There are 12 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2019 Kia Optimain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I just recently purchased my 2019 Kia optima sx turbo. After purchase, I immediately began experiencing issues with the braking system and the forward collision warning light coming on. The cruise control stopped working as well. I googled and saw that there was a recall on the forward collision warning system but the local Kia dealership to me says there is not one. I almost had a head on collision in this car with my granddaughter coming from daycare as I completely lost brakes. I have put so much money into purchasing this car believing it to be a good car.
When attempting to stop, my brake petal goes all the way to the floor causing me not being able to stop! No warning lamps or messages and no other symptoms or problems with my brakes It start month ago and seems to be getting worst
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated while starting and driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Check Blind Spot Collision Warning System" and "Check Forward Collision Avoidance Assist System" messages became displayed. The ABS, traction control, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who retrieved DTC codes: C121002 and C121102. The dealer replaced the rear wheel speed sensor. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
I was doing 65 on the hwy when Forward collision started so sound off and slowing down car when there was no other car around me this happened on several occasions
Was driving try pressing on the brakes. Car would not stop brakes will sink all the way down
To begin, there was a recall on the forward avoidance collision system. The fix was to have the system reset at the dealership. Almost like a system update. I had that done after multiple lights appeared on my dash. 5 months later, the lights would illuminate again periodically, but turn off after a few minutes of driving. Two months ago, the lights came on when I was traveling on our highway at about 45 MPH. There was no cars in front of me, nor any objects. The automatic brake applied itself as I was turning off of this major highway. I hit the gas to try to turn off of the highway after the brake was applied, and my car wouldn’t accelerate. Since then, the light has stayed on every time I turn my car on, and for the remainder of the time I’m driving it. The brake has also self engaged itself twice since then. It’s a huge safety risk as someone could hit me from behind. The system update obviously didn’t fix the issues. The Kia dealership in my area, Tameron Kia, said that there was nothing they could do for me since they did the computer update. She was certain that it was a different issue, but it isn’t. My car has 60,000 miles on it and have been dealing with this specific issue since 3 months after I purchased the car. It’s not safe for my children and I, and something has got to be done about the issue.
On October 11,2022 I was involved in a vehicle collision that resulted in damages to the front of my vehicle and the rear of another. My two children and I suffered injuries that we were not able to recover fully from. The driver of the other vehicle was uninsured and has not been accessible!
I was driving and tried to brake but my car did not stop and ended up hitting guardrail. A couple weeks later I was driving and there was nothing in front of me but the car abruptly stopped in the middle of road
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
Out of no where the Front Collision Avoidance Assist came on while driving as well as the automatic emergency braking sensor came on I had my kids in the car no accident or anything
THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. THE ROAD WAS DRY. SPEED WAS 30 MPH OR LESS WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THERE WERE NO CARS AHEAD OF ME, AND I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND ROOM FOR A REGULAR STEADY DECELERATION. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. JUST BEFORE I CROSSED INTO THE CROSSWALK THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FORCIBLY KICKED BACK EXACTLY FOUR TIMES, AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED ON A STATE HIGHWAY THAT ALSO SERVES AS A MAIN STREET RUNNING THROUGH DOWNTOWN. I WAS TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, PURCHASED NEW, FOR 19 MONTHS. MILEAGE IS 17,325. THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SAYS THE COMPUTER DIDN'T REGISTER THE EVENT. WE ASSUME THE BRAKES FAILED AND ANTILOCK BRAKES ENGAGED IN AN EXTRORDINARY MANNER. I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION AS THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP 37 ODD DAYS LATER. THEY STILL SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MALFUNCTIONED.
I WAS IN TWO LOW SPEED REAR ENDED CRASHES BECAUSE THE CIB DIDN'T ENGAGE AND I HAD NO BREAKING POWER. ONE WHO ON THE HIGH WAY AND ONCE IN AN EXIT RAMP
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026