general problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Optima - part 1

Car is consuming oil every three weeks. Engine is going to burn if it does not stop. It’s not in a class action but probably should be. It’s been 4 months and over 1,000 spent.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, and while the vehicle was parked, there was a loud banging sound coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The rpm failed to operate as intended while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that there were metal shavings inside the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic referred the contact to a dealer for additional assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,751.

My vehicle burns oil too quickly. I schedule my regular oil change based on the feedback from the auto repair shop. During my last oil change he said I practically had no oil left, but it has been less than 5,000 miles since my previous oil change. The tech informed me he's seen this happen a lot within kia's including the Optima that I currently drive. Fast forward a few months I noticed my oil light illuminate for a moment and immediately turn off. I still want to get it checked out just in case so I brought it back to the same shop. They informed me my oil was very low even though, but I still have another 1,500 miles before my next due oil change. He looked around and confirmed there were no leaks or damage that would affect the consumption rate. He highly recommended me look to see if there were any recalls on my specific model of vehicle that would warrant both an explanation and reason for replacement. In the meantime he topped off my oil and I was all good to go.

The rod barring failed in my engine. I broke down in the middle of the parkway with my daughter. This is my third kia Optima that has had this issue but the dealership is stating there is not a recall on this model. The check engine light did not come on except when the car lost all power.

My engine has failed. This is the second car I’ve had from kia that the rod barring has failed.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a full stop, the red oil warning light illuminated; however, after driving off, the warning light disappeared. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with an oil pump failure caused by low oil pressure while the vehicle was stationary, and the rpm was low. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000.

My car burns oil. I had to have my spark. Plugs and engine coils replaced. I was driving and my check engine light came on. Also, my car was sputtering like you wouldnt believe. When I had the spark plugs and ignition coils replaced, the spark plugs were covered in oil. Last year, I got an oil change and within a few weeks the oil was empty. A neighbor told me my car was burning oil. I also took it to an independent mechanic and he said that was an issue with the kia Optima.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering and vibrating abnormally while starting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic out of fear of the vehicle stalling on the highway. Prior to the engine failure, the contact became aware that there were oil spots where the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the mechanic sealed two holes in the oil pan and replaced the spark plugs that were fouled by engine oil. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the spark plugs were covered in oil again. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer to check for engine failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and an oil consumption test was performed; however, the vehicle failed the oil consumption test. The dealer had not yet diagnosed the vehicle, but suggested that the engine needed to be disassembled to check for engine wear. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,185.

While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of engine power and entered limp mode. The check engine light began flashing and the vehicle had very limited acceleration, creating a safety concern when driving in traffic. The vehicle was towed to a kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealer retrieved diagnostic trouble code p1326 (knock sensor detection system – range/performance). During inspection, the dealer found metal contamination in the engine oil and oil control valves and advised that the engine has internal damage and requires replacement.

Took to kia for engine burning excessive oil. They determined the cylinder wall was scorched due to piston ring. The warranty people say it’s normal wear and tear and won’t honor the warranty. It’s still sitting in their engine bay because they want me to pay for the diagnostic which I don’t have. $4000 roughly for that but it needs a new engine. The warranty should be covering this! never pay for an extended warranty!!! they will not help you.

Vechile is burning oil and knock sensor came on which indicated rod bearing. While driving the car lost power the check engine came on was abl to pull over and turned off the car. Did not drive it was tow home.

I got the car was running good week or 2 later I see the oil light flash after my oil change I go back top it off repeat the cycle almost weekly burning losts of oil then I get a code p1326 for a knock sensor same day car go into limp mode no power rpm won’t go over 2 car won’t go over 60-65 I park it go outside to take it to the dealership next day it ain’t start I haven’t had the car 4 months only have 138,000 miles.

Out of the blue I get a code for a misfire on cylinder one. Got in to head to work as normal and it was stalling and shaking so bad that I am scared to drive it. The next day the check engine light was on when I started it to seek out the issue. Car was manufactured in September 2019 but is the 2020 model year. I was told by a license mechanic this is related to an internal kia engine issue. I contacted 800 333 4kia to see if this was a known issue that they had a solution to. Of course I was told to self repair that my VIN is not covered under the recall. Can you tell me how kia assumes that engine issues with the 2019s model year would have been fixed before the 2020 models were assembled? sounds like my dream car is now my nightmare. 3rd white kia Optima but I am likely leaving the kia family if this requires a new engine.

It is an oil burner and engine failed and went into limp mode less than 5 years when drove off dealership brand new.

