general problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Optima - part 1

On March 23, 2026, I took my 2017 kia Optima plug-in hybrid (VIN: [xxx] ) to mark kia [xxx] ) solely for two open safety recalls: sc218 (engine inspection/replacement and ksds software installation) and sc278 (emergency trunk latch release) under repair order #6807251. No customer-pay work was performed. The multi-point inspection that day noted only the cabin air filter. During the drive home on March 23, a faint rotten-egg (h?s) smell appeared for the first time. By the morning of March 24, 2026, the smell was severe. I immediately returned the vehicle. Under new repair order #6807360, a second multi-point inspection suddenly recommended $1,134. 10 in customer-pay services (new 12v battery, fuel induction service, cooling system service, brake fluid exchange, and atf exchange) that were not flagged the previous day. Since the recall service, the vehicle has developed numerous new defects that never existed before: rotten-egg smell (h?s) intermittent ac that blows warm in stop-and-go traffic passenger-rear power window clicks but will not roll down brake warning (“stop vehicle and check brakes”) “key not detected” message passenger-side mirror pushed in with temporary motor malfunction 12v battery cover left completely disassembled and misplaced in the trunk complete no-start / dead 12v battery condition (will not crank even after multiple jump attempts as of March 30, 2026) on March 24, 2026, I sent a formal demand letter by certified mail (received and signed for by the dealership on March 27, 2026) giving mark kia five business days (until close of business March 31, 2026) to provide a free tow, free loaner, and free repair of all defects. I followed up with six supplemental addendums (dated March 24–30, 2026) attaching photos and videos of every issue. On April 1, 2026, service director [xxx] replied by email and admitted in writing (twice) that the dealership did not follow recall procedure information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2017 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 67 mph, the vehicle experienced a loss of drive power, and the vehicle went into limp mode. The check engine and hev warning lights were intermittently illuminated. The contact entered the vehicle settings, and the ecu message was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Unknown.

The vehicle is consuming excessive amounts of oil. The dipstick was completely dry before 5000 miles were up. I had to add some oil to the engine to avoid engine failure. I have reported this to jim ellis dealership in kennesaw GA but I was told to drive the vehicle until it knocks or the knock sensor goes.

Kia engine settlement-kia America and grand forks kia dealership is refusing a mandatory diagnostic test for excessive oil consumption under the kia theta ii engine class settlement, despite the vehicle having the required ksds software update installed. The vehicle is consuming 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles, requiring constant topping off to prevent engine seizure. Vehicle was brought to kia grand forks on 7/21/25 was told that the valve gasket needed to be changed. Engine light illuminated 10/2025 and car was unable to make it back to dealership from 58369. Vehicle was brought to local mechanic where I was told that the has failed and that the spark plugs had oil on them. Mechanic changed the spark plugs to make it to grand forks kia on 10/14/25 I was told that the turbo needed to be replaced for $3300 before they can do an oil consumption test. There were no issues with the turbo before it was driven to grand forks on 10/14/25. Kia America refuses to cover the engine warranty which will lead to "sudden engine stall, loss of power, or vehicle fire," which are primary safety concerns monitored by NHTSA.

The contact called on behalf of her daughter who owns a 2017 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 60 mph, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound, the cruise control was inoperative, the infotainment screen darkened, and the charging outlet was inoperative. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the contact's residence, and the contact used a vehicle scanner to scan the vehicle. The contact stated that dtc: p1326 for the knock sensor detection system (ksds) was found, which detected excessive engine vibration. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. No further information was available. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

The engine in my 2017 kia Optima (VIN: [xxx] ) seized and locked up, a known defect associated with kia’s theta ii 2. 4l gdi engines. When I contacted kia regarding engine replacement, I was told coverage would not apply because a required ksds ecu update recall was not completed. During multiple phone calls with kia customer care, kia admitted that they did not have my contact information on file and added it during my call. Because kia did not have my information, I never received any recall notification and was denied the opportunity to comply with the ksds update. Kia has also provided conflicting information regarding whether recalls were open on my VIN while still relying on recall completion status to deny coverage. I believe kia failed to properly notify me of a safety recall and is unfairly denying coverage for a known engine defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle experiences sudden and dangerous loss of power while driving, including hesitation during acceleration, consistent with connecting-rod bearing failure risk known in this model’s gdi engine. Dealer estimate found timing and oil-flow component failures connected to internal engine damage. Vehicle is unsafe to drive and stalls/lacks power unexpectedly, creating a high risk of crash. ”.

