Kia Optima Complaints (2018)

244 consumer complaints on file.

#11706817December 23, 2025
ENGINE
My engine is under the Kia class action lawsuit for the KDS with the rod bearing clearance issues. I have done all my oil changes with paper work available. I got the update to the ECU several years ago as needed to be covered. Now my engine has failed and I took to the dealer to check but they said I didn't have a specific code and that they can't do any testing to verify it would be under the warranty. I called Kia Customer Care and have talked to them several times. They have told me there wasn't a need for the code and that the dealer could do other testing. The dealer stated that they can't do the BCT test due to a cylinder not having compression. I told Kia this is all related to the bearing going out and they said they can't do anything if the dealer said it's not under warranty. So I have now been going in circles with kia and dealer since 11/18/25. I sent kia another email on 12/15/25 and another on 12/18/25 due to not receiving a response. It's now 12/23/25 and still no response. They have a service bulletin that I seen online that was for dealers if any issues with testing they had other options but still nothing has been done.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704303December 10, 2025
ENGINE
While driving my 2018 Kia Optima S, the car suddenly jerked, lost power, and stalled in traffic. Multiple warning lights came on at the same time including the oil light, battery light, and check engine light. I had no acceleration and the brakes became very hard to press. The vehicle had to be towed for safety reasons. The Kia dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed internal engine failure due to “cylinder failure” and stated the engine needs complete replacement. This failure occurred without any external leaks and without warning other than the sudden loss of power. The dealer stated the issue is not covered, even though it is clearly an internal engine malfunction. This is a major safety hazard because the stall happened while I was in active traffic. A sudden loss of power and braking ability puts me and others at risk of an accident. The problem has been confirmed by the Kia dealership through diagnostic testing. The vehicle is still available for inspection. Warning lamps appeared only at the moment of failure, giving no advance warning. This appears to be related to the ongoing engine defects in Kia vehicles involving oil starvation, loss of compression, cylinder scoring, and internal engine failure. Cylinder failure and sudden stalling should be investigated as part of the known safety-related engine defects affecting this model.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11702775December 3, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Paint on all four door handles are bubbling and chipping. I rarely use the backseat handles and passenger door, which makes it more likely to be a malfunction in whatever paint was used for the handles. There is no fading, chipping, or bubbling on other parts of my car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701971November 29, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint peeling from driver side door.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701737November 26, 2025
ENGINE
Car keeps stalling while driving
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11701751November 26, 2025
AIR BAGS
I was rearended, all air bags deployed except steeringwheel
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11697664November 5, 2025
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
On August 26, 2025, I brought my 2018 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid to an authorized dealer for recall SC218 (engine inspection and KSDS software update). The dealer verbally stated both SC218 and SC278 recalls were completed, and the repair order (RO #XXX) lists them as performed. In September 2025, Kia America emailed me showing recall SC218 still open, and a warranty coverage report dated September 26, 2025, again listed SC218 as unclosed. On November 4, 2025, NHTSA’s official VIN lookup confirmed the recall remains “Incomplete.” On October 21, 2025, Kia America emailed me under Case #XXX stating that SC218 was “confirmed completed” and that the dealer performed a software update to the ECU, referencing RO #XXX. However, NHTSA’s database still lists recall SC218 as incomplete. This contradiction between Kia America’s internal record, the dealer’s invoice, and the federal NHTSA database raises a serious safety concern that the recall inspection or software update was never actually performed or was never reported correctly. I have requested written proof and diagnostic data (Battery SOH report) multiple times but have not received them. If accurate, this means I was led to believe my vehicle’s engine-safety recall had been repaired when federal records still list it as open. I am requesting NHTSA to review this reporting discrepancy, ensure Kia America and the dealer produce verifiable proof of completion, and confirm that the federal record is corrected. 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
#11693147October 13, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Trunk latch broke leaving it impossible for someone in the trunk to get out and very difficult for someone on the outside to open the trunk
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11691928October 7, 2025
ENGINE
I’ve had my car for 6 months and it constantly burns oil I’ve had 4 oil changes because it Is completely disappearing but my mechanics can not find any leaks. Then I changed all my spark plugs and two were completely burnt and they were changed a month ago and now one of them went again and this time is completely covered in oil
