Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11774145October 28, 2026
ENGINE
On October 25, 2026, while traveling eastbound on US Highway 74 near Bryson City, North Carolina, my 2020 Kia Optima 2.4L GDI experienced a sudden and substantial loss of engine power while driving through mountainous terrain. The check-engine light began flashing, and the vehicle entered what appeared to be reduced-power or limp mode. The engine remained running, but acceleration and available engine power were significantly reduced. This created a serious safety concern due to the mountainous highway conditions and surrounding traffic. I immediately pulled over at the first safe opportunity and did not continue driving the vehicle. My partner, who was approximately six months pregnant, was traveling with me. We remained stranded along the roadside for approximately three hours awaiting assistance, approximately 202 miles from home. Diagnostic trouble code P1326 was subsequently identified. There were no noticeable knocking, rattling, or ticking noises before or after the incident. The oil-pressure warning light did not illuminate. After the incident, the engine oil level was checked and found to be between the minimum and maximum dipstick markings. Timestamped photographs were taken during the towing process and at dealership drop-off. The vehicle was transported to a Kia dealership, where a bearing clearance test was performed and passed. The dealership also identified an external oil leak. However, the cause of the sudden loss of power and P1326 activation has not been conclusively established. I am reporting this incident because the unexpected and substantial loss of engine power while driving on a mountainous highway created a potentially dangerous situation. I am concerned that the condition could recur and pose a safety risk to other drivers and passengers.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11774311October 28, 2026
ENGINE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Driving car on highway Car would not accelerate Stalled engine loud noise all lights are on now
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773169October 23, 2026
ENGINE
There is a known issue with this vehicle and the fix by KIA is not safe nor fair to the consumer. Kia's knock sensor recall centers on the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update for Theta II GDI engines. The update listens for rod bearing wear, triggers a check engine light and limp mode via Code P1326, and extends the engine warranty up to a lifetime or 15 years/150,000 miles. My problem is that we had to car in on May of 2026 after in went into limp mode. They updated the software. The car again went into limp mode on 10/21/2026, they updated the software again. My focus here is the fact that it is a known issue and they say it still does not meet the parameters for an engine replacement. It is a severe issue that is dangerous and inconvenient to the driver. You are afraid to take it on a trip or even take it on a highway. My 20 year old daughter drives this to college. Can you imagine a car going into limp mode on a majory US highway? Limp mode essentially does not allow a vehicle to go above 2K RPM. You cant go up a hill over 35 and on a highway, on a flat road you "might" be able to go 55 MPH. My daughter goes to college 4 hours away. This creates a very unsafe, dangerous and inconvenient environment. KIA is hoping that they can buy time until these vehicles fail for some other reason and they dont have to pay the cost for a new engine.... ALL at the consumers peril. To put this in perspective, if you have a vehicle with a "low tire pressure" warning, does lowering the sensors parameters fix the problem.... No, it just turns off the warning and you are driving a car with low tire pressure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773187October 23, 2026
STEERING
1. Component or system that failed/malfunctioned & availability for inspection: The Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) system and the steering column assembly have failed. The vehicle and the defective steering column are fully available for inspection upon request. 2. How safety was put at risk: A known, dealer-diagnosed defective steering column compromises structural steering control. Operating a vehicle with an unresolved steering column defect creates an immediate risk of catastrophic steering failure, locking, or sudden loss of control at high speeds, placing myself, my passengers, and other drivers in imminent danger. 3. Reproduction or confirmation by a dealer/independent center: The problem was explicitly confirmed by a certified Kia dealership. After a prior flex coupler repair, a severe whining noise immediately developed upon leaving the lot. I returned the car, and the dealership's secondary inspection confirmed that the entire steering column was defective and required complete replacement. They issued an official itemized cost invoice for the replacement work. 4. Inspection by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others: The component was formally inspected by the local authorized Kia dealership. However, the dealership subsequently misinformed Kia Corporate by falsely reporting that the vehicle was fully "resolved" to close the corporate case file, leaving the safety hazard unaddressed. 5. Warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms: There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The primary symptom was a distinct, loud whining noise that developed immediately following the dealer's physical teardown and replacement of the steering flex coupler. The issue became persistent from that exact date forward.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772904October 22, 2026
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power but continued to drive under reduced power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure nearly caused a crash. The vehicle was taken to O'Reilly's, where three knock sensor codes were retrieved. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer and was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V652000 (Service Brake, Hydraulic), 22V093000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and 22V560000 (Structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 125,055.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773095October 22, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
hybrid battery low won't crank but turns on and says park do not drive check charging system
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11773122October 22, 2026
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
