Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Kia Optima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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]
Transmission shifting hard - started around 60,000 miles. Shifts hard from second gear to first gear - around 20 MPH. Took it in to have the system (computer) upgrade in January of 2014 ($500) -- this fixed the issue for about 6 months. Took it back in January of 2015 ($500) for another system (computer) upgrade. It fixed the issue for several months. Took it back to Kia and the dealership recommended a new transmission. I asked the tech if he could guarantee me that this would stop the issue. He told me he could not guarantee me that installing a new transmission would stop the hard downshifting issue. It downshifts so hard that you feel like someone has slammed on the brakes.
While slowing down and breaking the transmission makes a rough downshift around 20 MPH. It will literally jolt the diver and passengers. The transmission will do this until it has warmed up. It is especially bad during the cold winter months. The dealer has looked at it three different times and made one adjustment to the transmission software but to no avail. I stopped by the dealer again yesterday and they said I would be charged a $105 fee just to look at it. I am afraid the transmission is going to lock-up and cause a wreck.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the instrument panel indicated that the vehicle was in drive regardless of the gear shifter's position. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by engaging the emergency brake. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the details of the failure were not provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 82,000.
My 2009 Kia Optima with 90,000 miles is experiencing a hard downshift into first gear when it decelerates to about 20 MPH. It is so abrupt, it feels as if the brakes have been applied very rapidly. The car jerks forward and is accompanied by a clunking sound from the transmission. It mostly happens when the vehicle is cold and goes away after it has warmed up. It just started and I have not taken it to be serviced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while shifting the vehicle into the park position, the key remained stuck in the ignition switch while attempting to turn the vehicle off. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
While driving the car when cold the car downshifts hard into first at about 20 MPH. Almost at sometimes feeling like I have been hit from the back. My neck has started hurting from whiplash. This is a very horrible problem that needs to be fixed. In states where roads become wet, icy, and covered with snow, this can cause a lot of damage/ possibly death.
Car lurches at 20 MPH when slowing down to a stop. This happens after just starting the car, once driven on the highway it downshifts without lurching forward. This happened years ago around 70,000 dealer flushed transmission and it was OK until now at 120,000. Seems like this is a common reoccurring problem that should be recalled.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. While driving 10 MPH and decelerating, the vehicle jerked violently. The failure recurred when the vehicle was cold. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
Transmission complaints in other Optima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2009 Kia Optima?
NHTSA has 33 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2009 Kia Optima, 28% of the model year's 116 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Kia Optima transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2009 Kia Optima, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Kia Optima transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 13% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 1 injury to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.