10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,422 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 miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2014 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #31

Dec 232020

Optima

  • 120,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact pulled over and restarted the vehicle however, after driving for about another mile, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer - lev Kia of framingham (510 cochituate rd, framingham, MA 01701, (508) 879-5555) where it was diagnosed and the mechanic found no issues. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

- Auburn, MA, USA

problem #30

Nov 132020

Optima

  • 96,000 miles
Car stops, losing all power and function without warning while you're driving it.at the time this happened, the car was in motion, but moving slowly to a stop on a city street. After several attempts to restart, it did and I brought it to Kia dealer. I bought the used car 60 days ago. It had been in an accident but seemed fine. From a dealer. I am terrified to drive it any more, because this could cause a fatal collision. Took it to dealer and they cannot find anything wrong. Other issues that happened just before this happened: Just 5-10 minutes before this happened, I'd inserted a phone charger into the usb port and the radio went out, but a minute or so later, started working again. In the prior two week period, the car did not respond to sta rting, no sound, no anything. Then on the repeat attempt to start it, it did. I cannot drive this car now, particularly since I typically have passengers whose lives are also risk.

- Saint Augustine, FL, USA

problem #29

Oct 202020

Optima

  • 55,000 miles
At driving speed (about 50 mph), vehicle suddenly has battery management system error. The vehicle has loss of power and says that it must be pulled over and turned off. This error has happened several times and the dealer supposedly fixed it the last time it happened several months ago. I do not feel safe in this vehicle - the error occurs out of the blue and loss of power is very dangerous.

- Fairfax Station, VA, USA

problem #28

Sep 072020

Optima

  • 119,000 miles

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

Vehicle was in motion and stalled during a drive and was unable to start. Interior lights and dashboard turned on along with radio and windows but battery was damaged. After getting the vehicle inspected from an auto shop, it was evident that there was engine failure. This occurred while turning into a parking lot from a main street.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #27

Aug 212020

Optima

  • 90,000 miles
Driving 65mph warning comes on 'hybrid system failure pull over and turn off' so I pulled over and turned the car off then it wouldn't start.

- Temple, TX, USA

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problem #26

Jul 162020

Optima

  • 39,759 miles
The tail light's on my vehicle continue to collect condensation causing problems with the electrical components. I have returned to the dealership on this issue for a repair. Issue continues to occur, and I'm afraid that the lights will stop working causing for my vehicle to be hit from the rear if the tail lights are wet and not working properly.

- Bartow, FL, USA

problem #25

Jul 122020

Optima

  • 71,875 miles

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

The first thing my vehicle said was to check the hybrid system and it would not drive or reverse, but the steering and brakes never stopped working. Had to push it out of the street manually. Now my car is starting to put in park, shut off and charge the battery. I just replaced the main battery less than 2 weeks ago so I know that cannot be the issue. My Kia manual says nothing about this issue and O cannot find a solution online to this problem.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #24

May 152020

Optima 4-cyl

  • miles
Check engine lite keeps coming on when driving. Took it to my mechanic and he told my it was a recall issue, why should I pay him if Kia has a recall. I called my local Kia dealership and they said it would cost $70 just to bring it in.

- Feeding Hills, MA, USA

problem #23

Apr 072020

Optima

  • 62,000 miles
Took car to dealership to fix air conditioning issue. When they went to run it through their car wash, the technician said he would not do it due to the shark fin antenna being loose. When I got to the dealership and was told, I shook the shark fin lightly and it came off in my hand. All of the screws had broken the plastic off the shark fin. The dealership said this was a known problem. The cost to fix is over $500. This is a design flaw with such a weak design. Luckily this was caught at the dealership and did not come off while driving.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

problem #22

Oct 212019

Optima

  • 85,000 miles
The car when parked and off turned on when locking door. Later car shut off on freeway driving 70 mph and after a short moment turned back on lost all control of vehicle.

- Midvale, UT, USA

problem #21

Jun 192019

Optima

  • 104,000 miles

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

Noticed the shark fin missing. After closer examination it appears that it snapped off to replace the headliner must be removed I order a new one and I am unable to replace it. Taking to dealership and hopefully the will it when checking on my steering issue.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #20

Jul 222019

Optima

  • 128,000 miles
There was a recall on the Kia Optimas for the tod bearings in the engine. I had the recall done on April 8 2019. As of 7/22/19 the same code P1326 and symptoms arw are happening again which are check engine light blinking the car is in limp mode the car was smoking and it can't go over a certain speed

- Rocky Point, NY, USA

problem #19

Mar 082019

Optima

  • 89,000 miles
When going over 40 mph and making a left hand turn the wheels lock up and the car feels like it is going to flip over. You cannot touch the brakes or the gas while this is happening as it causes the hazard to happen more.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

problem #18

May 132019

Optima

  • miles
P0705 check engine light came on. Car was occasionally getting stuck in park and had to be stopped / started to get out of park. Very dangerous. Took car to repair shop and they had to replace the neutral switch. There is a recall notice for this exact issue for other Kia Optimas but not this car's year. I strongly believe my car should have been under a recall notice. I still have the defective part if needed.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #17

Mar 072019

Optima

  • 53,500 miles
'Kia pearl white paint recall' I have had my Kia Optima for less than 2 years. I am from the South and I drove it up North a few weeks ago and ice and snow got on my car and my paint has started peeling. It's $2,000 to get the hood and the drivers side pannel fixed and all Kia told me is their paint warranty ended in 2016. I did not even own the car at that time. This is clearly an issue with the way they painted the car. No 2014 car should be losing paint from driving up North for a few days. I also called Kia and they started a 'case' they told me to submit a quite. I submitted the next day and a few days later they said they declined my request and their reason was because the paint warranty ended in 2016. All pearl white paint cars need to get their cars completely replanted. If this is not a common case please google the paint issues on this car. They are everywhere. I wish I would have known before buying the car. (3 photos attached)

- Trussville, AL, USA

problem #16

Mar 192019

Optima

  • 71,000 miles
Sunroof exploded while driving. Loud explosion sound within the cabin, glass shards then broke away falling inside vehicle and outward on interstate.

- Edgewood, MD, USA

problem #15

Aug 162017

Optima

  • 62,000 miles
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 #14

Jul 202018

Optima

  • 85,000 miles
I was heading North bound, cruise control set at 55 when my 2014 Kia Optima thera II motor started making a grinding sounds, lost complete power and stalled out. Car would not turn on anymore, a Texas state trooper and small town cop helped me pushed the car into a parking lot after about an hour, the car started smoking and caught fire from the engine bay. Luckily no one got hurt but the car is a total lose and I have a feeling Kia is going to give me the runaround. The theta II does have an open recall. The motor was checked twice and passed both times.

- Gainesville, TX, USA

problem #13

May 282018

Optima

  • 62,000 miles
I parked my Kia Optima at 7 pm. At midnight I was woken up to fire trucks outside of my apartment. My car was fully engulfed in flames. The fire inspector reported no fowl play but could not determine how it happened. Simply not enough evidence left. Had 62K miles and was frequent with oil changes. No lights on dash.

- Delray Bay, FL, USA

problem #12

Apr 222018

Optima

  • 132,000 miles
Kia engine recall engine knocking sound followed by full loss of power on the highway ( in motion) and all dashboard lights lit. With mainly engine and oil lights lit first. I coasted to a parking lot off the exit I was on and the engine started smoking once in park. The cabin and engine smelled of burning. All of my newly changed oil was burnt up as well. Car would not turn over when I pushed the start button. Car maintenance is kept up to date. A few months prior my engine malfunction light kept coming on and I had it looked at turner Kia during an oil change on 4/3/17 and they stated they didn't know what the issue was and continued to allow me to drive the vehicle. The engine malfunction would come on time to time since that date.

- Boiling Springs, PA, USA

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