Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2009 Kia optima has 32 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 0 powertrain-related recalls.
32
Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 18, 2021 | POWER TRAIN | WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN COLD THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD INTO FIRST AT ABOUT 20 MPH. ALMOST AT SOMETI... |
| Mar 5, 2021 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD FROM 2ND TO 1ST. DEALER RESET MODULE 10 MONTHS AGO. SOLVED PROBLEM.... |
| Nov 20, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN CAR IS SLOWING DOWN AND /OR APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IT GIVES A HARD JERK. EVEN IF TRAFFIC SLOWS... |
| Feb 19, 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | DRIVING AT 70 MPH, ENGINE DIED AND CAR STARTED SMOKING. PULLED TO SHOULDER, FRONT END OF CAR CAUGHT ... |
| Apr 12, 2018 | POWER TRAIN | CAR LURCHES AT 20 MPH WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS AFTER JUST STARTING THE CAR, ONCE DR... |
| Aug 2, 2017 | POWER TRAIN | MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA WITH 90,000 MILES IS EXPERIENCING A HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN IT DECELE... |
| Aug 2, 2016 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT ... |
| Sep 14, 2015 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT JERKS FORWARD AND DOWNSHIFTS AGGRESSIVELY AROUND 30 MPH. KIA IS AWARE OF... |
| Sep 1, 2015 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED AT FIRST AND AFTER SLOWING DOWN BETWEEN 20-30 MPH APPLYING BRAKES TO SLOW DO... |
| Dec 1, 2014 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD BY ITSELF. CAR LURCHES FORWARD.... |
| Nov 12, 2014 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN I GET AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD FORM 2ND GEAR TO 1 ST GEAR HWNE IT IS CO... |
| Oct 1, 2014 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | LATE LAST YEAR (2014) IN OUR KIA OPTIMA 2009 GOT SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLA... |
| Jul 9, 2014 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES | WHEN I BRAKE AND SLOW DOWN MY KIA OPTIMA AND IT GETS TO 20 MPH OR LOWER, IT WILL JERK SUDDENLY AS IF... |
| May 9, 2014 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES | WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE AM, AS I DECELERATE AT THE STOP SIGN, WHEN SPEED NEARS 20-25 MPH THE V... |
| Mar 19, 2014 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO THE ... |
| Nov 28, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD BY ITSELF. IN RESEARCHING ONLI... |
| Jun 6, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE GEAR S... |
| Jun 4, 2013 | POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS | VEHICLE AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD TH... |
| May 7, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND DECELERATING, THE VEHICLE JERKED VI... |
| Apr 10, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD - STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES. SHIFTS HARD FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEA... |