Equipment Problems of Kia Motor Optima - part 2

2020 kia Optima lx 2. 4, less than 100,000 miles on car. Car started over consuming oil 2 quarts/1,000 miles. Cranked engine yesterday to go to work and serious knocking sounds, engine is rattling severely. Losing revving power, undriveable. Smoke coming out of exhaust that smells like rotten eggs. Will be taking this to get codes run but I believe this is due to theta ii engine failure issue reported in similar cars with the same engine. Kia needs to cover the 2020 Optima under lifetime warranty protection otherwise this is a $10,000 cost to replace engine.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The snow white pearl (swp) paint on the exterior body of the car is peeling-off in various places. The paint often peels completely off the hood in large sheets while in motion, and flies up and sticks to the windshield obstructing the driver's view while moving.

See all problems of the 2014 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

My steering wheel coupler has obviously gone bad and needs to be replaced. This was an issue with this year kia Optima and my car and kia has extended the warranty to 10 years/unlimited milage. I need this fixed because it sounds like my steering wheel is going to completely fall apart. Please help!!!.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Paint flakes and chips while driving or during car washes. Paint is "snow white peral". Numerous complaints have been filed about this paint to kia as well. Kia needs to make this right.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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.

I own a 2016 kia Optima ex with VIN [xxx] . The engine failed at 85,763 miles due to a rod bearing seizure. This matches the known defect in kia’s 2. 4l gdi engines, which has been the subject of recalls and service campaigns in the past. Despite being covered under kia’s extended engine warranty, kia America denied my engine replacement claim. They cited "vehicle reconditioning" and "multiple ownership" as reasons — neither of which are valid grounds to void warranty coverage, especially for a known defect. A certified kia dealership (mark kia in scottsdale, az) approved my vehicle for warranty replacement, and submitted the request. Kia corporate denied it. This creates a serious safety concern and shows that kia may be wrongfully avoiding responsibility for this defect. Please investigate. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

My paint job is peeling away. I can not even wash my car with out it flicking off.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

My vehicle has the factory snow white pearl paint. It is always parked in a garage. Since may 2025 the paint has been bubbling and cracking causing it to peel completely off of the car.

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

I was driving and as I was going to make a left turn, the steering wheel forced itself to the right and locked. And the whole car completely shut down. So I had to slam on my brakes as they were also locking on me.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The paint on my car is flaking off. We had a very bad storm and after it passed there was lots of paint gone from my car. I filed a claim with state farm and was denied as they state kia was responsible of the paint because it's a know fact that the snow white pearl paint us defective and kua knows this. I file with kia care and they say the paint warranty is gone. But they know that the paint is defective and they need to repaint my car. This issue started in 2011 through 2020. My car is a 2013 kia Optima and kia is responsible for fixing this issue.

A month in after purchasing the check engine light came on. My car did not want to accelerate, started shaking and having jerking movement while driving on the freeway with my newborn and 3 other children in the car with me. Got stranded 3 hours away from home. Car has been in the shop going on 30 days. Spark plugs changed, coolant thermostat changed and now the engine was reported that it has failed. Still in the shop currently.

I own a 2019 kia that is garage low milage 35,757 when not driving. The paint had a spot of paint missing on the hood and I ordered touchup paint to protect and before it arrived I noticed a larger spot. I drove to town and a large spot flaked. I call the dealer and they said they didn't handle that. I called kia customer service and they said would write a work order and I haven't heard any thing from them. I have gone to computer to see if any recalls and none. There are a lot of complaints from owners but no help from kia . I read an article from kia that they had stopped using the pearl white paint due to so many complaints. This need to be address and something done. I took to a reputable body shop today and received estimate and it was not just my hood found spots on right fender and trunk with estimate of almost $4,000. 00 . I can not make kia repaint my car and I can not leave it to rust nor can I afford a new car. Canada did recalls on this matter the united states needs to stand up for the people of the united states.

Doors unlock while driving.

Have a shake during accelerating 35-40 mph and then again at 70 mph. There is an axle, recall on 2016 kia Optima. For certain months, my is not included. How is the recall determined. Have not had it checked out yet. It seems to be getting worst, will check soon.

I bought the car odometer and title both said 98xxx on the car. 3 days after I purchased the car the motor started knocking. Come to find out the actual miles are over 240,xxx. The mileage has been rolled back on the vehicle.

The car caught on fire while I was driving. No warning lights came on and the car didn't show it was running hot. I tried to engage the brakes, and they malfunctioned. I coasted the car to the side of the highway, where the fire and smoke plumed from under the car. I immediately exited the car and ran. As I was running from the car the grass was on fire. The car was totally destroyed by fire. The car has not been inspected by my insurance or kia. Kia has a class action settlement for car fires the year, make, and model of mine.

Unknown.

There is a clean slit on my dashboard where the passenger airbags are it’s started to form a complete square around the air bag placement and I’m worried it might have a problem with the airbags and its not just cosmetic. When I googled the issue there are tons of kia drivers with the same clean sit appearing over the passenger air bag. I contacted kia dealership and they said I’d have to pay for a diagnostic fee to determine if it’s a problem but there’s clearly a problem with the 2016 kia so I’m sure all of us owners would appreciate it being recalled.

Had car for 2 and 1/2 years starting about 9 months ago started having issues with oil leaking issue. I noticed when starting car and made shaking sound bought to mechanic and told me the oil leaked have to replace spark plugs and have done about 4 times now sept 2024, Feb 2025, 03-14-25 and this morning 03-23-25. I'm still making payments on this car besides costs for repairs. Thanks appreciate any help. My mechanic said when engine was built not put in straight in vehicle wondering if this related to my issue.

