The Lemon IndexAll cars · Kia Optima · 2022
2022 Kia Optima. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 3
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | FWD | 29 / 38 / 32 | Regular | $1,950 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (S8) | AWD | 25 / 33 / 28 | Regular | $2,200 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (AM-S8) | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 | Regular | $2,300 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 22,000 and 83,000 miles. Median 57,000, from 21 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system, gasoline | 83,000 | 73,800–90,800 | 8 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Fuel or ev drive system | 26% |
| Electrical | 21% |
| Engine | 20% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 16% |
| Airbags | 9% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 129 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 18 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 5
25V794000 Nov 2025 Fuel System, Gasoline
Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2024 K5 vehicles. A damaged check valve can allow air to enter the fuel tank, causing it to expand and contact hot exhaust components, melting the tank.
Risk. A melted fuel tank can leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Dealers will replace the check valve. The fuel tank will be inspected for damage and replaced as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 16, 2026. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC356. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov
23V149000 Mar 2023 Air Bags / Side/Window / Curtain
Defect. Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. The side curtain air bags may have been installed incorrectly, causing them not to deploy properly in the event of a crash.
Risk. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and reinstall the side curtain air bags, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 7, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC263.
22V760000 Oct 2022 Power Train / Automatic Transmission
Defect. Kia Motors, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Sorento and 2021-2023 K5 vehicles. 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.
Risk. Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC250.
21V519000 Jul 2021 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Defect. Kia Motor America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021 Sorento and 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L turbocharged engines. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the high-pressure fuel pump and fuel rail.
Risk. A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC214.
21V447000 Jun 2021 Lane Departure / Lane Keep / Steering Assist
Defect. Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2021-2022 K5 vehicles equipped with 2.5L T-GDI engines. The Rack-Mounted Motor Driven Power Steering (R-MDPS) system lacks the ability to diagnose communication faults. If a communication fault occurs while driving around a curve with Lane Following Assist (LFA) engaged, the steering assist level may not adjust properly, causing a sudden increase in the steering effort required.
Risk. A sudden increase in steering effort can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy. Dealers will update the R-MDPS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 24, 2021. Owner may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC213.
Manufacturer communications 113
Kia filed 113 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- Technical service bulletin: excessive oil consumption nu/gamma/theta/kappa engines - this…
- Potential low oil pressure due to filter drain plug that was left in filter - attention…
- Technical service bulletin:1.6l t-gdi with mil on dtc p00b7 ecm logic improvement & a/c torque…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kia K5 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Standard | Standard |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com)
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