Most common 2009 Kia Optima problems
Share of the 116 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Kia Optima complaints by model year
Best Optima years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016, 2011. Compare all years →
2009 Kia Optima recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2009 Kia Optima:
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021.
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.
What 2009 Kia Optima owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 33 →
Late last year (2014) in our Kia Optima 2009 got some transmission issue which is difficult to explain for. To me it looks like a manufacturing defect which Kia must resolve. This is what I experienced: in 2014 October, I started feeling a heavy jolt/jerk whenever I used the car and the engine is cold. The jolt is so strong that every passenger noticed it. This happens only when I try to slow down the car and it gets near to 20 mphr. So the factors are: 1. Cold 2. Downshift 3. Speed 20 mphr on slippery roads it May be very dangerous which can lead to major injuries. Kia must accept this dangerous manufacturing defect before it start taking lives. It is very annoying issue too, it is always on my mind while driving which is causing distraction while driving. Kia must take an action instead of sitting quite. They must issue recall this to fix this dangerous issue. …
When I get around 20 miles per hour the car downshifts hard form 2nd gear to 1 st gear hwne it is cold ...but once it warms up it is fine ...this vehicle only has 53,000 miles on it ... It should not be having transmission issues ...it has hardly been driven ...I called the dealer they said the warranty ran out ... I called Kia they said the same thing ...this is a issue with the transmission control module ... This should be a recall ... I should not have to pay for this ...it is a manufacturer defect ...it is said they don't stand behind their products ... I am not the only one who has had this issue with Kia optimas ...please do a recall on this matter ...it is getting out of hand ..thanks [redacted]
Air bags all 28 →
The airbags did not deploy while the car was being driven at 65 mph on Interstate 275 S and crashed into a wall barrier. Since the airbags did not deploy, the driver's head was thrown around because the rest of his body was held firm by the seat belt. The driver was transported by ambulance to the hospital. After several tests, it was determined that the driver suffered a broken neck and spinal damage and must wear as an Aspen neck brace for 6 weeks and then be examined by a Neurosurgeon to determine if there is any further damage or additional medical care is required. The driver is unable to work until released by a Neurosurgeon. The car was declared a total loss.
While hitting several trees in my Kia Optima, going about 45mph, the air bags did not deploy. My insurance company said from their experience and from looking at the damage of the car, they also think the air bags should have deployed. However, nobody was seriously injured, no thanks to the air bags.
Brakes all 21 →
Late last year (2014) in our Kia Optima 2009 got some transmission issue which is difficult to explain for. To me it looks like a manufacturing defect which Kia must resolve. This is what I experienced: in 2014 October, I started feeling a heavy jolt/jerk whenever I used the car and the engine is cold. The jolt is so strong that every passenger noticed it. This happens only when I try to slow down the car and it gets near to 20 mphr. So the factors are: 1. Cold 2. Downshift 3. Speed 20 mphr on slippery roads it May be very dangerous which can lead to major injuries. Kia must accept this dangerous manufacturing defect before it start taking lives. It is very annoying issue too, it is always on my mind while driving which is causing distraction while driving. Kia must take an action instead of sitting quite. They must issue recall this to fix this dangerous issue. …
While I was not notified about a recall, until recently, the dealer advised my information was probably not passed on to the proper authorities from the previous owner. I went to the Kia dealer in crystal river and they supposedly put a new brake light switch on my vehicle and when I left the dealership my ABS/ESC lights were illuminated on the dash and my car started doing all kinds of funny things like vibrating and shuttering under the gas pedal. You know you could feel the shuttering on the gas pedal. At that point I had no brakes and barely stopped. I thought it was only a temporary thing but now its doing it all the time and I can't feel safe driving the car at all. I still owe almost 9000.00 dollars and can't afford a costly repair from a recall.. …
2009 Kia Optima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 32 / 25 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 32 / 25 |
| 2.7L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Kia Optima a good car?
Based on 116 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2009 Optima rates average: 26% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Optima at the same age. It is one of the best Optima years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Kia Optima?
The transmission & drivetrain — 33 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the air bags (28) and brakes (21).
How many recalls does the 2009 Kia Optima have?
There is 1 recall for the 2009 Kia Optima, the most recent from April 1, 2013 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Kia Optima?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2015, 2012, 2016 and 2011. See the full Kia Optima years comparison.
At what mileage do 2009 Kia Optima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 64,000 miles; 31% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.