Power Train Problems of Kia Motor Optima - part 2

Engine failed at 52. 350 miles due to excessive oil consumption confirmed by a kia dealership. Car was driving fine on 5/1/25, on 5/2/25, car started to stall with loud clicking noise, and wouldn't move fast, which then activated the check engine light.

See all problems of the 2016 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

I went to the garden grove kia to get my new 2016 kia Optima repaired for their knock sensor settlement repair. By their own terms of the agreement all original and subsequent ow ers can get vehicles repaired. They took my vehicle information, I gave them all details of my ownership of the vehicle and they said they would fix it. The next day I rented a trailer to take the vehicle to get repaired (vehicle still runs but don't think it's safe to drive like that) and upon arriving, a worker comes out and tells me that they will not repir the vehicle because I just purchased the vehicle. Craig, the manager, also refused to see ownership documents but gave me 2 things; legal advice saying that I should sue where I bought the vehicle from and a paper that said they will not fix cars owned by dealers and auctions. I am neither am neither nor. Craig, also stated that kia wont cover the repairs.

While driving vechile shakes violently between 35-45 mph. I was informed the right axle needed replacement. There is a recall for 2016 Optima axle replacement but kia says my car doesn’t fall under it even though is the exact issue as the recall.

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.

See all problems of the 2020 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

My 2015 kia Optima hybrid poses a serious safety risk. While driving at highway speeds, the car has randomly shut off multiple times. A "check hybrid system" or hybrid battery warning appears on the dashboard, and the vehicle either loses power entirely or switches to electric-only mode and coasts to a stop. This happens without warning, putting my life and the lives of others at risk. I already had the relevant hybrid system recall work completed by a kia dealer, but the issue persists and the car remains unreliable and unsafe. This appears to be a known issue affecting many 2011–2016 Optima hybrid vehicles. Kia needs to be held accountable for continuing hybrid system failures that occur post-recall and outside of warranty. This is a dangerous, recurring defect.

See all problems of the 2015 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Was driving down the highway and all of a sudden the car shut down in the highway lucky cars was not close by. Tried to crank it it would not crank would not take a boost it won’t say anything I had the battery checked at auto zone the battery is really good. The mileage on the kia Optima is 1,900 actual miles it will not crank or move it was very scary I called kia customer service there wanted to charge me over $400. 00 dollars to come get it and take it to the shop so it took me 2 days to find a tow to get it home and it still needs to go to the kia shop.

The contact owns a 2016 kia Optima. The contact stated while driving on the highway at 65 mph, the vehicle began to jerk excessively, and the contact was forced to pull over to the side of the road. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel injectors and valve cover gasket were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,260.

Power train: at low idle or while slowing down, the car will lose power for a minute until you get on the accelerator and it all comes back on. Alternator had been replaced. And is going to be replaced again soon. Not sure if it's just a bad part. Power steering pump was replaced. The pulley seized. Unrelated. Lighting: third brake light constantly flickers. All lighting including head lights flicker on and off. Worse when slowing down. Lights on dash board, dome, rear light and head light bulbs have been replaced. At night when the head lights flicker I cannot see the road. Airbags: the air bag light on dash is always on. Codes have been ran and there are so many. Tried resetting codes it comes back on soon after. Not sure how to go about trying to fix it. All of this has been happening since I purchased the car in November 2024.

See all problems of the 2008 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Code p1326 and oil pressure light keeps flashing.

Was driving going 50mph and all of a sudden with traffic accelerator stopped working. The oil engine and battery light all came on. When I tried jump starting it it began to smoke.

It burns oil constantly. I constantly have to get new filters put on because they become black very quickly same with the oil itself. The engine has a tic and I know other people with Optima’s that have the same problem. I burn through 4 quarts in two weeks- less than 600 miles.

See all problems of the 2018 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

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.

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.

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.

