10.0

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

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2014 Kia Optima engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 5 of 12)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #158

Jun 012020

Optima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine burns a lot of oil. I-??ve had my engine oil changed very regularly by professional shops since I bought it new in 2014. I started changing the oil myself after only 2000 miles and noticed only 3 quarts came out of quarts 5 I put in. I changed the pcv valve and it did not solve the problem. There are no leaks. None of the mechanics ever told me my car was low on oil so I don-??t know how long it-??s been burning oil. I-??ve been adding oil regularly in between oil changes since I first noticed the problem. I-??m glad I never missed an oil change or my engine could be dead from lack of lubrication.

- Houma, LA, USA

problem #157

May 292021

Optima

  • miles
I bought the car from an individual in April. The end of May My engine started knocking while I was driving and it stalls out and will not drive. I contacted Kia because there was an open recall on the engine to see if they will look at it. They told me they will not even look at it or fix it because the person who owned the car before me did not fix other recalls.

- Pennsville , NJ, USA

problem #156

May 212021

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact's stepdaughter owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while his stepdaughter was driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle began to stall and she started to hear an abnormal sound. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The driver parked on the side of the road until the contact drove to her location. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with needing the engine to be replaced. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 20V519000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) which was related to the failure. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that since she was not the first owner of the vehicle, the recall repairs would not be honored. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the recall repairs would not be honored. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Pennsville, NJ, USA

problem #155

May 102021

Optima

  • 165,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving in traffic, the vehicle cut off and I had to coast to the side of the road. After several attempts, the vehicle finally started. This is the 3rd time this has happened.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #154

May 072021

Optima

  • 100,000 miles
My engine seized, I had it towed to a Kia dealership, they said Kia would not replace the engine because of recalls not done before I bought the car. There is currently a class action law suit for this engine, but I have to pay over 8,000 for an engine to be paid back, I still owe 10,000 on this car. I called Kia and asked how am I supposed to know about recalls made before I purchased this vehicle, they said I'm responsible for buying a used car. I've had my car in at a Kia dealership a week before engine failure with 20 point inspection and nothing said about recalls. I was on the freeway when my engine quit, lost all power. Had to drift across 4 lanes of traffic to get my car to an exit, and coast down the off ramp. Piped the hood and smelled something melting, my daughter was in the car with me. This is dangerous, now I'm left financially devastated and without a car because Kia can't fix their wrongs. Every engine that had the recalls done has had to be replaced with or without the update. The engines are bad. Ive only had this car a year.

- Salt Lake Citu, UT, USA

problem #153

Apr 092021

Optima 4-cyl

  • 81,730 miles
On April 9, 2021 my husband was driving my Kia on the garden state parkway. The car just stopped running and my husband was able to (by the skin of his teeth) veer off to the shoulder. Eventually the car was towed to difeo Kia in lakewood. After about 1 week of tests, I was told that the engine has seized and it "should be" covered under warranty. The representative told me that approval from corporate would have to be established prior to any work being done. On Monday April 19, 2021 I was told by Kia that corporate is not covering the engine because of an unresolved recall and that the new engine would be $6,000+.. there is an unresolved recall on my Kia from August 2020. I was not aware of this recall, if I did receive notice on a recall, I would have brought my car in to get checked like I did in 2018 for a different recall. I have full service records that can prove how I take good care of my car, and would have had the car checked had I ever received a notice. The present recall on my car is for a hecu assembly issue, not an engine seizing. I do know that Kia has recalled numerous Kia due to machining errors during engine manufacturing which can cause premature bearing wear within the engine. Maybe my car should have been recalled for this issue as well (?). I am thankful that my husband survived that day on the parkway, and am looking forward to any assistance you can give to help me resolve this.

