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
75 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Sep 18, 2016
THE ELECTRICAL DOOR LOCK DO NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME.I HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE KEY SOMETIME.THE CAR IS STATIONARY. THIS START IN MAY 2016 AND CONTINUE.
Seat belts, Jun 24, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATED, THE PASSENGER NOTICED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE WARNING CHIME DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT LATCHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INHERENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,500.
Electrical system, Jun 17, 2016
WHEN IT IS HOT AND THE SUN IS SHINING DOWN ON THE VEHICLE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, THE DRIVERS DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT OPERATE FROM THE KEY FOB? WHEN IT COOLS DOWN SUCH AS EVENING OR EARLY MORNING THE LOCKS WORK JUST FINE FROM THE KEY FOB? SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO HOT OR COOL WEATHER. NO CLUE AT THIS POINT WHY I HAVE TO WORK THE LOCKS MANUALLY WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE?
Electrical system, Apr 28, 2016
POWER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT WORK AT TIMES BOTH INSIDE AND WITH THE REMOTE PREVENTING ALL ABILITY TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS AT A STOP BOTH WHILE RUNNING AND NOT RUNNING. I GENERALLY DO NOT TRY TO OPEN THE DOORS WHILE I'M DRIVING.
Engine, Apr 28, 2016
WHILE DRIVING HOME ONE DAY IN DECEMBER 2015, EACH TIME I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT, YIELD SIGN OR SLOWED TO A LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 15 MPH), MY VEHICLE WOULD SHUT-OFF MULTIPLE TIMES. MY IN MOTION SPEED WAS APPROX 45 MPH WHEN NOT APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR YIELD SIGN. IT HAPPENED BOTH WHEN I WAS TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT ON MAIN ROADS WITH 2-4 LANES. THE DEALERSHIP AND ANOTHER ASME CERTIFIED MECHANIC BOTH STATE ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 2.4L ENGINES MANUFACTURED BY KIA AND HYUNDAI AROUND THIS YEAR UP TO 2015.
Air bags, Mar 8, 2016
TAKATA RECALL. LIGHT ON CLOCK AREA SHOWED AN OFF FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE SUDDENLY ON OR ABOUT 3/6/2016 AN INDICATOR LIGHT SHOWED AN AIR BAG WARNING. I TOOK IT INTO CHAMPION AUTOMOTIVE CARE PLUS. THEY INSPECTED THE INDICATOR LIGHT AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AND STATED TO REPLACE THE PART IT WOULD COST OVER $1000.00. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT WENT OUT. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER A MESSAGE CAME UP THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE OFF. MY ENGINE WAS TURNED ON, WHEN I PUT IT IN GEAR THE OFF LIGHT WENT ON. DUE TO THE LOUSY LIGHTING THE ONLY THING YOU COULD SEE WAS THE OFF LIGHT. THE ONLY TIME I WAS MADE AWARE THERE WAS A PROBLEM IS WHEN THE INDICATOR LIGHT WENT ON.
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.
Structure, Electronic stability control (ESC), Visibility/wiper, Dec 1, 2015
THE WEATHER STRIP ON THE WINDSHIELD ON THE DRIVER SIDE JUST STRARTED LIFTING UP AND COMING OFF AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I CHECKED THE DAMAGE AND SAW THE BLACK PIECE COMPLETELY OFF OF THE WINDSHIELD. IT CONTINUED TO LIFT MORE AS I DROVE. WHEN IT RAINED I BELIEVE WATER IS NOW IN THE SENSORS BECAUSE MY ODOMETER ONLY READS "ECO" ABOVE THE ACTUAL ODOMETER READING. IT BECAME SUCH A HAZARD WHILE DRIVING I HAD TO TAPE DOWN THE WEATHER STRIP JUST TO KEEP IT FROM FULLY COMING OFF MY CAR AND CAUSING FURTHER PAINT DAMAGE TO THE SIDE IT SMACKS AGAINST. NO MECHANIC WILL FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO BEING A MAUFACTURE ERROR AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD IF I DID IT MYSELF. I HAVE CALLED KIA MANUFACTORS IN GA ONLY TO BE PLACED TO VOICEMAIL WITHOUT RESPONSE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND THEY ALSO SAID TO CALL KIA.
Electrical system, Sep 4, 2015
WENT TO GO OUT(6:30 AM) AND FOUND THAT MY TRUNK LID WAS UNLATCHED, NOT OPEN, JUST UNLATCHED. FOUND OUT BY IT SHOWING ON MY DASHBOARD. YESTERDAY, 9/3/15, NEIGHBOR KNOCKED ON MY DOOR (2:45 PM) AND TOLD ME MY PARKING LIGHTS WERE ON. I HAD COME HOME AT 7:30 AM. I HAD GONE OUT WITH A NEIGHBOR A COUPLE OF TIMES, LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. LAST TIME WAS AROUND NOON.
