KiaOptima2009Overview/kia/optima/2009/base/

2009 Kia Optima

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 Optima.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2009 Kia Optima is a passenger car that requires 4.2 quarts of 5W-20 or 5W-30 engine oil, and it recorded 116 total owner complaints—with the Power Train as the most frequent issue—along with a single recall. Within the model’s complaint history spanning 2001 to 2020, the 2009 model year sits between the lowest-complaint year (2010, with 75 complaints) and the highest (2013, with 1,371), indicating a moderate reliability position that researchers should weigh against the powertrain concerns noted by owners.

Model year2020201920182017201620152009

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 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 124R · 600 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 124R · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified

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.

8.6–8.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.60 sec — 2007 EX V6
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2008EX 2.4L I-48.80 sec16.70 sec162 hpFWD
2007EX V6 2.7L V68.60 sec16.60 sec185 hpFWD
2007EX 2.4L I-48.90 sec16.90 sec162 hpFWD
2006EX 2.4L I-48.90 sec17.00 sec162 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-20 / 5W-30 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.2
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs6
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts122-130 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts123-130 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts94-101 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts53-56 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts29-33 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts21-25 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub148-203 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.61-.82 ohms
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.56-.68 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,950-8,050 ohms
Ignition Timing8, Not adjutstable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.04-1.16 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.72-5.40 oz
Standard BCI Group Number124R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca
Standard BCI Group Number124R

Service checks

Pressure Test12-16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief12-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature177 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)55.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)49.0-51.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance13.8-15.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Injector Primary Resistance13.8-15.2 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression164-185 PSI. 15 Maximum variation PSI

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle58-72 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0002 in / 0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0016 in / 0.0012 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.024 in / 0.393 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.024 in / 0.393 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9413–16 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
113-16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9413–16 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13-4 ft. lbs., step 2: 14-173–4 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90-9418 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
112 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60 degrees, Step 3: 6012 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 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.

At 6,000 miBattery (inspect)
At 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
Every 7,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Body Fasteners (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering Line (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBattery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
At 30,000 miBattery (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
Every 75,000 miTiming Belt (replace) · Timing Belt (inspect)

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 2009 Kia Optima registers 116 complaints, a decline from 143 in 2008 and 155 in 2006, positioning it near the end of a stable pre-2011 period that hit a low of 75 complaints in 2010 before volumes surged to 590 in 2011. Across the generational arc captured in the federal record, the years surrounding 2009 maintained comparatively restrained regulatory activity—never exceeding three annual recalls or three investigations—whereas the post-2011 period brought up to nine recalls and eight investigations per year alongside complaint counts in the hundreds. For 2009 specifically, the data shows one recall, two investigations, and 33 technical service bulletins, with the highest complaint volumes in power train and air bags at 23 and 21 respectively, though the data does not specify root causes; crash and fire complaints numbered five and four. Because 2009 falls at the quiet end of the trend curve immediately before the massive spike in complaints, recalls, and investigations, it stands as one of the more favorable model years to buy in this generation.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
33
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
116
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 116 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train23
Air Bags21
Engine5
Service Brakes5
Electrical System5
Vehicle Speed Control5
Exterior Lighting3
Engine & Engine Cooling2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

13V114000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 01/04/2013

Kia Motors Corporation (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2007-2010 Rondo, model year 2007-2011 Sedona, Sorento and Sportage, model year 2010-2011 Soul, model year 2008-2011 Optima, model year 2010 Forte, model year… Remedy: Kia will send an interim notification to owners in May 2013. When parts are available, owners will receive a second notification and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 33 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB_TRA046_R52025-04-17Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been…
TSB_TRA046_R42024-05-16Power TrainThis bulletin provides information relating to the correct transmission fluid type and…
TSB_TRA046_R32022-11-18Power TrainTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin provides…
TSB_BOD055_R12021-09-13StructureTECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: INFORMATION FOR HEADLAMP CONDENSATION AND MOISTURE - This…
TSB_BOD056R1_CLS2021-05-19StructureTSB_BOD056R1_CLOSED: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CLOSED

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 Optima take?

4.2 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 Optima have open recalls?

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