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #152

Jul 012019

Optima 4-cyl

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while at a stop light, the vehicle stalled without warning. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic where they informed him that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The contact had the vehicle towed to his home and another mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed the vehicle with the same failure. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and referred him to the local dealer for assistance. Triple J auto group (470 North, marine corps dr, tamuning, 96913, guam) was contacted and informed him that his VIN was not under recall. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling) which he linked to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

- Gmf Barrigada, GU, USA

problem #151

Mar 032021

Optima 4-cyl

  • 180,000 miles
ENGINE DEVELOPED ENGINE KNOCK AND LOW COOLANT. STILL RUNS BUT NOT NORMALLY. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Mapleton, MN, USA

problem #150

Jun 152020

Optima

  • 100,000 miles
A local shop diagnosed the car and said the engine seized. Before I brought it to the shop a local mechanic said that the bearing(s)/ needs to be replaced and said that the enging is very close to seizing. I call my local Kia dealership and asked about it, they said that there is only 1 recall showing on the Kia website. I have screenshots of 4 different recalls and 1 of them says bearing deffect can cause the engine to seize. So idk if they are trying to not entertain my recall but they also said that I would have to towe it there and they will do take care of the recall that is showing up on their end which is not the reason why the car is down. Luckily the car died when I stopped at a traffic light and I was just stuck on the road.

- Barrigada, GU, USA

problem #149

Jul 302020

Optima

  • 112,000 miles
The car has lifetime engine warranty and Kia dealership confirmed the same and they are still rejecting me to fix my engine even I offered to pay a fair part of the repair, the engine is consuming oil like crazy 1 quart per 250 miles its makes ticking sound when accelerating and Kia seems like they dont care even if it has a lifetime engine warranty

- Willowbrook, IL, USA

problem #148

Feb 142021

Optima

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine sound like its about to blow up, engine is knocking very loud, loud valves, and lack on power when you try accelerate, happens on a highway and they need to tow car home, it was my 3 kids in the car, and it was the most horrible experience.

- Avondale, AZ, USA

problem #147

Feb 052021

Optima

  • 210,000 miles
I left the dealer lot at closing time 2/5/2021 the traction light and brake lights warnings were on the ABS light the car brakes skidded upon applying brakes driving at a slow speed the car shook while applying brakes and it felt as though the entire motor was going to fall out. Later my 17 year old whom has driven for 2 years was driving a few miles from home she said the steering went out the brakes went out she skid across to the other side of the road did not hit anything yet the entire engine and entire front end of the car came apart the frame and all. She could easily have been killed I would like this investigated thoroughly. I told her to drive slow and she was only going around the corner I had planned to take it back to the dealer the following Monday bjut was totalled before I did. She reported going 45 mph on a road when I had the issues I was driving about 35 to 45 on a regular road did not drive it on an interstate yet due to the uneasy ways it was handeling and I have never had a wreck in all my years of driving and 1 and a half hour drive each way to work for 40 years. The car also felt as though it was accelerating on its own also'

- Carriere, MS, USA

problem #146

Jan 252021

Optima

  • 89,000 miles
Check engine light has been on for a week. Had appt to go in 2/2/21 with Kia but driving down the interstate started hearing a light ticking sound. When I accelerated on the gas it didnt do anything. It was bogged down. It stayed at 60 mph so I did it again and still the same thing. My husband aslo said that it's been sucking oil down for no reason. It has 89,000 miles on it. I had to pull over and have it towed to Kia. I'm still currently waiting to hear what they are gonna do.

- Augusta, GA, USA

problem #145

Jan 152021

Optima

  • 109,000 miles
Engine prematurely uses oil and had no indication of no oil. Engine has knocking and is in limp mode but is not under recall associated with same year and model, however has same symptoms

