- Safety
- 5
- of 5 stars
- Recalls
- 0
- none
- MPG
- 31
- combined
No recalls on record
No NHTSA safety recalls for this model year. Still verify the specific VIN, since campaigns can be issued at any time.
Vehicle Summary
2020 Kia Optima
Before You Buy
Safety record at a glance
- Recall campaigns
- 0
- Owner complaints
- 137
- Complaints citing a crash
- 6
These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.
No recall campaigns on record
NHTSA has not issued a safety recall for this model year. That describes the model as built — it says nothing about how this particular car was maintained or repaired.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year.
No recalls on record
NHTSA lists no safety recall campaigns for the 2020 Kia Optima. Recalls can be issued at any time — check the specific VIN before purchase.
Check this VINNHTSA crash-test ratings
NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2020 Kia Optima.
Frontal crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 4 / 5
Side crash
- Driver
- 5 / 5
- Passenger
- 5 / 5
- Side pole
- 5 / 5
Rollover
- Rollover risk
- 9.8%
- Dynamic tip
- No Tip
Driver-assistance technologies
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- Standard
- Lane departure warning
- Standard
What the ratings mean
NHTSA gives the 2020 Kia Optima 5 out of 5 stars overall, level with the 5-star median for the 6 comparable 2020 vehicles NHTSA rated in this class.
NHTSA published results for every NCAP test in this program, so the overall star rating rests on a complete set of crash and rollover results.
NHTSA's dynamic test put this vehicle's rollover probability at 9.8% in a single-vehicle crash — the figure behind the rollover star rating, published here because the star alone hides how wide each band is.
Fuel economy & emissions
EPA figures for the 2020 Kia Optima, with tailpipe CO₂ and class context.
27
City
37
Hwy
31
Comb
- Annual fuel cost
- $2,000
- Tailpipe CO₂
- 292 g/mi
How this compares
At 31 MPG combined, the 2020 Kia Optima ranks 1st of 8 large cars EPA rated for 2020 — 7 MPG better than the 24 MPG median for that group.
That places it a little above the middle of its class. Fuel cost is close enough to its rivals that other running costs will probably matter more.
EPA puts annual fuel spend at about $2,000, $650 less than the $2,650 typical for the class. Over five years at 15,000 miles a year that is roughly $10,000, a $3,250 difference against a class-median vehicle.
Tailpipe CO₂ is 292 grams per mile — about 4.4 metric tons over 15,000 miles of driving.
Consumer complaints
137 owner reports filed with NHTSA.
- 137
- Total
- 6
- Crashes
- 2
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
Most reported components
- ENGINE103
- OTHER7
- AIR BAGS7
- BRAKES7
- ELECTRICAL5
Notable Issues
137 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 4 reports involve injuries. 6 reports involve a crash.
Most reported problems
Safety timeline
Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2020 Kia Optima, newest first.
- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.
Specifications & ratings
Specifications
- Body class
- Large Cars
- Drive type
- Front-Wheel Drive
- Engine
- 1.6L 4-cyl
- Fuel type
- Unknown
- Transmission
- Automatic (AM7)
- Seats
- 0
Fuel economy
27
City
37
Hwy
31
Comb
- Annual cost
- $2,000
- Fuel
- Regular Gasoline
NHTSA crash ratings
- Overall
- Frontal
- Side
- Rollover
Explore related
Safety timeline
Full timeline- Investigation closed
NHTSA closed investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power
- Investigation opened
NHTSA opened investigation DP22003
Loss of Motive Power