Component: Power Window / Door Description: All four power window regulators failed on my 2016 Kia Optima SXL within 16 months - from June 2025-Oct 2026. The failure mode is identical on all four doors: the plastic drum gear in the regulator separates or breaks, causing the window glass to drop into the door and become completely inoperable. The vehicle had 113,867 miles on it at the time of the first failure. This is a known design defect, not wear-and-tear. Kia issued Technical Service Bulletin BOD300 (March 2021) specifically addressing "Window Regulator Drum Gear Replacement" for 2016-2017MY Optima (JFa) vehicles produced September 1, 2015 through July 31, 2016. The bulletin confirms the drum gear separates or breaks. Despite this, Kia has not issued a safety recall. Safety risk: In a collision, intact side windows are an occupant ejection restraint. A window that has fallen into the door removes that protection and increases the risk of occupant ejection. Side curtain airbags deploy through the window frame (FMVSS 208). A window that is detached or lowered can interfere with proper airbag deployment, negating a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard protection. In an emergency (fire, submersion), the driver and passengers cannot lower a window to create an escape path. Evidence of systemic defect: All four regulators failed (not one or two), within a short timeframe, demonstrating a design-level failure rather than isolated component wear. Kia's own TSB BOD300 confirms the root cause (drum gear separation/breakage). This complaint is filed in connection with existing NHTSA investigations PE21004 and EA22002 regarding this exact defect. I paid $3,734.64 out of pocket to have all four regulators replaced. I opted out of the Le Beau v. Kia America class action settlement and retain my individual claims. I am requesting that NHTSA evaluate this as a safety defect warranting a recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772835October 21, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2018 Kia Optima has the Theta II 2.4L engine. In February 2026, the dealer performed an engine/powertrain computer reprogramming. In August 2026, the engine failed and the vehicle was taken to an authorized Kia dealer, where the engine was replaced under the Theta II engine warranty. The vehicle was at the dealer from August 8 until the repair was completed on September 29, 2026. When I picked up the vehicle on October 9, it felt shaky and vibrated on the drive home. On October 11, the vehicle began giving off a distinct, unfamiliar smell that is not like burning fuel or oil. On October 21, I found the vehicle leaking an opaque, milky tan fluid onto my garage floor. The type and source of the fluid are UNKNOWN. I have photos of the leak. My family and I have stopped driving the vehicle because we believe it is unsafe. We were driving it with our children before these symptoms appeared. Given the history of Theta II engine failures, we are concerned about the risk of engine failure, stalling, or fire while driving. The new symptoms have not yet been diagnosed or confirmed by a dealer. I am arranging for the vehicle to be towed to a Kia dealer for warranty diagnosis. The vehicle and leak are available for inspection. I have reported these issues to the manufacturer under an open customer case.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11772418October 20, 2026
ENGINE
3 weeks ago I had my vehicle towed to Car Pros Kia in the city of [XXX]. They said that there was an issue with the engine which should be covered under the extended lifetime warranty that KIA issued Me 2 years ago due to a recall and a system update that they required that I do on my vehicle. We did the update. We are having the same mechanical issues we did two years ago with the first recall. I reached out to Kia corporate Kia says they're reaching out to Car Pros Kia I've been in contact with both companies three to four times a week for the last 3 weeks and they both are saying they never received anything from each other. The mechanical issue is very dangerous the car jerks slows down to a very low speed around 30 Mi an hour in the middle of high speed traffic. Is very dangerous I've been without a vehicle for 3 weeks which is slowing down my process to continue to pay my bills I need my vehicle can I get any help from anyone. I feel disrespected taking advantage of and now I'm starting to fall into a financial issue because they cannot communicate with each other to fix an issue that should be covered under the warranty that they said it would and I have documents to prove it INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11771378October 15, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the engine stalled and shut off. The vehicle coasted to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an engine failure and it was determined that the engine required replacement. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) due to insufficient service records. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 145,848.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11771350October 15, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Concerning my Optima KIA's OEM front windshield. At certain times of the day when the sunlight is shining on a certain angle it is difficult to see through the windshield due to the glare which creates a visual impairment. There were a quite a few instance's where I almost got into serious accidents. With my observation the glass looks like there are thousands of microscopic pits like a light sandblasting embedded within the lamination and not the surface of the glass. It seems prominent at night also. This seems like a manufacture defect. This puts a safety risk for me and others. The dealer and manufacture will not do anything about it do to out of warranty. This appeared about a year ago and has gotten worse.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770266October 10, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
Severe engine defect (Theta II 2.4L GDI). Sudden total loss of power, metallic knocking, severe oil consumption, and imminent catastrophic failure while driving, creating a high safety risk. Vehicle is currently out of service in [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770053October 9, 2026
ENGINE
My vehicle keeps consuming/burning oil. In between oil changes I still need to add oil
