Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11729896April 8, 2026
ENGINE
I am submitting a complaint regarding my 2011 Kia Optima (VIN: [XXX] ), which is currently experiencing significant engine issues and is undrivable. This issue is currently being reviewed under Kia Case #XXX. This vehicle is part of the Theta II engine group that has been the subject of recalls, service campaigns, and extended warranty coverage due to known engine defects, including rod bearing failure and potential engine seizure. The vehicle has also received the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) update associated with these known issues. My vehicle is currently at the dealership and has been there since March 10, 2026. It is not drivable, and I have been without transportation during this time. The dealership has diagnosed the issue as oil consumption; however, Kia has denied coverage, stating that oil consumption is not related to rod bearing failure. Kia has not confirmed whether a full internal engine inspection was performed to rule out rod bearing damage, nor have they confirmed that a Techline engineering review has been conducted. Given the known history of engine defects in this model, I am concerned that the current condition may be related to internal engine failure that has not been properly evaluated. Oil consumption can be a precursor or symptom of internal engine damage, and I do not believe the issue has been fully or adequately diagnosed. Additionally, my vehicle has an open safety recall related to potential engine compartment fire risk, which further raises concerns about the safety and reliability of this vehicle. I am requesting that this issue be reviewed as a potential safety-related defect, as the vehicle is undrivable and may be at risk for sudden engine failure or fire. I am also concerned that the manufacturer is relying solely on a dealership-level assessment without a thorough engineering evaluation of a known defect condition. Thank you for your review of this matter. 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
#11729703April 7, 2026
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his son was driving approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal metal-on-metal sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. The contact drove out to the location and became aware that the oil and the battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart, and the starter motor was smoking. The contact stated that prior to the engine failure, the starter motor had been replaced. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic who had recently replaced the starter motor. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact called the local dealer and the manufacturer but was informed that the vehicle would not be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729768April 7, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My rear passenger side window would not go up or down & the motor would run when the button was pressed. That was in January 2026. Now April 2026, my driver's side rear window will not go up or down.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729408April 6, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My vehicle was leaking oil an oil change. My vehicle started having a knocking sound. I am a single parent of a [XXX] child. The car would suddenly stop while I was driving which put me and my daughter's safety at risk. I took if to Southern Kia Greenbriar dealership to have a diagnostic test on Jan 17, 2026. [XXX] from the dealership confirmed my vehicle needs a new engine. It could be covered under the recall, however I would need to show receipts of every oil change from 2017 to 2026. The dealership has had my vehicle for over 2 1/2 months. My vehicle or component has been inspected by the Kia dealership, but not inspected by the police, insurance representatives or others. I noticed my oil on my drive way Jan 10th and put additional oil in my vehicle. Shortly after I began to noticed the car suddenly stopping for no reason, then heard a knocking sound when driving. 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
#11729509April 6, 2026
ENGINE
The rod barring failed in my engine. I broke down in the middle of the parkway with my daughter. This is my third Kia optima that has had this issue but the dealership is stating there is not a recall on this model. The check engine light did not come on except when the car lost all power.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729515April 6, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front of the vehicle started excessively smoking and caught fire. No warning lights illuminated. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department, and a fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure via customer care support since no representative was reached via the phone line. The approximate failure mileage was 179,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728774April 2, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
On March 23, 2026, I took my 2017 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid (VIN: [XXX] ) to Mark Kia [XXX] ) solely for two open safety recalls: SC218 (Engine Inspection/Replacement and KSDS software installation) and SC278 (Emergency Trunk Latch Release) under Repair Order #6807251. No customer-pay work was performed. The Multi-Point Inspection that day noted only the cabin air filter. During the drive home on March 23, a faint rotten-egg (H₂S) smell appeared for the first time. By the morning of March 24, 2026, the smell was severe. I immediately returned the vehicle. Under new Repair Order #6807360, a second Multi-Point Inspection suddenly recommended $1,134.10 in customer-pay services (new 12V battery, fuel induction service, cooling system service, brake fluid exchange, and ATF exchange) that were not flagged the previous day. Since the recall service, the vehicle has developed numerous new defects that never existed before: Rotten-egg smell (H₂S) Intermittent AC that blows warm in stop-and-go traffic Passenger-rear power window clicks but will not roll down Brake warning (“Stop vehicle and check brakes”) “Key not detected” message Passenger-side mirror pushed in with temporary motor malfunction 12V battery cover left completely disassembled and misplaced in the trunk Complete no-start / dead 12V battery condition (will not crank even after multiple jump attempts as of March 30, 2026) On March 24, 2026, I sent a formal demand letter by certified mail (received and signed for by the dealership on March 27, 2026) giving Mark Kia five business days (until close of business March 31, 2026) to provide a free tow, free loaner, and free repair of all defects. I followed up with six supplemental addendums (dated March 24–30, 2026) attaching photos and videos of every issue. On April 1, 2026, Service Director [XXX] replied by email and admitted in writing (twice) that the dealership did not follow recall procedure 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
#11728508April 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
