8.7

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$4,950
Average Mileage:
79,950 miles
Total Complaints:
29 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace engine (23 reports)
  2. not sure (5 reports)
  3. kia motors of america assumed responsibility (1 reports)
2013 Kia Optima engine problems

engine problem

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2013 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #9

May 282016

Optima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

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

I have 2013 Kia Optima. Without warning, my engine blew. There were no signs of anything being wrong, the car was kept up and I had just got an oil change a month before. I've done my research to find that I am not the only one with this problem and that the kia optima engine is identical to Hyndia Sonata, which has had a recall. It is ridiculous that Kia is not taking responsibility and that we have to come out of pocket to to fix these new cars with issues with no fault to our own. A Class Action Lawsuit needs to be started and Kia needs to be held responsible.

- Chonte B., Waldorf, MD, US

problem #8

Apr 052016

Optima EX 2.4L 4 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,872 miles

SECOND KRAPPY KIA WITH ENGINE TROUBLE. First 2007 Sportage with cracked head 118,000 miles. KRAPPY KIA dealer accused me of running it hot but machine shop said it was not warped. I say it was faulty assembly. A steel plug run in too far in aluminum head. $3000 repair.

Second 2013 KRAPPY KIA optima engine locks up at 90890 miles. $5000 for second hand engine with 14,000 miles. At least the junk yard gives a 2 year warranty unlimited mileage as long as you keep oil change records every 4000 - 5000 miles.

MORAL OF THIS STORY IS -- DON'T BUY ANY KRAPPY KIA !!!!!!

- Mark L., Advance, NC, US

problem #7

Apr 042016

Optima LX 2.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

On my way to work I noticed a noise coming from my car. I pulled over and had my car towed to the nearest Kia dealer. After looking at the engine they told me it would cost $250 to tear down the engine, but they were sure that if they did that they would have to tell me I need a new engine. They told me that there was sludge in the engine and that my car should not be driven because the engine would blow.

To replace the engine would cost $5,500 for a used engine and $10,000 for a new engine. TEN THOUSAND! They also told me that the reason it went bad was likely because the oil was not changed on schedule. I know that couldn't be true because I have it changed regularly and with synthetic oil. I should not be having this problem with a 3 year old car!

I searched around and found a slightly used engine and someone who would put it in for $4,700. Less than they predicted, but still way more than I wanted to spend for a problem that wasn't my fault. From what I have read, several people have had their engine blow, so my new engine will probably blow up as well! I've also read that Kia Optimas have the same engine as a Hyundai car that was recalled, but Kia won't recall their cars with this engine. The dealer I spoke to said that Kia won't do anything until they have enough complaints to investigate to see if it is their fault. Get rid of your Kia, make a complaint if you have one and make sure others know about this problem before their engine blows!

- Andrea C., Athens, OH, US

problem #6

Mar 122016

Optima LX 3.0L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,225 miles

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

In April 2013 I purchased 2 2013 KIA Optimas one for me and one for my daughter. In February 2015 she had sludge in the engine that KIA refused to pay for and the car and it was no good and even after oil change documentation they still wouldn't cover it. Now my car, the engine just stopped working. No check engine light, no oil light, just cut off and had to get towed to the dealer. Now I have to provide oil change receipts 16 was the total I have to have in order to be considered to be under warranty.

Whoever heard of engines blowing on a two year old car and a three year old car and they say 100,000 mile warranty but that is a lie. They wouldn't even fix my fuse problem or my radio. They don't cover anything. The bolts to my tire even broke off and I had to replace that too.

It's just a shame to buy a car and have so many problems and the dealer never wants to help. Now we are out of two cars in three years and stuck with loans for cars we don't even have.

- Tieasha G., Philadelphia, PA, US

problem #5

Nov 012015

Optima SOL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 88,000 miles

So far I have had 2 batteries, 3 alternators and a new engine replacement at 88k miles and now brake failure!! It's a MIRACLE i didn't hit anyone or the median wall!! DO NOT BUY A KIA!!!!!!

- Lori B., Atlanta, GA, US

problem #4

Oct 212015

Optima SXL 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

I took my car to the Kia dealership because I heard my car making a small unusual clicking noise that would echo off buildings. The dealerships tech checked my car and said nothing was wrong. Fast forward one month... I was driving my car down a street one morning and it starts making an awful knocking noise. I noticed a significant difference in power. 80,000 miles on the Odometer. I had no idea what it could be so I took my car to autozone just make sure it was still drivable. The guy at autozone listened to my cars engine and told me not to drive it. "Something was bad wrong." I made the choice to take it to a local mechanic because the closest kia dealership was 50 miles away. After paying $70 they told me my engine was blown. I then took it to the kia dealership to have their "expert opinion" on the issue. They told me the same thing. Turns out the engine rod bearings had went bad. Im now in the process of having a new engine put in my car. In total after taxes it will cost me $6,070. I am the second owner of this kia and therefor the 100,000 mile warranty does not apply to me. This is my first kia and it will be my last.

- Colton P., Conway, AR, US

problem #3

Sep 092015

Optima LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,800 miles

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

If 'No Stars' was an option, that's what I would rate them! BUYERS BEWARE!!!!! I leased the Kia Optima (2013) for 3 years. With 4 months left on the lease & 35,000 miles later, everything was perfect, NO issues whatsoever, up until yesterday morning while driving to work.

I was approaching a 4-way stop when I heard what sounded like the screech or a short blast of a hairdryer. Directly after 'the sound' I approached the stop sign, but even as I was slowing I felt that the car was sluggish. I came to a stop. When I tried to go again I realized the engine had stopped. I tried a few times to start the engine but it was completely dead. I had to go to work, so I called a friend who is a mechanic to come look at the car. He said he would take the battery to Pep Boys to have it checked, which he did, they said the battery was good.

He advised me to call the Car Pros Kia of Carson where I leased the car from as it was covered under the "100,000 mile/10 year warranty". When I got to the service department they told me they needed to do a diagnostic which would cost $119 and would "Probably be covered by the warranty but you need to sign this form just in case it's not" Of course, when they came back, they said I was NOT COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY because the engine was "bad' and had completely blown due to "BLACK SLUDGE'' in the oil compartment (THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE AS MY MECHANIC FRIEND CHECKED THE OIL THAT MORNING AND IT WAS GOOD!!!) and they needed receipts for all of the services to my car going back one year as they needed to know who had been "TAMPERING" with my car!

For the record, I have all of the receipts from Pep-Boys and my Mechanic who have done all of my oil changes religiously. Now I come to find out via research on the internet that there are Class Action Law suits happening between CONSUMERS who are BEING BLAMED for not doing oil changes and causing CHRONIC ENGINE FAILURE because KIA DON'T WANT TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY!!!!

The warranty was the reason I chose Kia, but now after reading numerous reviews about them doing everything possible to not honor it and having the personal experience of being swindled by them, I would highly recommend anybody contemplating buying a Kia car to do your own research first!!!! I am now landed with paying the rest of the lease off and having to rent a car (temporarily) in the meantime. I will have the last laugh though, already filed a complaint with consumer affairs (to add to the hundreds of others) and my next step after writing this review is to call one of those Class Action Lawsuit Attorneys!

- Deborah D., Los Angeles, CA, US

problem #2

Oct 172014

Optima SXL 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 33,000 miles

So, for the second time we had the same issue, somehow the spark plug fell into the motor and causes this issue. I might be wrong, the wife was there when they told her that. But there was no compression on two cylinders. The mechanic didn't even know until my wife told him to look at the engine. So they replaced the engine for a second time and we're pissed because it looks like it will happen again.

We complain to KIA and they are offering an extended warranty. But we can't sue them or complain about any issues according to the contract. Funny thing is the second time around they finished the job in 3 days, I guess they couldn't afford anymore because of the lemon law. Will see if we get the extended warranty.

- Cesar S., Gilbert, AZ, US

problem #1

Jun 282013

Optima SXL 2.0L Turbo

  • Automatic transmission
  • 3,000 miles

We where heading to Las Vegas on Friday night when the car, while in cruise control, starts to shake just like if you were running over those lane indicator warnings you that you need to get back on your lane. So I turned off the cruise control and it went away. I figured the cruise control was bad. Maybe a half hour later the car is shaking like before, eventually it died and waited for a tow truck, still cover with the warranty but since we were not 50 miles away from our home we couldn't get our hotel paid for. By the time we got picked up and sent the car to the closest dealer it was 12 midnight. Turns out somehow the spark plug melted, fell in the engine and caused this issue.

PS, complaint number two is next. Same issue.

- Cesar S., Gilbert, AZ, US

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