2017 Kia Optima: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle	2017 / kia / optima
known issues	7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-20)
complaints	255 on file (2017-04-06 → 2026-08-24)
recalls	3
investigations	3
fars	47 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Excessive engine oil consumptionENGINE82 complaints2021-03 → 2026-08optima-2017-excessive-oil-consumption

11711382 The vehicle is consuming excessive amounts of oil. The dipstick was completely dry before 5000 miles were up. I had to add some oil to the engine to avoid engine failure
11674547 My Kia optima fe 2017 has been consuming a lot of motor oil it takes a quart every 2 to 3 weeks and of if I drive it more than average it needs motor oil sooner
11463280 EXCESSIVE oil consumption. More than 1 quart every 1,000 miles. I am having to change my spark plugs about every 3 months to keep this car going. I've been to Kia twice and spent thousands of dollars. It has fixed nothing

Headlights turning off while drivingEXTERIOR LIGHTING8 complaints2021-03 → 2024-02optima-2017-headlight-shutoff

11573724 I drive with my lights on auto. Occasionally the lights go out for no apparent reason. Both inside and headlights. I then have to hold the high beam switch on until I can turn lights on and off or use directional
11545528 I was driving at night and the headlights suddenly turned off for about 5 seconds and then it will come back on. Don't know whats going on with its headlight
11466096 I have been driving at night going 70 mph on major rural freeway, as well as 55 mph on a two lane rural country road when the auto headights went completely dark, including all the interior lights

Transmission shifting hesitation and clunkingPOWER TRAIN5 complaints2021-03 → 2023-09optima-2017-transmission-shift-issues

11530790 On Friday 6/23/2023 on my way home from work, one of the clutches went out on my DCT Transmission without any warning. I was at a stop light in front of all of the cars in a busy section and wasn’t able to go
11408554 KIA OPTIMA 2017 HYBRID. 26K MILEAGE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECOME VERY CLUNKY, CAR JERKS WHEN SHIFTING ON ANY GEAR. NOT STABLE DRIVING, STRANGE NOISES UNDER THE HOOD ESPECIALLY WHEN VEHICLE GOES UPHILL AND EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROAD CAR TWITCHES
11452790 I was driving down hwy 60 in Lake Wales, Florida, passing a car at 70 mph. While passing, all of the alerts and indicators came on my dash, and I lost the ability to accelerate

Sudden loss of power and stalling (P1326 knock sensor)ENGINE50 complaints2021-08 → 2026-05optima-2017-stall-loss-of-power-p1326

11652963 I was driving on the highway, the check engine light started flashing and the car lost power. This created a very dangerous situation because I could not go the speed limit and could not get off the highway since I was in the middle lane
11467133 I was driving on the highway when my check engine light came on flashing the car jersey almost to a stop and I had to pull over. I cut the car off and sat then turned it back on
11552651 Driving down the interstate, the vehicle started to decelerate and the engine light started flashing. Got it to a mechanic and he started that it was a knock sensor failure P1326 code

Engine compartment fireENGINE7 complaints2021-03 → 2024-06optima-2017-engine-compartment-fire

11492794 On June 5th 2022 as I was traveling out of state with my wife and daughter the car lost power on the highway. I pulled over to the side when safe and noticed whitish grey smoke puffing from under the hood by the hinges
11473326 On November 16, 2020, Lucy Robinson was driving her 2017 Kia Optima when she started seeing smoke. She pulled into a gas station and the engine was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire
11581052 ON [XXX], AROUND 11:30 A.M., I WAS DRIVING [XXX] ON [XXX], GOING ABOUT 78 MPH, JUST PASSED [XXX], WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR, THEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS

Intermittent power steering lossSTEERING8 complaints2023-11 → 2026-06optima-2017-power-steering-loss

11661833 The power steering stopped working and the car became hard to turn because of it. The power steering light (red color with steering wheel and exclamation point to the right of it) came on also
11656397 Failure of Flexible Steering Coupler, part of the Motor Driven Power Steering. This flexible coupler deteriorated noticeably over about 6 months time. Currently steering is very erratic with crunching sounds when turning wheel. This is a serious safety concern
11554510 This has happened several times to me! While driving the steering wheel locks up and I have to coast to a stop to turn off the engine to reset the wheel. It has happened going 60mph down the hwy with my 3 young kids in the backseat

Forward collision system false braking activationFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5 complaints2022-09 → 2023-09optima-2017-fca-false-braking

11547008 Twice while driving in rain my front end collision warning has taken control from me and slammed on the brakes bringing my car to a full stop. There was no vehicle or object in front of me either time
11493365 Forward collision avoidance system activated with no vehicle stopped in front. Brakes locked up multiple times and then unlocked
11486092 I was driving with an SUV in front of me at 18-wheeler in front of them. This is on a road where the speed limit is 65 however there's a section on 301 where there's a traffic light

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
255	2017-04-06	2026-08-24	4	9	ENGINE:164; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:33; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:25; POWER TRAIN:21; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM:20

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
18V907000	19/12/2018	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS	Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.	A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.	Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
18V161000	08/03/2018	HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM	Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.	If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.	Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.
23V594000	24/08/2023	LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH	Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."	A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.	Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.

Investigations all years →

action_number	status	subject	components	opened	closed	recall_campaign	summary
DP22003	closed	Loss of Motive Power	ENGINE	2022-09-12	2023-12-12	·	The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complain
EA19001	closed	Electrical overstress	AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE	2019-04-19	2024-09-19	20V024	The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mount
EA21003	closed	Engine Fires	ENGINE	2021-12-22	2024-02-05	23V877	On March 29, 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened two Preliminary Evaluations (PE19-003 on Hyundai and PE19-004 on Kia) to broadly investigate incidents of non-crash fires (regardless of origin or operational status of the vehicle) on various model year Hyundai and Kia vehicles. During the PE investigations, Hyundai and Kia issued several recalls to address vehicle fires, including those due to engine failures involving various engine types. The remedies for the engine failure recalls typically involve engine inspection (to detect existing damage), and if necessary, engine

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	47	legacy-code	0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2017 Kia Optima vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2017/kia/optima

@misc{wrenchpro_2017_kia_optima_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2017 Kia Optima},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2017/kia/optima}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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