Rapid delamination and paint peeling in the color of snow pearl white. The entire car is affected by this defect. Somewhere on the paint assembly line a missing step in the paint procedure is causing detrimental corrosion and overall safety and protection of the elements from outside.

After an oil change and spark plugs drove 3 miles and now car will not drive code is manifold p0106 need this fixed dealer cannot determine issue car is at nalley kia in stonecrest GA.

I was driving my 2014 kia ex and I heard a knocking noise, as I was driving my car stopped accelerating and went into limp mode. I took it to kearny mesa kia and they told me it was the knock sensor code p1326 I have looked and seen that there are plenty of recalls pertaining to this specific issue. Why are they telling me I have to pay for this when it is clearly something that is wrong with this on many vehicles across the board? I need my car fixed and back. Please help me.

It started with the oil. I constantly have to add oil. When it first started that’s what I was doing just adding oil. Then it got worse the engine light started to come on and it no longer gives me the low oil warning. I took it to the dealership and it was there for about three weeks. They said that the car needed a system update, they updated it and I took it home after that. Its been about a year since then and my car is still having the same issue and getting worse. I had to change the spark plugs a few times since then I also have oil coming out the back pipe and it’s been doing this since before I took it to the dealership. I also had to spend money on a rental car while it was at the dealership.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The paint is peeling horribly.

My driver's side door lock actuator is stuck in the closed position, and will not allow me to close the door. I searched for a video on what to do, as I need the door to close to drive safely, and found hundreds of videos of people with the same car having this same issue. The fix that a video provided explained to hold the door handle open (the inside or outside handle work just the same) and to take a key or screwdriver and flip the actuator into the correct position, allowing the door to latch properly. I searched the internet to see how difficult it is to replace, and found more people with my car's make/model having issues with their door being stuck in the lock position, while the door is closed. This would be a nightmare in the case of an emergency retrieval. A faulty lock could literally be life or death.

I noticed my oil was not staying in the engine. Oil has been changed but seems not to retain. The car stalled out on February 2nd and would not restart. I believe it is seized. Noticed a very new and recent shake during braking days before it stalled. The fuel seems to show like 42 miles to go until empty but run out , I guess fuel pump or fuel float. Also a fuel smell. Also the digital service option does not work never a check engine light or anything . I've read many things by others who own same vehicle and had same issues. I purchased this car in August/September. I feel the dealer may have known of these issues and still sold the car. Please help me figure out how to address these issues to get it fixed.

I have requested that this recall be repaired and updated with the NHTSA, however I've made an appointment, taken this vehicle to the dealership, and called kia corporate, but they have yet to update this repair so that it shows repaired in the system. In addition to this, when I took the vehicle to have the recall fixed, there were other important recalls that I wasn't notified about, this includes the vehicle anti-theft software for this particular model, make, and year and another product improvement as I was also told by another kia associate that this one may be regarding the ecu on this engine.

P1326 code. Check engine light flashing. Is in limp mode with limited power.

I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise it’s been parked.

See all problems of the 2010 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

On 1/18/2025 my teenage daughter was driving down the highway at a speed of around 70 mph when she heard a loud boom and her sunroof front panel blew broken glass into her car and all over her. She did not run into anything or see any items fly in the air at her car.

Driver front side window, passenger front side window, rear driver side window. All windows not going up and down. I had to put door wedges down in the panel to keep windows from falling. I was informed that the regulator and motor in panels that control the switches for movement of windows are burned out. I was also informed from the mechanic this could of been a fire hazard. I was informed from the mechanic. No one around our area had these parts. If I were to purchase them from kia dealership it would cost $1300 to fix all three windows. I don't have that kind of money for repair. Especially when I am not the only person that is dealing with these issues. The list goes on unsatisfied kia Optima owners that is having the same issue with windows.

Unknown oil consumption spark plugs need replacement about every 500-1000 miles. Also needs oil every 500-1000.

Pearl white paint on my 2014 is chipping off on the trunk, hood and roof.

My car overturned/flipped over after I hit a very small bump in the road located on [xxx] in utica NY doing about 15 mph in a trailer park where I worked I have printed out all of my recalls on my 2014 kia Optima gdi there was some brake fluid on the ground around the area where my car landed in a ditch however the sheriff that came to the scene of the accident and the female state troopers failed to even check or smell the fluid after I informed both the officers and the deerfield fire department the only ones willing to give me any advice on how to handle this matter even though I could had lost my life then to show up to court for the tickets I got for literally driving 15 mph in a trailer park and my car flips over into a ditch and not be able to make a statement in court due to the paperwork not being in to the courthouses computer system in [xxx] at 6:00 to show the judge all my recalls as well as plead not guilty to them I find unprofessional and as for the damage sustained to my vehicle I need to find an independent property adjuster to do a investigation however it is set to go to the kia dealership located at 5056 commercial dr. , yorkville, NY, for the recalls on December 30, 2024 however due to the damage done in the roller I am unsure on what to do please help I paid for this car in full as a private sell and it had no issues with it at all no lights on the dashboard or anything was driving good at time of accident on [xxx] at [xxx] until I literally hit that bump in the road of the trailer park should anyone from your agency need to contact me to view the damage and pictures please contact me at [xxx] for I could not upload all documents and photos thank you very much [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Hit dig mark in road caused by a plow about a half inch to a 1 inch deep by 5 to 7 inches wide while driving 15 mph down the road into work on November 19,2024 around 1:03/1:10 pm next thing I know I am upside down in my car in a ditch about four to five feet wide by 3-4 feet deep.