Kia Optima years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 20 model years of the Kia Optima by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2013, 2015, 2016, 2012, 2014 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 151 | 22 | 1.0 | 0 | 6 | Typical |
| 2019 | 212 | 27 | 1.2 | 1 | 20 | Typical |
| 2018 | 233 | 26 | 1.2 | 2 | 10 | Typical |
| 2017 | 257 | 26 | 1.2 | 3 | 4 | Typical |
| 2016 | 760 | 69 | 3.2 | 5 | 27 | Most complaints |
| 2015 | 1,011 | 84 | 3.9 | 4 | 31 | Most complaints |
| 2014 | 591 | 45 | 2.1 | 7 | 20 | Most complaints |
| 2013 | 1,387 | 99 | 4.6 | 9 | 48 | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 920 | 61 | 2.8 | 5 | 25 | Most complaints |
| 2011 | 594 | 37 | 1.7 | 5 | 23 | Typical |
| 2010 | 75 | 4 | 0.2 | 1 | 7 | Fewest complaints |
| 2009 | 116 | 6 | 0.3 | 1 | 5 | Fewest complaints |
| 2008 | 144 | 8 | 0.4 | 3 | 20 | Fewest complaints |
| 2007 | 167 | 8 | 0.4 | 2 | 11 | Fewest complaints |
| 2006 | 155 | 7 | 0.3 | 2 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2005 | 144 | 7 | 0.3 | 0 | 7 | Fewest complaints |
| 2004 | 225 | 10 | 0.5 | 1 | 8 | Fewest complaints |
| 2003 | 144 | 6 | 0.3 | 2 | 8 | Fewest complaints |
| 2002 | 110 | 4 | 0.2 | 3 | 16 | Fewest complaints |
| 2001 | 143 | 6 | 0.3 | 3 | 15 | Fewest complaints |
- 2020151 complaints · 0 recallsTypical
- 2019212 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 2018233 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 2017257 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2016760 complaints · 5 recallsMost complaints
- 20151,011 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2014591 complaints · 7 recallsMost complaints
- 20131,387 complaints · 9 recallsMost complaints
- 2012920 complaints · 5 recallsMost complaints
- 2011594 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 201075 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 2009116 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 2008144 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 2007167 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 2006155 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 2005144 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 2004225 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 2003144 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 2002110 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 2001143 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
Fewest complaints for their age: 2002, 2010, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2007, 2004.
About this comparison
What Kia Optima years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2012, 2014 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 20 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.