2009 Kia Optima reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2009 Kia Optima — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 166
- 6 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 29 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 1
- see below
- Reported harm
- 6 reported crashes · 5 injuries · 1 death · 10 fires
What owners report fails — 2009 Kia Optima
- POWER TRAIN 29
- AIR BAGS 28
- SERVICE BRAKES 17
- ENGINE 14
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12
1 recall on record for the 2009 Kia Optima
- NHTSA 13V114000 · 2013 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2009 Kia Optima
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2009 Kia Optima units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2009 Kia Optima reliable?
NHTSA has 166 consumer complaints on record for the 2009 Kia Optima and 1 recall. The most-reported problem area is power train (29 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2009 Kia Optima units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Kia Optima?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (29), air bags (28), service brakes (17), engine (14). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2009 Kia Optima?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.