The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 111 of 155 complaints (72%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 215 in 2019 to 155 in 2020.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 155
- Recall campaigns
- 0
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,500–$2,600
- Combined MPG
- 24–42
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | vs. 2020 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 1,500–2,500 | 1,500–2,600 | 1,500–2,600 | |
| Combined MPG | 25–42 | 24–41 | 24–42 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 22–39 / 31–46 | 21–39 / 30–45 | 21–40 / 30–45 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 212–360 | 215–371 | 213–371 | |
| Complaints filed | 244 | 215 | 155 | |
| Recalls issued | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 10 | 20 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 10 | 7 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 9 | 16 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 5 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Kia Optima have?
No NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026.
What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Kia Optima?
Engine: 111 of 155 NHTSA complaints (72%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Kia Optima get?
EPA rates it 24–42 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2020 Kia Optima?
EPA estimates $1,500–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 40 mpg (high) | 45 mpg (high) | 42 mpg (high) | $1,500 (low) | 213 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 27 mpg | 37 mpg | 31 mpg | $2,000 | 292 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 30 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 371 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 24 mpg | 32 mpg | 27 mpg | $2,300 | 330 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 25 mpg | 35 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 311 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (AM6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity | Midsize Cars | 39 mpg | 44 mpg | 41 mpg | $1,500 (low) | 97 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 111 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 15 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 9 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 19 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 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
No recalls have been issued for this model-year.