I was driving the vehicle on the highway and it made a continual noise until brakes were applied. The vehicle would occasionally make the noise even when stopped until I pushed on the brakes. The ESC light, brake light and ABS light were on and would occasionally turn off when brakes applied. I immediately took the vehicle to hullman's Ford for diagnostics. I was notified that the vehicle…
2009 Kia Optima brakes problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 10 brakes complaints filed for the 2009 Kia Optima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Brake problems on the 2009 Optima cluster around two main areas: low-speed jerk and serious hydraulic failure.
Several owners describe a sudden forward jerk when braking below 20 mph, especially in cold weather. The jerk disappears after the vehicle warms up, but it's bad enough that passengers notice it. When owners bring cars in, dealers say they can't find the problem or reproduce it, even after replacing the brake switch.
The more severe complaints involve actual brake system breakdown. One owner had brake fluid leaking, took the car in for repair, and two weeks later the engine blew with black smoke pouring through the vents—total loss. Another owner's ABS malfunctioned without warning and caused a crash at 10,000 miles; the dealer confirmed the ABS had failed. A third owner's vehicle caught fire under the hood on the highway; that car was totaled and never inspected.
A few owners report the ESC and brake warning lights coming on and staying on during normal driving, with the vehicle losing speed control even when flooring the accelerator. One case involved a faulty hydraulic electronic control unit.
There's also a recall (13V114000 for brakes and lighting) that some owners never received notice of, despite being affected.
One owner reported dragging and clicking sounds in the rear brakes that appeared right after recall work. The dealer's asymmetrical repair—replacing one pad and one rotor—left the brakes feeling uncertain with longer stopping distance.
Same Kia Optima brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Brake jerk/judder at low speed
Vehicle suddenly jerks forward when braking below 20 mph, or brakes grab and jerk the car to a stop at low speeds. Worse in cold weather; disappears after vehicle warms up.
When: Occurs intermittently; reported from 60,000 miles onward; worse when cold
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden forward jerk when decelerating to around 20 mph; Brake grab sensation causing abrupt stopping motion; More pronounced in cold weather; Intermittent occurrence; Resolves after 10 minutes of driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose; no repairs completed. One case involved brake switch replacement, but jerk continued afterward.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Kia consumer line stated problem had not been reported. Recall 13V114000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Exterior Lighting) issued but some owners not notified.
Brake hydraulic system issues
Brake fluid leakage and faulty electronic control unit in the hydraulic system. One case resulted in engine failure and total loss; another involved brake fluid leak requiring repair.
When: Reported at various mileages; one case at 10,000 miles (ABS failure leading to crash)
Symptoms owners cite: Brake fluid leak; Black smoke from A/C vent prior to engine failure; Engine failure following brake fluid leak repair; ABS malfunction causing loss of braking control; crash occurred
Repairs/costs cited: Brake fluid leak repair attempted (approx. 2 weeks before engine failure). Hydraulic electronic control unit confirmed faulty at Ford dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V114000 applies. No recall notification sent to one owner as of March 2013.
Brake pad and rotor wear
Dragging noise and clicking sounds in rear brakes shortly after recall switch work. Dealer replaced brake pads on one side and rotor on the other, but braking felt unsure with longer stopping distance.
When: Occurred day after brake light recall switch exchange; car lightly driven since purchase in October 2010
Symptoms owners cite: Dragging noise from rear brakes; Clicking sounds in rear, especially right side; Uncertain braking feel after repair; Longer stopping distance
Repairs/costs cited: Right brake pad and left rotor replaced with generic pads for $169 after dealer initially quoted $300. One pad and one rotor were replaced (asymmetrical repair).
Brake jerking and transmission issues
Hard jerking during braking with possible transmission involvement. Dealer checks found no problems, but issue persisted daily. Another case involved steering wheel lock-up followed by motor failure.
When: Reported every day during normal driving; steering lock and motor failure occurred weeks after brake fluid leak discovery
Symptoms owners cite: Hard jerking when braking to a stop; Passengers feel jerking sensation; Steering wheel lock-up during U-turn attempt; Motor blown on highway with black smoke from A/C vent
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection found nothing; issue unreplicated by technician. Brake fluid leak repair preceded engine failure by approximately 2 weeks.
ESC and ABS light activation with hydraulic control failure
ESC light blinks continuously; ABS and brake lights illuminate. Vehicle makes continual noise until brakes applied; lights occasionally extinguish when brakes applied. One case involved ESC blinking with uncontrolled speed reduction even after brake switch replacement.
When: Reported during highway driving and normal conditions; no rain or poor road conditions present
Symptoms owners cite: ESC light blinking continuously; ABS light illuminated; Brake light illuminated; Continual noise until brakes applied; Speed reduces uncontrollably even when accelerating hard; Lights occasionally turn off when brakes applied
Repairs/costs cited: Hydraulic electronic control unit confirmed faulty. Brake switch replaced in one case, but ESC blinking and speed reduction persisted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership technician could not find any recorded code. Dealer unable to replicate issues.
Fire under hood/total loss
Smoke under hood while driving at highway speeds led to vehicle fire. Included in recall 13V114000 but owner did not receive recall notification. Vehicle declared total loss; cause of fire not investigated.
When: Failure mileage not available; recall notice not received as of March 29, 2013
Symptoms owners cite: Smoke under hood at highway speeds; Vehicle caught fire; No pre-fire warning signs reported
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; no dealer inspection or repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 13V114000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Exterior Lighting) was issued, but vehicle owner did not receive notification. Manufacturer was notified after fire.
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had brakes trouble with your 2009 Kia Optima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2009 Kia Optima?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 45,945 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Kia/Optima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.