Total Complaints
3 filings
KIA OPTIMA HYBRID · model year
2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID
3 NHTSA complaints. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
New Car Assessment Program
The 2020KIAOPTIMA HYBRID carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 5/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2020 OPTIMA HYBRID is power train with 1 filings, followed by engine (1) and electrical system (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 38 investigation files overlapping the 2020 OPTIMA HYBRID. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
- Front Crash 5.0 ★
- Side Crash 5.0 ★
- Rollover 5.0 ★
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 - Top NCAP rating
· Front: 5/5
· Side: 5/5
· Rollover: 5/5
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20250602POWER TRAIN
On multiple occasions, the HEV system warning light and check engine light activated while I was driving at highway speeds. Immediately after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle suddenly decelerated, putting me and other drivers at risk. This issue has occurred several times and is clearly a serious safety hazard. Each time this occurred, I brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership ([Dealership Name]) for inspection. However, despite the vehicle being under the Kia hybrid system and/or powertrain warranty (10 years/100,000 miles), I was recently informed that the necessary repairs would not be covered under warranty.
20250602ENGINE
On multiple occasions, the HEV system warning light and check engine light activated while I was driving at highway speeds. Immediately after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle suddenly decelerated, putting me and other drivers at risk. This issue has occurred several times and is clearly a serious safety hazard. Each time this occurred, I brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership ([Dealership Name]) for inspection. However, despite the vehicle being under the Kia hybrid system and/or powertrain warranty (10 years/100,000 miles), I was recently informed that the necessary repairs would not be covered under warranty.
20250602ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On multiple occasions, the HEV system warning light and check engine light activated while I was driving at highway speeds. Immediately after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle suddenly decelerated, putting me and other drivers at risk. This issue has occurred several times and is clearly a serious safety hazard. Each time this occurred, I brought the vehicle to an authorized Kia dealership ([Dealership Name]) for inspection. However, despite the vehicle being under the Kia hybrid system and/or powertrain warranty (10 years/100,000 miles), I was recently informed that the necessary repairs would not be covered under warranty.
Compare 2020KIAOPTIMA HYBRID to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID have?▼
The 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID?▼
The 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID?▼
The most-complained component for the 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID is POWER TRAIN with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2020 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.