9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$5,000
Average Mileage:
46,350 miles
Total Complaints:
11 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replaced engine (7 reports)
  2. not sure (4 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2014 Kia Optima:

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

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Kia dealer.

problem #11

Dec 222019

Optima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

Proudly purchased a 2014 Kia Optima for son's high school graduation. 1st engine blew w/out warning at 45k miles. Kia owned the issue and replaced the engine, as we supplied impeccable maintenance records. The 2nd engine has now blown - same issue. This time, Kia has reversed the root cause on Jiffy Lube whom they allege didn't tighten the oil drain screw during the last oil change. The oil change was 45 days and 2.5k miles prior to the incident. Soooo, it takes weeks and thousands of miles for an oil drain screw to back out???? Gimmee a break!!!

So now we are watching the dealer and Jiffy Lube insurance have a finger pointing contest which has been going on since before the Xmas holidays. This is insane!!!

- Pissed O., Houston, US

problem #10

Mar 072019

Optima LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

My son was driving home and the car stopped and went off-road. I thought at first all the oil on the ground was from the accident. I then hear of the recall. Mine was recalled. However, now it is our fault due to the fact we went 40000 miles over. I kept wondering why I need to keep replacing oil. I'm stuck with a 16000 loan on a vehicle with a blown motor. Kia is telling us that it was no oil that burnt the bearing and thru a rod, also sludge. Funny how some experience the same thing.

- Katherine N., Union City, IN, US

problem #9

Dec 192016

Optima EX 2.4L Dohc 16V1-4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

Riding down the street and this car decides to just shut off. No power! Had to literally force it to the side of the road. Had it towed home by AAA until the following morning and the tow truck driver that Kia sent, immediately tells me, "I tow a lot of these cars, so many, that my brother n law was gonna buy one, and I talked him out of it. He also tried his best to start the car because he said, the dealership always had a long line of cars waiting to be serviced. After waiting for what seems like forever, I called the following day and all they did was repeatedly ask me for maintenance records which I did not have. Finally the Mgr. tells me that there was sludge in the engine and it needs a new one. With less than 45,000 miles on it. Warranty won't cover it. What! Is this not what Kia built their brand on?10 year 100,000 mile warranty! Is that not why I purchased it? I would think I would have gotten some type of indication in that smart dash, that I needed oil or something. NO, the engine just shut off. I believe that this is a problem that Kia is ignoring and I am writing to my Atty General, BBB, my local tv stations and anyone else that can assist! Shame on you Kia! You really should nip this in the bud now, or you may wind up like VW. I am one of many with this same problem. HONOR YOUR WARRANTIES*SHOW SOME INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER PLEASE!

- Shraina S., Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #8

Nov 252016

Optima GDI 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,000 miles

car fax said motor replaced by russ darrow kia at 34,635 Madison wi. long block replaced, it was not replaced has same motor it came out with. that's how come kia wont replace it because they think they already have so someone has the motor that should be in my oil burner

- Blake H., Hamilton, IL, US

problem #7

Sep 192016

Optima LS 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles

I leased a 2014 Kia Optima, 2 1/2 later the engine blew, I towed it to the dealer and they said they needed approval from Kia, so ended up that they wanted proof and we don't have it, my husband is the one who provides service to all our cars in the house. and we have to pay for the repairs.

I do not think is fair, I've been driving this vehicle only 2 1/2 years.

- Carolina M., Downey, CA, US

problem #6

Sep 242016

Optima SXL

  • CVT transmission
  • 48,000 miles

I purchased my 2014 Kia SXL brand new 19 months ago and have had 2 major issues with it. This complaint is about the most recent which now has me worried for the safety of myself or any other lives in my vehicle. Thinking about driving this vehicle gives me major anxiety.

On 9/26/16 at 3:30pm my family was in the vehicle, my husband, mother, disabled sister and myself. We were heading to a family function in Palmdale and on the freeway in Santa Clarita on an upgrade the car completely shut off without any warning whatsoever, no sound, no light, no smell, nothing. We were going approximately 65 mph in the 2nd lane of the 6-8 lane freeway and had to use the momentum of the speed to pull of to the side of the busy freeway. We made it to the side safely while almost getting hit.... we were stuck in 85 degree whether with no power from the car to put the windows up or down, we couldn't open the trunk either. The car was completely dead. 30 mins in the heat AAA finally showed up to two us. The car is at the KIA dealership we purchased it from and is being diagnosed however; the service rep at the dealership said the mechanic believes its the engine but they are still looking at it. I am really worried about safety now and do not want to drive the vehicle especially with my family in it. We could have lost 4 lives on Saturday and I keep thinking about the "what ifs". I don't even want the car back but I still have 3 years on it, I am very anxious and will be asking KIA to provide a solution and guarantee for my safety. I just cannot understand how a brand new car has 2 major issues in 1 1/2 years!!!! I am waiting for the class action law suit at this point.

