general problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Optima - part 2

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.

My engine is burning lg amounts of oil. There has been a lawsuit regarding the same issues with kia engines (specifically up to 2019 Optimas). The theta 2 engine lawsuit is regarding excessive oil consumption/burning, knock sensor issues, and deeper engine issues. This has been an ongoing issue for me and is ultimately affecting my engine. Kia will not cover the defects or repair expenses despite knowing the concerns with prior kia Optima engines.

Dealing with sudden excessive oil consumption at 130,000 miles. Had an oil change about 2,000 miles ago and oil sensor has been going off after 1,500-2,000 miles driven. Mechanic put 3 more quarts in and a week and a half later oil sensor is going off again indicating low oil. Mechanic confined this has been a frequent problem with this engine and insists piston rings are faulty & will eventually need engine replacement.

I own a 2020 kia Optima and have been experiencing multiple ongoing problems with the vehicle. The vehicle is leaking and/or losing engine oil at an excessive rate. I have had to add oil multiple times within a short period of time because the oil level continues to drop. I am concerned that the continued loss of oil could result in engine damage or engine failure while the vehicle is being driven. I am also experiencing an electrical problem with the vehicle. The air conditioning and heating system will not turn on or operate properly. I was informed that the problem is related to the vehicle's electrical system/wiring. These problems have continued and require repeated attention. I am concerned about the safety and reliability of the vehicle, particularly the continued oil loss and the electrical malfunction. I am reporting these issues so they can be documented and investigated to determine whether other 2020 kia Optima owners are experiencing similar problems.

Vehicle check engine light started flashing on and off, code thrown is a p1326 and vehicle went into limp mode, shutting down power essentially going down the highway. Oil burning is excessive, and replacement of oil is at 1-2 quarts every 2 weeks. Engine is not running smoothly. No warning signs of oil burn present until oil pressure light flickers on when taking a curve or sitting on a major incline. Kia dealership is aware of an issue with the p1326 codes and bearing wear, however, year of vehicle seems to not be included in the original lawsuit and recall/safety notice from all indications. Engine was manufactured and is the same as the 2019 engine that is included. Engine seizure is potential at highway speeds which could cause major harm or death during travel without warning.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the vehicle was connected to a diagnostic machine. The dtc indicated a glow relay failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

Same issue as the 2011-2019 recalled vehicles. (p1326).

Code p1326 and oil pressure light keeps flashing.

Oil pan developed stress crack below and along both sides of the oil pan drain plug all components are in place and there are no signs of road damage or damage do to obstacles being hit leak started slowly and progressively became worse returned car to have plug checked but no report back of any problem and it was documented on service order.

I got a cel (code p1326), three different times. Each time has been after a hard rain or a car wash. I have had to pay to have the knock sensor replaced each time, twice by a mechanic and once by a kia dealership. There’s a recall for this issue on model years older than my 2020. I was told that kia is aware but that there aren’t enough people having the issue to warrant them to investigate.

The engine in my 2020 kia Optima s (2. 4l gdi theta ii) has been experiencing excessive oil consumption, engine knocking, and loss of power, consistent with known issues in earlier model years of this engine. This component is still in my vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. The issue puts my safety at risk due to unpredictable power loss while driving and the potential for engine seizure or fire, especially during high-speed travel. I’ve had to top off oil multiple times between regular oil changes, and the vehicle showed signs of low oil without any dashboard warning. No ksds (knock sensor detection system) software was ever installed on the vehicle. I have not yet had a full diagnosis from the dealer, but I have opened a case with kia consumer affairs, who informed me that I do not qualify for recall repair based on the vehicle’s manufacture date — despite the engine matching those in previous lawsuits and recalls. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the dealer, manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. However, I can provide receipts for oil purchases and logs documenting how often I’ve had to refill the oil. I am also filing a claim with my third-party powertrain warranty provider. Symptoms first appeared at approximately 85000 miles engine knocking/ticking noise oil light flashing briefly or low oil found without warning needing to add 1–2 quarts of oil between oil changes rough acceleration or loss of power this issue is widespread, has been previously acknowledged in other model years, and should be formally investigated in the 2020 Optima as well. I am concerned for the long-term safety and reliability of this vehicle.

Oil consumption has rapidly been increasing causing the loss of several quarts of oil. Inspection by service center confirmed this is a known kia issue and recommended a flush to help combat some of the issue. Service center did note that this issue would not fix the problem, but put off needing to replace the engine. Oil light was not flashing on the dash unless coming to a quick stop, but then would disappear. The value of these cars has resulted in quite a bit of negative equity for folks due to the theft issue. Now add on a fear of blowing an engine cause your vehicle is burning through oil like no tomorrow.

I was driving on the high way and the car loose power completely have to do change oil every two weeks and can’t find a solution.

