Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2019 vs 2020 KIA OPTIMA

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 83 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 16.5% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2019 164 complaints 2020 137 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2019 share 2020 share Share change
ENGINE 30.7% 50.4% ▲ 19.7 pts larger share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 11.9% 2.9% ▼ 9.0 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 4.0% 11.7% ▲ 7.7 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 5.5% 0.7% ▼ 4.7 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 5.0% 2.2% ▼ 2.8 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3.0% 5.1% ▲ 2.1 pts larger share
LANE DEPARTURE 2.0% not reported ▼ 2.0 pts smaller share
STEERING 2.5% 0.7% ▼ 1.8 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 5.0% 3.7% ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.0% 2.2% ▲ 1.2 pts larger share
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1.0% not reported ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 4.5% 3.7% ▼ 0.8 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 0.5% not reported ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
WHEELS 0.5% not reported ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.0% 0.7% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 0.5% 0.7% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 3.0% 2.9% ▼ 0.1 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 39.6% 16.8% ▼ 22.8 pts smaller share

recalls · none on file

Recall campaigns

2019 0

Campaign components: not reported

2020 0

Campaign components: not reported

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
6 → 2
◆ Injuries
16 → 4