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690169September 28, 2025
ENGINE
The engine of my 2018 Kia Optima is burning oil. When it started, I had 72,000 miles, and it's burning one quart of oil every thousand miles. There is no oil leak. I will take it back to Kia on October 2, 2025. The mechanic reported that it has an internal engine issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11689592September 24, 2025
ENGINE
The oil consumption is burning at a faster rate than normal. My oil changes are always on time but for months I have been having to take it for an oil change about 2,000 miles below mileage time. I have had it inspected but found no oil leaks. This is a major problem for the engine and safety.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11689026September 22, 2025
ENGINE
Engine seized and stopped working. While I could not find any recall information based on the VIN, it is a 2018 Kia which was subject to the Kia Engine Settlement (In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation , No. 8:17‑cv‑00838‑JLS‑JDE and Flaherty v. Hyundai Motor Company, et al. , No. 18‑cv‑02223 (C.D. Cal.)). Was never notified of such settlement as the VIN would have triggered this notification by Kia but they obviously did not list this in the recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11688052September 18, 2025
ENGINE
I was driving on the highway with my children and the engine started to knock and lock up. I had to swerve onto an exit and roll into a gas station. My check engine light was on. I had it serviced in 2023 at a kia dealership. I had electrical issues to my battery that I opted to get fixed elsewhere. The dealership was aware of the recall on my engine, when I had it towed to them in 2025. Dealership said I opted out of a recall on my engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687988September 17, 2025
ENGINE
Car would convulse and shake very wildly metal parts spread around engine. It has very rough idle. 4th cylinder went out and car only has about 99060 miles. The valve went out. My safety was very bad as car was not driving safely and shaking like a person having a seizeure each time it would stop. Vehicle has been inspected by a Kia dealer. This problem I had seems to get an issue many other people with Kia Optima have.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11685738September 8, 2025
ENGINE
My 2018 Kia Optima has a cracked oil pan, which caused an excessive oil leak —up to 5 quarts in a matter of hours. This eventually led to my engine going out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11684905September 4, 2025
ENGINE
Car suddenly stopped working; it was struggling to stay on. Mechanic stated cylinder is not functioning at full force.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681636August 19, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
My cars bulbs have been blowing on a regular basis for two years..some of the bulb connections are catching fire and exploding .Ive changed on numerous occasions but doesn’t matter even with new fittings…obviously an electric problem
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11681328August 18, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal with the oil warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact's friend initially inspected the vehicle and discovered that the engine oil was empty. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the mechanic discovered oil around the engine; however, the source of the leak was not discovered. The contact was informed that an engine valve was sealed and that the failure was repaired. Despite the repair, the failure persisted, and the oil light was frequently illuminated on the instrument panel. The engine oil level was checked and was extremely low. The dealer had not offered any additional assistance for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact made several attempts to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11678073August 3, 2025
ENGINE
My 2018 Kia Optima went into limp mode while exiting the freeway. I had it scanned and received a P1326 code, which is directly tied to the known engine knock sensor / bearing wear issue in Kia models. The engine light came on and the car lost power suddenly. This created a very unsafe situation. I contacted Kia, and they confirmed that my VIN is not included in the engine recall (KSDS campaign), even though my symptoms exactly match the covered vehicles. I am now stuck with an undriveable car and no recall coverage, even though I’m facing the same failure risk. I believe this VIN should be included, and that this is a clear safety issue. I am requesting the NHTSA to investigate and push Kia to expand coverage to include more affected vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11675096July 21, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima PHEV. The contact's daughter stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the high systems temperature switching to hybrid mode message was displayed. The contact stated that there was a two-hour delay for a full charge. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer informed the contact that the fluids in the vehicle needed to be changed. The vehicle wasn’t repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed by the dealer to remove all the items located in the trunk of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the battery fan assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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