10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 8
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,045 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.

2017 Kia Optima engine problems

engine problem

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2017 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #112

Feb 012024

Optima

  • miles

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

I was driving at 65MPH on the highway when the warning lights went flashing on my dashboard with "Check Hybrid system", "!HEV", and check engine light. I pulled over to the side of the highway and had a tow truck took it to the dealership to check out. Kia dealership did a diagnostic and mentioned the hybrid engine failed to convert from hybrid to gas and vice-versa. I am at 165,531 miles and Kia is charging me $13,000 to fix it. I am over the warranty of 150,000 miles. The "Check Hybrid system" message has been ongoing since 2021 and Kia mentioned it has to do something with the hybrid battery and Kia no longer makes a replacement battery for the Kia hybrid optima 2017. All Kia does it reset the system for the "Check Hybrid system" message to go away. After a few weeks, the message will appear again on the dashboard. I have upload an image of the dashboard with all of the warning lights. I need help as this is costing to much to fix.

- Winter Haven , FL, USA

problem #111

Jan 122024

Optima

  • miles
I was getting on the freeway and my car suddenly just stopped accelerating. I even tried pushing the pedal to the floor and all power was gone. I was almost ran down by a 18 wheeler who must not have noticed my hazards had been switched on. A warning came on -??check hybrid system. Turn off engine-?? When the car lost its momentum as I was pulling over and eventually came to a stop I followed the warnings directions and shut the car off since I couldn-??t get any further anyways. I tried turning the car back on and then all lights and power instantly started flickering on and off and going crazy and then the warning came back on and then the whole car shut off by itself. I have been too scared to drive it since and I just got it back in October and I need a car to get to work and school and I don-??t know what to do but the amount of danger this issue put me in is unsettling and cannot be overlooked. Not sure what caused the malfunction because so many different things happened at once that it was hard to tell It is available for inspection upon request A service center confirmed that there is a problem and they believe it is related to the coolant pump and hybrid battery There was one other time that a warning came up and it just said -??check hybrid battery-?? but it went away only like a minute later and then a couple days after that I came outside to go to work and the car was dead but then I jumped it and it was fine up until the issue I first mentioned happened where I was put in danger A warning light that said !HEV and the check engine light both appeared

- San Clemente, CA, USA

problem #110

Jan 292024

Optima

  • 96,500 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the engine was consuming one quart of engine oil every two days after an oil change was performed. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, where it was diagnosed that the detonation sensor was faulty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,500.

- Iola, KS, USA

problem #109

Jan 112024

Optima

  • miles

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

I was driving in morning traffic at 65MPH when the warning lights went flashing stating the HEV Electric engine was shutting down, I was crawling to 20 MPH. I had the car towed to a Kia dealer and was told the electric engine was fine, the gas engine oil was bone dry! NO LOW OIL light ever triggered! Not a single warning. Just out of the blue! This is wrong on so many levels! I get oil changes when they are due and use top synthetic oil. The dealer is reporting it to Kia and said at 87,500 miles I'm under the extended warranty, but Kia will tell them how to handle the issue. I cannot afford a new engine! This is the second Kia I had this problem! They said it passed the bearing test, so why is my engine bone dry? This is dangerous to be driving at high speed and have your car drop speed to 20MPH, then drop to 10MPH. I'm still waiting for Kia to get back to me, the dealer says it takes 48 business hours. I dropped it off Thursday 1/11/2024, Hopefully, tomorrow I will find out. I cannot afford a new car and I still have a balance on this car. I've read multiple complaints on this sight, all the same.

- Roselle, IL, USA

problem #108

Jan 132024

Optima

  • miles
I was driving down the highway and my car just went out in the middle of traffic I almost got into a accident with my kids in the car.there were no warning lights or anything on before it went out I finally pulled over in the far right lane and my car wouldn-??t turn back on and started flashing various lights on the dashboard and still wouldn-??t turn on I had to call triple A and have the car towed that put me in a very dangerous situation especially with my children in the car

