VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 104 ) - This document is the owner notification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) for certain 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gas Direct Injection (GDI) engines to ensure compliance with emissions regulations.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 Kia Optima electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2019 Kia Optima have filed 18 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
18
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2015 Optima | 104 |
| 2016 Optima | 78 |
| 2017 Optima | 24 |
| 2018 Optima | 27 |
| 2019 Optima (this page) | 18 |
| 2020 Optima | 11 |
3fires
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical 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: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSION SECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REV 4) - 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 information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines listed in the table below. Kia has become aware that certain 2016-2022MY vehicles equipped with 2.4L Theta II engines may have engine calibrations that were not optimized for emissions standards under certain specific conditions. These calibrations
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PRINCIPAL MEMO (SC340) - This document is the announcement to the dealer principals advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations in certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 10, 2015, through December 7, 2021, certain 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured from August 28, 2015, through June 23, 2020, and certain 2016-2020 MY Sorento vehicles manufactured from October 27, 2014, through November 4, 2020, equipped with 2.4L Theta GDI engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: DEALER PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER MEMO (SC340) - This document is the announcement to the dealer Parts and Service managers advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign to improve the emissions software logic in the Electronic Control Module (ECM) to ensure compliance with emissions regulations in certain 2017-2022 MY Sportage vehicles manufactured from December 10, 2015, through December 7, 2021, certain 2016-2020 MY Optima vehicles manufactured from August 28, 2015, through June 23, 2020, and certain 2016-2020 MY Sorento vehicles manufactured from October 27, 2014, through November 4, 2020, equipped with 2.4L Theta GDI engines.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: SC340_POC: PROOF OF CORRECTION CARD
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2019 Kia Optima report a cluster of serious electrical faults involving collision-avoidance systems, charging architecture, and engine management. The most severe complaints center on fires: two owners report vehicles catching fire without warning while parked or driving, with flames emerging from under the hood. One fire destroyed the car to the rear seats; another occurred on an engine equipped with the Theta II powerplant.
Chronic starting problems plague multiple vehicles. Owners describe cars that barely turn over, won't start at all without dealer intervention, or refuse to start intermittently despite battery replacements—sometimes three or more new batteries installed with no resolution. One owner reports a 12-volt battery replaced three times before the vehicle stalled at 65 mph.
Power loss and limp-mode faults occur while driving. Owners document loss of acceleration, flashing check-engine lights, ECU faults, and sudden deceleration to zero while in motion, creating hazardous traffic situations. One vehicle lost power steering in a curve.
Dashboard electrical misbehavior is widespread: collision-warning sensors false-alarm, dash lights flicker erratically, infotainment screens black out, radio cuts off, and warning clusters illuminate as though the vehicle was in a crash. One owner's rear bumper sensor assembly showed a burned-out wire that dealers claimed "just simply burnt out."
USB connectivity fails repeatedly—phone cords disconnect over minor bumps, cutting off GPS and SiriusXM, even with replacement phones and cables.
Brake concerns include locking during normal stops, particularly in rain, and one report of ABS/HECU failure mid-drive without warning lamps.
Same Kia Optima electrical reports on nearby years: 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Vehicle Fire – Underhood
Two 2019 Optima owners report vehicles catching fire without prior warning lamps. One fire was discovered while parked at a friend's house with dark smoke and flames visible; the entire vehicle burned to the rear seats. A second owner reports the car began smoking on the highway, then burst into flames when the hood was opened. One fire involved a Theta II engine.
When: One occurred approximately 2 hours after a 1-hour drive; second occurred mid-highway drive. Both without warning.
Symptoms owners cite: Dark smoke billowing from under hood; Flames emerging from underhood area; No warning lamps or messages prior to fire
Repairs/costs cited: Both vehicles were totaled. Insurance involvement reported. One owner reports Kia stated they don't know why it happened and offered no compensation after 2+ months.
Burned-Out Rear Sensor Wire
Owner reports dealership diagnostic revealed a burned-out wire in the left/right rear sensors radar assembly located in the bumper area. Owner suspects this caused a vehicle shutdown mid-traffic, with forward and rear collision-warning alerts simultaneously triggering. Dealership replaced the junction box assembly.
When: At 116,021 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Forward Collision Warning Detection alerted on dashboard; Rear Collision Warning alerted simultaneously; Vehicle completely shut down in middle of traffic; Wire visibly burned out
Repairs/costs cited: Junction box assembly replacement performed at Kia West Dealership (Lithia Springs, GA). Owner notes parts are very expensive.
Chronic Starting Failure – No Codes
Multiple owners report vehicles that won't start, barely start, or start intermittently. Owners have replaced batteries multiple times (one replaced three times, another twice) without resolution. Dealership diagnostics find nothing on the computer; no fault codes generate.
When: Occurs intermittently. One case at 18,000 miles; another owner reports issue starting within 7 months of new car purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Barely starts, sluggish cranking; Intermittent non-start condition; No fault codes generated at dealership scan
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements (3x in one case, 2x in another) do not resolve the issue. Dealers unable to diagnose or repair.
