Lemon Law Check › 2018 Kia Optima
Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 223 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Kia Optima:
| Engine | 88 complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical system | 27 complaints |
| Unknown or other | 21 complaints |
| Power train | 18 complaints |
| Steering | 12 complaints |
| Engine and engine cooling | 11 complaints |
"Steering column coupler went bad. unable to swap out the coupler alone ($12 part) and had to get a whole new column (over $1200). some of the kia's around this one's make and model were recalled but not this one. without this repair driving would have been dangerous."
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2025
"The contact owns a 2018 kia optima. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low-pressure engine oil warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. the contact stated that the vehicle jerked and almost lost motive power however, the contact depr…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/26/2023
"When reversing the brakes take 5 to 10 seconds to release, also the brake light stays on the entire time of this issue happening."
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/24/2018
| Hybrid propulsion system 08/03/2018 · 18V161000 | Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently. |
|---|---|
| Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch 24/08/2023 · 23V594000 | Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, the… |
Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.
If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Optima has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.
Check My Optima — Free →Based on 223 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2018 Kia Optima are engine, electrical system, unknown or other.
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Kia Optima. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.
A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Optima has had engine or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.
Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2018 Kia Optima.
All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.