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2010 Kia Optima
Sedan · 2010–2020 · Optima, Optima Hybrid, Optima Plug-In Hybrid
Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2010GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual Extended coverage
61 serious complaints of 75, the most about power train (24) and air bags (17); per car on the road, 0.8× this model's usual year. 1 recall.
What owners report
“The car lurches or jerks when slowing down or stopping at about 20 mph . Lurch or jerking is enough to jerk to the driver . Has anyone got answer to why the Kia Optima 2010 does this.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the power train, Feb 2022
“The contact owns a 2010 kia optima. The contact stated that another vehicle crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 63,100.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Feb 2014
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage The warranty extension will address failures of the ocs sensor mat as reported by some vehicle owners. Is extending the warranty coverage for the front passenger occupant classification system (ocs) sensor mat for certain 2008-2011 my rio vehicles produced after december 8, 2007 and all 2006-2010… (WTY002DEALERP, Jun 2016)
- Extended coverage If the sensor mat is not working properly, the airbag warning light on the cluster will illuminate and dtc(s) b1447, b1448, b1449 and/or b1450 may be stored. Kia is extending the warranty for the ocs sensor mat for the affected vehicles to 15 years / unlimited mileage, starting from the date of… (WTY002BULLETINOP, Aug 2016)
- Extended coverage This warranty extension addresses failures of the ocs sensor mat as reported by some vehicle owners. To that end, kia is extending the warranty coverage for the front passenger occupant classification system (ocs) sensor mat to 15 years with unlimited mileage, starting from the date of first… (WTY002OWNEROPT, Jun 2016)
- Extended coverage q and a: wty002 - certain 2008-2011 my kia rio vehicles and all 2006-2010 my kia optima vehicles front passenger ocs sensor mat kia new vehicle limited warranty extension (WTY002QA, Jun 2016)
- Repair program tsb: voluntary service campaign - application of additional anti-corrosion material (sc122) - to improve customer satisfaction, kia is launching this bulletin to apply additional anticorrosion protection to various vehicle underbody components of some 2010~2013my soul (am), 2004~2009my spectra… (TSBSC122, Jul 2015)
- Repair program Will be conducting a voluntary service campaign, as a preventative measure, to add additional anti-corrosion material to the underbody of all 2006-2011 my rio, 2004-2009 my spectra, 2006-2010 my optima, 2010-2013 my soul, and 2007-2010 my rondo vehicles originally retailed and/or currently… (DEALERPSC122, Jul 2015)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
75 owner complaints · 1 recall (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 23–25 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2010 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
What changed for 2010
First year we have trim data for.
2010 Optima trims
| EX | LX | SX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | |||
| Engine | 2.4L I4: 2.4L I4 2.7L V6: 2.7L V6 | 2.4L I4 | 2.4L I4: 2.4L I4 2.7L V6: 2.7L V6 |
| Horsepower | 2.4L I4: 175 hp 2.7L V6: 194 hp | 175 hp | 2.4L I4: 175 hp 2.7L V6: 194 hp |
| Torque | 2.4L I4: 169 lb-ft 2.7L V6: 184 lb-ft | 169 lb-ft | 2.4L I4: 169 lb-ft 2.7L V6: 184 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Sportmatic | Automatic: Sportmatic Manual: — | Sportmatic |
| Gears | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Drivetrain | 2.4L I4 / 2.7L V6 | Automatic / Manual | 2.4L I4 / 2.7L V6 |
| Size and capability | |||
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Trunk | 15 cu ft | 15 cu ft | 15 cu ft |
| Ground clearance | 6.3 in | 6.3 in | 6.3 in |
| Length | 189 in | 189 in | 189 in |
| Curb weight | 2.4L I4: 3,197 lb 2.7L V6: 3,294 lb | Automatic: 3,197 lb Manual: 3,157 lb | 2.4L I4: 3,197 lb 2.7L V6: 3,294 lb |
| Tech | |||
| Apple CarPlay | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Android Auto | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Audio | Optional | — | Optional |
| Speakers | — | 6 | — |
| Comfort | |||
| Seats | Leather | Cloth | Leather |
| Heated seats | Optional | — | Optional |
| Exterior | |||
| Sunroof | Optional | — | Optional |
| Wheels | 16 in + option | 16 in + option | 17 in |
Packages and options (20)
| EX | LX | SX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EX / SX Premium Package | Optional | — | Optional |
| LX Convenience Package | — | Optional | — |
| Chrome Front Grille | Standard | Optional | — |
| Side-Mirror Turn-Signal Indicators | Standard | Optional | Standard |
| Floor Mats | Standard | Optional | Standard |
| Bluetooth Wireless Technology | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Navigation System | Optional | — | Optional |
| Bright Silver | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Clear White | Optional | Optional | — |
| Ebony Black | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Metal Bronze | Optional | Optional | — |
| Midnight Blue | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Platinum Graphite | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Snow White | Optional | — | — |
| Spicy Red | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Beige Cloth | — | Optional | — |
| Beige Leather | Optional | — | — |
| Black Leather and Sport Cloth | — | — | Optional |
| Gray Cloth | — | Optional | — |
| Gray Leather | Optional | — | — |
Trim data from OpenSpec (ODbL 1.0), built from Oem brochure, Nhtsa vin decode. Still partial for this year: model, trims, powertrain, fuel economy, chassis, dimensions, exterior, interior, infotainment, safety, warranty, options, option rules, vin decode. "Optional" means a package or option adds it; hover for which.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 178 hp 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 154–245 hp 2.4L 4-cyl, 185 hp | FWD | 24–42 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 150 | Engine (101) | Yes |
| 2019 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 178 hp 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 154–245 hp 2.4L 4-cyl, 185 hp | FWD | 24–41 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 211 | Engine (91) | Yes |