I purchased the 2017 Optima hybrid from huntington beach Hyundai on [xxx]. I made sure to double check with the dealer if the engine and hybrid battery were in good condition, in which the salesman reassured me everything is good. The car was driving okay for a while, and I had oil change and tires/alignment changed recently. Just barely 4 months in after I owned the car, the incident happened on the night of [xxx]. I was driving on the highway near the getty going roughly 70 mph up the mountain roads while all of a sudden the "check hybrid system" warning came on in the car. The car immediately went into limp mode, and I did everything I could to slow the car to a complete stop, and stop on the freeway shoulder safely. It was a traumatizing experience to me, as this is a major safety issue with the vehicle, and other cars were travelling really fast in la mountain areas. I had the car towed to a auto repair shop the next day, the mechanics did a deep inspection and informed me the hybrid inverter has failed. I paid $2,177 to replace the hybrid inverter with the mechanic. The mechanic also informed me while they were test driving they heard a knocking sound from the engine. I did a look up and found out there is a class settlement and safety campaigns on the engine for 2017 Optima hybrid due to the faulty factory rod bearings, and the 150k miles extended warranty from kia should apply to replace my faulty engine free of charge. I will be getting my car towed to car pros kia in huntington beach on October 15th, 2025, and request the dealer to replace my engine per kia's extended warranty. I am filing the complaint because the car is having problems after problems in barely 4 months of ownership, in which I believe I have purchased a lemon, or huntington beach Hyundai knowingly hid the facts the components were faulty. I have also filed a case with kia corporate. Attached is the repair invoice for the hybrid inverter. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6.

My fiancée and I just recently bought this car with the 1. 6t-gdi engine I immediately replaced the oil even though the dealership said that he just replaced it. I put 7 quarts of oil topping off from awk consumption after I initially changed the oil filter. Those 7 quarts were added over the period of three weeks and it’s just progressively gotten worse. I’m putting a quart to 1. 5 quarts of oil in here every other day. Worried about it causing total failure & being at risk of being stranded with 2 kids due to the only engine I’ve been able to find that kia doesn’t have any recall touched base on is the gamma 1. 6 engine. The turbo gamma 1. 6. The n/a 1. 6 was covered but it has ungodly pop/clunking backfiring sound coming from either intake manifold or valve train please help. Times are hard enough as it is to be without a vehicle due to a fault other than none of my own the dealership extended powertrain warranty isn’t being honored by kia even though they said it would just don’t want something to happen to me or the car that’s beyond my capabilities and knowledge and ultimately result in my spouse not having a reliable and/or safe means of transportation to/from work and commuting kids as well. Thanks in advance.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 mph, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the check engine and oil warning lights illuminated and then turned off independently. The contact slowed down, and after arriving at the destination, the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was advised by the mechanic that there was potential engine failure and was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, and the contact was made aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 21v844000 (engine); however, the ksds software update was not performed prior to the engine failure, which disqualified the vehicle from the engine replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact that the vehicle did not qualify for the engine replacement. The failure mileage was approximately 64,500.

“my vehicle, a 2017 kia Optima, had repeated safety issues documented in service records. Despite multiple repair attempts (per attached records), the problem remained unresolved and put my safety at risk. I’m seeking further investigation or resolution. ”.

Car began hesitating and stalling, particularly from a stop. Engine light came on. Took the car to the kia dealership for diagnosis. Was told by svc coordinator that the diagnosis indicated a bad knock sensor. The technician replaced the knock sensor, then test drove the car. It failed immediately. I was told that it would likely need engine replacement. After a few days, svc coordinator called and said that kia recommended replacing the knock sensor (again) and perform a tuneup. They declined to replace the engine. The car runs in "limp home mode" (kia's terminology), hesitates and stalls so as to make it very unsafe to operate. The engine on this car was replaced about two years ago for excessive oil consumption. There cannot be more than 30k miles on the new engine. Kia stated that there is a lifetime warranty on the replaced engines, but are apparently not going to honor the warranty. Car is serviced regularly and is in otherwise excellent condition.

