Reliable Auto DB

2015 Kia Optima reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2015 Kia Optima has 1,008 complaints with NHTSA after 12 years, or 27 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Optima years here — over the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Hoses and fittings.

2012 Kia Optima
Photo by Throwawayacc222, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC0
Complaints

1,008

Per year

27

Recalls

4

Years on the road

12

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (622 of 1,008), then Electrical system (135) and Structure (76). Those filings include 31 that report a crash, 74 that report a fire, 20 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2014 and 2016

The 2014 Optima has 585 complaints, 27 per year, and the 2016 has 754 complaints, 17 per year. The 2015 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2015 Kia Optima. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall Brake control module 2023-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V652000
Summary Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Recall Brake control module 2021-05-10 · NHTSA campaign 21V331000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Recall Brake control module 2020-08-27 · NHTSA campaign 20V519000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Remedy Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, hoses and fittings 2018-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 18V907000
Summary Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Remedy Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Complaints by component (1008 total)

Engine
622
Electrical system
135
Structure
76
Steering
69
Powertrain
49
Service brakes
49
Fuel and propulsion system
46
Hydraulic brakes
40
Speed control
36
Engine and engine cooling
31
Air bags
26
Exterior lighting
23
Electronic stability control (ESC)
10
Fuel system, gasoline
10
Forward collision avoidance
9
Suspension
6
Visibility and wipers
6
Wheels
5
Lane departure
3
Tires
3
Visibility
3
Seat belts
2
Seats
2
Equipment
1
Fire-related
1
Show 17 more Show less
Crash-flagged

31

Fire-flagged

74

Injury reports

20

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

2201416201522201641201764201810820199920208320211362022159202311820241112025492026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "My energy in my car started messing up with only 150,000 miles it had a long knocking sound and it would not got over 20 miles while driving"
    Speed control, Engine · filed 2026-09-20
  • "My 2015 KIA optima experienced a catastrophic engine fire while I was driving. There was no warning, I just heard a boom in the engine bay the breaks stopped working and all electrical cut out. As I'm coasting, because…"
    Unknown or other, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-24
  • "The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that for over 8 years, the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact became aware that there was an…"
    Engine and engine cooling · filed 2026-08-20
  • "The engine in my vehicle failed while putting the car into reverse to back into my garage. I thank God I wasn't on the road when this happened. I took the car into a mechanic who confirmed that the engine was locked and…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-19
  • "This is a formal vehicle safety complaint regarding a manufacturer's active refusal to remedy a known safety defect under an active recall campaign guidelines.My 2015 Kia Optima Turbo experienced an active internal…"
    Steering, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-13

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars
2015 Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Optima 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 20 30 24 MPG $2700
Optima 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 23 33 26 MPG $2500
Optima hybrid 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 35 38 37 MPG $1750
Optima hybrid EX 2.4L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 35 38 36 MPG $1800

Specs and fitment

4th generation (JF), 2012–2020
Body styles Sedan
Oil 5W-20 or 0W-20 (2.4L and 2.0L turbo per manual) , 5 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R17 to 245/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 18V161000. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently. If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash. Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.

Compare

Previous year 2014 Kia Optima Next year 2016 Kia Optima See every Kia Optima model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Kia Optima reliable?

The 2015 Kia Optima has 1,008 complaints with NHTSA after 12 years, or 27 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Optima years here — over the median of the other years, which is 16. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Brake control module and Hoses and fittings.

What are common problems with a 2015 Kia Optima?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (622 of 1,008), then Electrical system (135) and Structure (76). Those filings include 31 that report a crash, 74 that report a fire, 20 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2015 Kia Optima more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 Optima has 585 complaints, 27 per year, and the 2016 has 754 complaints, 17 per year. The 2015 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

Has the 2015 Kia Optima been recalled?

The 2015 Kia Optima has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2015 Kia Optima?

Owners have filed 1008 complaints about the 2015 Kia Optima with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2015 Kia Optima get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2015 Kia Optima is 30.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Optima take?

5W-20 or 0W-20 (2.4L and 2.0L turbo per manual)

What does NHTSA recall 18V-161 cover on the Kia Optima?

NHTSA campaign 18V161000.

What generation is the 2013 Kia Optima?

4th generation (JF) (2012-2020).