Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2015 Kia Optima. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗HECU May Cause Engine Compartment Fire
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit May Short
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit May Short
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
High Pressure Fuel Pipe May Leak
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (1,009)
1,009 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 1,009 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 622 | 61.6% |
| Unknown or other | 139 | 13.8% |
| Electrical system | 135 | 13.4% |
| Service brakes | 90 | 8.9% |
| Structure | 76 | 7.5% |
| Steering | 69 | 6.8% |
| Power train | 49 | 4.9% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 46 | 4.6% |
| Vehicle speed control | 36 | 3.6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 31 | 3.1% |
How 2015 compares with other Optima years
Best and worst Optima years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 593 | 5 |
| 2012 | 919 | 5 |
| 2013 | 1,383 | 9 |
| 2014 | 586 | 7 |
| 2015 | 1,009 | 4 |
| 2016 | 756 | 5 |
| 2017 | 256 | 3 |
| 2018 | 232 | 2 |
| 2019 | 210 | 1 |
| 2020 | 148 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2015 Kia Optima 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 36 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $1,850
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 247 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 36 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 35 / 38 / 36 | $1,850 | 247 |
| 2.4 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 33 / 26 | $2,600 | 334 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 / 30 / 24 | $2,800 | 372 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2015 Optima for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2015 Kia Optima FAQ
How many recalls does the 2015 Kia Optima have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 23V652000 (brake), 21V331000 (brake), 20V519000 (brake), 18V907000 (engine). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2015 Kia Optima problems?
Owners filed 1,009 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (622), Unknown or other (139), Electrical system (135) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2015 Kia Optima get?
EPA rates the 2.4 L 4-cyl · Automatic version at 35 city, 38 highway and 36 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2015 Kia Optima get?
NHTSA rated the 2015 Kia Optima 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (9.6% rollover risk).
How does the 2015 Optima compare with other years?
Among the 2011–2020 Kia Optima model years at least five years old, the 2020 drew the fewest complaints (148) and the 2013 the most (1,383). The 2015 drew 1,009. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Summary reviewed on Oct 6, 2026.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.