Bought car 2020, engine failed and was consuming oil like it was fuel after 50-60k miles in 2022, serra kia misdiagnosed and charged me $900 for ignition coil and combustion chamber cleaning that was not needed nor refunded when I was denied replacement due to me not letting engine lock up(service manager basically told me to do so to be approved) or a p1326 code, charged +\-$8,000 for engine to be replaced. Horrible experience, engine was fine at first, then shortly after the short mileage warranty they give, the engine started having minor non catastrophic issues here and there. Finally, around the same amount of time(last October 2024) and almost the same amount of miles on the engine, its doing exactly what it was when I took it to kia for the engine. One random day, on my way to work, I got to a red light and when I went to go at green the engine hesitated and I noticed a massive smoke cloud behind me and coming from my engine. It was consuming oil yet again the same way. Reached out to kcc(kia customer care) and provided them a 4 page personally written letter by myself explaining the full story and my experience. However they merely closed my case without any explanation or reason for doing so. So as I stated to them I would do if I needed to, I've reached out to the bbb and now you. I'm hoping to get justice, whats right, and what should have happened in the first place. My money back and or my engine repaired and no more charges to me. 2022 first engine failure(denied and paid for engine) oct 2024 engine failure again. (added copy of letter sent plus proof of service manager influencing me to lock the motor up to get covered the first time).

See all problems of the 2013 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The vehicle experiences a dual-clutch transmission shudder in low gears and at low speeds. This issue causes a sudden loss of speed in situations such as merging onto a highway, leaving a parking spot, or while driving at approximately 30 mph. The shudder occurs randomly and poses a serious safety concern. The problem first appeared in 2020 when the vehicle had fewer than 5,000 miles on it. Beginning in 2024, at around 20,000 miles, the condition began escalating rapidly, with the shudder occurring more frequently and with greater severity. All incidents have been recorded on dash cam and provided to the dealership’s service department. The vehicle has been serviced multiple times for this issue and was kept at the dealership for approximately six weeks in total. Despite this, the dealer refuses to acknowledge the problem, citing the absence of warning lights. When the clutch was adjusted at my request, the issue temporarily improved but returned about three weeks later. The shudder now occurs more often and with greater severity, frequently forcing the driver to pull over for safety. This ongoing transmission defect creates unsafe driving conditions, and the lack of acknowledgement or permanent resolution by the dealer further increases the risk to the driver and others on the road.

My engine burns oil very bad. Black smoke comes out of my tailpipe and I burn through 5 quarts in less than a thousand miles. I just got my oil changed two weeks again and I just had to add more oil to my car bc it was empty. I’ve had to replace the spark plugs twice due to soot build up. I can’t afford a new car I’m 17 and can barely afford the maintenance let alone a whole new engine. Have spoken to many mechanics and they all say the same thing “it’s a kia it’s gonna burn oil” its a known issue. And yet kia will not resolve it bc they don’t want to spend their own money to fix their mistake. I got an estimate for a new engine which is basically crucial and it’s over three grand. No matter where I take it everyone always says the same thing- to get rid of it before it’s too late. But I simply cannot afford to do that and I know my car is not the only one with this issue so many other people with the same car/engine have the same issue. 2. 4 l gdi !!!!! I wish someone would have warned me before buying kia. A recall to fix this issue is needed now. I lose control of the speed sometimes. I will keep my foot at a set position on the throttle and the engine will take off because it’s jumping to the usual power it should have. ( it has reduced power most of the time bc of the struggling engine) sometimes on the highway I’ll get a sudden burst of power and I have to let off the accelerator. Not safe at all.

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.

Complaint message – 2016 kia Optima engine failure without oil light warning I am the owner of a 2016 kia Optima (VIN: [xxx] ). My vehicle suffered complete engine failure due to oil starvation — without any prior oil warning light or indication. The engine died while driving, and it was only afterward that I discovered the engine oil was extremely low. The oil pressure light never illuminated at any point to warn me. I am aware that kia previously recalled earlier model years (2011–2014) for similar engine issues under recall sc147 and others, related to the theta ii engine and oil pressure-related failures. Many owners reported the exact same symptom — catastrophic engine failure without oil light warnings — that I am now experiencing in my 2016 Optima. Although my model year is not included in the existing recall, the failure pattern appears identical. I believe this presents a significant safety issue that should be investigated. A critical warning system (oil pressure light) failed to function properly, which directly led to engine damage. I am requesting that this issue be reviewed and investigated by NHTSA and kia for potential expansion of the recall or warranty coverage to include the 2016 Optima. I have already contacted kia and am pursuing further review through the dealership and customer support. Please note that other 2016 Optima owners have reported similar complaints online and in forums, and this issue may affect a broader number of vehicles than currently acknowledged. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2017 kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but failed to accelerate as intended or change gear as intended. The vehicle was then taken to another dealer where it was diagnosed that the triaxle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

See all problems of the 2017 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

Engine locked in while driving on road no power an won’t start.

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 .

