Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Safety risk
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The connecting rod bearings inside the engine may wear prematurely, which can result in engine damage.
Safety risk
A damaged engine can increase the risk of a fire or it can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Dealers will inspect the engine. If bearing damage is found, the engine will be replaced. Dealers will also install a software update containing a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS). Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 29, 2021. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC218.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Engine
18
35,000 mi
Electrical system
7
5,500 mi
Unknown or other
5
8,775 mi
Power train
4
35,000 mi
Service brakes
4
23,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling
2
115,000 mi
Air bags
1
23,000 mi
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
1
10,000 mi
Exterior lighting
1
9,000 mi
Firerelated
1
106,000 mi
Hybrid propulsion system
1
83,000 mi
Suspension
1
8,775 mi
Visibility/wiper
1
83,000 mi
The 2016 model has 5 times as many complaints as this one. The 2018 model has 7 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.