Model year 2020 · Large Cars, Midsize Cars
2020 Kia Optima: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2020 Kia Optima at 24–42 mpg combined across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 153 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
0
EPA combined mpg
24–42
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, OPTIMA PHEV.
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.
2020 Kia Optima recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 0 safety recalls for the 2020 Kia Optima, newest first.
No recalls are listed for the 2020 Kia Optima in NHTSA's recall file as of Oct 28, 2026.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2020 Kia Optima fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination; electric figures are in MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent). 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.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | City/Hwy/Comb | Electric range | Fuel cost/yr | CO2 g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optima | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 7-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 27/37/31 mpg | — | $2,150 | 292 |
| Optima | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 21/30/24 mpg | — | $2,800 | 371 |
| Optima | 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 24/32/27 mpg | — | $2,500 | 330 |
| Optima FE | 2.4L 4-cyl | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 25/35/29 mpg | — | $2,300 | 311 |
| Optima Hybrid | 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | 40/45/42 mpg | — | $1,600 | 213 |
| Optima Plug-in Hybrid | 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid | Automatic 6-speed | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular Gas and Electricity / Electricity | 39/44/41 mpg 101 MPGe on electricity | 28 mi | $1,650 | 97 |
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.
2020 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.
| Tested vehicle | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk | Forward collision warning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 9.8% | Standard |
| 2020 Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 5 stars | 9.8% | Standard |
| 2020 Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | — | Standard |
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.
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2020 Kia Optima owner complaints
Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Optima, most recently on Oct 9, 2026. 6 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 5 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
| Component named in complaints | Mentions |
|---|---|
| Engine | 103 |
| Power train | 28 |
| Unknown or other | 17 |
| Electrical system | 14 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 12 |
| Air bags | 7 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 7 |
| Service brakes | 7 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 |
| Seat belts | 4 |
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
| Year | Combined | Recalls | Complaints | Overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2015 Optima | 24–37 mpg | 4 | 1,020 | 5/5 |
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Other 2020 Kia models
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.