Fourth generation (JF)
2019 Kia Optima
The most reported problem on the 2019 Kia Optima is engine failure, with 33 complaints, usually around 92,000 miles.
- 209owner complaints
- 1recalls
- 20involved a crash
- 47,800median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Optima doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2019 model year.
Is the 2019 Kia Optima reliable?
The 2019 Kia Optima has 209 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 203 for 2019 sedans on this site. Of the 7 Optima model years since 2014, it has the 6th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2018 and 2020
- At 26 complaints for each year on the road, the 2019 runs close to the 2018 (26) and above the 2020 (21).
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Engine failure has 33 complaints and oil consumption has 31, out of 209 in all. It's a high-mileage complaint: half of the 14 owners who gave a mileage for engine failure were past about 92,000 miles.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 26 of the 209 complaints (12%) report a crash, a fire or an injury. The typical vehicle on this site sits at 6%, so this one runs well above it. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 20 reports mention a crash, 6 mention a fire and 16 people were hurt. The most crash reports, 9 of 20, fall under airbag.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as engine failure, oil consumption and false collision warning. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 48, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 26 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine failure, knocking or rod bearing, 33 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
209 complaints is about the median for a 2019 model on this site and about the median for a 2019 sedan. Among the 7 Optima model years here it ranks 6th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2019 Kia Optima
Kia filed 123 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2019 Kia Optima. 16 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 1 bulletin · 33 complaints
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (PI1805) DEALER SERVICE MANAGER NOTCE - This document is the Dealer Service Manager notification that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod ...
Burns oil or oil level rises 2 bulletins · 31 complaints
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
Check engine light or misfire 1 bulletin · 27 complaints
COMBINATION TSB/SERVICE ACTION: AIR FILTER AND NVLD REPLACEMENT (SA421) This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an evaporative leak test and replace the fuel tank air filter, and, if necessary, the Natural Vacuum Leak Detector (NVLD) on some Optima (JF HEV) vehicles, produced from June 27, 2016 through January 7, 2019, ...
Airbag warning light or recall 5 bulletins · 12 complaints
WARRANTY EXTENSION CAMPAIGN: SIDE AIRBAG (SAB) INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT FOR DTC(S) B1380/B1384 (WTY036) This bulletin provides information associated with the ‘Warranty Extension Program’ (WTY036) to diagnose and repair certain airbag warning light 'ON' conditions on 2019-2020MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced from May 21, 2018 through June 23, 2020.
WARRANTY EXTENSION: SIDE AIRBAG (SAB) INSPECTION ANDREPLACEMENT FOR DTC(S) B1380/B1384 (WTY036) This bulletin provides information associated with the 'Warranty Extension Program' (WTY036) to diagnose and repair certain airbag warning light 'ON' conditions on 2019-2020MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced from May 21, 2018 through June 23, 2020.
3 more on this problem
SIDE AIRBAG (SAB) INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT FOR DTC(S) B1380/B1384 (WTY036) This bulletin provides information associated with the 'Warranty Extension Program' (WTY036) to diagnose and repair certain airbag warning light 'ON'
OWNER NOTIFICATION (WTY036) This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the illumination of the Airbag Warning Light in 2019-2020 MY Optima vehicles from 5 years / 60,000 miles to ...
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (WTY036) This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, to all owners, for repairs related to the illumination of the Airbag Warning Light in 2019-2020 MY Optima vehicles from ...
Engine knocking or ticking 3 bulletins · 12 complaints
TSB_R2 KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1805) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from ...
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN PI1805_R1: KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM (KSDS) LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (PI1805) - This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
1 more on this problem
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN (PI1805) TSB: This bulletin provides information related to a software update to the Engine Control Unit (ECU) to install the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) in order to protect the engine from excessive connecting rod bearing damage.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 1 bulletin · 7 complaints
PITSTOP: MFC, CONCERNS FOR DISABLED OPERATION This Pitstop provides information regarding concerns with disabled operation of Multi-Function Camera (MFC) on some Kia vehicles.
Fuel pump failure 2 bulletins · 6 complaints
OWNER NOTIFICATION This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for repairs related to low-pressure fuel pump failure in 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured at a Kia assembly plant in the U.S. from 5 ...
DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service Managers that Kia is extending the New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage for repairs related to low-pressure fuel pump failure for 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured at a Kia assembly ...
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 1 bulletin · 5 complaints
HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) BLOWER MOTOR FUSE RELOCATION This bulletin provides the procedure to relocate the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) blower motor 40-ampere fuse on some 2016-2020MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced from August 28, 2015 through June 23, 2020 which may experience an ...
Complaints filed by year
48 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
NHTSA summary
Electrical overstress. Closed sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V-024.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2019 Kia Optima
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.
Risk and remedy
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC179.
The recall on the 2019 Kia Optima, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2019 Kia Optima?
Engine failure, with 33 of the 209 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 92,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2019 Kia Optima problems start?
Of the 85 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 12,000 miles and half by about 48,000.
Is the 2019 Kia Optima better or worse than the 2018 and 2020?
Counted per year on the road, the 2019 has about as many complaints as the 2018 and more complaints than the 2020: 26 a year against 26 and 21.
How many 2019 Kia Optima complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
26 of them (12%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for engine failure on the 2019 Kia Optima?
No recall on file for the 2019 Kia Optima is on the same system as engine failure. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.