Showing the 2019 Optima S. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
24–41 mpgcombined; city 21–39, highway 30–45; every version of this model year; plug-in hybrid versions on gasoline, 103 MPGe on electricity
Five years of fuel
$7,920–$13,530U.S. average; Ohio $7,080–$12,090 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026. Plug-in hybrid versions: $8,500, EPA's own estimate for plug-in hybrids: its national gasoline and electricity prices and the share of miles it expects on electricity; not priced for any state
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2019 Optima. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 213 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Optima. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine
93
0
6
0
Unknown or other
43
2
1
2
Forward collision avoidance
36
8
0
5
Electrical system
23
0
3
0
Service brakes
19
5
0
3
Fuel/propulsion system
17
0
1
0
Power train
17
0
0
0
Structure
14
1
0
0
Air bags
12
9
0
11
Vehicle speed control
11
1
0
0
Lane departure
7
2
0
1
Steering
6
0
0
0
13 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
3
0
0
0
Wheels
3
0
0
0
Back over prevention
2
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
2
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
2
0
0
0
Seat belts
2
0
0
0
Tires
2
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
2
0
0
0
Fuel system, gasoline
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Visibility
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2019 Optima over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause the braking assist function to not engage when a stationary vehicle is detected.
Risk: Improper intervention of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC179.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 153 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2019 Optima, the latest on Sep 11, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (51), engine and engine cooling (43), engine (29), equipment (10), fuel system (10).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Defect petition DP22005 Pedestrian alert sounds · covers 43 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2019 Optima.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: large cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
Optima Front-Wheel Drive
1.6 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (AM7)
Regular Gasoline
27 / 37 / 31
Optima Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
24 / 33 / 27
Optima Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
21 / 30 / 24
Optima FE Front-Wheel Drive
2.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
25 / 35 / 29
Optima Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM6)
Regular Gasoline
39 / 45 / 41
Optima Plug-in Hybrid Front-Wheel Drive
2.0 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (AM6)
Regular Gasoline or Electricity 29 miles on electricity, 610 miles in all
38 / 43 / 40 on gasoline 103 MPGe on electricity
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data