Model year 2015 · Midsize Cars

2015 Kia Optima: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2015 Kia Optima at 24–37 mpg combined across 4 versions. NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 1,020 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.

Safety recalls

EPA combined mpg

24–37

NHTSA overall rating

5/5

Recall file dated Oct 28, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 28, 2026, 7:36 AM EDT

NHTSA lists this vehicle as OPTIMA HYBRID.

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Kia dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2015 Kia Optima recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 4 safety recalls for the 2015 Kia Optima, newest first.

Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Control unit/module

NHTSA 23V652000 Reported Sep 25, 2023 Park outside

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC284)
Units affected: 1,730,192 (estimate)
Problem: 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. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
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. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Control unit/module

NHTSA 21V331000 Reported May 10, 2021 Park outside

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC212)
Units affected: 440,370 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Risk: An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
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 necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Control unit/module

NHTSA 20V519000 Reported Aug 27, 2020 Park outside

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC197)
Units affected: 440,370 (estimate)
Problem: 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.
Risk: If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine and 1 more component

NHTSA 18V907000 Reported Dec 19, 2018

Filed by: Kia America, Inc. (manufacturer recall no. SC172)
Components: Engine; Fuel system, gasoline: Delivery: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Units affected: 71,653 (estimate)
Problem: 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. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2015 Kia Optima fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2015 Kia Optima EPA fuel economy
Version	Engine	Transmission	Drive	Fuel	City/Hwy/Comb	Fuel cost/yr	CO2 g/mi
Optima	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	20/30/24 mpg	$2,800	372
Optima	2.4L 4-cyl	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	23/33/26 mpg	$2,600	334
Optima Hybrid	2.4L 4-cyl hybrid	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	35/38/37 mpg	$1,800	242
Optima Hybrid EX	2.4L 4-cyl hybrid	Automatic 6-speed	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	35/38/36 mpg	$1,850	247

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2015 Kia Optima crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2015 Kia Optima NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk	Forward collision warning
2015 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	9.6%	No
2015 Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	5 stars	9.6%	No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2015 Kia Optima owner complaints

Owners have filed 1,020 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Kia Optima, most recently on Oct 23, 2026. 31 mention a crash, 76 a fire, 23 injured people and 1 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2015 Kia Optima complaints
Component named in complaints	Mentions
Engine	628
Unknown or other	140
Electrical system	133
Structure: Body	76
Steering	69
Power train	49
Service brakes	49
Fuel/propulsion system	46
Service brakes, hydraulic	41
Vehicle speed control	34

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Kia Optima model years

Kia Optima by model year
Year	Combined	Recalls	Complaints	Overall rating
2020 Optima	24–42 mpg	0	153	5/5
2019 Optima	24–41 mpg	1	213	5/5
2018 Optima	25–42 mpg	3	244	5/5
2017 Optima	25–42 mpg	4	306	5/5
2016 Optima	25–37 mpg	5	764	5/5

All Kia Optima years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2015 Kia models

2015 Kia Cadenza 2015 Kia Forte 2015 Kia K900 2015 Kia Rio 2015 Kia Sedona 2015 Kia Sorento 2015 Kia Soul 2015 Kia Sportage

Sources

Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 28, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Kia.