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.
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
Air bags, Aug 6, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SEAT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 09/25/13*LJ
Latches/locks/linkages, Apr 10, 2013
MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHILE I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY COULD NOT GET ME IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER AND NOW MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME IT COSTS OVER $200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IF I WERE EVER IN AN ACCIDENT THE PERSON SITTING IN THIS SEAT WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. *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
Air bags, Feb 10, 2013, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT WHERE IT WENT OFF THE ROAD, INTO THE DITCH AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN DURING THE ACCIDENT AND WAS ALL THE WAY RECLINED RENDERING THE SEAT BELT INEFFECTIVE. THE INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE GIVEN THE FACT THAT NO BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS OF LITTLE HELP WHEN CONTACTED AND DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE THAT THEIR PRODUCT COULD BE DEFECTIVE. *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
Air bags, Oct 26, 2012, crash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED IT TO TRAVEL OVER A CONCRETE LANE DIVIDER. THE TRUNK SPACE AREA WAS CRUSHED UP AGAINST THE REAR SEATS IN THE VEHICLE. THE SUBSTANTIAL IMPACT DID NOT CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM SEVERE WHIPLASH AND BACK PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SAVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE AIR BAG DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,008. UPDATED 12/11/12*LJ UPDATED 12/14/2012 *JS
Air bags, Oct 1, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE WARNING CHIME SOUNDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CUSHION ASSEMBLY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND THE COMPUTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
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
Tires, Feb 1, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE, JACK, OR LUG NUT WRENCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT SUPPLY THE CONTACT WITH THE MISSING ITEMS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXHIBITS BETTER FUEL EFFICIENCY WITHOUT THEM. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE MISSING EQUIPMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 1,500.
Air bags, Jul 27, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR, ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE AIR BAGS UNDER WARRANTY. THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THEY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/24/11
Child seat, Jan 31, 2011
PURCHASED A SUNSHINE KIDS RADIAN XTSL AND INSTALLED IT REARFACING IN THE BACK CENTER SEAT OF A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE LATCH LOOSENS BY ITSELF, THIS WAS/IS INSTALLED PROPERLY. (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2010, MAKE=OPTIMA, MODEL=KIA). *TR
Equipment, Dec 1, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN INSERTING A CD INTO THE CD PLAYER IT BECAME EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH AND HE WAS AFRAID IT COULD START A FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT IT WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54. UPDATED 01/11/11*LJ UPDATED 01/31/11 *BF UPDATED 02/14/11
Engine and engine cooling, Jun 30, 2010, crash
I WAS PARKING MY CAR IN A LOT WHEN IT SURGED FORWARD (ACCELERATED SUDDENLY) WITHOUT MY DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, SEVERELY DAMAGING THE OTHER VEHICLE AND MINE. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY. *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