2019 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 212 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (92), Unknown Or Other (43), Forward Collision Avoidance (36).
Key takeaways
- 212 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 20 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 16 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 92 | 43% |
| Unknown Or Other | 43 | 20% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 36 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 23 | 11% |
| Service Brakes | 19 | 9% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 17 | 8% |
| Power Train | 17 | 8% |
| 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.
Unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2026-10-09
Car smelled of what seemed like motor oil while driving. Parked, saw white smoke, and confirmed an engine fire. I was clearly in life threatening danger, especially with a full tank of gas. Fire developed rapidly into a roaring blaze. Entire front of car melted. Car is currently being investigated by manufacturer and ...
Engine - filed 2026-10-08
VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, ENGINE SEIZED ,WILL NOT CRANK .SUSPECTED CONECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE UNDER SAFETY RECALL SC200, I CALL KIA 18003334542 DENIED RECALL REPAIR AND BEARING CLEARANCE TEST STATING VEHICLE IS REBUILT TITLE. FEDERAL SAFETY RECALL CANNOT BE DENIED DUE TO REBUILT TITLE PER NHTSA .REQUE...
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-09-30
On XXX, Towbin Kia Service (Henderson, NV) officially diagnosed my 2019 Kia Optima (VIN: [XXX], Mileage: 118,325) with a critical component failure: "LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FROM TOP HAT" (Invoice #XXX). Despite documenting a severe, volatile raw fuel leak that presents an immediate fire and explosion hazard,...
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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.