2015 Kia Optima: recalls and problems
4 recalls and 1,020 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine.
Check your VIN with the manufacturer or NHTSA straight away and follow the instructions in the notice.
Most common problems
What owners report
My energy in my car started messing up with only 150,000 miles it had a long knocking sound and it would not got over 20 miles while driving
My 2015 kia optima experienced a catastrophic engine fire while i was driving. there was no warning, i just heard a boom in the engine bay the breaks stopped working and all electrical cut out. as i'm coasting, because i'm unable to stop, flames started to come in through under the dash. i couldn't turn the car off, nor put it in park so the doors stayed locked. the driver window was opened just enough for me to grab
The contact owns a 2015 kia optima. the contact stated that for over 8 years, the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. there was no warning light illuminated. the contact became aware that there was an oil leak on the ground underneath the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer on several occasions for the oil consumption failure; however, the dealer was unable to find a fault with the vehicle. t
The engine in my vehicle failed while putting the car into reverse to back into my garage. i thank god i wasn't on the road when this happened. i took the car into a mechanic who confirmed that the engine was locked and that the car was very low on oil(even though i had my oil changed by him a few months prior). there was an undetected oil leak that led to the engine failure. the warning indicators didn't appear on m
Crash-test ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD |
Source: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP APIs, covering OPTIMA HYBRID, OPTIMA. Last refreshed 2026-09-29.