- West Helena, AR, USA

problem #144

Nov 152020

Optima

  • 104,450 miles
I currently own 2014 Kia Optima just hit 104600 miles.I have never had an issue except my brake lights repeatly burning out. I recently checked my oil which was a little low I bought 2 quarts and put them in my car. A few weeks later my oil light flashed than went off I checked my oil again and there was nothing on my dipstick. From there I I drove 2 blocks to my the oil change place down the street from my home. The mechanic notified me that my engine was burning to hot, and I had less than a quart of oil left in my car. I told him that was strange since ive never had any leaks.he notified me that this was a known issue with this car and to take it straight to the Kia dealership because the engine is failing. From there I did an oil change and drove to Kia. I dropped it there to be check and was notified that the couldnt see an issue to drive it 1000 mile and bring it back. I picked it up and continued to drive about 10-14 days later I was driving and accelerated to get on the freeway and my car blew a bunch of white smoke from the tail pipe and lost power for a moment and engine light came on. I checked my oil and it was very low again. I called Kia back and had my car towed back to Kia dealership. After they looked over they notified me that my oil valves inside the engine were bad and that it was burning the oil ho. They said would contact kma to see if it would fall under the recall. I was later notified that I would have to repair it myself as there is no knock code - or complete engine seizing, im currenly unable to drive my car / and owe thousands on the car still. This is just unfair for consumers who buy there products.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #143

Apr 132019

Optima

  • 140,000 miles
My Kia Optima killed while driving on the road causing me to scrape the side of my car and it started smoking finding leaking oil as well over a year ago and my car has been sitting at the Kia dealership storage because they told me there wasn't a recall on my vehicle and that I would have to come out of pocket for an engine. I have come out of pocket for transportation for months and have had to pay a storage fee not knowing they were charging me until hearing from Kia consumers. Now all of a sudden a recall is popping up when I look up my VIN and even my insurance company alerted me that there are in fact 3 recalls on my car. I am out of a job because of not having transportation after coming out of pocket over 3,000 for a rental I couldn't spend another dime of my savings for my family's holidays and emergency stash. I'm never looking forward to doing business with Kia again. I've been so stressed mentally and physically and I'm still paying a car note for a car I can't drive

- Beaumont, TX, USA

problem #142

Nov 012020

Optima

  • 15,000 miles
Recall on engine was replaced 2 years ago for having metal shavings in the oil. The second motor has 15,000 miles on it and it's burning oil and smoking to where you can't see anything. I was getting on I 65 going North and smoke came out. It hesitates to go. Can't drive it over 45-50. Steering has a recall for a plastic cuffling behind steering wheel. It was replaced last year according to riverchase Kia in pelham Alabama. It is now making a popping noise again. Condensation is getting in tail lights causing the bulbs to blow. The headlights when on dim you can barely see.

- Alabaster, AL, USA

problem #141

Dec 082020

Optima

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that she lost consciousness while driving at 65 mph which resulted in her vehicle rolling off the road and into an embankment and landed into a tree. The air bags did deploy upon impact. The contact had to be cut out of the vehicle through the driver side door and was immediately rushed to the hospital via ambulance. The contact sustained injuries to her back and chest; as well as lacerations to her right lower arm and lower abdominal area. The contact was uncertain if a police report was filed. The vehicle was totaled at the scene and was uncertain of its current whereabouts. The manufacturer nor the dealer had yet to be made aware of the failure. Prior to the failure, the contact had received a notice for NHTSA campaign number:17V224000(engine and engine cooling); however, she had not receive a notification for NHTSA campaign number: 20V519000(service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

- Tulsa, OK, USA

problem #140

Dec 012020

Optima

  • 95,000 miles
Check engine light came on and then when trying to excellerate on the gas to enter onto the highway, the engine started bogging down and not picking up speed. Took it to O'reilly autoparts to get the engine code and it came back as a faulty boost control position sensor circuit.

- Troy, MO, USA

problem #139

Nov 072020

Optima

  • 175,000 miles
I was on the highway traveling roughly 65 miles, I had literally just gotten onto the highway. I went to accelerate and the car just wouldn't, the rpms and mph just went down and all lights came on the dash. I had to pull over. I shut car off, car has not been able to start since that day. The engine will not turn over. It didn't make any loud noise when this happened, there was no smells. It just stopped accelerating & engine light, battery light and oil light all came on. The car was completely full of oil and the filter was clean. The car had coolant in it, no leaks. I use the same shop for all mechanical work so he has all records of my maintenance.

- Bristol, CT, USA

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