2019 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 206 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (88), Unknown Or Other (41), Forward Collision Avoidance (36).
Key takeaways
- 206 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 20 involve a crash, 6 a fire, 16 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 88 | 43% |
| Unknown Or Other | 41 | 20% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 36 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 23 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 9% |
| Power Train | 17 | 8% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 | 7% |
| Structure | 14 | 7% |
| Air Bags | 12 | 6% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 10 | 5% |
| Lane Departure | 7 | 3% |
| Steering | 6 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train,electrical System,engine - filed 2026-09-08
While driving, my vehicle suddenly began shuddering and shaking. The vehicle lost power and would not accelerate properly. I had to press the brake pedal unusually hard. After parking, the vehicle would not move properly in reverse or drive. I turned the vehicle off and restarted it, and it moved only a short distance ...
Engine - filed 2026-08-18
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was n...
Engine - filed 2026-07-21
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on two occasions, the vehicle lost power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven over to the side of the road and then towed to the dealer twice; however, the failure was not duplicated on the fir...
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More for the 2019 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.