Metal contamination found on vvt solenoid of 2020 kia Optima 2. 4l gdi engine. Firestone autocare confirmed metal debris in oiling system. Vehicle exhibits symptoms identical to prior theta ii bearing recall sc172/sc200/sc227 but not covered under recall range.

My car has been burning oil rapidly. I’ve contacted kia over this issue and I have had several times where I have had to continually add oil. There is no leak. This is a known issue with Kia Motors across mechanics nationwide and there should be a recall issued. This has been at several shops and over the last few years. This motor should not be consuming 4 quarts of oil within 1000 miles after an oil change.

I have kept up on regular oil changes and maintenance on my kia which I bought new 5 years ago. My issues started when my car's orange check engine light came on, I experienced loss of power such as difficulty accelerating even at low speeds, especially up hill. As soon as I was able I checked my oil which and there was nothing on the dipstick. I put in 3 quarts of oil. I brought it into my usual dealership for service and let them know about the oil issue and issues with power when driving. They failed to address the root cause of the issue, they performed an oil change, engine light turned off, and they started an oil consumption test. But when I drove off the lot the issue with the power continued, and the check engine light came on again. I took my kia to another dealership to address the car's power issue and the first oil consumption test was not completed because it was unsafe to drive. When I brought my car in, the check engine light was not on, even though there were significant power issues. The dealership was able to confirm my concern, including loss of power and evidence of oil overconsumption. They replaced my turbocharger under warranty. I then underwent a 2nd oil consumption test that indicated overconsumption at a level of 1. 5 quarts per 1000 miles. Then they performed a combustion chamber cleaning per kia guidelines and a 3rd oil consumption test. They 3rd oil consumption results indicated overconsumption at a level of 0. 75 quarts per 1000 miles. Although the dealership acknowledged this is still overconsumption, it was not to a level that required kia to replace my motor. Meanwhile, after all these tests my car is close to out of warranty, at 98. 6k miles. I called kia customer care and their "resolution" to my case was the deny me a new engine and they would not provide me anything in writing. My car's overconsumption of oil and other signs of engine failure match the complaints found in class action settlements related to other kia models.

The turbo system on the car burns oil at a rapid rate. Had to pay $4000 to replace and still continues to give me problems and check engine light. Violates lemon law. Had replaced in September but was giving me problems well before and finally took it to the dealer for repair.

Car burns oil at significant rate which ruins the engine.

Without warning my car went into “limp mode” while driving on the highway almost causing a collision as I was forced to pull off the road on the highway. Flashing engine light car would not accelerate and was shaking dramatically. Was forced to wait for a tow on a busy highway. P1326 code. Rod knock. A known issue for the theta ii engine. Many recalls have been made for this exact engine for these exact problems but for some reason the 2020 kia Optima is not included even though it is the same engine covered by lifetime warranty from the 2019 models due to these recalls and know issues. There’s plenty of recorded cases all over the web and is a wide concern for many affected kia drivers. Kia does not offer the same krds update to 2020 kia drivers as they do to earlier models even with the same engine failure issues so we don’t even get the benefit of possible early detection. Car is well maintained and inspected at a local american tire depot and I am still forced to deal with unwarranted engine failure on a known defective engine solely because kia will not offer help for affected customers. The 2020 kia Optima equipped with the theta ii 2. 4l engine is not safe and is a known defective product. Action and accountability are needed.

I’ve been told by multiple kia dealerships that my kia needs a new engine however I am barely outside of their class action lawsuit so they are not willing to settle with me. They recently within the last two months came out with two recalls that did not fix the issue.

Burning oil, not wanting to accelerate properly on the freeway, kia has engine in previous years having the same issue, and these 2020 and they are not trying to fix them.

I took my vehicle to the dealership in chantilly, va on may 17, 2025. On July 24, 2025, I discovered that my vehicle had no oil, despite being approximately 4,000 miles away from my next scheduled oil change. I have video documentation confirming that there was no oil in the vehicle. The car was towed back to the dealership; however, no corrective action was taken. The dealership offered to perform a test, which I declined, as this issue did not exist before servicing my vehicle at their location. Additionally, no explanation or guidance regarding the oil was provided to me. I was only advised to pay for another oil change, or a 205 dollars to diagnose the car. Subsequently, I took the vehicle to fairfax auto shop, where a dye test was conducted to check for oil leaks. While no leaks were found, they advised that the vehicle has an oil consumption issue. They recommended that I monitor and top off the oil every 1,000 miles and return for oil changes every 2–3 months.