[xxx] 6:30am: 2016 kia Optima ex I was driving on the freeway on my way to work when I lost all acceleration and immediately attempted to get over to the side of the road. Which was pretty [xxx] scary being that it's a busy freeway that early in the morning so everyone is laying on their horn while trying to get out of my way. It was either be stranded in the middle of the freeway or get over as quick as possible. My electronics were all still on however; my whole dashboard went from no "check engine" light to everything that could light up was lit up. I own a obd2 scanner so I plugged that in and scanned it. I received a code that read "p0014: exhaust camshaft position timing - over - advanced (bank 1)". I then had my car towed to a mechanic that diagnosed my engine and claimed there was "metal shavings" in my engine. And my engine was not turning; it seized up. I didn't believe him so I got a ride over to the shop and sure enough he simply had me pull my dipstick out to see the shavings on there. He also manually turned my engine with a socket wrench and told me it was harder than [xxx] to turn which was not supposed to happen. I tried it myself and sure enough it was tough as [xxx] to turn. He claimed I needed a new engine! he said I have the option to get it towed somewhere else or he can try and find an engine for me. I then called a kia service center in visalia CA and explained to them what happened. They said they will not fix anything due to me not having a computer update recall fixed on my car. Yet I had never gotten a notice in the mail for it like they were supposed to do back in 2018. The only one I had gotten recently was a "safety recall" which was to fix my trunk latch. I knew that would not have any impact on my cars running condition so I did not get that fixed. However had I known I needed an update I would've gone in a heartbeat. I did not take it to the service center being that they told me they cannot fix my engine. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia),.

At gas, the vehicle jumps/judders as if it’s not getting enough gas to get up and go, and then at higher speeds it goes fine. Was reported to horne kia while under warranty. They never found the issues. Months later issue was found by a new mechanic, now the vehicle is no longer under warranty and the tra codes are posted online. [xxx] reported August 2021 [xxx] reported December 2020 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Car stopped accelerating on the highway. Check engine lights and other lights went on. Dealership is refusing to inspect the car without the cel staying on. My family's life is at risk as long as kia deems this car safe to drive. The dealer and corporate refuse to inspect it without a check engine light staying on when starting up again.

My 2016 kia Optima lx 1. 6 has been burning oil really fast. It also has been losing power when I try to accelerate with know check engine lights on. Currently the engine has a shake to it & is un-drivable. Oil gets to the spark plugs. I previously took my car to a kia dealership before I had a check engine light. They told me they could not do anything because a check engine light was not on. Now that a check engine light is on I was told by a dealer that it has an engine misfire. It has been seen by a dealership. This problem could have been prevented now knowing that this is a problem for many kia automobiles.

The contact owns a 2015 kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, or while at a complete stop, the vehicle would shut off without warning. The vehicle would resume normal operation upon restart of the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for an inspection; however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

Subject: complaint regarding excessive oil consumption and engine hesitation in 2019 kia Optima sx to whom it may concern, I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding my 2019 kia Optima sx. Despite meticulous maintenance and care, I have been experiencing significant issues with the vehicle that are concerning, especially considering its relatively low mileage of only 107,000 miles. The primary issues are as follows: 1. Excessive oil consumption: my kia Optima sx has been burning an excessive amount of oil, necessitating frequent top-offs well before the recommended oil change intervals. This is not only inconvenient but also raises serious concerns about the long-term health and reliability of the engine. 2. Engine hesitation: the vehicle exhibits extreme hesitation during acceleration. This hesitation occurs sporadically, making it difficult to anticipate and presenting a potential safety hazard, especially when merging onto highways or attempting to overtake other vehicles. These issues are unacceptable for a vehicle with such low mileage and are not in line with the quality and reliability I expected when purchasing a kia. Given the prevalence of similar complaints from other owners of the same model, it is evident that these are not isolated incidents but potentially indicative of broader manufacturing or design flaws. I urge the national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) to investigate these issues thoroughly. Owners of the 2019 kia Optima sx should not have to endure such significant and potentially dangerous problems with their vehicles. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt action and response.

See all problems of the 2019 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

I could not brake and almost caused a car accident. Brakes gave out, no gas, it smelled like it was going to catch on fire.

See all problems of the 2011 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

This vehicle is a lemon. It is a 2019 with 81,000 miles. How in the world does the engine start knocking when I have consistently, kept up with the maintenance on this vehicle. If I do not hear something soon im weakening legal action. Since may 18th I have been without a car. I am a single mom and this is so difficult. Mind you it was towed July 5th from where it broke down on me.

