7.4

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
59,600 miles
Total Complaints:
7 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (5 reports)
  2. replace engine (2 reports)
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This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Kia dealer.

problem #7

Dec 102021

Optima EX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,300 miles

While driving on the freeway, with no warning, the car lost power and the check engine light came on. Luckily, I was able to coast to the emergency lane safely. Since there was no Kia dealership available in the area, it was towed to an auto garage for diagnosing. The failure code was P1326 and I was told that it needed a new engine. I then towed it 40 miles to the nearest available Kia dealership that was accepting vehicles (10 other closer Kia dealerships told me that they had to many cars to fix and couldn't diagnose my car). I bought this vehicle new. Since all maintenance and recalls were performed timely at a Kia dealership, I was given same day approval to replace the engine under warranty. I was also given a rental vehicle at Kia's expense until the car is repaired. It is expected to take "about a month or so" to replace the engine.

- Karen H., Stone Mountain, US

problem #6

Jul 232019

Optima LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

All happened at the same time as knocking noise. Check engine light came on and all hell broke loose. I am just glad I made it home safely.

Update from Jul 28, 2019: Engine being replaced

- Trell's W., Chicago, IL, US

problem #5

Jul 182017

Optima LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

We started reporting issues this past July to our dealership, KIA Rivergate in Madison, TN. They have had our car in three times and keep telling us theres things "we" need to fix.My car is still on Warranty and is under a total engine recall.

The car started with a knocking sound in the engine and had issues when we would accelerate. The car did not want to accelerate at all causing us to stall in the middle of the highway several times. They told us nothing was wrong but they replaced a sensor. The car continued to knock and stall. I asked them if it was my transmission and they said no, it's fine. They said we could try replacing the battery and they changed the oil (at our expense).

The car has had battery replaced three times because they told us that was the issue the first two times. The car has gotten much worse in the last few months. The last time we took it in to them they are now saying that it might be the fuel injector. Once again they are stating that we must pay for it.

I've called them because the car had huge clouds of smoke coming out the back and is shaking even worse. Once again they said there's nothing they can do. I told them we are having to add ol 3 times a week with no signs of a leak. My car is only 3 years old and I repeat, my car is still under warranty and is on a recall for several issues including the engine. Now my car isn't drivable at all. It started shaking to the point of throwing us forward in the car and smokes like it is on fire and the check engine light will not go off at all, so you're telling me there's not an engine issue? Bullshit. Even a fuel injector would be considered part of the engine because it has to run through the engine to make the car run.

I'd like to know why KIA is not honoring their warranties or recalls. My next step is to call an attorney and sue KIA. If we have any kind of wrecks because of trying to drive this car ,while we are taking it to yet another dealership, I will also sue the sh*t out of KIA and Rivergate KIA. DO NOT buy a KIA they are nothing but pieces of sh*t and KIA doesn't honor their warranties or recalls!

- jtrue0101, White House, US

problem #4

Apr 092017

Optima LX 2.0L

  • CVT transmission
  • 67,719 miles

GETTING STRANDED ON A FWY OFF RAMP FOR HOURS. THEN ONLY TO FIND OUT THERE'S A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PROBLEM AFTER RESEARCH BCUZ KIA CANT UPDATE THEIR MAIL SYSTEM!!!!

I USED TO BE A HUGE FAN OF KIA WITH BOTH MY 2012 MODELS BUT THIS 2014 IS A PIECE OF CRAP.

I'VE OWNED 3 PREVIOUS OPTIMAS AND ONE SORRENTO, AND WAS GOING TO BUY ANOTHER SORRENTO BUT NO THANKS. 63 RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE, THAT'S CRAZY.

- jmichelle, Saugus, US

problem #3

Aug 012016

Optima EX 2.4L Gdi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 65,000 miles

Engine stalling while driving down the road. It also stalls when accelerating from a stopped position. This is very dangerous to public safety and should be investigated before people are injured.

- Jimmy A., Conway, AR, US

problem #2

Nov 021925

Optima 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 34,000 miles

2014 Kia Optima cut off while driving, tach drops to 0, doesnt matter if doing 40mph or doing 80mph. I got rear ended on INTERSTATE.........DEATH of SOMEONE PENDING!!!!!!

engine cuts out...........coasting wont go or respond to gas pedal, will cut in and cut out, then it will cut back in and run as normal. NO dash lights on.........you DO NOT have to turn key to restart.

Does not indicate ANY codes in OBD II.

- Bruce H., Winterville, GA, US

problem #1

Aug 202015

Optima 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,010 miles

While driving slowly the car engine just shut down. I was able to restart it after coasting to the shoulder of the road.

- Suzanne C., Carriere, US