--- **summary of complaint – 2017 kia Optima** my 2017 kia Optima (VIN: [xxx] ) experienced sudden engine failure due to a damaged piston. There were no warning signs—no knock codes or dashboard alerts—prior to the malfunction. Despite regular maintenance and timely oil changes, kia denied warranty coverage, leaving me with significant repair costs. This issue appears consistent with reported engine problems in similar kia models and could represent a broader manufacturing defect. I'm submitting this report in hopes of prompting an investigation into a potential safety hazard. A recall may be necessary to prevent similar failures and protect information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Code p1326, faulty knock sensor on 2. 4gdi.

Oil is burning too fast. . . Car has had an issue like this in the past and the problem resulted in a blown engine. . . Re-call was found by dealer and honored and endinge re-placed. . Car is now expierenceing this problem again. . . Second, steering wheel is locking when turnning fully left. . . Third, car smells extremely strong like gasoline when car is warming up. . .

The car stalled out.

My kia Optima fe 2017 has been consuming a lot of motor oil it takes a quart every 2 to 3 weeks and of if I drive it more than average it needs motor oil sooner.

While driving my 2017 kia Optima (theta ii engine) at approximately 115,900 miles, I suddenly experienced engine failure. The vehicle began to stall and produced a burning smell shortly before the engine seized completely. I had the car towed to a kia dealership, which confirmed an internal engine failure and noted that there were no signs of external oil leaks or neglect. The failure occurred only 4,500 miles after my last oil change, which was documented and professionally completed. The kia technician mentioned verbally that this was due to excessive oil consumption and burning — an issue I later found to be widely reported in other kia vehicles using this engine type. The estimated repair cost is over $14,000, which is more than the value of the vehicle. Despite my warranty being expired, this type of failure appears consistent with known manufacturing defects. I am reporting this for public safety and accountability. The vehicle failed without warning and could have caused a dangerous situation on the road.

My vehicle is experiencing engine issues consistent with the known theta ii gdi engine defects — including rod bearing failure piston rings engine stalling, I understand that kia has offered extended warranty coverage through the engine defect settlement, provided the knock sensor detection system (ksds) update was installed before failure. I am unsure whether this update has been applied and would like to confirm my eligibility. I respectfully request: 1. Confirmation of ksds update installation on my VIN 2. A review of my eligibility for engine inspection and coverage under the extended warranty 3. Assistance with coordinating service and coverage at my local dealership (leblanc kia, new iberia, la) I am the second owner of this vehicle and want to ensure I am treated fairly under the known warranty extension guidelines. Thank you for your support. I look forward to your prompt response.

Engine stalled out while driving lyft. Got passenger to their destination safely, however lyft is my only source of income big risk to stall out on a highway.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle lost motive power with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

I was driving on the highway, the check engine light started flashing and the car lost power. This created a very dangerous situation because I could not go the speed limit and could not get off the highway since I was in the middle lane. We went and had the check engine light checked and were told the code was p1326.

Engine issues started the third month after sales. Jerking, shaking, declining performance, metal clicking noise, loss of power while driving. Kia has been working on the car for a year.

I was driving on the highway and randomly my car started to shake very badly and I couldn’t go faster than about 30 mph. My engine light didn’t turn on until I turned the car off and back on after finally making it home after almost getting hit by cars trying to make it back home. I sent it to get looked at and they said that it’s misfiring pretty severely and that kia had a recall on an engine/motor awhile back for my car and to take it to a dealership. I contacted kia customer care but the only recall I see when I look up my VIN # is for the trunk recall.

I have been dealing with an engine issue for almost two years now, dealership is telling me I need to wait till a barring goes out for the engine to be replaced at no charge. Car does not go over 60 mph, oil is burning like crazy.

