2018 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	2018 / kia / optima
known issues	7 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-20)
complaints	232 on file (2018-01-20 → 2026-09-08)
recalls	2
investigations	2
fars	77 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexed	yes
license	CC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Brake pedal loses pressure or fails to engageSERVICE BRAKES7 complaints2021-01 → 2026-07optima-2018-brake-pedal-loses-pressure

11748040 Purchased vehicle from a used car dealership. Had it a few months before brake pedal started losing pressure and going to floor. Had master cylinder replaced. A few months later, brake light started coming on when accelerating
11550544 I hit the brakes and the brakes went to the floor multiple times and the car just searched straightforward into the brick wall of the building
11532079 The braking system "catches" at 13mph regularly. It feels like the brakes are being applied or the vehicle is downshifting when it is decelarating to around 13mph without any actual braking being manually applied

Trunk latch fails to open or close properlyUNKNOWN OR OTHER4 complaints2022-11 → 2025-10optima-2018-trunk-latch-failure

11693147 Trunk latch broke leaving it impossible for someone in the trunk to get out and very difficult for someone on the outside to open the trunk
11548703 Trunk latch is broken. Car doesn’t alert that trunk is open
11575441 In case of a vehicle lockout and keys are locked in the trunk when car is opened by locksmith there is no way to unlock the trunk from inside of the car the locks become disabled and you have to reset the master switch very inconvenient for emergencies

Excessive oil consumption and Theta II engine failureENGINE134 complaints2020-09 → 2026-07optima-2018-theta-ii-oil-consumption

11734333 2018 Kia Optima LX, 2.4L GDI Theta II engine. Approximately 128,000 miles. Reporting severe internal oil consumption that has progressed to engine misfire and shaking, consistent with late-stage Theta II connecting rod bearing failure
11690169 The engine of my 2018 Kia Optima is burning oil. When it started, I had 72,000 miles, and it's burning one quart of oil every thousand miles. There is no oil leak. I will take it back to Kia on October 2, 2025. The mechanic reported that it has an internal engine issue
11673608 Kia is aware of the engine oil consumption causing misfires, failed emissions test, blowing a rod and engine lock up

Engine compartment fire while driving or parkedENGINE, FIRERELATED5 complaints2020-08 → 2024-12optima-2018-engine-compartment-fire

11628268 I drove the car to the park about 6 miles round trip with family. I came back home and started having lunch for about 25 minutes. I then attempt to start the engine to go to my appointment but then car didn't turn on
11468187 AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING. THE DEALER STATED IT COULD BE DUE TO SPILLED OILED THAT OCCURED DURING THE OIL CHANGE. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED
11350846 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING

Headlights shut off unexpectedly in automatic modeEXTERIOR LIGHTING13 complaints2020-08 → 2024-10optima-2018-headlights-shutoff-auto

11621536 Kia Optima headlights turn off randomly while on automatic. This dangerous issue has been investigated on other Kia models by the NTSB, which them prompted Kia to issue a recall
11613462 My grandson was driving home last night on our Clay County West Virginia narrow unlighted road when his 2018 Kia Optima Headlights went out completely. He wrote that he was scared but finally was able to get lights back on before running off the road
11439651 while driving, all lights (headlights, instrument, etc) would randomly go dark. Lighting usually restored after toggling the instrument control arm from on-to-off-on. Obviously super dangerous as driver can't see roadway and other drivers can't see the car

Power steering loss or lock-up while drivingSTEERING4 complaints2020-12 → 2025-12optima-2018-power-steering-loss

11708064 Steering column coupler went bad. Unable to swap out the coupler alone ($12 part) and had to get a whole new column (over $1200). Some of the Kia's around this one's make and model were recalled but not this one. Without this repair driving would have been dangerous
11387770 TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED IN MID TURN WITH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
11383186 I HAVE 63,826 MILES ON MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA S AND I DROVE IT TO THE STORE AND ALL MY LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHEN I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND MY POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT AND ABOUT CAUSE ME TO WRECK

Air bags failed to deploy in a crashAIR BAGS4 complaints2020-11 → 2026-07optima-2018-airbags-failed-to-deploy

11751435 I was run off the road by a drunk driver I hit a tree at 35MPH MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID MY SEAT BELT LOCK!!!!
11701751 I was rearended, all air bags deployed except steeringwheel
11376266 I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AS I WAS DRIVING ON I65 AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

count	earliest_date	latest_date	crash_flagged	fire_flagged	top_components
232	2018-01-20	2026-09-08	10	10	ENGINE:131; UNKNOWN OR OTHER:37; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:33; POWER TRAIN:18; SERVICE BRAKES:17

Recalls all years →

campaign_number	report_received_date	component	summary	consequence	remedy
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

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_years	occupant_deaths	match_type	vpic_recovered
2010-2024	77	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). 2018 Kia Optima vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2018/kia/optima

@misc{wrenchpro_2018_kia_optima_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2018 Kia Optima},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2018/kia/optima}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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