Driving at highway speed of 65 mph, the vehicle abruptly lost power. The check engine light started flashing. I was almost rear ended due to the loss of power, I was able to coast to the emergency shoulder and stop. The car was towed to the nearest kia dealership. Diagnostics show code p1326, the engine has failed and needs to be replaced at a cost of over $10000. This the same engine that was included in a class action lawsuit for model years up to 2019, the 2020 was not included. Kia is offering no assistance to me as the second owner of the vehicle even thought the car only has 98,000 miles, the powertrain warranty is reduced to 60,000 for a second owner. The cost of repairs is more than the value of the vehicle.

The engine is burning through oil. I have already had the car checked for an oil leak. It is the engine. It's a 2020 however it does not have high mileage for the year that it is.

I am filing this complaint due to severe and ongoing safety defects in my 2020 kia Optima ex, which has repeatedly stalled while driving, creating a life-threatening road hazard. Since September 2024, my vehicle has suffered from major failures, including a complete transmission replacement, multiple high-pressure fuel pump replacements, multiple oil flushes due to fuel contamination, and all fuel injectors replaced. Despite all of these “repairs” performed by a kia-authorized dealership, the check engine light continues to return, and the vehicle still stalls unexpectedly, making it dangerous to drive. On March 10, 2025, after kia claimed to have tested the vehicle for 200 miles, I picked up the car from the dealership, only for it to stall and trigger the check engine light within hours before I even reached my destination. This vehicle has been returned to me multiple times in an unsafe condition. Additionally, an independent mechanic discovered an engine oil leak and a torn axle that kia’s dealership never disclosed. This raises major concerns about their lack of proper inspection and repair procedures. This is a serious safety issue that kia refuses to take accountability for. I request an immediate investigation into this matter before this defect leads to an accident.

Was on highway going 65, check engine light started flashing loss power. Couldn't go over 2000 rpms car would struggle to accelerate, car had been using up oil like crazy the week before. Stopped at an autozone car read code p1326.

The contact owns a 2020 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, and depressing the accelerator pedal, the check engine light was flashing. The contact stated that the accelerator pedal was being depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact pulled over, turned off the vehicle, and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved dtc code: p1326; and notified the contact that the vehicle had experienced engine failure. The contact stated that prior to the engine failure, one quart of engine oil was being added weekly. The contact called a dealer however, the service manager had not returned the call. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

Engine has been burning oil for at least a year now. Cause ignition coil/spark plug failure and have replaced all 4 coils and plugs 3 times now within a year. Engine will randomly start to sputter after about 3-5 months of replacement. Adding a quart of oil every 1-2 weeks. No leaks and no smoke, just money down the drain.

I was driving in the freeway to my girlfriends house and suddenly my check engine light came on and started flashing, I got off the freeway as soon as I could and parked to check what was wrong and while driving to park I noticed I couldn’t accelerate past 2000 rpm and when shifting my car was skipping and it felt like gas wasn’t getting to the engine. I checked my oil levels and they were at normal levels, the battery was fine, and the car was turning on without a problem. I ran a diagnostics code and it came up with the p13-26 code.

Oil leaking at drain pan and won’t come out.

I started having clicking sound in engine around 50k miles . Then my check engine light came on and my engine has been using so much oil. I have to get an additional 3 quarts in between oil changes. The clicking sound is getting louder and my car is now having issues accelerating. . My engine is failing and I bought this car brand new and have regularly maintained it .

June 29th I was driving home and car suddenly went into limp mode. Had this car less than 2 yrs. I'm the second owner so I don't have 100,000 engine warranty. Its at 91 000 miles. Gets maintained regularly. But the cart consumes a lot of oil and after I google and read all about p1326, I find out there is a campaign by kia fixing these engines. Unfortunately my make and model, even tho same engines didn't make the cut. From the list of complaints from people online seems to me that there will be more legal action taken. These are the same crappy engines. I will never nor let anybody I know by a kia/hayandai ever again, if I can help it.

My car is using a lot of oil and I have to change the oil every 2 thousand miles, oil light will come on and I check the oil and it shows the oil stick almost dry within 2,000 miles after having oil changed. The car will loose power and has a ticking noise in the motor. It’s frustrating to have to change the oil every 2,000 miles instead of every 3,000-5,000 miles like most vehicles.

While traveling on the highway at the stated rate of speed between 65-75 mph, my vehicle experienced what I described as a downward surge causing the vehicle to suddenly lose speed immediately followed by a consistent blinking engine light. Fortunately, I was in the slow lane and there wasn't a vehicle behind me, or I could have been rear ended. I tried to accelerate; however, the engine acted as if it was choking. I backed off acceleration and allowed the engine to pick up speed on its own. Fortunately, I was almost home and stopped by the auto zone in my neighborhood and they attached the device that will generate the code. The code generated p1326 which points toward the knock sensor. Kia need to address this issue and be made to correct these dangerous issues before someone is in a major accident where they may find themselves in a lot of traffic. In my research, I have found numerous complaints regarding this issue and consumers not receiving restitution or taking 3-4 months waiting for their vehicle to be repaired. We hope you will be able to assist in getting kia to review these motor issues. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Oil consumption is absurd. 5 quarts in 2k miles.

Every since I bought my car back in 2020 I have to keep getting a oil change because my light keep coming on I was told by a mechanic the my kia have a oil consumption problem.