2007 Kia Optima vs 2009 Kia Optima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2007 Kia Optima | 2009 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 166 | 116 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 31 | 33 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,000 mi | 65,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 64 | 28 |
| Power Train | 13 | 33 |
| Exterior Lighting | 27 | 9 |
| Engine | 16 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 14 | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 17 |
| Visibility/wiper | 20 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 11 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 31 | 14 |
| Check engine light | 6 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 6 |
| Stalling | 0 | 5 |
2007 Kia Optima
2009 Kia Optima
Compare all Kia Optima vs Kia Optima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.