- Neptune , NJ, USA

problem #107

Mar 092022

Optima

  • miles
Excessive Oil Consumption: Could cause Engine failure, Engine Seizure due to lack of oil. I have a 2017 Optima with Excessive Oil Consumption issue. I noticed the car is consuming excessive oil, for the third time. Many people had reported this issue, leaving customers with expensive repairs. This issue could cause Engine failure, Engine Seizure due to lack of oil. I took the vehicle to the dealer, (Kia) recommended additional services and kept the vehicle overnight for testing. These additional services were outside the normal maintenance interval and are expensive. Quick History: -As of 12/26/2023 Vehicle was dropped off due to excessive oil consumption, this time before the service interval was due. -2017 Optima/ 83,200 Mi -All Oil changes and scheduled maintenance performance at normal interval, sometimes sooner due to the Excessive oil consumption. -Car is for personal use/ normal driving - No Leaks detected in the Car

- Fayetteville, NC, USA

problem #106

Dec 162023

Optima

  • 140,000 miles

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

Hev is not working happened 2 two times already

- New York, NY, USA

problem #105

Nov 202023

Optima

  • miles
While driving my car started to decelerate in the middle of the freeway and I was in no position to pull over. The hybrid battery nearly completely drained before I was able to limp off the freeway. My car threw an error message to -??Check Hybrid system-?? and told me to pull over immediately and turn the car off. After pulling over, turning the car off, then turning it back on, the message went away but the check engine light remained. After 24 hours the check engine light disappeared until it would randomly do the same thing all over again. I ran an OBD code reader on it and it gave me P2600. After extensive research, I-??ve noticed a lot of Hyundais and Kia-??s around the same year as mine having the same issue with some peoples vehicle completely dying. Many threads take their vehicle into the dealership and they can-??t replicate the problem so they-??re just sent on their way for the dangerous problem to happen again at any given time. This is a dangerous situation because you don-??t get any warning or strange engine noise to warn you. The car just pops up this message and the engine immediately starts to malfunction.

- League City, TX, USA

problem #104

Oct 152023

Optima

  • miles
This pre-owned vehicle lost power at an intersection with my wife and child in the vehicle. Both of them were fearful and in tears. Several indicator lights suggested problems with the engine, HEV system, and battery. Upon returning home, I notified Carmax and scheduled the vehicle for service at a local Kia dealership. Although the mechanic told me that he knew there is a problem with the vehicle, Kia failed to diagnose or fix the problem(s), and could not assure me that the vehicle was safe to drive. Maxcare would not cover a rental car because no diagnosis was made. Kia also informed me of a previously undisclosed, long history of problems going back to 35 miles on the odometer. I requested a copy of Kia's vehicle history report and Kia refused to provide it. I also reported this safety concern to Kia Consumer Affairs, who provided no immediate solution, said they would contact the local Kia dealership, and referred me to an "ongoing" class action settlement at [XXX], which indicated that the settlement had closed on 8/9/21. Because no other option was offered to me, I was forced to pick up the vehicle from Kia. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Blackwood, NJ, USA

problem #103

Apr 142023

Optima

  • 76,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact reset the check engine warning light however, the light became illuminated again. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and the contact was informed that the engine oil was low and needed to be topped off. Additionally, the dealer offered to perform an oil consumption test. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that he had researched online and related the failure to an engine design flaw. The contact requested that the dealer attempt to repair the engine and was refused. The contact was advised by the dealer to drive the vehicle until the engine failed and then he would be placed under consideration for a manufacturer engine replacement program. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #102

Oct 302023

Optima

  • miles

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

Driving down the interstate, the vehicle started to decelerate and the engine light started flashing. Got it to a mechanic and he started that it was a knock sensor failure P1326 code. Same as the recalls, but my vin number was not included in the recall report. Already had this vehicle in for excessive oil consumption. Paid for the dealer consumption test. They said it only burned a qt. and that was acceptable. In 1000 miles. Have done my own 1000 mile test and have been burning 1.5 or more qts. on three separate tests. Something has to be done about these engines. This is dangerous when going interstate speed and dropping to 20 mph in heavy traffic.

- Enosburg Falls , VT, USA

problem #101

Aug 012022

Optima

  • 104,156 miles
Oil from engine does not cycle through the engine and instead it foams up and comes out of the top of the engine and I need to put oil in my car every week.

