The Lemon Index2009 Kia Optima.
The 2009 Kia Optima is better than average by owner complaints: 23 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 77, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 1 recall, and it gets 23 to 25 mpg combined. The best Kia Optima year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 116 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Kia Optima year. 2009 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 33K to 84K miles on the car (97 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 40K–82K miles
- airbags complaints mostly came at 60K–85K miles
Recalls 1
- lights 2013
Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Kia told dealers about
Kia sent dealers 33 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- TSB - USE OF AFTERMARKET USB CHARGING CABLES IN USB/12V PORTS - This article provides…
- Ecm upgrade for improved shift quality-equipped with 2.4l engine and a/t
- Provides information related to the ecm software upgrade of some vehicles with 3.8l and 2.7l…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedLoss of motive power2022–2023
- ClosedThrottle control system vulnerabilities2021–2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2550–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.4L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
When I brake to 20 mph my car jerks forward. I called the Kia consumer line and they told me that the problem hadn't been heard of.
2009 Kia Optima owner · NHTSA complaint 10443514
More owner reports
When driving car is ok, but when you slow down to around 20 mph the car jerks , but after car I driven for around 10-15 miles it doesn't do it.
NHTSA complaint 10437898
Quick answers
Is the 2009 Kia Optima reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.3× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 77; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Optima year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2009 Kia Optima problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (30%), electrical (17%) and speed control (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2009 Kia Optima have?
1 safety recall (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Kia Optima get?
23 to 25 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2009 Kia Optima problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 33,800 and 84,000 miles. The middle report was at 64,000 miles, from 97 complaints.
Does the 2009 Kia Optima have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 30% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2009 Kia Optima cost in fuel a year?
About $2550 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2009 Kia Optima have?
2.4L 4-cyl, 2.7L 6-cyl.
What Kia Optima year is better than the 2009?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2017, 2019 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works