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

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

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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.

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

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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 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.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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?.

The contact owned a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph and slowing down to enter a parking garage, she observed black smoke emanating from under the hood, and the vehicle stalled. The contact then observed flames near the windshield wipers coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact exited the vehicle and called 911. She observed flames coming from under the hood and under the vehicle, and the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The contact stated that the garage manager attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. The police and fire department arrived shortly after the attempt, and the fire department extinguished the fire. The contact did not sustain any injuries. A police report was not taken, and she was not aware of any fire department report being filed. The vehicle was bulldozed out of the parking garage and towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 75,309.

2018 kia Optima lx, 2. 4l gdi theta ii engine. Approximately 128,000 miles. Reporting severe internal oil consumption that has progressed to engine misfire and shaking, consistent with late-stage theta ii connecting rod bearing failure. The vehicle is now unsafe to drive and has been parked. Timeline: purchased as a certified pre-owned vehicle in December 2021. Excessive oil consumption began shortly after purchase. For approximately 4. 5 years I have added about 1 quart of oil every 2 weeks to keep the engine from running dry. No external leaks have ever been found by any mechanic. Multiple independent mechanics attempted diagnosis and repair over this period. None resolved the issue. The vehicle has now developed a pronounced shake and apparent engine misfire, the textbook progression to rod bearing failure documented in NHTSA investigation pe19-004 and prior recalls/campaigns 17v-224, sc147, and sc172. Safety concerns: sudden engine seizure or stall at highway speed creates a serious crash risk for me and surrounding traffic. Theta ii 2. 4l gdi rod bearing failure has been associated with under-hood fires. The defect develops gradually with no warning to the driver beyond elevated oil consumption, which is frequently dismissed as normal until catastrophic failure occurs. I am filing this complaint to document the failure and to add to NHTSA's data on the theta ii gdi 2. 4l engine in 2018–2019 Optimas. This model year was excluded from the original 2017 recall but is included in the Hyundai and kia engine litigation class settlement and the lifetime engine warranty extension. My vehicle's symptoms match the defect pattern exactly. I will pursue warranty engine replacement, but I want this safety failure on the federal record regardless of how kia responds.

The dealer stated my engine repair is not covered under the recall/warranty because an ecu software update was not performed. I was quoted $8500 for engine replacement (long block). I have owned this vehicle for 2 months, going on 3. I am requesting a review of whether this vehicle qualifies for any engine recall or safety-related warranty coverage, as the explanation provided by the dealership appears inconsistent.

The car is available upon inspection, the car caught on fire after being driven for about 45 mins. Smoke started to come from under the car hood, fire starting dropping from underneath the vehicle and then fire started coming from under the hood of the car. The car started smoking while being inside vehicle and the fire could've spread. The fire was put out by the fire department, the vehicle has not been inspected as of yet. No warning signs.

The contact owned a 2016 kia optima. The contact stated that while driving at 30 mph occupied with her husband the contact heard a noise coming from the rear of the vehicle and smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle as you looked in the drive side rear view mirror and while depressing the brake pedal attempting to come to a complete at the traffic light, the brakes failed to work a intended. No warning light illuminated. The contact mention she kept trying to depress the brake pedal, however the vehicle kept accelerating causing the vehicle to crash into a ditch, go around a telephone poll, crashing into a rock garden which allowing the vehicle to come to a complete stop. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot call interstate towing then the vehicle was then towed by insurance company to a collision center. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact stated a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 166,834.

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 was having engine problems in 2024. It was towed to the dealership because it was a recall on it. The new engine is malfunctioning as well causing me to lose power while driving. I have only put 2,000 miles on the car since the engine was replaced.

I was driving on the high way and my car completely stopped I towed it to a shop and the engine seized.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was made aware of a misfire coming from the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

The contact owns a 2011 kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while driving at 60 mph on the expressway. No warning lights illuminated. The contact had some wires replaced prior to the failure. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment or crash. The driver was able to pull over safely. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was called but there was no answer. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was not available.

See all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Issue 1: high oil consumption in the engine due to poor engine design, according to the auto repair center. 5 quarts of oil are added to the engine once every 2-3 weeks. All oil leaks were previously repaired, but oil is still burning off. Issue 2: the engine has misfired more than once, with a puff of smoke coming out of the exhaust. Issue 3: twice in the past 1. 5-2 years, multiple spark plugs have failed, causing a breakdown. This is a theta ii engine, but it is not in the class action settlement.

Engine seized while driving.

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.

A issue with the valve cover gasket leaking into the engine causing a misfire. Making the car suddenly stop while driving which is very unsafe. I took the car to the dealership and they want to charge me for the repairs. I have 2 kia Optima hybrid and both cars have the same issue around the same mileage. There were no warning lights during the time it was at the shop. However one day the check engine light did come on and the obd code p1326 came up. When I took it to the shop the check engine light disappeared and the dealership said they will not check my engine unless they see the code on their end. I believe later down the line the engine will stall out and it should be fixed now while under warranty. However I received no help from the dealership unless I am willing to pay upfront. In addition to this there are electrical issues the front seats aren't moving immediately when the button is pressed. The steering wheel buttons barely work along with the radio. This is a huge problem that needs to be fixed.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The contact owned a 2019 kia Optima. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 60 mph, she noticed there was smoke emerging from the engine. The driver pulled over safely. But was alerted by a good samaritan who ran across four lanes of traffic to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher to no avail. The fire department was on the scene to eventually extinguish the fire. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The local dealer was called, but there was no response. The contact called another local dealer: 4747 s yale Ave, tulsa, ok 74135, but there was no answer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company.