MYRModel Year Report

Kia Optima — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016, 2011, 2014 · Best bets: 2010, 2002, 2009, 2020, 2003, 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: 589 complaints 2012: 916 complaints 2013: 1371 complaints 2013 2014: 576 complaints 2015: 998 complaints 2016: 747 complaints 2016 2017: 252 complaints 2018: 227 complaints 2019: 200 complaints 2019 2020: 136 complaints 2020
2020: 136 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
2001143
2002107
2003141
2004225
2005144
2006155
2007166
2008143
2009116
201075
2011589
2012916
20131371
2014576
2015998
2016747
2017252
2018227
2019200
2020136

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2020 Recommended 136 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 Recommended 200 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2018 Caution 227 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2017 Caution 252 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 Avoid 747 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2015 Avoid 998 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2014 Avoid 576 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2013 Avoid 1371 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2012 Avoid 916 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 Avoid 589 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's complaint volume is within 30% of 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.