The 2010 Kia Optima has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 980,377 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 99 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 6, 2026.
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…
Consequence
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 transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of PARK without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional…
Remedy
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 may contact Kia at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN
24
1crashes1injuries
AIR BAGS
16
5crashes4injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
13
ENGINE
9
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
6
1crashes1injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
1fires
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
SEAT BELTS
2
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints99
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“1.we were driving and the car just cut off. Not from the lack of fuel but cut off in the middle of traffic. (available for inspection) 2.the car stopping in traffic running about 65 mph causes the safety of all on the highway. A very dangerous situation. 3. The problem has showed itself numerous…”
“1.we were driving and the car just cut off. Not from the lack of fuel but cut off in the middle of traffic. (available for inspection) 2.the car stopping in traffic running about 65 mph causes the safety of all on the highway. A very dangerous situation. 3. The problem has showed itself numerous…”
“I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise it’s been parked”
“I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise it’s been parked”
“I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise it’s been parked”
“Car would not engage into “parkâ€� while attempting to park car in driveway. Shifter would not engage in any gear. Tried to reset button in center console. Contacted mechanic, he towed to garage. Plastic clip connected to cable broke. Earlier kia’s had a recall due to this issue, why not all…”
“Car would not engage into “parkâ€� while attempting to park car in driveway. Shifter would not engage in any gear. Tried to reset button in center console. Contacted mechanic, he towed to garage. Plastic clip connected to cable broke. Earlier kia’s had a recall due to this issue, why not all…”
“Car would not engage into “parkâ€� while attempting to park car in driveway. Shifter would not engage in any gear. Tried to reset button in center console. Contacted mechanic, he towed to garage. Plastic clip connected to cable broke. Earlier kia’s had a recall due to this issue, why not all…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP21003 Opened 2021-11-12 · closed 2023-06-20
Throttle control system vulnerabilities
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a petition letter dated October 10, 2021, requesting an investigation of possible defects in the electronic throttle control (ETC) system on certain Kia vehicles resulting in the opening of DP21-003.…
InvestigationDP22003 Opened 2022-09-12 · closed 2023-12-12
Loss of Motive Power
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2010 Kia Optima as of
July 6, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.