Out of town July 12th 2025 my 2020 kia Optima engine started having problems. I tried to get to my hotel but it was obvious I was not going to make it. I pulled into the nearest station and was told my car had no oil. There were no signs of leaking oil and no warning lights so they changed my oil and I was able to made it home. Shortly after I broke down again at night and pulled into a parking lot again no warning and no oil. I had to call someone to get oil and from that point on I had to put oil in my cart every other day with no signs of a leaks and no warning lights. It has become to dangerous to drive and the engine has now failed and knocking and shaking has caused me to park my car and not drive it. I am deeply concerned about the risk of catastrophic engine failure and the potential for fire, which has been documented in similar cases. Despite having the knock sensor detection system installed, my vehicle continues to exhibit these dangerous symptoms. I sought assistance from landers crain dealership and kia; however, they declined to properly evaluate or service my vehicle along with kia declining according to the kia regional manager. This lack of support has left me with an unsafe, undrivable car and no clear path toward resolution. The center for auto safety key affected vehicles (2. 4l gdi) kia Optima 2011–2018 (some 2019) exact same engine in 2020 Optima kia sorento 2012–2019 kia sportage 2011–2018 (some 2019) details of the recall and settlement the problem manufacturing debris and tight tolerances can cause connecting rod bearings to fail, causing knocking, seizure, and potential engine fires. The fix dealers will update the software with a knock sensor detection system (ksds) to detect rod bearing issues before failure. My Optima has the ksds installed but failed. Warranty extension as part of a class action settlement, kia extended the warranty on these engines to 15 years or 150,000 miles, provided the ksds update is installed.

Engine knocking and stalling on interstate.

Car consumes a lot of oil. Approximately 5 quarts per week-faulty engine parts allowing oil to seep into the combustion chamber. The oil is then ignited along with the fuel, creating blue-tinted exhaust smoke. It is burning out spark plugs which is then wearing them out and almost caused car accident when car started sputtering and would not barely go once pressing gas. Has been inspected by kia dealership. Was told engine needs to be replaced-warranty expired and nothing can be done. Car only 2 years old when this problem started and they will not replace.

On multiple occasions, the hev system warning light and check engine light activated while I was driving at highway speeds. Immediately after the warning lights appeared, the vehicle suddenly decelerated, putting me and other drivers at risk. This issue has occurred several times and is clearly a serious safety hazard. Each time this occurred, I brought the vehicle to an authorized kia dealership ([dealership name]) for inspection. However, despite the vehicle being under the kia hybrid system and/or powertrain warranty (10 years/100,000 miles), I was recently informed that the necessary repairs would not be covered under warranty.

By the time I’m due for an oil change the car has no oil. There is no leak and no smoke to show car is burning oil.

When the vehicle was about 3 years old and at 60,000 miles, the fuel injector went out. Kia took weeks to approve the replacement under warranty. Since then the engine light came on and said cylinder 3 has leak and fouls the plug. We've had it repaired 3 times. The mechanic said it would be too costly to repair and the engine should be replaced.

Engine failure do to excessive oil consumption. I do have records. Not able to file now. Please contact if needed thank you.

Engine's knock sensor.

Unknown, engine excessively burns oil and is now seized. Kia used the same engine in this car as they did in the 2016-19 models which were recalled for engine failure, however mine was not included. 2. 4 theda engine.

I was driving down the interstate and all of a sudden the blinking lights of the check engine light came on and automatically I went from 75 mph down to 63 mph and when I looked up what it was, it was the knock detection system of the 2020 kia Optima. I could not accelerate beyond 63 mph and I fear that the engine might stall on me so I went to o’reillys and have them check it and it says it’s the p1326 code.

Accelerating at a normal rate to get on the highway and the check engine light starts flashing out of nowhere and car goes into limp mode. Made it to local shop and they informed me it was a p1326 code and that a knock sensor would have to be replaced, but that kia has recalled the older models for this same reason.

Hi, thank you for taking the time to look over my complaint. On Saturday March 22 while driving down the highway going about 75 mph, my car died. The check engine light was flashing and so was the oil light. I pulled over to the shoulder and when I tried cranking the car it sounded like a rumming noise and the car would not stay on. I had the vehicle towed to texas star auto shop. On Monday March 24th I spoke with the mechanic and he said there is an internal engine problem . Since I am a 2nd owner and the car has 105,736 miles kia will not honor their extended warranty and I am left to pay out of pocket for repairs est cost 10,000+. I am now without a reliable transportation. This has left me annoyed and unhappy with the assistance from kia.