Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2018 Kia optima has 18 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 0 powertrain-related recalls.
18
Complaints
0
Recalls
2
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 18, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | It burns oil constantly. I constantly have to get new filters put on because they become black very ... |
| Oct 10, 2024 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | My engine burns oil very bad. Black smoke comes out of my tailpipe and I burn through 5 quarts in le... |
| Jan 4, 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accel... |
| Sep 15, 2023 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | Car will NOT go pat 60mph and i haven’t had this car just over 6 months. And the camshaft sensors a... |
| Aug 3, 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I'm reporting these issue pertaining to the engine within the first 3 weeks AFTER the engine replace... |
| Jun 1, 2023 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Ever since I got my car I’ve had black oil since the start . Second my car breaks on its own at time... |
| Aug 7, 2022 | POWER TRAIN | UNKNOWN When slowing to a stop, the vehicle spontaneously makes a sudden jolt, throwing passengers ... |
| Apr 19, 2022 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE | Engine overhead and stopped working in addition to it consuming massive amounts of oil without physi... |
| Nov 8, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES TO NOT ONLY MYSELF. IT MY WIFE AS WELL. AS WE'RE DRIVING ANYW... |
| Mar 1, 2020 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, t... |
| Dec 20, 2019 | POWER TRAIN | THE CV AXLE ASSEMBLIES SNAP LIKE THE 2016 MODELS DO KIA'S RECALL NUMBER SC139. |
| Aug 2, 2019 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE STREETS; ITS AN 2018 KIA OPTIMA.ON AUGUST 2,2019 MY CAR ENGINE... |
| Jul 20, 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES IT HAS A BURNING SMELL/GAS SMELL. IT CUTS OFF WHILE DR... |
| Jun 1, 2019 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | There is already the theta 2 campaign on my Kia optima but Kia is not upholding their warranty for a... |
| May 7, 2019 | POWER TRAIN | 2018 KIA 12,000 MILES HAD RECALL 2 MONTHS AGO FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE DAY G... |
| Jan 1, 2019 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I purchased my Kia optima brand new I believe it had 7 miles on it when I purchased it, shortly afte... |
| Nov 30, 2018 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 4 MONTHS AND 3800 MILES WHILE DRIVING ST LOCAL STREETS, KIA DEALERS REFUSE... |
| Jan 20, 2018 | POWER TRAIN | SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 18:55(APPROXIMATELY) AMHERST MASSACHUSETTS, 39 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT PARKED CAR... |