MYRModel Year Report

Kia Optima — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-09-01. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016, 2011, 2014 · Best bets: 2010, 2002, 2009, 2003, 2020, 2001

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Kia Optima Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2020 highlighted. 2001: 143 complaints 2001 2002: 107 complaints 2003: 141 complaints 2004: 225 complaints 2004 2005: 144 complaints 2006: 155 complaints 2007: 166 complaints 2007 2008: 143 complaints 2009: 116 complaints 2010: 75 complaints 2010 2011: 592 complaints 2012: 919 complaints 2013: 1379 complaints 2013 2014: 583 complaints 2015: 1006 complaints 2016: 754 complaints 2016 2017: 255 complaints 2018: 231 complaints 2019: 205 complaints 2019 2020: 142 complaints 2020
2020: 142 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
2001143
2002107
2003141
2004225
2005144
2006155
2007166
2008143
2009116
201075
2011592
2012919
20131379
2014583
20151006
2016754
2017255
2018231
2019205
2020142

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2020 Recommended 142 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 Recommended 205 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 Caution 231 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2017 Caution 255 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 Avoid 754 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2015 Avoid 1006 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2014 Avoid 583 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2013 Avoid 1379 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2012 Avoid 919 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 Avoid 592 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2010 Recommended 75 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 Recommended 116 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 Recommended 143 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 166 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2006 Recommended 155 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2005 Recommended 144 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2004 Caution 225 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 Recommended 141 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2002 Recommended 107 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 Recommended 143 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.