| 2018 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 178 hp 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 154–245 hp 2.4L 4-cyl, 185 hp | FWD | 25–42 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 243 | Engine (137) | Yes |
| 2017 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo, 178 hp 2.0L 4-cyl hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl plug-in hybrid, 154–245 hp 2.0L 4-cyl turbo, 154–245 hp 2.4L 4-cyl, 185 hp | FWD | 25–42 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 305 | Engine (191) | Yes |
| 2016 | 1.6L 4-cyl turbo 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl, 185 hp 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid, 185 hp | FWD | 25–37 mpg | 5 of 5 | 5 | 760 | Engine (427) | Yes |
| 2015 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid | FWD | 24–37 mpg | 5 of 5 | 4 | 1021 | Engine (627) | Yes |
| 2014 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid | FWD | 24–37 mpg | 5 of 5 | 7 | 617 | Engine (299) | No |
| 2013 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid manual available | FWD | 26–37 mpg | 5 of 5 | 10 | 1438 | Engine (625) | No |
| 2012 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid manual available | FWD | 26–36 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 1028 | Engine (470) | No |
| 2011 | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl 2.4L 4-cyl hybrid manual available | FWD | 26–36 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 627 | Engine (275) | No |
| 2010 | 2.4L 4-cyl 2.7L 6-cyl manual available | FWD | 23–25 mpg | Not rated | 1 | 75 | Power train (24) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: Optima 2015–2020 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 148 |
| 2020 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 210 |
| 2019 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 1 | 210 |
| 2019 | Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 1 | 210 |
| 2018 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 232 |
| 2018 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 3 |
| 2018 | Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 3 | 243 |
| 2017 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 3 | 256 |
| 2017 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 2 | 26 |
| 2017 | Kia Optima Plug-in Hybrid 4 DR FWD | Not Rated | Optional | Optional | 2 | 23 |
| 2016 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | Optional | Optional | 5 | 756 |
| 2016 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 0 | 4 |
| 2015 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 4 | 1009 |
| 2015 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 0 | 12 |
| 2014 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 7 | 586 |
| 2014 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 0 | 31 |
| 2013 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 9 | 1383 |
| 2013 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 2 | 55 |
| 2012 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 919 |
| 2012 | Kia Optima Hybrid 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 3 | 109 |
| 2011 | Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5 | No | No | 5 | 593 |
| 2010 | Kia Optima 4-DR w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 1 | 75 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Optima | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
24–31 |
| 2020 | Optima FE | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 29 |
| 2020 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 42 |
| 2020 | Optima Plug-in Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 41 |
| 2019 | Optima | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
24–31 |
| 2019 | Optima FE | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 29 |
| 2019 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 41 |
| 2019 | Optima Plug-in Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 40 |
| 2018 | Optima | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
25–31 |
| 2018 | Optima FE | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 29 |
| 2018 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 42 |
| 2018 | Optima Plug-in Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 40 |
| 2018 | Optima S | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 26 |
| 2017 | Optima | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
25–31 |
| 2017 | Optima FE | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 29 |
| 2017 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 42 |
| 2017 | Optima Plug-in Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L | 40 |
| 2016 | Optima | Auto (AM7), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
25–31 |
| 2016 | Optima FE | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
25–29 |
| 2016 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 37 |
| 2016 | Optima Hybrid EX | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 36 |
| 2015 | Optima | Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto (S6), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
24–26 |
| 2015 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 37 |
| 2015 | Optima Hybrid EX | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 36 |
| 2014 | Optima | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
24–26 |
| 2014 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 37 |
| 2014 | Optima Hybrid EX | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 36 |
| 2013 | Optima | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
26–27 |
| 2013 | Optima Hybrid | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 37 |
| 2013 | Optima Hybrid EX | Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 36 |
| 2012 | Optima | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
26–27 |
| 2012 | Optima Hybrid | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 36 |
| 2011 | Optima | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo |
26–27 |
| 2011 | Optima Hybrid | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 36 |
| 2010 | Optima | Auto 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L Auto 5-spd, 6 cyl, 2.7 L |
23–25 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.