10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
6 / 24
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 0
Average Mileage:
53,898 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #178

Mar 042022

Optima

  • miles
As I was driving on the freeway the car just started flashing the engine light and speed just went down even though I was still pressing the gas pedal, hesitating to go, like a lil jerk or if it was about to cut off while I was trying to get to a safe position off the freeway. And after that the car wouldn-??t let me go over 60 and it still was jerking.

- Birmingham , AL, USA

problem #177

Nov 112021

Optima

  • miles
On November 11 2021 i was on the highway doing 65 mph. I heard a putting sound then, no pressure on gas paddle. After cruising about a half mile up the highway the i was finally able to pull to the shoulder. After about a week i took the car to Capital KIA in Columbus, Ohio. They looked at my car said my engine was most likely down due to the recall. We walk to the tech computer. I give him my vin number, and he see i have a salvage title and refuse to do the recall. I got the car towed there and back.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #176

Feb 022022

Optima

  • miles
I had My mechanic Show me I have a Safety recall on my car and the deal ship has denied to Fix

- Killeen , TX, USA

problem #175

Jan 012020

Optima

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would suddenly shut off without warning. The contact indicated that on several occasions, it was discovered that the engine oil level was extremely low although oil had recently been added to the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 150,000.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #174

Sep 202021

Optima

  • 56,127 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the turbo engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the engine was replaced with a non-Kia rebuilt engine. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to a second dealer; Car Pros Kia Moreno Valley (12840 Auto Mall Dr, Moreno Valley, CA 92555) who diagnosed that the engine had failed. The vehicle was taken back to the first dealer who had replaced the engine. The dealer advised the contact that the engine had failed and advised the contact to no longer drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 56,127.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #173

Nov 282021

Optima

  • 109,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that an independent mechanic informed her that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

- Lumberton, NC, USA

problem #172

Apr 052021

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle has engine failure at 156600mi. Bearings and axle are worn out which caused the engine to go into limp mode (code P1326). Car is accelerating poorly and does not oprate over 60mph. Vehicle required a new engine. Dutch Miller of Charlotte Kia, 7725 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC ensured that engine would be brand new. However, the engine was used, and obtained at LKQ costing $3600. Total cost for the engine and labor totalled $5117.18. Kia also confirmed the problematic suspension which led to the engine failure was fixed. Once again this obligation was not met.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #171

Sep 232021

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle check engine light came on at 164000mi. Diagnostics confirmed trouble codes P2562 (Power train system) and C2130, C1611, C1612 (Anti-lock brake sytem). The begins to shake at 40mph and the turbo fails to run properly causing the car to accelerate poorly and make steering an issue.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #170

Oct 192021

Optima

  • miles
Hello, as you are aware Kia finally issued a recall for engine failure and my vehicle is one of the many that experienced engine failure on 10/19/2021. My vehicle now sits at the local dealership with so many others waiting to go through the process of videoing the engine so they can send to corporate to approve a new engine. In the meantime, I, along with other customers are left helpless and frustrated with no vehicle to drive for several months from what the local dealership is telling me. Kia is not taking care of their customers upfront by providing a loaner/rental vehicle. Instead, thy say we can rent a vehicle and get reimbursed after our vehicle has been repaired. How many people have many to rent a vehicle for months? Not me! I was told it would be a minimum of four months without my vehicle and some have been there much longer. I am in desperate need of transportation for obvious reason (i. e. work, appointments, errands, unexpected situations, family obligations, etc....) I am hoping that you can advise what can I do to get Kia to step up and do the right thing upfront, especially for those who can't afford a rental vehicle. I am also wondering if my 2014 Kia Optima should've even been sold to me in September 2017 with this known engine issue? My research and websites show this issue was definitely before I made the purchase. Kia failed their customers and not wanting to step up and issue a recall sooner shows that safety was not their top priority. Thank you for any assistance you can provide.

