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2015 Kia Optima recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 4 US recalls for the 2015 Kia Optima, including 3 urgent (do not drive or park outside), and 5 in Canada. Owners filed 1,010 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine. Its best NHTSA overall crash rating is 5 stars.

4US recalls
3urgent recalls
1,010owner complaints
5★overall crash rating

Is your car affected?

Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (4)

Park outside

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/module

2023-09-25 · campaign 23V652000 · 1,730,192 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

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.

Park outside

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/module

2021-05-10 · campaign 21V331000 · 440,370 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.

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.

Park outside

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/module

2020-08-27 · campaign 20V519000 · 440,370 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

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.

Engine

2018-12-19 · campaign 18V907000 · 71,653 vehicles

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.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

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.

Canadian recalls (5)

Show 5 Canadian recalls

Brakes

2023-09-26 · campaign 2023-529

Issue: On certain vehicles, the brake hydraulic electronic control unit (HECU) could short circuit. Safety Risk: A short circuit could create a fire risk, even while the vehicle is parked and turned off. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the fuse(s) for the HECU. Kia recommends that you should park your vehicle outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the recall repairs have been completed.

Electrical

2023-05-08 · campaign 2023-275

Issue: Kia is conducting a service campaign to inspect and upgrade the safety plug fuse. On certain Optima Hybrid (HEV) models, the safety plug fuse could blow and cause a loss of hybrid system power while driving at low speeds. Additionally, installing an incorrect aftermarket fuse could cause overheating. Safety Risk: A loss of power to the wheels could increase the risk of a crash. Using an incorrect aftermarket fuse could create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the vehicle for an aftermarket fuse and replace the 125-A safety plug with one that has a 150-A rating.

Engine

2021-07-09 · campaign 2021-424

Issue: Kia Canada is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign that provides an update to the engine control module to detect potential problems before an engine fails. An engine failure could cause a sudden loss of power with an inability to restart. Note: This campaign only affects Optima Hybrid models equipped with a 2.4 L MPI engine. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. An engine failure could also create the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: Kia will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the software for the engine control module. Note: Kia recommends that you should always follow the correct vehicle maintenance schedule, which is printed in the Owner's Manual. If you experience unusual engine noise, reduced power, or a check engine/oil warning light, Kia advises you to immediately visit a Kia dealership to have your vehicle diagnosed.

Engine

2019-03-18 · campaign 2019-143

Issue: Kia Canada is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign that provides an update to the engine control module to detect potential problems before an engine fails. An engine failure may cause a sudden loss of power with an inability to restart. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the software for the engine control module. Note: Vehicles repaired under Service Campaign SC023 already have this software update.

Fuel system

2019-02-27 · campaign 2019-098 · 760 vehicles

Issue: When the engine was replaced under warranty or under Kia's Product Improvement Campaign SC023, the high pressure fuel pipe may not have been properly installed on the fuel pump outlet. A fuel leak could occur if the pipe was damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the recall repair. Safety Risk: Leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source could increase the risk of a fire. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicle to a dealer for an inspection. If fuel leakage is detected, the fuel pipe will be replaced with a new one.

Owner complaints (1,010)

Owners filed 1,010 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Optima (31 crashes, 74 fires, 23 injuries, 1 deaths reported). Among 20 model years of this model, it ranks #2 for the most complaints (median 212).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Engine623
Unknown or other139
Electrical system135
Structure76
Steering69
Service brakes49
Power train49
Fuel/propulsion system46

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2015 Kia Optima.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD5★5★5★5★

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2015 Kia Optima version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Optima 2.0 L Automatic (S6)203024$2,800
Optima 2.4 L Automatic (S6)233326$2,600
Optima Hybrid 2.4 L Automatic (AM6)353837$1,800
Optima Hybrid EX 2.4 L Automatic (AM6)353836$1,850
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.