Worst 2009 Kia Optima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Airbags
Brakes
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2009 Kia Optima.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 29 | — | 1 | 70,335 mi | |
| Airbags | 28 | 4 | — | 64,962 mi | |
| Brakes | 17 | — | — | 76,720 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 14 | — | 4 | 86,715 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 12 | — | 2 | 66,079 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 11 | — | — | 65,661 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 9 | — | — | 65,189 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 8 | — | 1 | 103,638 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 7 | — | — | 65,697 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 4 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Instrument Cluster | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Side/Rear Glass | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2009 Kia Optima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2009 Kia Optima
1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~980,377 vehicles.
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. Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.
Other Kia Optima Years
2009 Kia Optima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2009 Kia Optima reliable?
What are common problems with the 2009 Kia Optima?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2009 Kia Optima?
How safe is the 2009 Kia Optima?
Does the 2009 Kia Optima have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2009 Kia Optima?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Kia Optima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2009 Kia Optima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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