The Lemon Index2021 Kia Optima.
The 2021 Kia Optima is about average by owner complaints: 82 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 92, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, and it has 6 recalls. The best Kia Optima year is 2017.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 169 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Kia Optima year. 2021 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 3K to 98K miles on the car (31 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 6
- fuel system, gasoline 2025
A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
- airbags 2023
The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
- transmission & drivetrain 2022
The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Show all 6 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2021
Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
- lane assist 2021
The Rack-Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) system lacks the ability to diagnose communication faults.
- airbags 2021
The Occupant Classification and Detection System (OCS/ODS) unit may not detect the presence of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.
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 134 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake…
- Technical service bulletin service action: low pressure fuel line routing inspection and/or…
- Technical service bulletin: service action: multifunction camera (mfc) replacement (sa442) -…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia K5 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
In owners' words
Blower motor stops working, have to take fuse box cover off and move fuse assembly to regain function of blower motor. Replacing fuse only helped for a couple of months.
2021 Kia Optima owner · NHTSA complaint 11631865
More owner reports
The front seats electrical adjustments do not work properly, I have had ir switch mid drive and stying to adjust them is a hassle. They do not work properly.
NHTSA complaint 11478854
Issue with electrical wiring for HVAC. Air conditioner and heater goes out with no power. You have to pop the hood and press on the fuse box to get it to come back on.
NHTSA complaint 11619983
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Kia Optima reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 92; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Kia Optima year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2021 Kia Optima problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (29%), engine (16%) and transmission & drivetrain (12%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Kia Optima have?
6 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2021 Kia Optima safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2021 Kia Optima problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 3,300 and 98,000 miles. The middle report was at 45,000 miles, from 31 complaints.
Does the 2021 Kia Optima have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 12% of its owner complaints.
What Kia Optima year is better than the 2021?
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