Best and worst Kia Optima years — which to avoid

Kia Optima is a great pick for a mid-size sedan with an affordable price tag, but only if you set your eyes on a model that’s known to be reliable. In other words, buying a great Optima also means understanding the worst Kia Optima years to avoid and steering clear of those.

If that’s something that sounds familiar when it comes to your buying decision, our team will help with the guide on the best and worst Kia Optima years. We’ll cover everything from complaint reports submitted by drivers to NHTSA, to first-hand reviews and recalls of the Optima so you can scale your options.

Why you can trust REREV’s advice on which car model years to avoid: Our car experts look at official data, ask real drivers what they think, and talk to experienced mechanics to make sure our list is useful. This reliable info can make buying a car easier for you. Want to know how we do it? Find out more about our research methodology.

How we rated the best and worst Kia Optima years

As we were making this guide, we focused on sources of authority in the automotive world, starting with NHTSA and IIHS for their data on common complaints, safety ratings, and recalls of the Optima.

We also used Kia forums to look for specific information submitted by previous and current owners, and we compared our findings with reputable car review sites like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and others to get the final results.

Most common Kia Optima problems

Among the car models in the same category, Optima is one of the more reliable solutions with a few common problems through the production years. Luckily, Kia addressed most of these issues, but it’s still worth knowing the culprit behind some problems that could give you headaches as a new Optima driver.

1. Engine faults

The third-generation Optima got a seriously refreshed and modern look when compared to the previous generation. Along with that, there were some improvements to the engine choice. But without any doubt, the most serious problem with the Optima was the engine fault that was mostly present for the 1.6-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged petrol engines. The problem mostly caused premature coolant level reduction, as well as some rod bearing issues that resulted in rod knock.

Unfortunately, this engine pick has gone through some serious troubles, especially concerning the rod knock. It occurs when the rod bearing loses lubrication and low oil pressure and flow through the components may cause the pistons to hit the cylinder head wall.

In this case, you’ll hear a distinct and loud knocking noise, and the engine seizes right after the noise. Luckily, the problem that remained a serious issue for 2011 to 2014 Optima drivers was sorted out with the official Kia recall when the manufacturer replaced faulty engines free of charge. So, it’s at least important to check if your third-generation Optima has gone through the recall before you buy one.

2. Airbag inflator module damage

The fourth generation of the Optima came even more aggressive in terms of exterior design and interior materials quality went up for this one. The engine problem was long gone by this time, with some minor troubles with oil leaks on some engines that we’ll discuss. Kia issued several recalls to sort out airbag problems, but there were more than one fault in question.

However, a serious problem remained a faulty airbag inflator module. This mostly concerned front airbag inflator modules that were deemed inefficient. In case of a potential collision, the faulty inflator bags wouldn’t react predictably and could cause poor airbag inflation and a safety hazard for the drivers.

3. Fuel delivery system problems

One of the most consistent problems that drivers of different Optima generation models have faced is a faulty fuel delivery system. Depending on the model year and the generation, this problem could involve troubles with the low-pressure fuel pump or the fuel hose leaks.

In some 2011 to 2014 models that went through the engine recall, the hose could be damaged during engine replacement and that initiates a red flag. That’s why Kia decided to issue an additional recall to fix this issue for the mentioned model years, and the recall started in 2018. Along with the low-pressure pump, there were also some high-pressure fuel pump issues which were more consistent with the 2011 model.

4. FCA system faults

The forward collision avoidance (FCA) system on the 2019 Kia Optima models is a useful setting for accident prevention, but it also causes headaches for some drivers. Namely, the system had a faulty setting that was later on fixed through another recall in 2019.

The problem was caused by a software error, and there was a risk of sudden braking without an obvious reason or a failed braking in case of a detected front-end vehicle.

Worst Kia Optima years to avoid

The biggest issue with the Kia Optima vehicles was an engine fault that was specific for certain model years. For that reason, our team wanted to give you a heads-up about the problematic model years, so the big question is – what are the worst Kia Optima years?

