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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 (3)
Latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid, latch
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk and remedy
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
Engine
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.
Hybrid propulsion system
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Canadian recalls (5)
Show 5 Canadian recalls
Structure
2023-08-28 · campaign 2023-476
Issue:
On certain vehicles, a part in the trunk release latch could fail. If this happens, the emergency trunk release located inside the trunk compartment may not work properly. This could prevent a person that is trapped inside the trunk from opening it.
Safety Risk:
If a person is closed inside the trunk compartment, they may not be able to get out. This could create a risk of injury.
Corrective Actions:
Kia will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the trunk latch base subassembly.
Engine
2021-11-01 · campaign 2021-666 · 712 vehicles
Issue:
On certain vehicles equipped with a 2.0 L Nu GDI engine, the connecting rod bearings can become damaged. If this happens, the engine could make abnormal knocking noises and/or the oil pressure warning light may turn on. If you continue to drive the vehicle with these symptoms, the engine could fail and/or a fire could occur. An engine failure can cause a sudden loss of power with an inability to restart.
Note: Only the Optima Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) models are affected by this recall.
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 and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer for an engine inspection test, to determine if there is bearing damage. If damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a knock sensor detection system (KSDS) software that will prevent engine damage from potential excessive connecting rod bearing wear.
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.
Powertrain
2018-03-15 · campaign 2018-132 · 112 vehicles
On certain plug-in hybrid vehicles, the battery Voltage Protection Device (VPD) switch could inadvertently activate. If the VPD switch is activated, electricity to the vehicle's electric motor may be disconnected. If this occurs while the vehicle is driven under Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, the vehicle may experience a loss of motive power, which could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Correction: Dealers will remove the current VPD switch and install two newly designed battery management systems containing new overvoltage protection devices. The corresponding wiring harness will also be installed. Note: This condition would result in the of the “Check Hybrid System" warning light illuminating.
Owner complaints (257)
Owners filed 257 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Kia Optima (4 crashes, 9 fires, 7 injuries reported). Among 20 model years of this model, it ranks #7 for the most complaints (median 212).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Engine | 165 | |
| Unknown or other | 33 | |
| Electrical system | 25 | |
| Power train | 21 | |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 20 | |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | |
| Vehicle speed control | 13 | |
| Steering | 11 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2017 Kia Optima.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2017 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2017 Kia Optima version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Optima 1.6 L Automatic (AM7) | 28 | 37 | 31 | $2,150 |
| Optima 2.0 L Automatic (S6) | 22 | 31 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Optima 2.4 L Automatic (S6) | 24 | 34 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Optima FE 2.4 L Automatic (S6) | 25 | 36 | 29 | $2,300 |
| Optima Hybrid 2.0 L Automatic (AM6) | 39 | 46 | 42 | $1,600 |
| Optima Plug-in Hybrid 2.0 L Automatic (AM6) | 38 | 43 | 40 | $1,700 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →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.