Most common 2015 Kia Optima problems
Share of the 1,009 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 →
2015 Kia Optima recalls (4)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if…
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge.
Engine
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign.
Remedy: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2015 Kia Optima:
Electrical overstress
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events.
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.
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando.
What 2015 Kia Optima owners say
Engine & cooling all 647 →
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact's daughter was driving at approximately 60 MPH when numerous lights on the dashboard illuminated. The contact stated that her daughter said that the vehicle stalled, however, she was in the right-hand lane and pulled over. The daughter said that smoke was being emitted from the engine compartment. The contact stated her daughter was picked up by family and the vehicle was left at the side of the highway. The contact stated that the daughter's companion retrieved the vehicle. The contact stated that he opened the hood and checked the oil and observed that there was no oil showing on the dipstick. The contact filled the vehicle's oil reservoir and started the vehicle. The contact said that he also reported that all panel warnings illuminated and the vehicle had begun to emit smoke. …
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while the daughter was driving at approximately 80 MPH and attempting to pass a tractor-trailer in the left lane, the vehicle behind her aggressively merged into the same lane causing a crash to the passenger side of the vehicle. The other vehicle fled the scene. The contact's daughter merged to the shoulder of the road. There was damage to the front passenger side door, and front passenger wheel well, and tire. The vehicle failed to restart. The police were on the scene however no Police Report was filed. There were no injuries reported. The vehicle was towed to a collision center for cosmetic repairs but the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was then towed to a local dealer. The dealer diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. …
Electrical system all 135 →
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, he noticed an abnormal burning odor; however, the temperature gauge did not indicate that the vehicle was overheating. The contact stated that upon noticing that the burning odor was becoming stronger, the contact pulled to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that while exiting the vehicle, he noticed flames coming out through the upper part of the hood, near the windshield. The contact opened the hood and noticed that there was fire under the hood. The contact stated that the fire expanded, and the vehicle significantly burned from the front end to the rear seats. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The contact was unsure whether a fire department report was filed. …
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, during a DoorDash delivery, the vehicle vibrated. The contact pulled to the side of the road and noticed smoke emitting underneath the vehicle from the right side. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed smoke emitting from underneath the hood. The state troopers were called. By the time the fire department arrived, the vehicle was engulfed in flames, and the engine had exploded. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact was not injured. No police report was filed. The state troopers believed that the fire was caused by an electrical short. The contact stated that prior to the fire, the vehicle vibrated when idled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard. The insurance company was not notified about the fire. …
Brakes all 90 →
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while stationary with the engine on, the check engine warning light illuminated. After pulling into a parking lot, the vehicle stalled and was unable to be restarted. With the assistance of a nearby police officer, the contact placed the vehicle into neutral and backed into a parking spot. While waiting for her boyfriend to arrive at the scene, she noticed that dark grayish smoke was coming from the engine. The contact and her daughter immediately exited the vehicle as another police officer showed up at the scene. The officer attempted to extinguish the fire with an extinguisher but failed to do so. The fire department arrived at the scene and was able to extinguish the fire. The contact was uncertain if a fire or police report was filed. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard where it remained. …
The contact owed a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the contact started the vehicle to warm it up and went back into the house while the vehicle warmed up. The contact stated that when she returned from the house to enter the vehicle, the vehicle had independently turned off. The contact stated she restarted the vehicle, however the contact noticed smoke exiting from under the vehicle hood. The contact stated the vehicle was turned off and a family member attempted to raise the engine hood when he noticed the hood was too hot to touch. …
2015 Kia Optima engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid | 6-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 35 / 38 / 37 |
| 2.4L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 33 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Kia Optima a good car?
Based on 1,009 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Optima rates avoid: 6.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Optima at the same age. It is one of the Optima years we suggest avoiding. 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 2015 Kia Optima?
The engine & cooling — 647 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system › manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe. Next are the electrical system (135) and brakes (90).
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Optima have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2015 Kia Optima, the most recent from September 25, 2023 (control unit/module). 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 2015 Kia Optima problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 80,000 miles; 23% 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.