2010 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 75 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 20th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 7 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
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: power train
24 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Feb 18, 2022
The car lurches or jerks when slowing down or stopping at about 20 mph . Lurch or jerking is enough to jerk to the driver . Has anyone got answer to why the Kia Optima 2010 does this.
Power train, May 26, 2021
Car has very hard downshift at low speed going from 2nd gear to 1st. Seems to be alot of these complaints and would be nice to know of a fix for this problem!
Power train, Feb 8, 2018
TAKATA RECALL - HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST, USUALLY AROUND THE 20MPH MARK! IT'S A SUDDEN JERK AS IF IT HAS BEEN SLAMMED INTO A A LOWER GEAR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Feb 3, 2018
VEHICLE JERKS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AT ABOUT 20 MPH.
Power train, Nov 19, 2017
TAKATA RECALL TRANSMISSION HAS A GRINDING AND WHINING NOISE!! BUT TRANSMISSION SHIFT GEAR SMOOTHLY. THESE NOISE WORSE AT COLD CONDITION AND TURN TO THE LEFT, AND PASSING OVER SPEEDBUMP. AS I HEARD IN THE SOUTH KOREA, THIS IS COMMON OFTEN REPORTED BY DRIVERS WHO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I AM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON BUT ALL CAR MECHANIC COULD NOT FOUND IT. I AM VERY SCARY WHEN I DRIVING. I THINK IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE FUTURE.
Power train, Dec 6, 2015
THE CAR HAS A LURCHING ISSUE WHEN IT SLOWS DOWN TO 20MPH WHEN THE CAR LURCHES WITH A HARD DOWN SHIFT TO 1ST GEAR. THIS PHENOMENA IS ESPECIALLY ACUTE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR WHEN YOU FIRST START DRIVING IT.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Dec 2, 2014
WHILE DECELERATING, EITHER BRAKING OR COASTING, THE CAR WILL LURCH VIOLENTLY WHEN REACHING APPROXIMATELY 22 MPH. THE SEVERITY OF THE LURCH VARIES BUT IN MOST INSTANCES IT IS HARD ENOUGH TO SNAP MY NECK FORWARD. *JS
Power train, Exterior lighting, Jan 24, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILED DUE TO THE A FAILED WIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Power train, Dec 8, 2013
HARD JERK WHEN DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR AT 20-22 MPH. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON WET, ICY OR SNOW COVERED ROADS. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HE SAID HE HAD NOT HEARD OF IT. *TR
Power train, Sep 12, 2013
THE CAR BUCKLES WHEN REDUCING YOUR SPEED TO AROUND 20 MPH. ALSO THE REAR SEAT DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING AND MY CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND KIA WANTS TO CHARGE ME AROUND 700 DOLLARS TO FIX IT. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Mar 20, 2013
VEHICLE KICKS FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 20MPH. *TR
Power train, Service brakes, Mar 7, 2013
WHEN BRAKING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF LESS THEN 20MPH THE CAR LURCHES OR JERKS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE ENGAGING OR THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING HARD. *TR
Power train, Dec 31, 2012
WHEN BRAKING OR NOT AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR CAR JERKS FORWARD. *TR
Power train, Nov 9, 2012
THE CAR LURCHES WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 18 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR. HARD DOWN SHIFT AT EVERY STOP. *TR
Power train, Mar 2, 2012
WHEN SLOWING DOWN WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF USING THE BRAKES, THE CAR JERKS AS THE TRANSMISSION DOES A HARD DOWNSHIFT CAUSING ENOUGH JERK TO THE DRIVER. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. *TR
Power train, Feb 21, 2012
WHEN SLOWING DOWN, EITHER WITH OR WITHOUT BRAKING ASSISTANCE, CAR JERKS AS THE TRANSMISSION DOES A HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR WHEN REACHING 20 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE DOWNSHIFT IS ENOUGH TO JOLT THE DRIVER. *TR
Power train, Air bags, Jun 3, 2010, crash
TL* THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A RENTED 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN DRIVE, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION, BUT IT WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE GEAR SHIFT HAD LOCK UP AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL OR THE PARK POSITION. SHE STATED THE MANUAL READ TO START CAR, THE GEAR SHIFT MUST BE IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE FOOT MUST BE ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE SLIGHTLY MOVED THE KEY, THE VEHICLE STARTED WITH HIGH SPEED AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A BUILDING. THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,750. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