Loss of Power and Acceleration – Check Engine Light
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, inability to respond to throttle input, and limp-mode operation. One owner lost power and power steering simultaneously while navigating a curve. Check engine lights illuminate; dealers confirm ECU faults in at least two cases.
When: One at 18,000 miles; another mid-drive on highway; another while driving home in heavy traffic.
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration; vehicle unresponsive to throttle; Loss of power steering; Engine shaking and sputtering; Check engine light illuminated (flashing in some cases); Vehicle in limp mode with limited power
Codes mentioned: ECU fault, Knock sensor code (P1326 reported in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner diagnosed with ECU issue at dealership after fault code reading indicated knock sensor code. P1326 code reported in limp mode.
Sudden Deceleration to Zero – Wheel Lock
Owner reports driving on freeway at 55 mph when vehicle suddenly decelerated to zero and wheel locked, forcing vehicle to coast to roadside. Event preceded by multiple simultaneous electrical failures (forward collision warning blocked, steering wheel alert, blind spot, ABS, traction control lights, headlight dimming warning, radio cutoff, wiper failure).
When: While driving on freeway
Symptoms owners cite: Forward collision warning blocked and disabled vehicle; Steering wheel pop-up alert; Blind spot, ABS, traction control lights illuminated; Check headlights message (dimming headlights); Radio cutting off; Wipers not working; Vehicle acceleration from 55 to 0 mph suddenly; Wheel lock
Dashboard Electrical Faults – Erratic Lighting and False Alarms
Multiple owners report dash lighting up erratically with collision-warning alerts, warning icons illuminating as though vehicle was in a crash, and false forward-collision-warning detections that disable the vehicle. These occur without actual collisions or hazards.
When: One case at 86,000 miles; others intermittent and repeated.
Symptoms owners cite: Dash lights illuminated erratically; Forward collision warning alerts without hazard; Exclamation point and crash-related warning icons on display; False collision-warning detections disabling vehicle
Infotainment Screen Blackout – USB Charger Connection
Owner reports infotainment screen goes black when phone is plugged into the charger. Screen does not return unless vehicle is turned off and phone unplugged, then vehicle is restarted.
When: Occurs with charger use; unknown onset mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Infotainment screen blacks out when phone charger connected; Screen remains black until vehicle power cycled and phone unplugged
USB Port Disconnection – Phone Cord
Owner reports USB port disconnects phone cord repeatedly, cutting off SiriusXM and GPS navigation while driving. Issue occurs over minor bumps on both city streets and highways. Happens with multiple phone cables and multiple phones. At least one other customer at a Kia dealership reported identical problem, and cell phone store reports receiving complaints from other customers with this issue.
When: Began at or near time of purchase; vehicle now over 120,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: USB cord disconnects from port; SiriusXM and GPS/Maps drop connection; Disconnection triggered by minor road bumps; Occurs while vehicle is in motion on both city and highway driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owner purchased new USB cords and a new cell phone; problem persists. Placing phone in window mount reduces frequency.
Brake Lockup During Normal Stops
Owner reports brakes lock up during routine stops, nearly causing collision with vehicle ahead. Condition is worse in rain. One owner reports ABS/HECU failure mid-drive that locked wheels and disabled vehicle without prior warning.
When: Intermittent; particularly in rain.
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock up during normal stopping; Nearly caused rear-end collision; Worse in rain; Wheel lock while driving
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved ABS/HECU replacement at dealership.
Radio and Wiper Electrical Cutout
Owner reports radio screen turning off whether vehicle is driving or parked. Another owner reports wipers not working while other systems failed simultaneously during loss-of-power event.
When: Intermittent, occurs while driving and while parked.
Symptoms owners cite: Radio screen turns off; Wiper system failure
Battery Drain – Drawing All Power
Owner reports brand-new batteries going dead shortly after installation, as if something is drawing all power and draining batteries. After replacing alternator and battery, vehicle lost all power again while turning back onto the street. Multiple electrical faults occur simultaneously.
When: At 86,000 miles; occurs repeatedly.
Symptoms owners cite: Brand-new battery goes dead quickly; Dash lights up erratically; Something drawing all power from battery; Loss of power while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator and battery replaced; problem recurred. Dash lights erratically with collision warning message.
AC System Electrical Damage
Owner reports four separate AC failures within 6 months of purchase. Second failure involved electrical issue that 'tore apart' the dashboard. Subsequent mold and mildew smell developed with excessive water leaking. Cabin air filter found soaked with water stains.
When: Within 6 months of purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: AC system failures (4 separate incidents); Water leaking excessively under vehicle; Mold and mildew smell in cabin; Cabin air filter soaked with water
Repairs/costs cited: Electrical component failure during second AC issue. Owner replaced cabin filter.
Synthesized from 18 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had electrical 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 electrical problem on the 2019 Kia Optima?
It's a meaningful issue. 18 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 18 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 28,200 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 $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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.