Electrical system, Aug 25, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FOUR POWER DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN ACCESSING WITH THE KEY FOB, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, OR MANUALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE DRIVER HAD TO EXIT FROM ANOTHER DOOR DUE TO THE LOCK FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Electrical system, Structure, Aug 18, 2015
VARIOUS DOORS WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK/UNLOCK FROM THE ELECTRIC SWITCH AND THE KEY FOB. THIS IS AN INTERMENT FAILURE AFFECTING MULTIPLE DOORS IN THE VEHICLE. DIFFERENT DOORS LOCKS ARE FAILING AT DIFFERENT TIMES, BOTH LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. BASED ON MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THIS AFFECTS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 2005 TO 2010 OPTIMAS. THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE OCCUPANTS TO BE TRAPPED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY.
Service brakes, Aug 9, 2015
LOUD GRINDING NOISE DEVELOPED IN RIGHT REAR BRAKE. UPON HIS EXAMINATION, MECHANIC FOUND RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZEN IN THE ENGAGED OR CLOSED POSITION. ALSO, LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FOUND TO BE FROZEN IN THE DISENGAGED OR OPEN POSITION. IN ESSENCE, BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE! WE WERE DRIVING A CAR THAT ONLY HAD FRONT BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. OUR MECHANIC COULDN'T REMEMBER A CASE WHERE BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE ON A CAR. WE BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM TO BE UNACCEPTABLE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 74,314 MILES AND ONLY 5 YEARS OLD.
Air bags, Jul 3, 2015
NOTICED AN AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON ON THE DASH. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR HAD FAILED AND THE COST TO REPAIR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1800. REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED.
Electrical system, Air bags, May 18, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, ABS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,400.
Air bags, Mar 6, 2015
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Visibility, Feb 1, 2015
I LIVE IN IOWA AND WE GOT 6 INCHES OF SNOW.... WENT TO CLEAN THE SNOW OFF MY CAR WITH THE BRUSH PART OF SNOW BRUSH AND WHILE DOING THAT WAS ALSO WARMING UP MY CAR AND AS I WAS CLEANING OFF THE BACK WINDSHIELD I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE WINDOW..... MY BACK WINDOW NOT ONLY HAD A HOLE IN IT BUT SHATTERED!! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!?! I DID NOTHING WRONG!!! NOTHING I HAVEN'T DONE A MILLION TIMES BEFORE AND WHY AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS?!?!? *TR
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
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 23, 2014
OUR VEHICLE STARTED ONLY UNLOCKING THE 3 PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, WHEN USING THE KEYFOB TO UNLOCK. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL STAY LOCKED AND YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH KEY. NOW 2 OF OUR OTHER DOORS(BOTH REAR) DONT UNLOCK. ALL THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYFOB AND WHEN WE PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS, WHICH IS A PAIN IN THE BUTT WHEN YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN! *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, May 9, 2014
DRIVER DOOR FAILS TO UNLOCK WHEN REMOTE IS PRESSED TO UNLOCK BUT WILL UNLOCK ALL OTHER DOORS. THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ALL OTHER DOORS WILL LOCK WITH REMOTE BUT ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. *TR
Air bags, Feb 3, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,100.
Steering, Air bags, Seat belts, Jan 31, 2014, crash
WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, A VEHICLE REAR-ENDED MY 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE DRIVER HIT MY KIA SO HARD, I HIT THE MUSTANG IN FRONT OF ME. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON EITHER IMPACT. KIA WAS DRIVABLE, BUT THERE WERE NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCES IN THE WAY THE CAR DROVE (I.E. STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT, WHEEL SHAKING, ETC). THIS WAS THE EVENING OF 01/23/2014. ON 01/29/2014, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED VEHICLE (TOTALING THE KIA) @ 28-30 MPH. AGAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE IMPACT LIFTED ME UP AND MY HEAD SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE TOP. SEAT BELT WAS IN USE, BUT DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT, FAILING TO SECURE MY BODY. MAJOR CONCUSSION RECEIVED ALONG WITH MULTIPLE BRUISES, CUTS, AND SCRAPES. INVESTIGATION UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING MALFUNCTION DUE TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. *TR
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
Electrical system, Service brakes, Dec 5, 2013
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH OUR 2010 KIA OPTIMA, WHICH CURRENTLY HAS 45000 MILES ON IT. THE TPMS, (!) AND THE AIRBAG "OFF/ON" LIGHTS ALL GO OFF AND ON CONTINUALLY. THEY WILL BE ON FOR A FEW DAYS, THEN GO OFF AND STAY OFF FOR AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF TIME. THE BRAKES ALSO JERK OUR CAR VERY ROUGHLY FORWARD WHEN WE ARE BRAKING. EVEN IF WE ARE GOING 5 MPH, WE PRESS ON THE BRAKES, THEN THE CAR GIVES A BIG JERK BEFORE IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Nov 22, 2013
THE CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME ON, BUT YOU CANNOT "SET" THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER KIA MAKES AND MODELS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. AS FAR AS I CAN RESEARCH, THERE IS NOT A FUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR