2018 Kia Optima

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Engine

Engine leads by volume: 150 of 243 complaints (62%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (7) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 304 in 2017 to 243 in 2018.

Data last changed Sep 16, 2026. Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2018: 2 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	vs. 2018 Large Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	1,700–2,500	1,500–2,500	1,500–2,500	1,500–2,600	1,500–2,600
Combined MPG	25–37	25–42	25–42	24–41	24–42
City / Highway MPG	22–35 / 31–38	22–39 / 31–46	22–39 / 31–46	21–39 / 30–45	21–40 / 30–45
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	242–360	212–360	212–360	215–371	213–371
Complaints filed	758	304	243	207	146	Not compared
Recalls issued	5	4	3	1	0	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	27	6	10	20	6	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	20	12	10	6	2	Not compared
Injuries reported	21	8	9	16	4	Not compared
Deaths reported	1	0	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	5	4	5	4	4

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Kia Optima have?

3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Kia Optima?

Engine: 150 of 243 NHTSA complaints (62%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Kia Optima get?

EPA rates it 25–42 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Kia Optima?

EPA estimates $1,500–$2,500 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (7)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Automatic (S6)	4	2.0L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Large Cars	22 mpg (low)	31 mpg (low)	25 mpg (low)	$2,500 (high)	360 g/mi (high)
Configuration 2	Automatic (S6)	4	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Large Cars	24 mpg	34 mpg	28 mpg	$2,250	321 g/mi
Configuration 3	Automatic (S6)	4	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Large Cars	25 mpg	36 mpg	29 mpg	$2,150	310 g/mi
Configuration 4	Automatic (AM7)	4	1.6L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Large Cars	28 mpg	37 mpg	31 mpg	$2,000	286 g/mi
Configuration 5	Automatic (AM6)	4	2.0L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	39 mpg (high)	46 mpg (high)	42 mpg (high)	$1,500 (low)	212 g/mi (low)
Configuration 6	Automatic (AM6)	4	2.0L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular Gas and Electricity	Midsize Cars	38 mpg	43 mpg	40 mpg	$1,550	97 g/mi
Configuration 7	Automatic (S6)	4	2.4L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Large Cars	23 mpg	32 mpg	26 mpg	$2,400	340 g/mi

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	150	1	9	0
Transmission & Drivetrain	20	1	1	2
Fuel System	14	0	0	0
Electrical	37	0	2	0
Brakes	19	2	0	1
Steering	13	0	0	0
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	3	0	0	0
Airbags & Restraints	12	7	1	7
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	14	0	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	8	1	0	1
Visibility & Lighting	16	0	1	0
Other	41	0	3	0

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (3)

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH · Campaign 23V594000 · Aug 25, 2023
Defect: 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: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
ENGINE · Campaign 21V844000 · Nov 1, 2021
Defect: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.
Consequence: A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC218.
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM · Campaign 18V161000 · Mar 12, 2018
Defect: 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: 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. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.