2019 Kia Optima Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2019 Kia Optima, and owners have filed 210 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2019 Kia Optima
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Automatic emergency braking (forward collision avoidance)
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.
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.
210 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2019 Kia Optima have filed 210 complaints with NHTSA; 20 describe a crash and 6 describe a fire. Reports cite 16 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 48,435 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 48 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“On XXX, Towbin Kia Service (Henderson, NV) officially diagnosed my 2019 Kia Optima (VIN: [XXX], Mileage: 118,325) with a critical component failure: "LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FROM TOP HAT" (I”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 30, 2026 · Fuel/propulsion system
“The vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of engine power while being driven on the interstate at highway speeds. The vehicle lost the ability to accelerate normally beyond approximately 60 mph”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 29, 2026 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2019 Kia Optima (Optima FE, Optima Hybrid, Optima Plug-in Hybrid). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 24–41 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 21–39 / 30–45 |
| Fuel | Regular, Regular Gas and Electricity |
| EPA class | Large Cars, Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.6/2/2.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (AM6); Automatic (AM7); Automatic (S6) |
Compare Kia Optima model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kia Optima model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Kia Optima | 3 | 143 |
| 2002 Kia Optima | 3 | 107 |
| 2003 Kia Optima | 2 | 141 |
| 2004 Kia Optima | 1 | 225 |
| 2005 Kia Optima | 0 | 144 |
| 2006 Kia Optima | 2 | 155 |
| 2007 Kia Optima | 2 | 167 |
| 2008 Kia Optima | 3 | 144 |
| 2009 Kia Optima | 1 | 116 |
| 2010 Kia Optima | 1 | 75 |
| 2011 Kia Optima | 5 | 593 |
| 2012 Kia Optima | 5 | 919 |
| 2013 Kia Optima | 9 | 1,383 |
| 2014 Kia Optima | 7 | 589 |
| 2015 Kia Optima | 4 | 1,009 |
| 2016 Kia Optima | 5 | 756 |
| 2017 Kia Optima | 3 | 256 |
| 2018 Kia Optima | 2 | 232 |
| 2019 Kia Optima | 1 | 210 |
| 2020 Kia Optima | 0 | 148 |
Checking a specific 2019 Kia Optima
How do I know if my 2019 Kia Optima has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2019 Kia Optima; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kia dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 19V539000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Kia models
- Sorento10,183 complaints
- Soul5,553 complaints
- Sportage4,699 complaints
- Forte2,553 complaints
- Sedona2,410 complaints
- Telluride2,026 complaints
- Sephia1,705 complaints
- Rio1,291 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.