- Lynchburg, VA, USA

problem #169

Sep 222021

Optima

  • miles
Car cut off whilst driving without warning

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #168

Sep 202021

Optima

  • miles
Failed Emissions Test for Engine light being on. Took to mechanic and he specified that it was my gas cap that needed replacing and I did so, but light is still on. No leakage was present at the time when mechanic checked, however, in the past there was a smell of gas inside the vehicle but it's no longer present at the moment.

- Capitol Heights, MD, USA

problem #167

Sep 112021

Optima

  • miles
We-??ve had our engine replaced by Kia for an issue with models with the turbo installed. The turbo seized up and in turn caused our engine to fail, so Kia said they knew about the issue and gave us a new engine and turbo at no cost to us and also gave us a unlimited mileage warranty for the engine because of the issue. Now just about a year later of them installing the new parts, the same issue has arisen. Turbo failed and in turn it messed up the engine, the Kia dealership we have it in has told us that they will not cover it under warranty and that the turbo isn-??t apart of the warranty either.

- Dickson , TN, USA

problem #166

Aug 272021

Optima

  • miles
Engine failed and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. The engine is now knocking.

- Chelsea, AL, USA

problem #165

Aug 262021

Optima

  • miles
On 8/26/2021 I was driving up the Hwy and my kia optima started to slow down on its own.. the battery light, and engine light was flickering on and off, and oil light came on.. I checked the oil and it read 70%. On dash.. I beared off to the right shoulder out of traffic. I was originally going about 65mph it dropped all the way down to 10mph. Pulled over and the the car stopped. Tried starting the car back up but it made a clicking sound. I called a tow truck. The tow truck hauled it to a local mechanic. Mechanic diagnosed the problem being that the car had medal on the oil timing sensors known as the vvt timing solenoid sensor. He changed the oil. But still did not fix the problem. I have had this car since July 1, 2021, about almost 2 months got a oil change 2 days after I bought the car. Car will not excelerate over 40 mph. Engine light is still on. The sensors was not changed because the mechanic said it wouldn't do any good because the engine had metal fragments in it by now because metal scrappings were on the sensors.

- Gaffney, SC, USA

problem #164

Aug 052021

Optima

  • miles
Driving on the interstate just as I was getting off the car stalled on the offramp. I managed to get it going again about a mile down the road, I was making a left across the highway and it stalled on me again I managed to coast into a driveway without incident. I had an oil light the check engine lightAnd a battery light come on. After coasting into a driveway I could no longer get the car to start. I just bought the car four months ago with only 32000 miles on it. Brought it back to the dealer I bought it from and they recommended I tow it back to Kia as the engine may have seized as it is a known problem. Been almost a week stuck with no car after buying a practically brand new one. I-??m still waiting to hear back from the Kia dealership.

- Fort White , FL, USA

problem #163

May 172021

Optima

  • 110,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 78 mph, the vehicle inadvertently shifted into limp mode. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was able to be restarted however, the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

- Rancho Cucamonga, CA, USA

problem #162

Jun 142021

Optima

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was grayish smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to steer the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where they also diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure and stated that the vehicle was not under recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #161

Jul 182021

Optima

  • 165,000 miles
The contact's mother-in-law owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while his mother-in-law was driving 65 mph, she heard an abnormal loud clinking sound coming from the engine and the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. Several unknown warning lights along with the check engine warning light were illuminated. The contact stated as he opened the hood of the vehicle to determine the cause of the failure, he noticed the engine pistons had fractured and there was a hole in the engine. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, then to the dealer who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but advised the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) as it was out of warranty. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

- Clovis, CA, USA

problem #160

Jun 182021

Optima

  • 90,000 miles
The contact's son owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 65 mph the vehicle stalled. The oil warning indicator light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

- Escondido, CA, USA

problem #159

Jun 182021

Optima

  • 129,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle shut off and rolled in a parking lot. There were no warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the dashboard and vents melted and the air conditioner became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was informed there were metal shavings in the engine. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who referred the contact to a local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

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