- Boston, MA, USA

problem #100

Oct 262023

Optima

  • 126,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V594000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and determined that the next available appointment would be in February 2024. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that there were a lot of customers in front of him and the dealer would not be able to get to the vehicle until February 2024. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil and failed to start occasionally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000. Parts distribution disconnect

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #99

Oct 242023

Optima

  • 100,670 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently decelerated and then lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked while driving. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence and retrieved DTC Code: P1326, and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the knock sensor was previously replaced for the same issue; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN and that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 100,670.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #98

Oct 222023

Optima

  • miles
The engine on this vehicle caught fire while the vehicle was parked and not running. It had previsouly been drive for approximately 4 hours throughout the day but at the time of the incident there were no warning dashlights present. It is currently available for inspection, however depending on the length of this invesitagion it may no longer be available as i work with my insurance company determing next steps. My safety and the safety of other were put at risk by and open flame and smoke that occured during the fire. Ultimately the Fire Department were required to put out the fire. Approximately 8 months ago the engine was replace by the dealership Summit Place Kia East in Michigan due to an open recall for a knock sensor issue. I suspect this vehicle will be a total loss.

- Brownstown, MI, USA

problem #97

Sep 212023

Optima

  • miles
I was driving my kiaon a very busy interstate. When I was going around 65miles per hour and all of a sudden I lost all power it went from 65 miles per hour to 30 all at once when I hit the gas peddle the car went in jerks finally I got it back up to 55 but it only goes in a jerking motion and r. Very small hill u come to u lose power and it goes jerking. I thought several times I would get rear ended by the vehicle behind me I'm scared to drive this and when the car is running and you step out of the car the smell of gas is very strong and it is using a lot more gas than it mostly does. This happened to me September 20th2023.

- Saxton, PA, USA

problem #96

Oct 052023

Optima

  • 122,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the oil warning light was frequently illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that oil had leaked into an engine cylinder. The mechanic informed the contact that a Technical Service Bulletin had been placed on her vehicle in relation to the failure and referred the contact to a dealer for assistance. The contact called Pride Kia of Lynn and Herb Chambers Kia of Burlington and was informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.

- Lynn, MA, USA

problem #95

Aug 312023

Optima

  • miles
Complete engine failure while driving 70mph down the freeway. No lights came on before engine started shaking, knocking, and failed. We were stranded at a gas station. We checked oil and there was none. (This was shocking because we changed oil regularly and car had just received complete oil change several weeks prior) We bought enough oil to drive it to nearest auto mechanic shop. He inspected the car and said complete engine failure and that we needed to contact KIA immediately. Spark plugs were burnt and melted more than he had ever seen. He said this is a recurring problem with their engines. (A few months prior to this incident, check engine light came on and car had a slight sputter during acceleration. We took the car to local repair shop. Car received complete tune up weeks prior to incident and check engine light was resolved.) Car was taken to Kia dealership in Little Rock, AR. Diagnosis: Major oil consumption caused engine to overheat and lose pressure/fail. Engine is non-repairable. New engine will cost $10,000. Kia will not back their product. After investigating further, I have found a Facebook group with tens of thousands of people with similar incidents in their Hyundai/Kia cars. This is a dangerous problem and KIA needs to be held accountable. The most recent class action settlement DOES NOT cover engine failure due to major oil consumption, only rod bearing failure. Where is the oil going" There were no leaks detected, no oil light to warn me. Where does the oil go? Burning up through exhaust" Surely that violates some sort of environmental standard that car manufactures should be abiding by. These cars are dangerous to consumers, and bad for the environment. I-??m stuck with a car that I still owe money on that is worthless. If I spend $10,000 to repair, they will put the same engine back in the car and I will repeat the cycle of engine failure and loss.

- Cabot, AR, USA

problem #94

Sep 112023

Optima

  • miles
My car does not accelerate easily and struggles with basic speed. I took it to a mechanic and am being told that my turbocharger has failed and must be replaced because there is fuel in my oil and there may be damage to my engine as a result that would require me to replace the engine. This is the second time in less than 2 years that this has happened since I have owned this vehicle. The mechanic says the engine could seize up or catch fire at any point and that I will have to have the oil drained, flushed, and replaced, hopefully have the fuel leak found and repaired, then the turbo replaced. Only once all of that has been done will I know if the engine will still be operable. The first time this happened it was repaired at a Kia dealership in Denton TX under warranty. The vehicle is no longer under warranty and should not have this problem every year.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #93

Apr 212023

Optima

  • miles
Engine needed to be replaced as part of the recall for knock, however they said because the repair was done on a subsequent work order and the first one was for a failed AEB module that none of the repairs are covered. I'm out over $13,000 for what should have been warrantied

- Spanaway, WA, USA

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