1. ) what component or system failed or malfunctioned? engine failure due to excessive oil consumption and/or a malfunctioning knock sensor detection system (ksds). •the engine failed at only 50,000 miles due to internal issues. •the ksds system triggered a flashing check engine light, but kia refuses to cover the repair despite known past issues. •kia engineers and the dealership confirmed the engine failure but are denying warranty coverage. ? the vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection. 2. ) how was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? •a flashing check engine light appeared, indicating possible catastrophic engine failure while driving. •loss of engine function on the road could have led to an accident. •the ksds system was designed to prevent this type of failure, but it failed to stop the damage in time. •if the engine had completely failed at highway speeds, it could have created a dangerous situation. 3. ) has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? ? yes, the issue was confirmed by the kia dealership. •the dealership confirmed that the engine has failed and needs to be replaced. •a tech line case was opened with kia engineers, who confirmed the failure. •kia refuses to cover the repair, claiming it is a "top-end failure" instead of a "rod bearing failure. " 4?. ) has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? ? yes, it was inspected by the kia dealership and kia engineers. •a tech line case was created, and kia engineers reviewed the issue. •kia admitted that the engine failed but refused to cover the repair under warranty. 5. ) were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? ? yes, a flashing check engine light appeared due to the knock sensor detection system (ksds). •the same warning code had previously appeared while.

There appears to be an issue with kia USA regarding an oil switch fault that the company may be aware of but has not addressed through a service bulletin. We own a 2017 kia Optima with a 2. 4l engine and 84,000 miles that has recently started experiencing an intermittent oil pressure light. Thinking the issue was covered under warranty, I took the vehicle in for repair, only to receive a quote of $6,000. The faulty switch had pushed oil through the wiring harness, contaminating the powertrain control module and fuel injectors. I have found information indicating that kia issued a service bulletin in April 2022 for the same switch used in the 2. 4l issue affecting 2015-2018 kia models with 3. 3l engines. However, when I provided this information to the dealer, they insisted the switch in my Optima was different and not covered by the bulletin. I have repeatedly requested the part number for the faulty switch referenced in the bulletin, but have not received a response from the dealer or kia corporate. The information I found on-line is that the switch in both motors are the same switch. I understand that if this issue is not addressed early, the repair cost can reach upwards of $7,500. If kia had proactively notified 2. 4l owners about the switch issue in 2022, my problem may have been caught and resolved before the extensive damage occurred. Furthermore, if the faulty switch was used across multiple kia models during the same time frame, the company should have included those vehicles in the service bulletin. I am not concerned with getting my own Optima repaired, but I find it unacceptable for kia to take advantage of customers in this manner. An $18 part failure should not result in such significant damage, and kia's lack of transparency and action is disappointing. I hope that by sharing this experience, kia will be compelled to address this issue and prevent further financial hardship for their customers.

The contact owns a 2017 kia Optima. The contact stated she had noticed that the vehicle needed to have motor oil added between oil changes. Additionally the contact stated that she observed that oil was leaking under the vehicle. The contact stated that she only gets a "low oil" warning when she depressed the brake pedal with any force. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic did not find any oil leaks and advised the contact to constantly check her engine oil level. The contact stated that at a recent oil check the engine had to have five quarts of motor oil added. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

My car is burning oil and oil is covering my spark plugs. Was mentioned about decarbonizing.

Yes, the issue has been confirmed by kia. They acknowledged the high oil consumption and indicated that the engine requires a rod bearing replacement. However, kia does not want to fully recognize the problem. I have taken the car to another mechanic who confirmed that the ignition coil has burnt on cylinder number 3 and identified it as an engine failure along with the high oil consumption.

My engine is burning a quart or more of oil a week. Since my last oil change I have put in 15 quarts of oil. I called kia service department and they said there is nothing they can do unless my check engine light is on.

A auto repair shop said my kia Optima has a bad knock sensor which is a common problem with those cars. My safety and others was put at great risk when I suddenly lost power on the freeway problem was confirmed at an independent service center has not yet been inspected by manufacturer warning message came up at the same time as losing power.

The contact’s daughter owns a 2017 kia Optima. While the contact’s daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud rattling sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start on the first attempt. The vehicle started on the second attempt was able to be driven. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who determined that the engine rod had failed, causing complete engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact became aware that the vehicle was included in an undisclosed product improvement program for a software update; however, the contact was unaware of the software update which voided the extended warranty for the engine repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Took the car to the dealership to diagnose an issue that I know kia has a settlement for which is the engine class settlement and the dealership is trying to say the cause of known issue is from another source so they do not have to cover the cost of a replacement engine. The dealership is saying my option is to pay 8-10k for a new engine when it should be covered under the lifetime engine warranty which they confirmed I have. Engine light popped up the day of taking it to dealer. The engine has the possibility of seizing putting the driver or others at risk of serious accident.