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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2019 Kia Optima Plug In Hybrid
Common Problems

Ranked from 79 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

2
Safety
3
High severity
5
Medium
2 problems on this vehicle involve a crash, fire, or injury risk. If you are experiencing one, stop driving and have it inspected.

10 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Excessive Oil Consumption

    27complaints
    High severityEngine

    The engine consumes an excessive amount of oil, requiring frequent refills.

    $400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  2. 2

    Engine oil consumption

    23complaints
    High severityEngine

    The engine consumes oil rapidly, requiring frequent refills.

    $400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Forward collision avoidance system malfunctions

    16complaints
    Safety riskOther

    The forward collision avoidance system incorrectly activates or fails to function properly, leading to potential collisions.

  4. 4

    Paint Peeling and Bubbling

    9complaints
    Medium severityOther

    The paint on the vehicle is peeling and bubbling in various spots, affecting the car's appearance and trade-in value.

  5. 5

    Spark Plug Issues

    9complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    Spark plugs are frequently damaged or misfiring, leading to engine performance issues.

    $200–$900est. ignition service (coils/plugs) · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Faulty Piston Rings

    7complaints
    High severityEngine

    Defective piston rings lead to excessive oil consumption and engine performance issues.

    $400–$4,500est. oil-consumption repair (rings/pcv) · 3–14 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  7. 7

    Airbag Failure

    6complaints
    Safety riskOther

    Airbags failed to deploy during collisions, leading to injuries.

  8. 8

    Brake System Issues

    6complaints
    Medium severityBrakes

    The brake system occasionally fails, causing the brake pedal to go to the floor or the car to not stop properly.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Steering System Malfunction

    3complaints
    Medium severitySteering

    Lane departure assistance and steering control systems malfunction, causing erratic vehicle behavior.

  10. 10

    Engine Starting Issues

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    Intermittent starting issues and hard starts require multiple visits to the dealership.

Other years & sources

2018 Kia Optima Plug In HybridAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.