2nd generation · MG (Lotze/Magentis abroad); US launch as '2006.5' · 884 complaints, 700 with mileage
Owners filed 884 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006–2010 Kia Optima, and 700 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
This generation has two distinct failure patterns rather than one, which is the most useful thing on this page. 17% of failures occur before 12,000 miles, which looks like a manufacturing defect, and a further 24% occur after 100,000, which looks like wear. Two different problems share one name in the complaint data — and an average of the two describes neither.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (24.4% of complaints, typically around 64,500 miles), the transmission and driveline (11.5% of complaints, typically around 67,500 miles), the electrical system (9.3% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
3 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 216 | 24.4% | 64,500 | 15,000–89,000 |
| Power Train | 102 | 11.5% | 67,500 | 52,000–97,000 |
| Electrical System | 82 | 9.3% | 70,000 | 23,269–100,000 |
| Engine | 64 | 7.2% | 97,000 | 66,961–140,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 62 | 7.0% | 89,639 | 31,000–118,000 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 36 | 4.1% | 70,000 | 40,000–90,000 |
| Visibility | 35 | 4.0% | 55,500 | 19,000–74,102 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 33 | 3.7% | 71,651 | 60,743–100,000 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 29 | 3.3% | 71,500 | 38,500–90,000 |
| Service Brakes | 28 | 3.2% | 72,386 | 40,000–99,560 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 214 | 179 |
| 2007 | 217 | 169 |
| 2008 | 188 | 137 |
| 2009 | 166 | 135 |
| 2010 | 99 | 80 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 67,750 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 24.4% of complaints (216 reports, 168 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,000 and 89,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 11.5% of complaints (102 reports, 85 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 67,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 52,000 and 97,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 9.3% of complaints (82 reports, 67 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,269 and 100,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 7.2% of complaints (64 reports, 49 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 97,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 66,961 and 140,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 7.0% of complaints (62 reports, 42 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 89,639 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 31,000 and 118,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 4.1% of complaints (36 reports, 25 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 90,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2007 model year drew the most — 217 complaints — while 2010 drew the fewest at 99. The median year sits at 188.
NHTSA records 3 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 884 complaints filed against this generation, 66 reported a crash; 26 reported a fire; 56 reported an injury; 13 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, the two-peak pattern is the useful part. The early cluster — 17% of failures below 12,000 miles — will already have happened on any example you are looking at today, and either been repaired under warranty or not. Ask what was done. The late cluster, 24% above 100,000 miles, is the one still ahead of you if the car has lower mileage than that.
On inspection, the airbag system and the transmission and driveline are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 64,500, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Electric/electro-hydraulic power steering column and motor faults causing intermittent loss of assist and noise.
Clockspring failure disabling the driver airbag and horn; also Takata inflator exposure on later model years.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 13V114000 | 2013-04-19 | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch |
| 12V014000 | 2012-07-11 | Air Bags:Frontal |
| 11V153000 | 2011-03-23 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift |