10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 1
Average Mileage:
41,936 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

problem #17

Oct 162021

Optima

  • miles

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

I was driving down the interstate for my work commute apx 70 mph when HEV warning light engaged and vehicle went into limp mode. Had vehicle towed to dealership after running several tests determined the engine was knocking and needed replaced. After 2 months reman engine placed in vehicle. Vehicle function apx 6 months when the exact same problem occured on the highway traveling apx 60 mph. Vehicle is still in dealership. Thankfully, both times I was able to coast to the shoulder and avoid a collision. There is something wrong with these vehicles that need to be fixed.

- Lawton, OK, USA

problem #16

Apr 052021

Optima

  • miles
Vehicle has engine failure at 156600mi. Bearings and axle are worn out which caused the engine to go into limp mode (code P1326). Car is accelerating poorly and does not oprate over 60mph. Vehicle required a new engine. Dutch Miller of Charlotte Kia, 7725 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC ensured that engine would be brand new. However, the engine was used, and obtained at LKQ costing $3600. Total cost for the engine and labor totalled $5117.18. Kia also confirmed the problematic suspension which led to the engine failure was fixed. Once again this obligation was not met.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #15

Sep 202021

Optima

  • miles
Failed Emissions Test for Engine light being on. Took to mechanic and he specified that it was my gas cap that needed replacing and I did so, but light is still on. No leakage was present at the time when mechanic checked, however, in the past there was a smell of gas inside the vehicle but it's no longer present at the moment.

- Capitol Heights, MD, USA

problem #14

Mar 252021

Optima

  • 118,000 miles

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

Crank shaft bearing went bad causing engine to fail in vehicle and almost get hit by traffic contacted dealer and was advised that there was a recall on every model of my car except mine because it was the gas hybrid which still has the same engine and problem as the ones in recall J bought the car for around 13K and only had it for bout 3 months before this happen dealer won't repair work under recall because it does fall under the recall for millions of other because it is hybrid as well as gas ? doesn't make any sense and I got screwed outta 13K and could have been injured as well as my 2 kids that where in the car with

- Georgetown, TX, USA

problem #13

Aug 172020

Optima

  • miles
I experience a bms warning light on my hybrid vehicle indicating to stop the vehicle and do not drive. This happen on the fast lane of the 14 freeway in acton ca. I took the car to the local Kia I was told it was the hybrid coolant a computer program and a hybrid drive belt replaced the computer program. The update of the program I would of not know about the issue since only dealers are aware of it. I paid over $700 when I picked up my car for the repairs. Drove it the next day I experience loss of power again when I was trying to cross an intersection in the city of acton. My car almost stop and the hev warning light came on. Called the dealer again and was told to bring it right away. The service advisor called me after a week and half later and told me the problem was the power relay assembly and the hybrid battery that had to be replaced. Per repair adviser, this issue is a common but for him to do the repairs I would need to pay $5800. He did advise to call Kia corporation for possible assistance but they were no help. Since I can not afford the 5800. I picked up my car again from the dealership and paid an additional $318 for diagnose services. This is a known issue with Kia since the service adviser told me he only had a bulletin memo of possible issues with loss of power. I asked if this warrant a recall but the answer was no since it's only a memo and the batteries are built to last only 150,000 miles I was lucky it lasted and additional 18000. Miles. I just bought this vehicle 3 years ago and now I'm sitting on a giant paper weight since I can not drive my car to avoid further damage or possibly cause an accident.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #12

Mar 142018

Optima 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, an abnormal odor appeared under the hood. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle accelerate forward, causing the contact to crash into another vehicle who was making a U-turn. The contact tried to gain control of the steering wheel as the vehicle went up in flames. The contact managed to crash into a ditch. The contact got out ran to the other side of the vehicle where his fianc was unconscious. The contact managed to cut the seatbelt in order to release and drag her out the vehicle. The contact went back to retrieve items but the vehicle then engulfed in flames causing an explosion. The airbags deployed. A police report was made. The fire department extinguished the flames. The contact fractured his right wrist, right ankle and sustained severe burn to his body that required medical attention. The contacts fianc who was seated in the front passenger side sustained injuries to her left legs, wrists, right foot and ankle fractured, fire burned through out her body causing her to lose her lower intestine. The contacts fianc was in a coma and in the hospital for over 90 days. There was a vehicle who made a U-turn in front prior to the vehicle catching on fire and it was informed to the contact that the driver of that vehicle died. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The contact mentioned that he had a recall repair performed on his vehicle 4 months prior to the failure that occurred. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 20V100000 (fuel system, gasoline) April 13, 2020 which the contact believes caused the failure that occurred. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #11

Mar 022020

Optima

  • miles

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

2014 Kia Optima. Consumer writes in regards to unintended acceleration. The vehicle was involved in a crash due to unintended acceleration. The vehicle struck 2 parked cars. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified.

- Seaford, NY, USA

problem #10

May 122020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 89,000 miles
While driving, the engine raced causing the vehicle to speed up and when applying the brakes, the vehicle failed to stop.

- Gastonia, NC, USA

problem #9

Mar 282019

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
I have a Kia Optima 2014 Kia Optima love my car. There's only one bad thing I go do my recall on March 28 2019 it says everything had passed but in reality. The service that they did was careless 9 months later my car is bad motor. Has 130,000 that's what 20,000 dollar is worth wow. They did my oil Kia change they put the wrong oil 5-30 really that for Kia turbo and Kia Optima 5-20 now my car is in a mechanic. I need my car fix, I did my recall thought it was for a cause but I gues it wasn't. I need my car fix ! my car stop in the middle iff the 57 South freeway.. Kia Optima in pomona

- Upland, CA, USA

problem #8

Apr 232019

Optima

  • 55,562 miles
After beginning to accelerate to make a left turn through an intersection, the acceleration cut out and the engine began making a grinding/ cranking noise. I rolled to a stop just past the intersection (luckily no one hit me) and had to turn the car completely off. It reset and everything began working again after restarting it.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #7

Aug 162017

Optima

  • 62,000 miles

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

Takata recall'. when driving 70 miles the car gets uncontrollable at times so you have to lower your speed, when parked an I put my foot on brake there's a ticking noise an you can feel pressure. The engine has been ticking a lot more am hesitant I know a lot of complaints has been made on the steering an it's getting out of hand ! the car is not safe on the highway could result in crash

- Galesburg, IL, USA

problem #6

May 092018

Optima

  • 89,000 miles
As I was driving the car it wont shift and sounds forced. The engine started making a rattle sound and I was very concerned! the car stopped in full speed and I was scared for me life and my sons. Had a car been behind us or in the intersection it could have been bad! it turned back on after putting the car in N and pressing the start button. But the car continues to sound and feel as though its being forced to run.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #5

Aug 162015

Optima

  • 44,233 miles
I was trying to back in between2 vehicles in the church parking lot. And while doing so, with my foot on the brake the car lunched backwards with a jerking motion, like it was trying to do 2 different things atone time, at full rate of speed and doing so, it backed into the vehicle to my left, the car acted like it had a mind of it's own. I reported the accident and when the police arrived on the sight, he informed me that he had seen an issue like this happening on the news. I had never heard of and I went online to report this incident. I was not hurt and if my cousin wasn't in the car, I don't think anyone would've believed me. I think this needs to be looked into, I'm really scared to drive my vehicle.

- Terre Haute, IN, USA

problem #4

Jun 262015

Optima 4-cyl

  • 40,000 miles
I was driving my car last Friday and the car started accelerating and then slowing down. I tried to speed up when it slowed down because I was in traffic and was afraid that someone would hit me so it would speed up and then slow down. It scared me so I pulled over on a side street so no one would hit me being that the car was driving erratic. I stopped the car, turned it off then restarted it. Once I did that, same thing again so I turned it off again after I pulled over the second time. The 3rd time, it started driving normal but a couple of days later, I could not start it. I had to have towed 3 days in a row to a dealership and they replaced something each day but the next day, the car would not start. I am afraid to get stranded again and this is a brand new car !!! its a 2014. I was initially real excited when I bought this car because but I have had nothing but problems. There is always something going wrong with this car and I no longer feel safe driving it.

- Phoenix , AZ, USA

problem #3

Apr 012015

Optima 4-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
The problem is sporadic but happens frequently. If I press the gas pedal to increase my speed, whether from a stopped position, or to pull into a busy roadway, or to increase my speed to pass another vehicle, the car will start to go then choke, so that no matter how hard I press the gas pedal, the RPM stay the same and the vehicle loses power and will not speed up. If Kia doesn't figure out what is causing this - because I have seen other people with different Optima vehicle years complain about this - someone is going to get killed. I have had numerous near misses because of this problem. I also see many people saying Kia is telling them this is the way the vehicle is supposed to behave - really"?? my car is currently at the dealer to hopefully have the problem diagnosed and fixed. They gave me a loaner car, which is a 2013 Kia Optima, and guess what" pulling out of the dealership in the loaner I was almost rear ended because the loaner also has this problem, but 10 times worse than my car. It happened at least 30 times between the dealer and where I work - about a 30 minute drive. Always when speed needs to be increased by way of the gears needing to upshift. Please please please someone pay attention to this - I hope Kia isn't waiting for someone to get killed before they look into this failure that is happening that their dealerships are writing off as normal function! just as I was ready to submit this complaint, my dealership called me back and surprise: "we are unable to duplicate the problem" and "no problem codes were detected." Please Kia, take notice of this problem before someone gets killed!!!

- Oak Ridge, NJ, USA

problem #2

Mar 252014

Optima

  • 3,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate to accelerate and would attempt to stall. The contact mentioned that the failure would accelerate independently. The contact mentioned that the failure occurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who could not duplicate the problem. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #1

Mar 122014

Optima 4-cyl

  • 123 miles
I complained to the dealer about the rough ride and harsh ride but was told not to worry. I then took it on the highway and the steering pulled to the left and I never felt confident about the steering only to say that it did not feel right and it was worrisome to me. It simply did not feel right to me. I've been driving 50 years and have never felt this uncomfortable driving/steering a car at highway speeds.

- Daytona Beach, FL, USA

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