Problems · NHTSA complaints

2019 Kia Optima problems

Owners filed 212 complaints about the 2019 Kia Optima with NHTSA between Mar 2019 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (92).

Complaints
212
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
20
Reported by owners
Fires
7
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine92
  2. Forward collision avoidance36
  3. Electrical system23
  4. Service brakes18
  5. Fuel/propulsion system17
  6. Power train17
  7. Structure14
  8. Air bags12
  9. Vehicle speed control10
  10. Lane departure7
  11. Steering6
  12. Engine and engine cooling3
  13. Wheels3
  14. Electronic stability control (esc)3

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 28, 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
201911
202013
202117
202214
202334
202446
202548
202629

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

Engine

92 reports6 fires
“Car smelled of what seemed like motor oil while driving. Parked, saw white smoke, and confirmed an engine fire. I was clearly in life threatening danger, especially with a full tank of gas. Fire developed rapidly into a roaring blaze. Entire front of car melted. Car is currently being investigated by manufacturer and cause is unknown. No warning lamps illuminated.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2026Unknown or other, EngineFire reportedODI 11770217

Forward collision avoidance

36 reports8 crashes1 related recall
“Unknown was just driving to go to my husband to work and it came on when I was coming back home and when I went to pick my husband up from work and was stopped at a stop sign the lights came back on”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 15, 2026Unknown or other, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11750563

Electrical system

23 reports3 fires
“While driving, my vehicle suddenly began shuddering and shaking. The vehicle lost power and would not accelerate properly. I had to press the brake pedal unusually hard. After parking, the vehicle would not move properly in reverse or drive. I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, and it moved only a short distance before shuddering again and losing power. The engine was making a loud buzzing or scooter-like sound. The vehicle became undrivable and had to be parked. I am concerned about a potential safety defect involving sudden loss of power while driving.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2026Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11762756

Service brakes

18 reports5 crashes
“I just recently purchased my 2019 Kia optima sx turbo. After purchase, I immediately began experiencing issues with the braking system and the forward collision warning light coming on. The cruise control stopped working as well. I googled and saw that there was a recall on the forward collision warning system but the local Kia dealership to me says there is not one. I almost had a head on collision in this car with my granddaughter coming from daycare as I completely lost brakes. I have put so much money into purchasing this car believing it to be a good car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2025Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11699647

Fuel/propulsion system

17 reports1 fire
“On XXX, Towbin Kia Service (Henderson, NV) officially diagnosed my 2019 Kia Optima (VIN: [XXX], Mileage: 118,325) with a critical component failure: "LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FROM TOP HAT" (Invoice #XXX). Despite documenting a severe, volatile raw fuel leak that presents an immediate fire and explosion hazard, the dealership refused to keep the vehicle. They explicitly released this active safety hazard back to me. The service department even arranged a third-party Lyft ride to transport my children and me to the dealership to pick up the leaking car and force us to drive it home. The vehicle is currently parked outside my residence, actively leaking raw fuel and filling the cabin with toxic gas fumes. It is entirely un-driveable and a public safety threat. Kia Corporate must immediately bypass standard dealership timelines, authorize a flatbed tow to retrieve this fire hazard, and directly provide an emergency corporate rental vehicle line (Enterprise/Hertz) for my family's safety today.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 30, 2026Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11768086

Power train

17 reports
“I am reporting a recurring safety hazard involving my 2019 Kia Optima following a repair for diagnostic code P064A (Fuel Pump Control Module). Despite the dealership attempting to repair the fuel system, the vehicle remains in a 'limp mode' state. While driving, the vehicle began shaking violently and lost significant power, refusing to accelerate above 50 mph. This creates an immediate safety risk, as the vehicle cannot maintain highway speeds or safely merge, increasing the danger of a rear-end collision. The P064A code and subsequent 'limp mode' symptoms persist even after professional service. I am concerned that the existing Kia warranty extensions (such as WTY028 for the low-pressure fuel pump) or current repair procedures are insufficient to resolve this underlying mechanical/electronic failure, leaving the vehicle unpredictable and hazardous to operate in traffic.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11742841
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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