Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2010 Kia Optima has 24 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 0 powertrain-related recalls.
24
Complaints
0
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The car lurches or jerks when slowing down or stopping at about 20 mph . Lurch or jerking is enough ... |
| May 26, 2021 | POWER TRAIN | Car has very hard downshift at low speed going from 2nd gear to 1st. Seems to be alot of these compl... |
| Feb 3, 2018 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | VEHICLE JERKS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AT ABOUT 20 MPH. |
| Feb 1, 2018 | POWER TRAIN | TAKATA RECALL - HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST, USUALLY AROUND THE 20MPH MARK! IT'S A SUDDEN JERK A... |
| Sep 4, 2017 | POWER TRAIN | TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION HAS A GRINDING AND WHINING NOISE!! BUT TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEAR SMOOTHL... |
| Nov 26, 2015 | POWER TRAIN | THE CAR HAS A LURCHING ISSUE WHEN IT SLOWS DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN THE CAR LURCHES WITH A HARD DOWN SHIFT... |
| Nov 8, 2014 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | WHILE DECELERATING, EITHER BRAKING OR COASTING, THE CAR WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY WHEN REACHING APPROXIMA... |
| Nov 29, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | HARD JERK WHEN DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AT 20-22 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCID... |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Mar 20, 2013 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR |
| Feb 1, 2013 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES | WHEN BRAKING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF LESS THEN 20MPH THE CAR LURCHES OR JERKS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES A... |
| Dec 5, 2012 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN BRAKING OR NOT AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR CAR JERKS FORWARD. *TR |
| Aug 1, 2012 | POWER TRAIN | THE CAR BUCKLES WHEN REDUCING YOUR SPEED TO AROUND 20 MPH. ALSO THE REAR SEAT DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORK... |
| Jul 16, 2012 | POWER TRAIN | THE CAR LURCHES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 18 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. HARD DOWN SHIFT AT EVERY STOP. *TR |