2009 Kia Optima

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

71/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Kia Optima, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Power train	23	20%
Air bags	21	18%
Engine	5	4%
Service brakes	5	4%
Electrical system	5	4%
Vehicle speed control	5	4%
Exterior lighting	3	3%
Engine and engine cooling	2	2%
Steering	2	2%
Steering	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal knocking noise and then stalled. The contact stated that the battery and check engine warni
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

After 131,500 miles, struts, rotors and pads wore out. Lower ball joint and control arm also wore out, No injuries or accident.
NHTSA complaint: Steering

The airbags did not deploy while the car was being driven at 65 mph on Interstate 275 S and crashed into a wall barrier. Since the airbags did not deploy, the driver's head was thrown around because the rest of his body
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN COLD THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD INTO FIRST AT ABOUT 20 MPH. ALMOST AT SOMETIMES FEELING LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT FROM THE BACK. MY NECK HAS STARTED HURTING FROM WHIPLASH. THIS IS A VERY HORRIBLE PROBL
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD FROM 2ND TO 1ST. DEALER RESET MODULE 10 MONTHS AGO. SOLVED PROBLEM. PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER RESET MODULE BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. CHECKED INTERNET, PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD.
NHTSA complaint: Power train

WHEN CAR IS SLOWING DOWN AND /OR APPROACHING A STOP SIGN IT GIVES A HARD JERK. EVEN IF TRAFFIC SLOWS DOWN ON THE EXPRESS WAY IT GIVES A HARD JERK. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE NOVEMBER 2020.
NHTSA complaint: Power train

LAST WEEK, ON AUG 29TH 2020, I TRIED TO MAKE A LEFT U-TURN ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I GOT SCARED AND JUST DROVE FORWARD TO THE NEXT STREET AND TURNED RIGHT ONTO THAT STREET. ON AUG TH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS DECEASED DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE HE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2009 Kia Optima. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch 13V114000

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 201

Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the trans

Fix: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. Owners

The seven scores

Reliability raw	72	good
Longevity est.	75	good
Maintenance	83	excellent
Depreciation	82	excellent
Performance	49	below average
Efficiency	46	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 27% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 38% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 78% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 84% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 72: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 75: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2009 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 83: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2009 Kia Optima?

Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 23 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2009 Kia Optima reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2009 Kia Optima last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2009 Kia Optima?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.