My engine has failed. This is the second car I’ve had from Kia that the rod barring has failed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11728158March 31, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Even after regular oil changes car requires an additional 4 bottles of oil every 2 weeks. Now the car is jumping and having a misfire.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727986March 30, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The engine of vehicle repeatedly failed, causing the vehicle to stall while driving, which posed a serious risk to my safety and others on the road. The vehicle had approximately 65,000 miles and was maintained routinely and on schedule. The failure first occurred before November 18, 2025, when I reported stalling issues to Kia authorized service & parts. The vehicle was returned as “fixed” on December 12, 2025, but the engine stalled again during normal operation. The vehicle was returned to Kia authorized service & parts multiple times (December 12, December 18, December 23, January 9, January 12, 2026, and March 4, 2026), with repeated assurances that it had been repaired. Each time, the car continued to stall, including during a test drive at Subaru, demonstrating that the failure persisted despite repeated dealer intervention. The stalling created a significant hazard, as the car could lose power while on public roads, including highways, potentially leading to accidents. There were no consistent warning lights or messages prior to the engine stalling; the first symptom was intermittent loss of power while driving. The failure has been reproduced and observed by multiple service personnel at Kia authorized service & parts and by Subaru during the trade-in test drive. The component(s) causing the failure were inspected by Kia authorized service & parts staff, but no effective repair was made. Documentation of repair orders and dealer inspections is available for review.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727436March 27, 2026
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car is not holding oil it acts like it's gonna cut off while driving and it jerking was diagnosed with colitic converter p0604
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727508March 27, 2026
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while a family member was driving the vehicle at 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road where the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where an independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted or notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727293March 26, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle failed to exceed 60 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed. No warning light was illuminated. The local dealer advised the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired due to a lack of maintenance records. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727066March 25, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car started shutting down while driving. After the engine started seizing the key wouldn't turn in my ignition. Took car to dealership immediately on 10, 2026. Took again in 2024 for recall and other repairs. Found out after requesting previous service incidents they failed to do recall repairs and never notified me of it, or to come back. I've requested current diagnostic report several times in writing and verbally with codes for this current service, with non compliance. My car is still at the dealership needing work and I need current diagnostic report before I pay for repairs. I am attaching a dealership diagnostic e-Report for my 2013 Kia Optima from 2024. While the report lists “No Current DTC” for several systems, it also documents multiple “Communication Fail” errors across critical modules, including Smart Key, Head Lamp, Air Conditioner, Brake, and other systems. These communication failures indicate a broader electrical or network issue within the vehicle, not simply a failed battery. The report also shows that certain diagnostic scans were not properly performed. Additionally, there are historical fault codes related to TPMS and weight classification systems, further supporting that the vehicle has experienced ongoing electrical issues. Despite these findings, the dealership attributed the vehicle failure solely to a bad battery and did not provide a current battery diagnostic test. They also failed to address an open recall related to electrical/fuse issues prior to this failure. Based on this past diagnostic report, I believe the root cause of my vehicle’s failure is an unresolved electrical defect, potentially related to the outstanding recall, rather than normal battery wear. This has resulted in my vehicle becoming inoperable and poses a serious safety concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726935March 25, 2026
AIR BAGS
Airbag light on dash is on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727038March 25, 2026
VISIBILITY
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was loud banging sound coming from the vehicle and there were shards of glass on the right elbow of the contact. No warning light was illuminated. Upon further inspection, the contact stated that the sunroof glass panel had shattered outward. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726654March 24, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle unintendedly decelerated to 5 MPH and started jerking abnormally. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V331000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) and 20V519000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the VIN was not included in recalls. The dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 158,872.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726667March 24, 2026
ENGINE
Engine issues started the third month after sales. Jerking, shaking, declining performance, metal clicking noise, loss of power while driving. Kia has been working on the car for a year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726778March 24, 2026
ENGINE
My car burns oil. I had to have my spark.plugs and engine coils replaced. I was driving and my check engine light came on. Also, my car was sputtering like you wouldnt believe. When i had the spark plugs and ignition coils replaced, the spark plugs were covered in oil. Last year, I got an oil change and within a few weeks the oil was empty. A neighbor told me my car was burning oil. I also took it to an independent mechanic and he said that was an issue with the kia optima.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11726452March 23, 2026
ENGINE
1) Motor failed on interstate and car towed to automotive shop. Currently still at the shop with hope to tow to Kia to address issue. 2)My teenage daughter and her friend were placed in a dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation due to what appears to be a catostrophic vehicle failure. While driving our 2013 Kia Optima whith approximately 160,000 miles, the vehicle suddenly lost power while our daughter was traveling a major highway. The car quit responding to the gas pedal and she was forced to pull over on the side of the highway and was stranded in traffic with no safe way to move the vehicle. When she attempted to restart the car the engine light began flashing (it did not do so before hand), the car was shaking and undriveable. This was not a minor inconvenience, it was a serious safety hazard. A young driver was left sitting on the shoulder of a high-speed roadway with cars and trucks passing at highway speeds up to 80 mph. Had another driver drifted or had she not been able to reach the shoulder in time, this situation could have easily resulted in a major crash or fatality(-ies). The vehicle would not restart properly and had to be towed. Prior to this incident, there were no obvious warning sings of an imminent catastrophic failure. The mechanic's invoice of his diagnostics is attached. Vehicles should not fail in a way that suddenly leaves drivers stranded in active highway traffic with no warning. This type of failure creates an extremely dangerous situation not just for the driver but for everyone on the road. I strongly urge the NHTSA to review whether this model vehicle has known engine or safety defects that can lead to sudden engine failure or loss of power while driving. No parent should have to get a phone call that their child is stranded on the side of a major highway because their car suddenly died without warning. I am requesting this vehicle incident be documented and investigared as a potential safety defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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