2009 Kia Optima Problems
What owners have reported about the 2009 Kia Optima, which problems come up most, at what mileage, and which recalls to check.
From NHTSA owner complaints and recalls. Updated Oct 17, 2026.
Is the 2009 Kia Optima a good year?
It's one of the better years for the Optima. Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA, the 12th most of 13 Optima model years. The most reported problems involve the transmission, airbags and brakes.
116 complaints 1 recall 12th worst of 13 Optima years
Top 2009 Kia Optima problems
Transmission problems
33 complaints (28%) name the transmission, most often the automatic transmission.
Airbag problems
28 complaints (24%) name the airbags.
Brake problems
21 complaints (18%) name the brakes.
Electrical problems
16 complaints (14%) name the electrical system, most often the instrument cluster / panel and ignition.
Which parts fail most
Share of complaints that name each system. One complaint can name several.
Mileage when it failed
Each dot is a complaint that gave a mileage (95 of 116). The amber line is the middle value, about 65,000 miles.
When problems were reported
Complaints by the year the problem happened.
2009 Kia Optima recalls
Switch
Originally, in April 2013, Kia recalled 623,658 model year 2007-2010 Rondo and Sportage, model year 2007-2011 Sorento, model year 2007 Sedona, model year 2010-2011 Soul, and model year 2011 Optima vehicles. In September 2013, Kia informed the agency that it was adding an additional 356,719 vehicles to this campaign. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 980,377. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate. 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 movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kia's recall campaign number is SC098.
Recall 13V114000 · Apr 2013Get an email when your 2009 Kia Optima gets a new recall
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Optima years to avoid
Total NHTSA complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so their totals will keep climbing. See the full comparison.
Common questions
Is the 2009 Kia Optima a reliable year?
It's one of the better years for the Optima. Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA, the 12th most of 13 Optima model years. The most reported problems involve the transmission, airbags and brakes.
What are the most common 2009 Kia Optima problems?
Owners most often report problems with the transmission, airbags, brakes and electrical system. 33 complaints (28%) name the transmission, most often the automatic transmission.
At what mileage do 2009 Kia Optima transmission problems start?
Reported mileage ranged widely, but most complaints fell between about 45,000–77,000 miles, with a middle value near 62,000 miles.
How many recalls does the 2009 Kia Optima have?
1. Switch (13V114000). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if the work was done.
Should I buy a used 2009 Kia Optima?
Ask for service records covering the transmission, confirm the recall work was done, and compare with the 2010, 2009 and 2008 models, which have the fewest complaints.
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Counts include each complaint once per model year.