2018 Buick Regal vs 2018 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 | 2018 Buick Regal | 2018 Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 19 | 230 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 898 | 155 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–26 | 25–42 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 44,163 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Regal | Kia Optima |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | 129 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 33 |
| Service Brakes | 7 | 17 |
| Power Train | 2 | 18 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 13 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 0 | 14 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 14 |
| Steering | 1 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 0 | 45 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 27 |
| Stalling | 0 | 26 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 19 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 13 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 11 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 6 |
2018 Buick Regal
2018 Kia Optima
Compare all Buick Regal 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.