2.9

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,834 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2010 Kia Optima:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #6

Sep 102022

Optima

  • miles
Rod bearing knocking noise. Vehicle stopped running when slowing down. Car is available for inspection. No warning lights come on. The rod bearing can pierce the engine and cause oil to leak and then a fire. Problem first identified by Monroe and then another independent when the car died in front of his shop- both confirmed this is a known issue with kias- but since ours is a 2010 it is not covered under the current recall for the same issue in years 2011 to 2013. I spoke with cooper Kia in Utica as I was looking for support with this issue and was told by Mike Digiovanni to call a lawyer. On a later call to Pat Stacey he said they don-€™t work for Kia and he stated that the salesman said I came in threatening to call a lawyer- not true- I was advised to call one. I had gone in explaining that I was upset as I thought this was a safe car for my 17 year old to travel in between college and work and it-€™s the same issue as the 2011-2013 recall

- Vernon, NY, USA

problem #5

May 092022

Optima

  • miles
At 134000 miles car got a knock on interstate. 5 miles to next exit a loud bang. Then the knock went to a loud loud bang. Pulled over to find rod thru block. It is a 2010 kia optima with 2.4l 1 year before the recalls with exact probelm. Full of oil and coolant. Just out of the blue.

- Log Lane Village, CO, USA

problem #4

Mar 162021

Optima

  • 140,000 miles
Engine blew doing 40-45 on a county road 1,000 RPM 5th gear, in automatic. 2nd to 1st, soft to hard kick. Vehicle speed sensor must be faulty I have to pump brake more to slow the engine speed it likes to bog trying to speed up in automatic mode

- Quincy, IL, USA

problem #3

Feb 152020

Optima

  • 2 miles
My Optima has 104,000 miles. Just last week while driving on wet roads, I lost control as the power steering stopped working. The battery light comes on during this period for between 5-30 seconds as you loose almost all control of your vehicle's steering. Just as your vehicle gains power steering again, a screeching sounds comes from the engine compartment (maybe belts re-engaging). It has been raining her the past week and the issue has happened about 8 times. Sometimes directly after driving through puddles, and sometimes just while driving. The issue only occurs though when the roads are wet. This is a major safety issue.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #2

Mar 162019

Optima

  • 73,000 miles
Driving car just shut off in heavy traffic on rd average speed 40 no warning lights came on restarted stalled all the way home and huge knocking sound

- Cicero, NY, USA

problem #1

Dec 152015

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
While driving home one day in December 2015, each time I approached a stop light, yield sign or slowed to a low speed (less than 15 mph), my vehicle would shut-off multiple times. My in motion speed was approx 45 mph when not approaching a stop light or yield sign. It happened both when I was turning and going straight on main roads with 2-4 lanes. The dealership and another asme certified mechanic both state engine failure, which seems to be a widespread problem with 2.4L engines manufactured by Kia and Hyundai around this year up to 2015.

- Duluth, GA, USA