2009 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 116 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 18th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2009 reports, 5 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 5 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchApr 1, 2013
Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year 2007-2009 Amanti, and model year 2009 Borrego vehicles. 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. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Campaign 13V114000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electronic stability control (esc)
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Dec 19, 2015
WHILE I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT A RECALL, UNTIL RECENTLY, THE DEALER ADVISED MY INFORMATION WAS PROBABLY NOT PASSED ON TO THE PROPER AUTHORITIES FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER. I WENT TO THE KIA DEALER IN CRYSTAL RIVER AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY PUT A NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP MY ABS/ESC LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND MY CAR STARTED DOING ALL KINDS OF FUNNY THINGS LIKE VIBRATING AND SHUTTERING UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. YOU KNOW YOU COULD FEEL THE SHUTTERING ON THE GAS PEDAL. AT THAT POINT I HAD NO BRAKES AND BARELY STOPPED. I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY THING BUT NOW ITS DOING IT ALL THE TIME AND I CAN'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR AT ALL. I STILL OWE ALMOST 9000.00 DOLLARS AND CAN'T AFFORD A COSTLY REPAIR FROM A RECALL.. I HAVE SPOKE WITH SOME PEOPLE AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN CAUSING THE ECS TO MALFUNCTION IN MANY CASES AND CAUSED THE STABILITY OF THE CAR AND ABS TO ACT UP.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Dec 2, 2014
THE ESC ALARM CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN SHUDDERING. I TRIED TO BRAKE BUT IT SEEMED TO MAKE THE SHUDDERING WORSE. IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER SO I COASTED THE VEHICLE.TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I TURNED THE IGNITION AGAIN AND THE CAR CAME ON FIRST TRY BUT THE ESC ALARM WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AND USUALLY IS ALTHOUGH IT TURNS OFF FROM TIME TO TIME. *JS
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Nov 23, 2013
PER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 13V114 I TOOK MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA TO KOONS KIA IN WOODBRIDGE ON 11/21/2013 TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE'S STOP LAMP SWITCH. THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER I HAVE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON. BOTH OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS AROSE AFTER THE 11/21/2013 STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Sep 3, 2013
I WAS BACKING UP TO PART MY VEHICLE AND PULLED FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR. WHILE PULLING FORWARD I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED - I THEN SLAMMED MY BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND PARKED. TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND CAREFULLY MOVED FORWARD INCIDENT DID NOT REPEAT. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT BURDICK DRIVERS VILLAGE IN CICERO, NY AND DIAGNOSTICS RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE FAULTY PART NUMBERS. I HAVE MY OLD BRAKE SWITCH AND IF IT MATCHES THE RECALLED ONES I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. MY SON ALSO HAS A 2009 OPTIMA AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 7, 2013
THE ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS. TOOK CAR IN TO COWBOY KIA AND WAS TOLD CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THERE WILL BE A $90.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jul 24, 2013
1ST ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON, PRESSING ESC BUTTON DID NOTHING. CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. BLINKERS WORK, BUT NO BRAKE LIGHTS. FUSES & BULBS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND NONE ARE BLOWN. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 17, 2012
ESC STARTS BLINKING WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE GOES DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN. *TR
Suspension, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 15, 2011
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I NOTICED THAT THE CAR STARTED HANDLING DIFFERENTLY AND NOTICED THAT THE ESC OFF LIGHT HAD COME ON. I CHANGED THE WAY I WAS DRIVING TO COMPENSATE FOR THE LACK OF STABILITY AND GOT TO WHERE I COULD STOP SAFELY. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTING THE LIGHT WENT OFF BUT HAS SINCE COME BACK ON AGAIN TWICE IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. I AM CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR OR THAT SOMETHING IS GOING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION CONTROL. *TR
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 13, 2011
WHILE DRIVING ON A NORMAL DAY WITH OUT RAIN AND GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS ESC STARTS BLINKING AND KEEPS BLINKING AND THE SPEED KEEPS GOING DOWN. EVEN AFTER FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAPPENED 3 TIMES TWICE AFTER REPLACING A BRAKE SWITCH THAT WENT FAULTY. TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT HE COULD NOT FIND ANY CODE ON THE VEHICLE RECORDED. REALLY WORRIED OF THINKING IF THIS HAPPEND WHEN I GO ON TO A FREE WAY. *TR