8.8

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
64,650 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (4 reports)
  2. warranty repair (1 reports)
2014 Kia Optima engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #5

Jul 232019

Optima LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 86,000 miles

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

Thought it was bad gas or something but went the my local mechanic. He told me I'd need a new engine. I'm highly pissed and frustrated. I can't afford to pay for it, plus I'm still paying the car note. I don't know what to do. I dropped it off to the dealership and now I'm currently waiting to hear back from them. A friend told me the same thing happened to him and they replaced his engine free of charge. I'm praying I get the same.

Update from Jul 28, 2019: Engine being replaced

- Trell's W., Chicago, IL, US

problem #4

Jul 182017

Optima LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

We started reporting issues this past July to our dealership, KIA Rivergate in Madison, TN. They have had our car in three times and keep telling us there are things "we" need to fix. My car is still on Warranty and is under a total engine recall.

The car started with a knocking sound in the engine and had issues when we would accelerate. The car did not want to accelerate at all causing us to stall in the middle of the highway several times. They told us nothing was wrong but they replaced a sensor. The car continued to knock and stall. I asked them if it was my transmission and they said no, it's fine. They said we could try replacing the battery and they changed the oil (at our expense).

The car has had battery replaced three times because they told us that was the issue the first two times. The car has gotten much worse in the last few months. The last time we took it in to them they are now saying that it might be the fuel injector. Once again they are stating that we must pay for it.

I've called them because the car had huge clouds of smoke coming out the back and is shaking even worse. Once again they said there's nothing they can do. I told them we are having to add ol 3 times a week with no signs of a leak. My car is only 3 years old and I repeat, my car is still under warranty and is on a recall for several issues including the engine. Now my car isn't driveable at all. It started shaking to the point of throwing us forward in the car and smokes like it is on fire and the check engine light will not go off at all, so you're telling me there's not an engine issue? Bullshit. Even a fuel injector would be considered part of the engine because it has to run through the engine to make the car run.

I'd like to know why KIA is not honoring their warranties or recalls. My next step is to call an attorney and sue KIA. If we have any kind of wrecks because of trying to drive this car ,while we are taking it to yet another dealership, I will also sue the sh*t out of KIA and Rivergate KIA. DO NOT buy a KIA they are nothing but pieces of sh*t and KIA doesn't honor their warranties or recalls!

- jtrue0101, White House, US

problem #3

Mar 012017

Optima LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

My cars engine starting making a knocking noise at idle and while driving at any speed. Took it to the Kia dealership and they stated it sounded fine, which was total BS, you can clearly hear it. The problem is Kia has been called out about this issue with a class action lawsuit and the dealership is still making excuses of why it does not need to be repaired. If my car was not under warranty and I would have to pay out of pocket, then the dealership would have no problem diagnosing the problem.

From what I have been reading this is a serious issue. I don't want to be driving my car with my 18 month old daughter on the interstate and have the engine stall or blow during rush hour traffic. That could be very dangerous and cause my daughter and I to become involved in a serious accident. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

- Cayla S., Bernalillo, US

problem #2

Jul 282016

Optima GDI 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36,020 miles

Left car three times for oil check by dealer. Said it needed motor. Kia said it was under warranty, now say it's not covered because it's been replaced dealer. Said its my problem now??? Help!

- Blake H., Hamilton, IL, US

problem #1

Sep 042016

Optima EX 2.4L Gdi

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

Engine began knocking on my 2014 Kia Optima (66,000 miles) so I pulled over and had it towed to Kia dealership. They told me that Kia has not recalled cars with the same engine as mine but extended warranty for dealerships to 120,000 miles for connector rod bearing issues in the #3 cylinder. I gave the dealership a copy the service records and they submitted the paper work to Kia for warranty repair. Kia declined the repair saying the engine has sludge and the damage is due to poor maintenance! This car has 66,000 miles and I have personally changed oil/filter every 3000 miles. The sludge is coming from the connector rod bearing failure causing metal to be shaved and deposited through the oil pump. Kia is currently being sued in a class action lawsuit for this engine defect but they are putting the burden on the consumer to prove the sludge build up is coming from the know defect versus poor maintenance. The dealership service department knows the damage was caused by the defect but are limited to what they can do or say. This problem can't be repaired by replacing parts.....the engine has to be replaced and Kia is denying the warranty. They are blaming the very customers who help build their brand for poor maintenance because they don't want to open the financial Pandora's box. A warranty is a promise and Kia is breaking that promise to their customers. There are two other Kia Optima's at the same dealership with the exact same engine failure and Kia is denying warranty to them as well. Kia knows about this engine defect but doesn't care. I still owe $15,550 on a 2014 Kia Optima with 66K miles and it needs a new $8000 engine. Shame on Kia Motors.

- Jimmy A., Conway, AR, US

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