The Lemon Index
Subscribe

All cars · Kia Optima · Transmission

Kia Optima transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2009 (32 complaints), 2010 (23 complaints), 2001 (12 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2019, 2014, 2024.

Kia Optima
Photo shows a 2018 Kia Optima. Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20011246.3 per 100K sold2002414.9 per 100K sold2003411.5 per 100K sold2004713.1 per 100K sold200524.8 per 100K sold20061333.8 per 100K sold2007819.6 per 100K sold20081533.4 per 100K sold20093285.3 per 100K sold20102384 per 100K sold20111922.5 per 100K sold20123321.7 per 100K sold20132717.3 per 100K sold201463.8 per 100K sold201585 per 100K sold20163125 per 100K sold201787.4 per 100K sold201887.9 per 100K sold201933.1 per 100K sold202067.5 per 100K sold20211111.9 per 100K sold2022913.6 per 100K sold202357.7 per 100K sold202424.3 per 100K sold202556.9 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Hard or jerky shifting29%
Lost power while driving15%
Transmission replaced9%
Delay or hesitation9%
Rolled away or park trouble6%
Stuck in gear or limp mode6%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2023 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.

  • 2016 2016

    The right front axle driveshaft may crack and fail.

  • 2008 2011

    KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 OPTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2005, THROUGH JUNE 13, 2007.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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

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.

2009 Kia Optima owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Kia Optima years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Kia Optima years are 2009, 2010, 2001.

What are common Kia Optima transmission problems?

Owners most often describe hard or jerky shifting, lost power while driving, transmission replaced.

Which Kia Optima years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Kia Optima years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2019, 2014, 2024.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Kia Optima reliability by year. How we count

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data