Best Kia Optima Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Kia Optima years to buy are 2009 and 2010 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Kia Optima year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | OK |
| 2020 | 136 | 0 | OK |
| 2019 | 200 | 1 | OK |
| 2018 | 228 | 2 | OK |
| 2017 | 252 | 3 | OK |
| 2016 | 747 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 998 | 4 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 576 | 7 | AVOID |
| 2013 | 1,371 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2012 | 916 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2011 | 589 | 5 | AVOID |
| 2010 | 75 | 1 | BEST |
| 2009 | 116 | 1 | BEST |
| 2008 | 143 | 3 | OK |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
Picked your Kia Optima year? Have the agent negotiate it.
Our AI agent emails the dealers, negotiates in writing, and brings you itemized out-the-door quotes — you approve every move. No calls, no showroom, your info stays private.
CarWhere AI Car Buying — $34.99/month, cancel anytime.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Kia Optima?
2009 and 2010 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Kia Optima model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Kia Optima years should I avoid?
2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by engine issues. The full breakdown is on our Kia Optima years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Kia Optima a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 6,347 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Kia Optima years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Kia Optima year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Kia Optima you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).