The worst Kia Optima years are 2012 and 2013, but you might also want to avoid the following model years due to some smaller issues:

• 2001
• 2002
• 2011
• 2012
• 2013
• 2014
• 2015
• 2016

It’s also best to avoid the models that have gone through the engine recall but didn’t go through the fuel delivery hose adjustment later on or the models with airbag faults. So, here’s a list of model years to avoid based on the Kia Optima generations.

First-generation Kia Optima (2001-2002 model years)

The first generation Kia Optima, also known as Kia Magentis in some markets, was in production from 2000 to 2006. This generation was based on the Hyundai Sonata, also a reliable model, and the two cars shared a lot of mechanical features with slight design differences.

That’s also the reason why the first generation is among the most reliable ones, except for the 2001 and 2002 model years that suffered the most driver reports and recalls. These were mostly due to faulty engine control unit (ECU) sensors that caused sluggish operation, but nothing too out of the ordinary.

Third-generation Kia Optima (2011-2014 model years)

While the first generation had a few slight issues, the re-designed model that was also considered a second-generation Magentis or Optima didn’t have many issues. The choice of engines was mostly the same, featuring a reliable 2.7-liter V6 and a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.

However, the third generation that started production in 2010 had a fair share of issues, and this is the generation that included those troublesome engine recalls. Because of this, it’s best to avoid the 2011 to 2014 Optima and go for the 2010 model if you wish to avoid such issues.

The 2011 model year is considered to be the worst among the third-generation models, due to excessive fuel leaks and electrical issues along with the 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engine faults.

Fourth-generation Kia Optima (2015 model year)

The fourth generation Optima came before the current fifth generation and it had only one problematic model year – the 2015 Optima. It came with a lot of similar problems that the previous model had, especially when it comes to the 2.4-liter engine issue.

Some of the 2015 Optimas had to go through the same type of recall, and the car also dealt with serious fuel delivery system faults for the 1.6-liter GDI turbo engines and 2.0-liter Nu MPI turbocharged engines. That’s why you should at least check if the car was recalled to avoid ending up with signs of a bad fuel pump and a lean condition within the engine.

What are the best Kia Optima model years to buy?

While the third generation had some major issues with the 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter engines that continued for the initial production year of the fourth, the fifth generation seems quite reliable. it’s one of the best Optima generations up to date, along with the second generation.

So, it’s safe to buy an Optima from the second and fifth generation in all model years, but we’ll also give you an updated list of safe model years to buy from all generations:

• 2000
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005
• 2006
• 2007
• 2008
• 2009
• 2010
• 2016
• 2017
• 2018
• 2019
• 2020
• 2021
• 2022

Most of the problems for the first generation were sorted out with the 2004 model, and the only issues that the 2001 and 2002 model years had were usual for high-mileage cars. The second generation proved to be reliable enough, so you should pay the most attention if you are aiming for a third-gen Optima.

2010 Kia Optima

If you are looking for a third-gen Optima, try to go for a 2010 Optima equipped with a 2.0-liter Theta T-GDI engine. These are way more reliable than any of the 2011 to 2016 models, and they didn’t have that many engine-related issues.

On top of that, the 2010 model only received around 100 complaints submitted to NHTSA, so it’s one of the safe bets for all the early 2000s models up until the 2017 one. There were some minor transmission issues reported, however, so you might want to keep those in check just in case.

If you go for a 2011 to 2014 Optima, make sure that the car has gone through both the engine recall and fuel delivery hose recall. Finally, you can rest assured by buying a later model from the 2015 Optima and any of the fifth-gen model years where there were no engine issues reported so far.

Is the Kia Optima worth buying?

With all the main troubles and problematic model years considered, Kia Optima is a reasonable buy on the used car market. It has a fairly lower price than the competitors, and it offers a reliable ride for as long as you pick the recommended model years.

You can consider the Mazda 3 saloon or the Audi A3 saloon for direct competition with a bit more high-end interior luxury, but none of these cars is significantly more reliable than the fifth-gen Optima.

Zero in on the best and dodge the worst car years with ease. Our guides to the Hyundai Sonata years to avoid, Ford Fusion years to avoid, and Nissan Altima years to avoid shine a light on which model years to embrace and which to discard, setting you up for a purchase you’ll feel good about.