Warning lights of the Kia Optima: what each light means
In the 2 generations of the Kia Optima, the documented faults light up 3 warning lights on the dashboard. The most frequent: engine warning light (3 faults), DPF warning light (1 fault) and hybrid system warning (1 fault).
Which warning lights the faults of the Kia Optima trigger
Red ones first, and those that call for stopping. Below each warning light, the documented faults that trigger it, with their pages.
Engine fault warning light (check engine)
Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: outline of an engine seen from the side, in yellow or orange
The orange engine-shaped warning light comes on when the ECU detects a fault affecting combustion or emissions. If it flashes, it usually points to misfires that can damage the catalytic converter.
What to do: If it stays on steadily, you can drive gently to a garage and ask for a fault code read-out. If it flashes or you notice a loss of power, slow down and get to a garage as soon as possible.
3 documented faults that trigger it in the Kia Optima
- High severity: Intermittent brake light failure caused by a carbonised switch · outside the engine · III
- Medium severity: EGR valve clogged with carbon deposits · 1.7 CRDi engine · III and IV
- Medium severity: Carbon build-up on the intake valves of direct-injection Theta II engines · 2.0 / 2.4 GDI and T-GDI (Theta II) engine · IV
Particulate filter warning light (DPF)
Urgency: Garage soonYellow or amberSymbol: particulate filter symbol on the dashboard, normally amber; its design varies by manufacturer
On modern diesels it means the particulate filter is clogged with soot and has not been able to regenerate. It is common in cars used mostly for short town journeys, although it can also be caused by a sensor or by an injection or EGR fault.
What to do: If the handbook allows it, a 20-minute drive on a motorway at a steady speed can complete the regeneration. If the light stays on or you lose power, go to a garage.
1 documented fault that triggers it in the Kia Optima
- Medium severity: Particulate filter (DPF) clogged in urban use · 1.7 CRDi engine · III and IV
Hybrid system fault warning light or message
Urgency: Garage soon
Hybrid Toyotas and Lexuses show their own warning (a triangle or a message on the dashboard) when the hybrid system management electronics, such as the inverter, the battery or the electric motors, detect a fault, separate from the generic engine fault warning light. In some cases the car goes into a limited driving mode or loses electric drive.
What to do: If you also notice a loss of power or the car stalls, stop as soon as it is safe. Ask a garage with the right equipment to read the codes of the hybrid control unit, not just the petrol engine one.
1 documented fault that triggers it in the Kia Optima
- Critical severity: Fault in the high-voltage battery management system of the plug-in hybrid Optima · outside the engine · IV
Frequently asked questions
Which warning lights come on most in the Kia Optima?
Engine warning light: 3 documented faults, such as intermittent brake light failure caused by a carbonised switch. DPF warning light: 1 documented fault, such as particulate filter (DPF) clogged in urban use. Hybrid system warning: 1 documented fault, such as fault in the high-voltage battery management system of the plug-in hybrid Optima.
Which warning light of the Kia Optima is the most serious?
None of the warning lights with documented faults in the Kia Optima requires an immediate stop. The most serious fault that triggers one of them is fault in the high-voltage battery management system of the plug-in hybrid Optima (hybrid system warning), of critical severity severity.
Which generation of the Kia Optima has the most faults that trigger warning lights?
Kia Optima IV (4 faults) and Kia Optima III (3 faults).
A warning light has come on in the Kia Optima: what should I do?
Find which warning light it is on this page and check its urgency. For the others, book an appointment at a garage and have them read the fault code with an OBD reader: it shows which system has failed.