I am writing to bring to your attention a critical safety issue with my 2019 kia Optima sx 2. 0 gdi turbo, which has accumulated approximately 103,000 miles. This vehicle has recently developed several serious problems that I believe pose significant risks to both my safety and the safety of other road users. Firstly, my kia Optima has been burning an excessive amount of oil. Specifically, it consumes over 5 quarts of oil within just 2,000 miles of driving. Despite thorough inspections, even from kia dealers there are no visible oil leaks, making this issue even more perplexing and concerning. Moreover, the vehicle has begun to shake violently while driving on the highway, which has led to a substantial loss of power in the middle of traffic. This unpredictable loss of power is extremely dangerous, especially at high speeds, as it compromises my ability to maintain control of the vehicle and poses a significant hazard to other motorists. Additionally, the car now emits a loud knocking noise, which appears to be related to the engine's internal components. This issue further exacerbates the vehicle's performance problems and raises serious questions about its reliability and safety. I urge the NHTSA to investigate these issues promptly. The problems I am experiencing are not isolated and may affect other kia Optima owners, potentially leading to widespread safety risks. I believe it is crucial to determine if there is a manufacturing defect or other underlying cause that needs to be addressed to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of all kia Optima drivers. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am hopeful that the NHTSA will take immediate action to investigate these serious safety concerns and provide a resolution to protect both myself and others.

Power train and engine failure and causing my kia to catch on fire at 11:30 coming back home from work. I was driving home and smell smoke and car was shaking and when I stopped at the highway to open and look fire was on while driving and I had to call 911 and stop the fire. I had some fire extinguisher in the car I stopped the fire and towed the car and I replaced engine and powered train for over $9000 between repairs and labor and transmission and engine.

See all problems of the 2012 Kia Motor Optima 🔎.

The car has been to the dealer several times for a transmission judder update under TSB: tra 083 and recently TSB tra 098 - both times they have done a anti-judder logic improvement. The car still judders and its a big safety concern. Many times I will go to pull out into oncoming traffic and the judder can be so bad the car wont take off. This happens several times a month. I have complained about this since I bought the car and primarily they blamed it on being a dual clutch transmission. Years later they have now 2 TSB and the issue is not solving the problem. The imparticular dealer that I use has told me they have never had to change out the clutch on this car and dont have the tools. They also said the way that kia uses software to monitor the judder never warrants a change in the dual clutch. I believe that kia should take responsibility and install their new updated transmission into this car.

The hybrid battery continues to malfunction and, randomly shuts down at any speed (even after short engine block was "repaired" by kia dealership). Also, an odor of burnt oil happens often while driving the car. It is available for inspection, if need be. Safety of all drivers at risk because car shuts down on freeways and highways. It's dangerous where cars driving at speeds of 65 mph are unable to break and avoid collision. Kia calls their recalls "campaigns". The kia dealer has acknowledged this problem and has performed maintenance, however the problem still persists. I have the recent receipt of service/ maintenance on my 2016 kia Optima hybrid on hand. The first time it happened was on September 25, 2021. There were no warning lights or messages, the car simply shut down and had no power and was not drivable. I took it to a hybrid mechanic who ran a diagnostic test. The hybrid mechanic repaired my car. 6 months later, while I was driving my car seized on me while I was driving on the freeway going 65 miles an hour. This time a warning on my dashboard showed that there was a problem with the hybrid control system on the car. We took it to a kia dealership and they performed a diagnostic test and said that I needed a new short engine block and hybrid battery replacement. (I have the receipts for the maintenance performed by kia dealership) it took 3 months for the kia dealership to rebuild the engine block and replace the hybrid battery. On March 7, 2024, my 2016 kia Optimal hybrid seized on me while I was driving 40 miles an hour. The message/ warning now says "battery management system failure" "possible bms condition. " "check hybrid system". Kia does not acknowledge that there is a problem with the hybrid system in the kia Optima hybrids. I've called and tried to file a complaint, however they tell me there are no problems with the kia Optima hybrids. Please investigate. Thank you for your time and attention to this important matter.

I need remedy compensation in regards of my recalls my engine warranty was gone after being replaced due to engine seized 01/01/2023 I had engine warranty since 2020 and now my car was being rejected refused rejected excluded iam being discredited I own my 2015 kia Optima I lived sleep in my car iam hoing through financial hardship since 2021 I need legal advice help assistance please.