Recall campaigns by affected system, 2016–2024.
23V594000NHTSA report received August 2023Model years: 2016–2018
NHTSA campaign 23V594000: Kia Optima latches/locks/linkages recall
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge.
19V539000NHTSA report received July 2019Model years: 2019
NHTSA campaign 19V539000: Kia Optima forward collision avoidance recall
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.
Consequence: Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge.
18V907000NHTSA report received December 2018Model years: 2016–2017
NHTSA campaign 18V907000: Kia Optima fuel system recall
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge.
18V161000NHTSA report received March 2018Model years: 2017–2018
NHTSA campaign 18V161000: Kia Optima hybrid propulsion system recall
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Consequence: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge.
17V007000NHTSA report received January 2017Model years: 2016
NHTSA campaign 17V007000: Kia Optima air bags recall
Kia Motors America (Kia) has recalled one 2016 Optima vehicle. In this vehicle, the end seal for the driver's frontal air bag inflator may not have been properly installed, possibly resulting in reduced inflation of the frontal air bag in the event of a crash.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate fully increases the risk of injury.
Status per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): The affected vehicle was remedied on January 10, 2017.
16V705000NHTSA report received October 2016Model years: 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V705000: Kia Optima power train recall
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 13, 2015, to April 23, 2016 and equipped with a 2.4l engine. The right front axle driveshaft may crack and fail.
Consequence: If the driveshaft cracks and separates from the vehicle, it will not be able to move forward. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied upon exiting the vehicle, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle driveshaft, free of charge.
16V231000NHTSA report received April 2016Model years: 2016
NHTSA campaign 16V231000: Kia Optima air bags recall
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2016 Kia Optima vehicles manufactured November 10, 2015, to February 12, 2016. In these vehicles, a chemical enhancer required for the for the second stage deployment of the driver's frontal air bag was not loaded, resulting in the second stage not deploying in necessitating crashes.
Consequence: If the second stage air bag does not deploy it increases the risk of injury or death.
Remedy per NHTSA (as of 2026-08-27): Kia will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge.
The same full inspection at every tier, at the seller’s location, with a photo-documented report:
Other midsize sedans to weigh against the Kia Optima. Recall counts cover different model-year spans and are not a reliability ranking.
How many recalls does the Kia Optima have?
As of NHTSA records retrieved 2026-08-27, NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the Kia Optima, model years 2016–2024. A recall applies to specific VIN ranges, variants, trims or build dates, so a particular vehicle may be affected by all, some, or none of them, and a campaign count is not a reliability ranking. Whether an open recall is a safety risk depends on the campaign, so read the NHTSA entry for the VIN. Each campaign below shows the remedy NHTSA records, which may be a dealer or service-center repair, an over-the-air software update, or, for some campaigns, a repurchase. This page details the most recent campaigns; the full record for any VIN is at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should an inspector check on a used Kia Optima?
Beyond the standard pre-purchase checks, the recall history for this model concentrates in: air bags, fuel system, power train, latches/locks/linkages, hybrid propulsion system, forward collision avoidance. An inspector documents the visible and operational condition of those systems without disassembly; internal parts, software-only issues and whether a recall remedy was performed are VIN-lookup questions, not inspection findings.
Can a pre-purchase inspection tell me whether a Kia Optima recall was done?
No. Whether a recall repair was performed is recorded against the VIN, so NHTSA's lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls (or the manufacturer's own) is the authoritative check. Run it before you travel. The inspection covers what a VIN lookup cannot: the physical condition of the vehicle in front of you.
Can you inspect a Kia Optima at a dealer, a private seller, or out of state?
Yes. The inspector usually travels to the vehicle at the seller's location — a dealer lot or a private seller — and you do not need to be there. Vehicle Inspectors dispatches an independent inspector within 50 miles of any US ZIP code, widening to 150 miles if needed; more remote locations are quoted case by case. You get a photo-documented PDF report in 24–48 hours.
How much does a Kia Optima pre-purchase inspection cost?
A pre-purchase inspection of a Kia Optima through Vehicle Inspectors: Bronze $249 · Silver $349 · Gold $449. Your card is saved at booking, not charged. A hold is placed when an inspector schedules, and you are charged after the inspection is completed. If no inspector accepts within 72 hours, the request auto-cancels and nothing is charged.
Vehicle Inspectors matches buyers with independent inspectors nationwide. Local pages for cities with active inspectors:
