Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Kia Motor Optima - part 1

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 mph with the cruise control activated, there was smoke coming from underneath the passenger’s side of the hood before the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated that moments later there were flames coming from the underneath the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was parked on the side of the road and flames quickly engulfed the vehicle. The fire department was called to the scene and arrived and extinguished the fire. During the fire the vehicle was destroyed and was later towed to a nearby storage facility. While attempting to quickly exit the vehicle the contact fell to the ground and sustained an injured left leg and left side. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that the engine was recently installed related to a recall repair. No additional information was available. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Fuel leak: I can smell heavy gas fumes inside the vehicle cabin. Fire hazard: the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to an imminent risk of a fuel fire. Corporate refusal: kia corporate refused to generate a case number and my local dealership refused to service the vehicle leaving a dangerous safety defect unrepaired on public roads. Mechanical symptoms: the car is experiencing slow cranking, engine sputtering, and multiple dashboard warning lights.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

This is a formal vehicle safety complaint regarding a manufacturer's active refusal to remedy a known safety defect under an active recall campaign guidelines. My 2015 kia Optima turbo experienced an active internal mechanical engine knock, violent sputtering, and a complete engine seizure. The vehicle is currently sitting un-driveable at an authorized kia dealership. The required knock sensor detection system (ksds) software update was successfully completed on this vehicle prior to the incident, legally qualifying it for a 100% free long-block engine replacement under the manufacturer's active lifetime warranty extension. However, the dealership service department is actively withholding the safety warranty paperwork and refusing to submit the diagnostic photos and engine seizure data to corporate for warranty approval unless I agree to pay an additional $800 out of pocket for an external throttle body and O2 sensor. I have explicitly declined the retail accessory charges five separate times. I only authorize the replacement of my front sway bar links. Instead of separating the ticket and processing the free engine block safety remedy, the dealer is holding my safety warranty hostage to force a retail sale. Furthermore, a manufacturer consumer care representative recently refused to listen to my request on this matter and dropped the call. The manufacturer is using internal technical advice to block a court-ordered safety remedy and is allowing a dealership to use unauthorized retail accessory charges to deny me a safe, operating vehicle. I request immediate federal intervention to force the manufacturer to release the free engine block safety replacement order to the dealer and halt these predatory dealer practices.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The engine assembly completely seized and the vehicle is currently stored at an independent repair shop . While traveling at high speed on interstate 4 on July 24, 2026, the vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic loss of power and stalled in live traffic, creating an immediate threat of a high speed rear end collision. An independent service center officially confirmed the engine seizure after a dealership failed to perform an inspection during an eight hour wait, and no law enforcement or insurance inspections have occurred. Prior symptoms included severe, recurring oil loss requiring constant manual additions of oil between regular service intervals (most recently serviced in June 2026 at a kia dealership), and eventually the car completely shutoff on july24.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. During the failure, several unknown warning lights flashed on the instrument panel and there was smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle, and there were flames coming from underneath the hood. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the failure, the vehicle was destroyed. A police report was filed, and the vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the original engine was previously replaced by the local dealer due to a previous recall. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 140,000.

On 7/13/26 around 0715 my son was driving our 2014 kia Optima when it caught fire and burned from the engine to the back of the car. Fire dept and law enforcement had to respond and the vehicle along with thousands of dollars of property was destroyed by the fire. This vehicle is a total loss and I’m trusting an investigation as to I believe their fire started due to the engjbe and electrical faults of Kia Motors.

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My engine failed while driving which put me and others at risk. It was confirmed by the kia dealership as rod bearing failure. Which is a known recall on the kia 2. 4l theta ii engine. My specific VIN number is not listed on the kia recall list. And kia is stating that it does not qualify for a warranty replacement. Although it is the same engine with the known defect.

The contact owned a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving to the residence, the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated that while at a traffic light, the vehicle suddenly shut off. After exiting the vehicle, the hood was opened, and there was smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact called an independent mechanic and, within two minutes, became aware of the fire. The contact called 911 for the emergency services. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. There was no injury sustained. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was previously taken to an unknown local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine was leaking with a blown head gasket. The engine was replaced. The vehicle was towed from the scene and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 212,000.

My girlfriend was driving on interstate 95 to pick me up from the metro. The engine suddenly cut off in a manner that appears to have melted the wiring harness of the vehicle, risking fire. She was able to safely get to the side of the road and call a tow. After taking it to a local repair shop, they diagnosed the issue as related to the ksds recall. We had it towed to the dealership that has also confirmed it is related to the recall. The engine is completely seized following this incident and it's worth noting that kia is completely denying the engine repair claim as the ksds update was not installed prior.

The dealer is refusing to replace the engine under the previously completed safety recall campaign sc147 (NHTSA campaign 17v224000). The engine is currently exhibiting clear signs of connecting rod bearing failure—the exact mechanical hazard sc147 was issued to address. The dealership inspected the vehicle, confirmed internal engine failure, and verified that sc147 was completed on this VIN. However, they denied coverage citing an incomplete software update (product improvement campaign pi1803) associated with a separate class-action lawsuit. The dealer is incorrectly conflating the requirements of the class-action warranty with the vehicle's independent eligibility under the safety recall. Independent of the class-action parameters, I am requesting a repair under the standalone 15-year/unlimited-mileage extended warranty provided specifically for vehicles that completed sc147 (detailed in the sc147 safety recall campaign q&a dated may 22, 2017, and kia warranty bulletin 2017-09, both uploaded with this submission). The vehicle is well within this 15-year extended warranty period. Additionally, the pi1803 knock sensor detection system update is a diagnostic detection tool, not a physical remedy for the underlying crankshaft machining defects identified in 17v224000. A manufacturer and its dealer network should not be permitted to use an unrelated class-action software prerequisite to invalidate a pre-existing, federally mandated safety recall warranty.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Engine faílúre on June 26, 2026. Dies while moving. Engine died while turning from my side street onto busy street and traffic. I could've been struck in the rear had I not pulled out far enough in advance for the traffic to move around me. This is a second engine failure for my kia. The engine was replaced in December 2023/ January 2024. Incident #11558201. It does not immediately restart. After some time (about an hour) it takes a long time for it to kick over then finally starts. When beginning to move forward it travels approximately 100-150 feet then dies again. A gentleman stopped to see if he could help. He thought the fuel gauge was broken and just needed gas. (gas tank was full). Then he put the car in neutral and pushed me home with his truck. Then he helped me push it up into my driveway. I haven't gotten to the dealership (ferguson imports) kia because of the cost of towing which I am responsible for if I wish to have it seen by a service specialist. It is available for inspection upon requést.

Engine seized up on the highway going onto incoming traffic. Almost got into a car accident.

The car burns oil within a week of getting an oil change. It was only driven a 200 miles before all of the oil was burned out. This has been a consistent issue with this car that the oil burns at an extreme rate. This is a safety risk as it could lead to engine overheating, the engine could stall out due to the fast burning of the oil, or a potential fire hazard while driving. The oil light will come on for a second and at that point, the oil is already extremely too low. I brought the car to the mechanic and they have told me multiple times that there is no leak or anything. The mechanic says that the car simply is burning oil too fast.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

While driving my 2015 kia Optima, the engine failed completely without warning. The vehicle lost power while in motion approximately 300 miles away from my home. All warning lights illuminated and the car shut down during driving conditions, creating a serious safety hazard. The vehicle was towed to a kia dealership where it was inspected. I was informed the engine has failed and may be related to the known 2. 4l engine defect and prior recall campaign involving this engine type. This vehicle has a history of multiple recalls, including engine-related recalls issued in 2018 for the same engine family. The failure occurred suddenly and without prior adequate warning, and the vehicle is now inoperable. I purchased the vehicle in may 2023, and at the time of failure it had approximately 133,000 miles. The engine began knocking loudly prior to failure, then stalled and shut off completely while driving. This incident placed me and others at risk because the vehicle lost propulsion while in traffic. I believe this may be related to a known manufacturing defect in kia 2. 4l engines that has been the subject of recall and/or investigation. I am requesting that this complaint be documented as a safety-related engine failure potentially associated with the existing recall and that it be reviewed for further investigation and manufacturer accountability.

The engine. I was at a stop sign when the car stop responding to me pressing the accelerator and would not go. Upon further inspection it was noted that my car had no oil in it. I am diligent in getting my oil changed every 3 months or 3,000 miles. My engine had "seized" and I am being advised to purchase a new engine or purchase a new car. While trying to get my car to acclerate I was almost hit 4 times in a matter of 10 mins.

Engine replacement needed at 99,782 miles. P1326 code continuously popping up. Also has excessive oil consumption and electrical problems concerning the forward collision system. Kia refuses to replace engine although the p1326 code is covered by lifetime warranty. The cause of the incident was defect in engine resulting in a recall of all 2011-2019 models. The 2020 kia Optima lx contains a 2. 4l gdi engine which has identical problems relating to previous lawsuits.

The car returned p1326 and had multiple misfires and audible knocking, the dealers will indeed fight the already existing class action warranties. Was sent home and told to “drive the fuck out of it”, to which the car did not make it home and blew gasoline into my cabin while driving on the highway. Almost passed out, and am still fighting kia to actually address the defective rod bearings. I personally would fight tooth and nail over a 5 dollar problem, but this is something they do nationwide and can cause serious injury or death. If it weren’t a 200 lb man driving the gasoline shooting into the cabin would absolutely cause a knockout. To the time of this report they are still trying to disregard the rod bearing issue and send me home with fixes to problems caused consequentially.

See attached document for complaint.

I just bought this car and it runs thru oil fast.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The contact owns a 2014 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly stopped. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact used a scanner and retrieved a code for failure with the knock sensor detection system and glow plug relay. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. There was a question about the ownership of the vehicle. The warranty was denied because the vehicle was not being purchased from the dealer. The contact provided the title to show ownership. The failure mileage was approximately 167,000.

Engine failure, metal leaking into oil which caused engine to fail.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated that while accelerating at 55 mph, there was an abnormal burning smell detected. While driving, she was alerted by another driver who informed her that the vehicle was on fire. The passengers were able to exit the vehicle safely. The vehicle was engulfed in flames. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was previously taken to an independent mechanic, who said the engine was bad. The engine was previously replaced at 147,000 miles. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

The kia had a problem with the check engine light coming on and it gently went into limp mode. I had it repaired at darlings Ford and it worked for about 600 miles. I had it repaired again and it worked for about 7,000 miles. The light recent came on and the car immediately hard banged andwent into limp mode. My wife was driving and shaking when she got home. The light went out and everything was fine. A couple of days later, on 5/27/26, we were on the interstate in traffic travelling 70 mph and it violently hard bumped, the cel came on and it went into limp mode. It was as if we hit deep pot holes with both front tires which we didn't as we were on a smooth highway. The light is still on and it's in limp mode.

While accelerating onto the highway in my 2016 kia Optima 2. 4l, the vehicle suddenly lost all engine power without warning. The vehicle would no longer accelerate and I was forced to coast and brake to safety. Immediately after the engine shut off, the check engine light, oil light, and battery light illuminated on the dashboard. After the incident, the vehicle would not restart or crank at all. The electrical systems, dashboard lights, and chimes still function normally, and the battery is new. The vehicle had proper oil level at the time of failure. No warning signs were present prior to the sudden loss of power. This failure created a serious safety hazard because it occurred during highway acceleration and left the vehicle unable to maintain speed or move out of traffic safely. Based on the symptoms and sudden engine shutdown, I am concerned this may be related to the known theta ii engine issues associated with kia Optima vehicles.

I’ve had my 2018 kia Optima for round about two years. I only got this car because they refused to replace my previous engine on my 2015 kia Optima,even though I had a warranty but that’s another story(kia on the blvd). This car have given me problems from the start. Going through oil in less than a month,which they can never find a leak,not being able to go over a certain speed before I start to hear noises. Ive complained about noises,they act like they can’t hear,and said nothing is wrong with the engine when previously checked. My check engine light has came on twice and both times the car was malfunctioning on the highway resulting in me have to get a tow. First it was plugs replacement now I need a whole new engine. I really don’t know what to do at this point. I believe they sold me a faulty car.

The contact owns a 2019 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on two occasions, the vehicle lost power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven over to the side of the road and then towed to the dealer twice; however, the failure was not duplicated on the first visit. During the second visit, the vehicle was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000.

I was driving on the freeway and my check engine light started to flicker and I felt my car shake and going to limp mode. I made an appointment with the kia dealership and they told me the engine is failing. They submitted a request for a goodwill case to kia corporation and it was denied since there’s no open recalls and is not covered by the extended warranty. The dealership recommended me to take my car and keep driving it even though it’s unsafe the vehicle will not go above 50 mph and it starts to shake when driving I have tried to call kia corporate and explain this situation but they have yet to follow up with me in my case.

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.

My 2013 kia Optima was running fine at 65 mph when suddenly the engine stalled. I then coasted to the shoulder and smelled burning plastic. As soon as I opened the hood the engine started being consumed in fire, it quickly went to a very large engine fire that consumed the front half of the car. There were no other vehicles involved with this incident. Vehicle is a total loss.

Was driving down the interstate and the engine lost some power and the engine blew and parts of the connecting rod was on the outside of motor which blew a hole in the block and oil went into the intake manifold and pieces of the piston ring was in there and engine shut off, and seen that this has been a problem with these cars.

The contact owns a 2018 kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a standing start the vehicle had experience sever jerking and hesitation. Also, the vehicle has experience oil consumption problems and the contact constantly added engine oil. The cause of the failures were not determine. Also, the hood latch had malfunctioned and the hood could not opened to add oil to the engine. The cause of the failures were not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failures but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 121,000.

The contact stated that while driving the vehicle began to unexpectedly slow and then stalled. The vehicle was unable to restart. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage 215,000.

The contact owns a 2013 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine unexpectedly seized without warning. The contact stated that after the vehicle lost motive power, several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that no diagnostic trouble codes were found. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

The vehicle is experiencing sudden engine stalling while in motion, a known safety hazard. Despite a documented maintenance history with no issues, the dealer (bayside kia) is attempting to deny a theta ii settlement claim by shifting the narrative to 'engine sludge,' which only appeared as a symptom in June 2025( walmart oil change) alongside engine performance issues. The vehicle has active codes p0014 and p0017, which are secondary symptoms of the internal bearing wear and metallic debris contaminating the oiling system. Kds diagnostic tests showed cylinder 1 at 0. 16mm (approaching the 0. 20mm failure limit). This clearance proves the connecting rod bearings are worn and reaching the failure threshold; this mechanical wear is the root cause of the engine's inability to operate safely. The presence of metallic debris in the oil is the definitive signature of the theta ii manufacturing defect. Furthermore, the dealer acted in bad faith by attempting to charge for airbag repairs (codes b1346/b1481) that are covered under the 15-year clock spring warranty extension (cs1102). The dealer has dismissed my qualifying maintenance documents, claiming they are 'not official,' which is a direct violation of the magnuson-moss warranty act. A manufacturer cannot deny a warranty claim because services were performed at third-party facilities, nor can they deny a claim without proving 'exceptional neglect. ' I am reporting a refusal to honor a court-ordered safety settlement and an attempt to return an unsafe, stalling vehicle to the road. There is no evidence of engine abandonment or exceptional neglect. I’m considered "in compliance" if I can show I didn't go more than 14 months without servicing or a certain mileage between oil changes. The dealer's dismissal of verified third-party receipts and bank statements is a bad-faith attempt to ignore an inherent manufacturing defect documented by a 0. 16mm bct result and metallic debris.

I purchased a kia Optima 2016, in December of 2025. At the time the car wouldn't go over 60 mph. I hauled the car to kia to have it inspected. The kia dealership informed me that there is a recall on that particular car for an engine replacement. They tested the car and later informed me that they believed I purchased the car knowing it had a recall and wanted the engine replaced for free so I could sell the car. The car is not for sale, and I had/have no intentions on selling the car. I went ahead and paid $6100 for the engine to be replaced. I later did research and learned that if a car has a recall, it doesn't matter my intentions with the car. I felt that kia denied a replacement engine because of their opinion of me and not for the recall. The car is registered and insured in my name and is being driven daily. At this time, I feel that I deserve a refund of the $6100. Can you guide me on which steps to take on this matter?.