2017 Kia Optima problems
NHTSA has received 357 complaints about the 2017 Kia Optima, and 48% of them involve engine. Next are electrical system (7%) and fuel system (6%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 357 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 49% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 14
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 48,000 miles 112 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 27 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 17 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 15 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 20 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 14 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 11 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 112 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 48,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 76,000 miles (55 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 14 complaints mention a fire; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2017 ranks 9th most-complained-about out of 20 model years of the Kia Optima with enough data (180 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The contact owned a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, another vehicle crashed on the front passenger side tire of the vehicle. Due to the impact, the vehicle was sent over four lanes of traffic and jumped over a curb. The contact stated that the front air bag was deployed only after the vehicle jumped the curb; no other air bags in the vehicle were deployed despite the contact's children in the vehicle's rear seat.
On 6 June 2022 I was driving Eastbound Interstate 80 passing Fairfield, CA. Traffic was moderate, average traffic speed 65. The Kia’s Adaptive Cruise was enabled and set to the maximum amount of safe distance. I recall the car directly in front of me changed lanes to pass a truck towing a trailer. I remember the Kia began to accelerate and I couldn’t turn the wheel. Next memory was opening my eyes to the dust smoke of deployed air bags. I lost consciousness likely due to the sudden impact and air bags deployed.
Within a week both front and rear passenger wheel speed sensors failed. Resulting in a prompt on dash at start up and consistently displayed for aeb system service after vehicles automatic system scan an see difference in mileage in attached pictures. Kia technician said it is a common issue and sees atleast 4-5 vehicles per week with this part failure.
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, black smoke was coming from the exhaust pipe and the vehicle was jerking. The oil warning light was illuminated. The contact added engine oil. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where oil was found on unknown sensors and on the coils. The contact was informed that an oil change was needed, and the filter needed to be replaced.