2015 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 1011 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (624), Unknown Or Other (139), Electrical System (135).
Key takeaways
- 1011 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 31 involve a crash, 74 a fire, 23 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 624 | 62% |
| Unknown Or Other | 139 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 135 | 13% |
| Service Brakes | 90 | 9% |
| Structure | 76 | 8% |
| Steering | 69 | 7% |
| Power Train | 49 | 5% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 46 | 5% |
| Hydraulic | 41 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 31 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 26 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2015 Kia Optima
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-11-04
I was driving to work when all of the sudden I was pressing my gas, but I wasn't accelerating. I noticed my brakes and steering wheel were hard to push and turn. My car stopped in the middle of the road. I turned off my car and tried to turn the ignition and all I got was a single click. My engine, battery and oil ligh...
Engine - filed 2026-10-23
There is a known issue with this vehicle and the fix by KIA is not safe nor fair to the consumer. Kia's knock sensor recall centers on the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update for Theta II GDI engines. The update listens for rod bearing wear, triggers a check engine light and limp mode via Code P1326, a...
Service Brakes, Hydraulic - filed 2026-09-29
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while pulling into the driveway, the ABS warning light remained illuminated after the vehicle was powered off. The contact stated that the parking brake warning light unexpectedly illuminated while the vehicle was being operated. The contact stated that the br...
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More for the 2015 Kia Optima
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.