CarComplaints.com Notes: 2020 is the last year for the Optima badge in North America, as its been rebranded to the K5 to match the international naming scheme.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 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.

2020 Kia Optima drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2020 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #6

Jan 082024

Optima

  • miles

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

Leased this Kia by force from rightway auto here in Indianapolis in. Had for about 1 1/2. First notice after filling up my tank gas was depleted within 3 days on driving 12 miles to and from work in town. Then oil start disappearing a week after oil changes..around Jan 8,2024. Check engine light start flashing driving the highway to work. Speed jumped down to 45. Engine start shaking if I tried to go faster. Got a engine light scan says needs knock sensor. Had it replaced. 6 months later. Car did the same thing. Same code. Knock sensor. Had it re replaced. 3 hours later car did the same thing. Each time while driving the highway almost got me rear ended. On June 27,2024 took it to ray skillman dealership. Found out knock sensor needed to be replaced again, this time along with plugs n worse apparently knock sensor throwed off spark plugs. Was told it's consuming a lot of oil they don't know why cause there's no leaks. Spent over 800 at the dealership. After paying 320. Replace part. Then another 140. Replace that replaced part. Less than a week after spending 800 at the dealership. [XXX].on my way to work my car did the same thing driving on the highway where the speed limit I think is 70. Cars flying. And almost got rear ended again. Cause the speed of the car dropped to 45, engine light start flashing. Car started shaking.. so again I'm out of a car cause it has to go back to the dealership. Not enough money for lift to work n home. About to lose my job. Just paid my car note on the 23 of june at 700 plus insurance 175.. 1300 for rent. And a minimum wage paying job at the airport. Apparently the 5 yr warranty on the car is up when I just reached 10000 miles. And I only had this car for less than 2 years I think it had 90 something thousand miles on it when I got it..i guess the makers of this car knew this trash would only last 5 yrs. reason why it came with a 5 yr manufacturer warranty Can someone please help. We the people are out of money. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

- Indianapolis , IN, USA

problem #5

Oct 212023

Optima

  • miles
This is my 3rd or 4th complaint on here with NO RESPONSE, HELP, OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT! My 2020 finally got engine put in and car does not drive the same. Steering wheel acts weird, the engine has a sound, the anti collision lights went off twice, but could be due to weather. Kia told me that it's my responsibility since my yr is not on recall. I'm surrendering this car asap to give me piece of mind before another engine is due. I met several people at kia that are on their 2nd and 3rd engine and the mechanics told me they know I will be back for another engine! This is wrong and now I'm out of alot of money and surrendering this will add more negative factors. I have my receipts but im not posting publicly

- Conway, AR, USA

problem #4

Oct 142023

Optima

  • miles
My 2020 Kia Optima had engine failure and engine is being replaced now. I've had this car for 1yr/84k miles. It went limp on the freeway 2 mos ago and I could've caused an accident when it shut down. Would not go over 30 mps, engine light kept blinking and had knocking sound. Diagnostic code as the other recalls, Engine is same for the other recalls 2.4 Theta, oil was black and almost empty & just had oil changeI called kia corporate and they told me that they are not covering it since its not a recall. I have extended warranty but CNA National Warranty will only approve a used engine and a new one I would have to pay $3,000! I have made 2 car payments for a car that is immobile, $200+ for deductible, and $600+ for car service, this is not right at all. How can I get Kia to correct this. I do not want this car or any other kia! I cannot afford xmas this year all because I chose the wrong car maker!!

- Conway, AR, USA

problem #3

Jun 022023

Optima

  • miles

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

The vehicles 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT), is horribly jerky at very low speeds and on take off. It has become dangerous to drive as my wife almost caused an accident from the vehicle not reacting to acceleration pedal, or from it reacting completely unexpectedly. The transmission is very jerky as you take the foot off the brake without pressing accelerator pedal, it shakes the entire vehicle. It also jerks heavily if you barely touch the gas pedal on take off. Dealership has done a software update on the transmission which only helped initially for about 2-3 weeks, after which the transmission started behaving in that way much worse. It is a constant and persistent issue, however, as there are no fault codes or check engine light is not displayed, the dealer states there is nothing they can do to fix the problem. The vehicle is under full manufacturer power train warranty, yet they refuse to fix it.

- Randallstown, MD, USA

problem #2

Jul 042023

Optima

  • miles
On July 4th 2023, I was driving with my son in car, when unexpectedly the check engine light came on and car lost power. We were on a highway with a 65mph speed limit. I was able to pull over to side of road. Car did Start back up, however was missing and misfiring. Shaking especially under acceleration. My engine has been consuming oil for many thousands of miles, it is documented; however only an oil consumption test was performed. Hyuandai and Kia has serious engine issues and they know it. This could've been worse. Luckily I still had some brake pressure to get off the road. With this stalling on the highway, it is very dangerous.

- Butler, PA, USA

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problem #1

Dec 152022

Optima

  • miles
On Thursday, I was leaving to drive my son 5 miles up the road and my check engine light started flashing with no warning. My car slowed down and started jerking. I took it to auto zone (on limp mode) to receive a code and it came back with p1326. My car only has 64,216 miles and I also just recently got the oil changed. I have not taken it to a dealer yet but I wanted to report this because my car is only 2 years old and shouldn-??t have engine/power train issues.

- Aberdeen, MD, USA

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