2018 Kia Optima Recalls & Safety Report
The following open safety recalls are on record with the U.S. NHTSA for the 2018 Kia Optima. Recalls apply to specific VINs and build ranges. Check your VIN to confirm which affect your vehicle.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH Safety
Summary: 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."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
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.
NHTSA campaign # 23V594000 · Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc. · Reported: 2023-08-24 · Latches/Doors
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM Critical safety
Summary: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Risk: If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.
NHTSA campaign # 18V161000 · Manufacturer: Kia Motors America · Reported: 2018-03-08
Recall summary
This 2018 Kia Optima has 2 open recalls on record with the U.S. NHTSA.
By affected component
- LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH — 1 recall
- HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM — 1 recall
By severity
- Safety — 1
- Critical safety — 1
Most recent recall reported: 2023-08-24.
Recall data is sourced from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2018 Kia Optima have open recalls?
Yes — there are 2 open NHTSA safety recalls on record for the 2018 Kia Optima. Recalls apply to specific VIN and build ranges, so check your exact VIN to confirm which affect your vehicle.
How do I check if a recall applies to my exact VIN?
This page lists recalls at the model level. Enter your 17-character VIN on our free VIN lookup to see which recalls apply to your specific car and to monitor it for new ones.
Who pays for a recall repair?
Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge by a franchised dealer for the affected make — the manufacturer covers the cost. Start by confirming your VIN is affected, then contact a dealer.
About this report
SaveVIN surfaces open recalls published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A model-level page lists every recall reported for the model; your specific VIN determines which apply to your car. Enter your VIN above for a VIN-precise report and to monitor it for new recalls.
Data source: U.S. NHTSA (nhtsa.gov). SaveVIN surfaces public recall data and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.