Signed,

An fearful and anxious KIA owner.

- Stacey C., Anaheim, US

problem #5

Sep 042016

Optima EX 2.4L Gdi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

2014 Kia Optima with 66K miles knocking. Kia dealership says its the connector rod bearing in #3 cylinder. Kia denying engine replacement even though the dealership says they have extended warranty for this issue. They are denying due to sludge present which is being caused by the defect. Kia is claiming the sludge comes from poor maintenance and placing the burden on me and many other customers to prove otherwise. Kia currently has a class action lawsuit from this engine defect but that doesn't change the fact that they have a known engine defect and have no empathy from the very customers who helped build their brand. I still owe $15,500 on this car that has a blown engine. Not sure what I'll do at this point.

- Jimmy A., Conway, AR, US

problem #4

Dec 212015

Optima ES 4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 41,000 miles

Missed 1 oil change and Kia says they will not replace the engine due to sludge. I took the car to kia as soon as I noticed a problem. They logged it and wanted to do a oil consumption test. They changed oil and said bring it back in 1,000 miles. Brought it back in 500 miles, oil was barley on the E. Kia added oil and said to do the test again. This test failed around 600 miles. Kia had added 15 quarts of oil over 65 days. Warranty said sludge in engine due to no maintenance. They had paperwork for 4 oil changes done by Kia. 1 I did by myself that they didn't accept. Car was coming up on its 6th oil change in 3,000 miles.

Kia ruined my car, I told them more than once and also logged with customer support. I am concerned about how the dealership was handling oil that was disappearing. No leaks or smoke. I said, Where is the oil going? Kia said, don't worry. We have it documented. Kia had a sales rep come and tell me that warranty is not going to cover this and he would help me purchase a new car. Can you believe that? They have an engine problem with oil burning or something. There should be a class action suit against them. I am working on trying to get one now.

- Scott S., Austell, GA, US

problem #3

Jan 112016

Optima GD 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

I change my oil every 5,000 miles and did so at 55,000. Existing oil level was full before the oil change. 3 miles after leaving the independent oil/lube joint engine started rattling like a banshee, thought they forgot to reinstall the oil drain plug but it was installed properly. No leaks. Had it towed by Kia to the nearest dealer where they found the oil level was full. Claims that the previous oil change was done incorrectly and that it was near empty before I had it changed that morning. Couldn't be farther from the truth. So, it has been 3 1/2 weeks later, multitude of calls to Kia, meetings at the dealership to no avail. All that has been done was pull the valve covers to see that the engine was not burned from "no oil'.

I am contacting the Texas AG's office to report my problem, contacting the local TV stations and a lawyer just to get Kia to own up to a defective engine they are unwilling to repair or replace. So much for the 100,000 mile power train warranty!

The worst part is that I make the calls, no one from Kia has done so or seem motivated to ask me questions.

Update from Feb 18, 2016: Ends up the dealer did minor investigative work and found that a bearing is going bad, shavings in the oil pan, and has a solution but Kia is still claiming "oil starvation" and is unwilling to budge.

Only recourse is a lawsuit. Last thing I wanted to do was get involved with a lawyer. No offense to the lawyers out there but you rate in my book just above car salesmen.

- B D., Cypress, TX, US

problem #2

Sep 272015

Optima EX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles

Bought a 2014 Optima EX with around 22000 miles. Drove it home next morning heard a noise coming from engine. Took it back to dealer. They couldn't figure it out so left it overnight. The next morning when they started the car they heard the noise and said the engine was gone.....said needed new engine and would take 3-5 working days to arrive....waited 6 days and no engine and said now they didn't have any available after telling me they had 4 available and mine was on its way. Now the dealer is saying it might be Dec before they get an engine. What good is life time engine warranty if it takes months to get one...that makes this part of this warranty completely useless....now we haven't vehicle and have doctor appointments and no car to drive to South Carolina...the dealer is giving me the runaround....we have payments to make and no car.....the dealer didn't offer to rent us a car.....

- Ronald N., North Dartmouth, MA, US

problem #1

Apr 012014

Optima ES 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,400 miles

I purchase 2014 Kia Optima on March 3rd and April 1st (2400 miles) the engine blew. I think that Kia is selling these cars knowing they may have a bad engine in them. I am considering contacting a lawyer for a class action suit because the same thing has happened to a few people I know. If you have had the same problem please let me know.

- Susan D., Barstow, CA, US