PITSTOP - BRAKE CALIPER LEAK INSPECTION - This PITSTOP provides information related to a brake caliper fluid/oil substance found on some Kia vehicles, due to possible excess assembly oil applied during assembly.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Kia Optima brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Kia Optima have filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the brakes at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Optima | 58 |
| 2016 Optima | 12 |
| 2017 Optima | 3 |
| 2018 Optima | 8 |
| 2019 Optima (this page) | 12 |
| 2020 Optima | 7 |
4crashes
3injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: IBAU SYSTEM REPAIR FOR NOISE AND AIR BLEEDING - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides the repair procedure for the Integrated Brake Actuation Unit (iBAU) system on some 2014-2019MY EV/Hybrid/Plug-In Hybrid vehicles listed (see table), which may exhibit a "honking" (Hissing) noise due to air remaining in the brake fluid system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two distinct brake failure patterns: pedal-to-floor loss of pressure on dry roads at both highway (30–65 MPH) and city speeds, and false activation of the forward collision avoidance assist triggering automatic emergency braking with no vehicles ahead.
One owner with 17,325 miles reported brakes that would not engage at a traffic light, with the pedal kicking back four times before the vehicle stopped—still unexplained after 37 days at the dealership. Another at 60,000 miles dealt with recurring forward collision warnings and self-engaged brakes on a clear highway; a system software reset did not fix it. A third lost complete braking ability with her granddaughter in the car.
Several owners report the brake pedal sinking progressively to the floor with no resistance and no warning lights beforehand. One crash involved a stationary object; others involved rear-end collisions blamed on failed brakes. Dealership diagnostics consistently returned no findings. One technician retrieved codes C121002 and C121102 and replaced a rear wheel speed sensor, but the failure pattern persists across the fleet. Owners report the issue started 1–3 months after purchase and has only worsened, with no reliable permanent fix identified by Kia dealerships.
Same Kia Optima brakes reports on nearby years: 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal sinks to floor / loss of braking pressure
Brake pedal loses resistance and sinks fully to the floor, rendering brakes inoperative or severely diminished. Owners report complete inability to stop the vehicle on dry roads at highway and city speeds.
When: 17,325 miles reported in one case; started 1 month ago in another; varies across fleet
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor with no resistance; Vehicle does not decelerate or stop when brakes applied; No warning lamps preceding failure; Pedal may pulsate or buck during attempted braking; Condition worsens over time
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple owners took vehicles to dealers; dealers could find nothing wrong. One vehicle remained in shop 37 days with no root cause identified.
Forward Collision Avoidance Assist / AEB system false activation
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking trigger without objects or other vehicles present. System engages brakes on open road, slowing or stopping vehicle unexpectedly.
When: 3 months after purchase reported in one case; 60,000 miles; multiple recurring events
Symptoms owners cite: Forward Collision Avoidance Assist light and warning sound activate unprompted; Automatic emergency braking applies on clear highway with no vehicles ahead; Check Forward Collision Avoidance Assist System message displayed; Lights illuminate periodically then turn off after minutes of driving; System activates at highway speeds (45 MPH, 65 MPH) on straight sections of road
Codes mentioned: C121002, C121102
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer replaced rear wheel speed sensor after retrieving DTC codes C121002 and C121102. System software reset performed at other dealerships without resolving recurrence.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall on Forward Collision Avoidance Assist system reported by some owners. Dealership software update / system reset attempted but did not permanently resolve recurring warnings or brake engagement.
ABS / traction control malfunction with warning light cluster
ABS, traction control, and blind spot collision warning lights illuminate together, sometimes accompanied by Forward Collision Avoidance Assist warnings. Indicates possible sensor or electrical integration failure.
When: 20,000 miles reported in one case
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illumination; Traction control light illumination; Check Blind Spot Collision Warning System message; Multiple unknown warning lights on dash; Lights remain on continuously or recur with each startup
Codes mentioned: C121002, C121102
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced rear wheel speed sensor based on DTC codes.
Brake system electrical / sensor integration fault
Unverified consumer allegation of underlying electrical or sensor fault causing brake system to malfunction in conjunction with forward collision avoidance system warnings. Root cause not identified by dealerships.
When: Multiple instances across complaint cluster; recurring after initial service attempts
Symptoms owners cite: Brake malfunction coincides with forward collision warning system activation; Cruise control also non-functional in at least one case; Brakes fail despite no dashboard warning lamps in some cases; Dealership diagnostics cannot identify root cause
Codes mentioned: C121002, C121102
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to reproduce faults or identify failures via computer diagnostics.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
My car didn't stop the brakes wouldn't stop i hit a stationary Tractor i got a ticket due to me hitting the light pole too
Had brakes trouble with your 2019 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 2019 Kia Optima?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 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 12 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 19,775 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/2019/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.