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2019 Kia Optima

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 Optima.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2019 Kia Optima is a midsize passenger car that runs on a 5.1‑quart oil capacity with 5W‑20/5W‑30/10W‑30 viscosity options, underscoring its modest, efficient powertrain. It sits on Kia’s Optima platform, which has consistently delivered a balanced blend of interior comfort and handling stability, and its 2019 iteration adds refined interior materials and updated infotainment connectivity. In terms of reliability, the Optima has maintained a relatively low owner‑complaint profile—only 201 complaints that year, with engine issues as the primary concern—placing the 2019 model well below the series’ 2013 peak of 1,371 complaints and within the range of the 2010 low of 75, indicating a steady improvement in durability.

Model year2020201920182017201620152014

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.1 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 / 10W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 760 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 760 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnHEADLAMPOEM · verified
Tire size215/55R17 94VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.3 in
Overall width73.2 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight3490 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Optima of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.70 sec — 2019 SX Turbo
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2019SX Turbo 2.0L Turbo I-46.70 sec15.10 sec245 hpFWD
2017Hybrid EX 2.0L I-4 + Elec 1.6-kWh7.90 sec16.10 sec193 hpFWD
2017Plug-In Hybrid EX 2.0L I-4 + Elec 9.8-kWh8.00 sec16.20 sec202 hpFWD
2016SX Turbo 2.0L Turbo I-46.80 sec15.20 sec245 hpFWD
2016SX Limited Turbo 2.0L Turbo I-47.10 sec15.40 sec245 hpFWD
2016LX 1.6T 1.6L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.80 sec178 hpFWD
2016SX Limited Turbo 2.0L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.60 sec245 hpFWD
2016EX 2.4L I-47.50 sec15.90 sec185 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.1 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 / 10W-30 engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 79-94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid70W Gear Oil
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.1 qt
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.3 qt
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.2 qt
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.5 qt

Engine torques

Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts only.
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts only.
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts only.
Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87-94 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts26-30.3 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts79-94 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts79-94 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub203.0

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)630 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)AC Speed Up: 630 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)AC Speed Up: 100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)640 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)AC Speed Up: 660 rpm

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance760 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48 Must use a AGM VRLA Battery.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance760 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70.0-75.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)42.0 Pressure must be over listed PSI
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)42.0 Pressure must be over listed PSI
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)42.0 Pressure must be over listed PSI
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)42.0 Pressure must be over listed PSI

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16.0-23.0 ft-lbs
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque58.0-72.0 ft-lbs
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .921; Rear: .331
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0002; Rear: .0004
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0016; Rear: .002
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .921; Rear: .330
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0002; Rear: .0004

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.13–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.13–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
190°.
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134.0-38.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 38-4234–38 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134.0-38.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 78-8234–38 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
121.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90°, Step 3: Turn 90°.21.7 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-27 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90-95°, Step 3: Turn 90-95°.24–27 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-27 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90-95°, Step 3: Turn 90-95°.24–27 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-27 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 90-95°, Step 3: Turn 90-95°.24–27 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 1-1015 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-27 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90-95°. Step 3: 90-95°.24–27 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
124-27 ft. lbs. Step 2: 90-95°. Step 3: 90-95°.24–27 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
113.7-17.4
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°.13–16 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20-23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 120°-125°.11 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., Step 2: 20-23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 120°-125°.11 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 12,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
At 24,000 miEngine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 24,000 miFuel Line (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2019 Kia Optima arrives near the conclusion of a generation that weathered severe quality turbulence between 2011 and 2016, when annual complaints surged to a peak of 1,371 in 2013 before beginning a steady descent. By 2019, federal data shows the model had settled into a markedly quieter phase, recording 202 complaints—down from 228 in 2018 and continuing a downward trajectory that would drop to 136 complaints by 2020—along with just one recall and two investigations. Engine issues constitute the largest complaint category at 49 filings, though the data does not specify root causes, followed by 20 unspecified issues, 10 air bag concerns, and 10 forward collision avoidance system reports, with 20 crash-related and 6 fire-related complaints also logged. With technical service bulletins simultaneously declining from the mid-decade highs of 268 in 2014 to 123, the 2019 model year represents a stabilizing data point within a maturing production cycle that has moved past its most troubled period. This positions the 2019 Optima as a comparatively sound used vehicle purchase, offering substantially lower regulatory exposure than the 2011-2016 model years while maintaining reasonable volume metrics ahead of the 2020 decline.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
123
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
201
Owner complaints
20 involved a crash · 6 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 201 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine49
Unknown Or Other20
Air Bags10
Forward Collision Avoidance10
Structure9
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance6
Electrical System,Engine5
Service Brakes5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V539000Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency BrakingReported 19/07/2019

Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2019 Optima vehicles equipped with Gamma 1.6L Turbo-GDI or Theta II 2.0L Turbo-GDI engines. A software error in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system may cause… Remedy: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will update the FCA software, free of charge. The recall began August 27, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 123 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
CS2312_TSB_R22026-06-08StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…
SC340_TSB_R52026-04-03EngineVOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT…
SC340_OWNR_JF&JFA_1042026-03-17Electrical SystemVOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER NOTIFICATION (SC340 FLIGHT 104 ) - This…
SC340_TSB_R42026-03-05Electrical SystemTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI…
TSB_CS2312_R12026-02-18StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: THEFT DETERRENT IGNITION CYLINDER…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Optima. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 batteryVehicles taking 5.1 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2019 Optima take?

5.1 qt of All Temperatures: 5W-20 is preferred but 5W-30 may be used. Temperatures above 0°F may use 10W-30., per the factory manual.

Does the 2019 Optima have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.