2009 Kia Optima vs 2011 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 | 2009 Kia Optima | 2011 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 116 | 591 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 33 | 228 |
| Investigations | 2 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 23 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 32 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 23–25 | 26–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 65,000 mi | 93,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Optima | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 14 | 254 |
| Steering | 7 | 100 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 | 88 |
| Electrical System | 16 | 61 |
| Air Bags | 28 | 31 |
| Power Train | 33 | 25 |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 26 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 14 | 12 |
| Shifting problems | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 13 |
| Stalling | 5 | 83 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 55 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 42 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 25 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 17 |
2009 Kia Optima
2011 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.