025EngineFire reportedODI 11677745

Electrical system

14 reports1 crash
“VEHICLE BURNS OUT BLINKER BULBS AND HEADLIGHTS AT AN EXTREMELY ACCELERATED RATE: ONE A MONTH. ADDITIONALLY, THE WIRING HARNESS IS HEATED TO THE POINT OF BEING MELTED. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A VOLTAGE REGULATION OR GROUND ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 5, 2020Electrical systemODI 11307308

Power train

13 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“My vehicle speed up and slow down all that itself. It will not maintain speed even with my foot steady on the gas. It will not accelerate, but the major problem is my seatbelt gets stuck all the time I’m afraid to get buckled. I am unable to remove my seatbelt multiple times so now I have buckled my seatbelt behind me so I can start getting tickets. I’ve gotten like four tickets because I’m scared to be buckled that it’s not gonna come on down when I need it to be I’ve got 40 bought tickets. I was going about 20 mph when I went to the brakes for my vehicle accelerated by itself crashing into a pillar at the mall. I did call the police.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2023Power train, Seat belts, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11549529
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.