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770112October 9, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, there was a rattling and knocking sound coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet informed of the failure. The contacted stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced excessive oil consumption, and the spark plugs were replaced. The failure mileage was 183,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770155October 9, 2026
AIR BAGS
Air bag light is on the panel & is not enabled & buttons on steering wheel that adjust the volume and stations have stopped working unless the steering wheel is turned all the way to the left. Believe it is a faulty spring in the steering wheel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11770217October 9, 2026
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car smelled of what seemed like motor oil while driving. Parked, saw white smoke, and confirmed an engine fire. I was clearly in life threatening danger, especially with a full tank of gas. Fire developed rapidly into a roaring blaze. Entire front of car melted. Car is currently being investigated by manufacturer and cause is unknown. No warning lamps illuminated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769918October 8, 2026
ENGINE, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
At around 103K miles, I took to the dealership for a multipoint inspection for knocking when braking and my forward collision/lane assist systems going offline mid drive. I learn I have to replace my axle, despite replacing my axle in sept 2025. I return a week after due to the red oil light blinking on randomly, and when I checked the oil myself it was dry. The braking and assumed wiring issues remained. I find out that my oil is low despite an oil change July 16th 2026. It is October 8th 2026 as I type this. I am doing an engine flush in hopes to improve oil consumption, but i have since learned that my engine may fail from these other Kia stories. I have not stalled or had engine failure yet but now I am worried about having to sell my car to avoid having to keep replacing the same flawed parts over and over, or worse injuring myself while driving it. I was hoping to take a trip but now I have to rent a car and play another 1,600 dollars for the engine flush which I have no guarantee will actually work. I am disgusted, and there should be consequences for KIA (and many other companies) for taking advantage of their customers. I need a new car now!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769928October 8, 2026
ENGINE
VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH, ENGINE SEIZED ,WILL NOT CRANK .SUSPECTED CONECTING ROD BEARING FAILURE UNDER SAFETY RECALL SC200, I CALL KIA 18003334542 DENIED RECALL REPAIR AND BEARING CLEARANCE TEST STATING VEHICLE IS REBUILT TITLE. FEDERAL SAFETY RECALL CANNOT BE DENIED DUE TO REBUILT TITLE PER NHTSA .REQUESTING RECALL REMEDY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11769959October 8, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On August 20, 2026, while my minor son and I were inside my 2020 Kia Optima LX, strong burning odors and fumes entered the passenger compartment through the HVAC vents. No dashboard warning lights or messages appeared before or during the incident. Although no visible flames were observed, I suspected an electrical component was overheating or melting, creating a potential fire and respiratory hazard. My son has asthma and experienced coughing and shortness of breath throughout that day, requiring use of his prescribed rescue inhaler. Neither of us received immediate medical treatment. Due to safety concerns, I had the vehicle towed to R&E Auto Repair on August 21, 2026, rather than risk driving it. The independent repair facility documented suspected melting of the HVAC temperature control unit and identified the blower motor resistor as a possible contributing component. Video evidence of the suspected damage was obtained. I formally reported the incident to Kia Customer Care on September 1, 2026. The vehicle was delivered to authorized dealer DeMontrond Kia on September 23, 2026, for further inspection. Despite the independent findings, Kia's dealership reported that it could not identify melted components. The suspected defect remains unresolved. The vehicle remains at DeMontrond Kia and may be available for inspection. I have not been advised whether any affected components have been removed or replaced. No police or insurance inspection has been reported. I am concerned about potential electrical fire hazards, fumes entering the passenger compartment, and respiratory injuries to occupants. I request that NHTSA investigate this suspected HVAC electrical defect and potential safety risk to other Kia owners.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11769490October 7, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am reporting a serious safety concern involving my 2016 Kia Optima, purchased from CarMax in 2024 and financed through CarMax Auto Finance. On or about October 5, 2026, I returned to my parked vehicle and discovered extensive black soot/smoke residue throughout the interior. Wiring and interior components appeared melted or burned. The vehicle had not been involved in a collision. Based on the damage, I believe an electrical or wiring failure may have caused the fire, although the exact cause has not yet been confirmed. The vehicle was inspected by police and the tow operator, and it was determined to be a total loss. An insurance claim has been filed, and the vehicle should be available for inspection if requested. This vehicle also had a significant history of mechanical problems. Since shortly after I purchased it, it experienced severe oil consumption/oil loss, requiring multiple visits to CarMax and multiple 1,000-mile oil-consumption tests. I also experienced repeated spark plug and coil pack problems requiring repairs/replacements. The exact component that failed is currently UNKNOWN. I have not yet had Kia inspect the vehicle or confirm the cause of the fire. This incident created a serious safety risk because the vehicle appears to have caught fire while parked. If this had occurred while I was driving or while my children were inside the vehicle, the fire could have caused serious injury or death. I do not recall receiving a specific warning message immediately before discovering the damage. The vehicle did, however, have its history of ongoing mechanical problems described above. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether an electrical, wiring, or other safety defect could have caused this vehicle fire and whether other Kia Optima owners may be at risk.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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