The 2017 Kia Optima is a large cars vehicle covered by 6 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 257 owner complaints and 3 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 4 report a crash and 9 report a fire; 2 complaints report injuries totalling 7 injured people, and 0 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Engine, named in 165 complaints (64.2% 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 2017 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 (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) that include the 2017 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 18V161000 — Hybrid Propulsion System 08/03/2018
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
Campaign 23V594000 — Latches/locks/linkages:trunk Lid:latch 24/08/2023
Summary: 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."
Consequence: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Owner Complaints (257)
Owners have filed 257 complaints about the 2017 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 | 165 | 64.2% |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 | 12.8% |
| Electrical System | 25 | 9.7% |
| Power Train | 21 | 8.2% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 20 | 7.8% |
| Exterior Lighting | 15 | 5.8% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 5.1% |
| Steering | 11 | 4.3% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 3.1% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 8 | 3.1% |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 3.1% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 2.3% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Engine, 165 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2023 with 61 filings. Owners filed 257 complaints in total across 10 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 4 and those involving a fire number 9; 2 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2017 Kia Optima as a large cars vehicle and published ratings for 6 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 25–42 MPG; the median configuration returns 26.5 city / 36.5 highway / 30 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM6) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 41 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 28.5 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | Automatic (AM7) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 31 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 25 |
Showing the 4 most common configuration groups of 6 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 2017 Kia Optima have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 257 complaints for the 2017 Kia Optima when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Engine with 165 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2017 Kia Optima?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) covering the 2017 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 2017 Kia Optima's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2017 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 2017 Kia Optima get?
The EPA rated 6 configurations of the 2017 Kia Optima. Combined fuel economy ranges from 25 to 42 MPG, with a median of 30 MPG (median city 26.5, median highway 36.5).