The 2015 Kia Optima is a midsize cars vehicle covered by 4 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 1,009 owner complaints and 4 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 31 report a crash and 74 report a fire; 20 complaints report injuries totalling 23 injured people, and 1 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Engine, named in 622 complaints (61.6% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★☆☆ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★★ |
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) that include the 2015 Kia Optima. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 18V907000 — Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, and Fittings 19/12/2018
Summary: 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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 20V519000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 27/08/2020
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Consequence: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 21V331000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 10/05/2021
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Consequence: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 23V652000 — Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module 25/09/2023
Summary: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Owner Complaints (1,009)
Owners have filed 1,009 complaints about the 2015 Kia Optima with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 622 | 61.6% |
| Unknown Or Other | 139 | 13.8% |
| Electrical System | 135 | 13.4% |
| Service Brakes | 90 | 8.9% |
| Structure | 76 | 7.5% |
| Steering | 69 | 6.8% |
| Power Train | 49 | 4.9% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 46 | 4.6% |
| Hydraulic | 41 | 4.1% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 3.6% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 3.1% |
| Air Bags | 26 | 2.6% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Engine, 622 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2023 with 159 filings. Owners filed 1,009 complaints in total across 13 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 31 and those involving a fire number 74; 20 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2015 Kia Optima as a midsize cars vehicle and published ratings for 4 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 24–37 MPG; the median configuration returns 29 city / 35.5 highway / 31 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 36.5 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 24 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 26 |
Showing the 3 most common configuration groups of 4 EPA configurations.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2015 Kia Optima have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 1,009 complaints for the 2015 Kia Optima when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Engine with 622 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2015 Kia Optima?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) covering the 2015 Kia Optima in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 18V907000 for Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, and Fittings.
What is the 2015 Kia Optima's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with 5 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 5 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2015 Kia Optima get?
The EPA rated 4 configurations of the 2015 Kia Optima. Combined fuel economy ranges from 24 to 37 MPG, with a median of 31 MPG (median city 29, median highway 35.5).