2014 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 586 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 6th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2014 reports, 20 involved a crash and 42 involved a fire. 22 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 17, 2022
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 20V-100. The low pressure fuel hose may be damaged, or missing heat-protective tape, which can result in a fuel leak.
A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel hose, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-33-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC228.
Campaign 22V093000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 20V519000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsFeb 21, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) or 2.0L GDI Turbo engines. The low pressure fuel hose may deteriorate and crack over time due to heat generated within the engine compartment.
If the fuel hose cracks, a fuel leak can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify Owners, and Dealers will inspect the low pressure fuel hose for damage or leaking, replacing it as necessary. If no damage or leaking is found, a heat-protective tape will be installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC187.
Campaign 20V100000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 31, 2017
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.
Campaign 17V224000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
88 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2018, fire
I PARKED MY KIA OPTIMA AT 7 PM. AT MIDNIGHT I WAS WOKEN UP TO FIRE TRUCKS OUTSIDE OF MY APARTMENT. MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR REPORTED NO FOWL PLAY BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE HOW IT HAPPENED. SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE LEFT. HAD 62K MILES AND WAS FREQUENT WITH OIL CHANGES. NO LIGHTS ON DASH.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 23, 2018
KIA ENGINE RECALL ENGINE KNOCKING SOUND FOLLOWED BY FULL LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY ( IN MOTION) AND ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT . WITH MAINLY ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS LIT FIRST. I COASTED TO A PARKING LOT OFF THE EXIT I WAS ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING ONCE IN PARK . THE CABIN AND ENGINE SMELLED OF BURNING. ALL OF MY NEWLY CHANGED OIL WAS BURNT UP AS WELL. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. CAR MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP TO DATE . A FEW MONTHS PRIOR MY ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND I HAD IT LOOKED AT TURNER KIA DURING AN OIL CHANGE ON 4/3/17 AND THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND CONTINUED TO ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION WOULD COME ON TIME TO TIME SINCE THAT DATE.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 6, 2018
WHEN I COLD CRANK IT THE ENGINES SOUND VERY VERY LOUD RATTLE AND SETTLES TO A LOUD RATTLE AFTER ABOUT GETTING WARMED UP WITH THE ENGINE VIBRATING WHICH COULD ALSO BE SEEN. I TOOK IT IN WARMED UP & THE TECHNICIAN STATED AFTER A REVIEW, HE DIDN'T HEAR A RATTLE OR A KNOCK (THATS A LIE, I AM GOING BACK AGAIN & REVIEW WITH THE TECH) I ALSO HEAR A RATTLE FROM THE LEFT CV AXLE WHEN THE TRAC CONTROL COMES TO PLAY, TURNING ON A HARD RIGHT & A THUMP WHEN PULLING HARD ON A WET PAVEMENT ON A GREEN LIGHT. THIS COLD CRANK RATTLE CANNOT BE HEARD ON OTHER OPTIMAS WHEN I ASK TO HEAR THEM START THE OTHER CARS UP. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THIS IS A 30000 MILE CAR & SHOULD BE HAVING A VIBRATING ENGINE & A COLD CRANK RATTLE OR ANY RATTLE AT ALL WHEN WARMED UP, IT SHOULD BE SMOOTH.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Feb 20, 2018
ON SUNDAY 02/11/2018 MY CAR DIED GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY DOING 70MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE CAR IS A 2014 KIA AND HAS 46,763 MILES ON IT. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT'S ALSO PART OF THE RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED 10/04/2017, 17V224. CALL KIA 3 TIMES ON 02/19/2018 FIRST TIME I WAS SAYING THAT MY CAR STILL WASN'T FIXED FROM THE LONG BLOCK THAT WAS REPLACED ON THURSDAY THAT WAS STILL MAKING FUNNY NOISES AND THAT THERE WAS A SWEET BURNING SMELL. WAS TOLD BY THE 1ST PERSON I TALKED TO GIVE IT TIME AND IT WILL WORK ITSELF OUT. THAT SWEET SMELL WAS THE OIL BURNING OFF OF THE ENGINE THAT THEY JUST REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. I CALL BACK NOT EVEN AN HOUR LATER TO SAY MY HEAT STOPPED WORKING THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON IT AND THEN IT WILL COST ME $99 AND IF THEY DETERMINE WASN'T PART OF THE ENGINE WORK THEY HAD JUST DONE. THAT PERSON MADE A 10 A.M. APPOINTMENT FOR 2/20/2018. SINCE MY HEAT WASN'T WORKING I HAD TO KEEP USING MY WIPERS AND FLUID, BECAUSE THE DEFROST WASN'T WORKING. WHEN HOME I WENT TO PUT MORE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IN THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THEY DID NOT PUT COOLANT IN THE CAR WHICH IS NEEDED TO COOL THE ENGINE SO IT DOESN'T SEIZED UP STALL OR BLOWUP. SO WHEN THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE THEY DIDN'T PUT COOLANT IN THE CAR WHICH IS NEEDED. SO NOW I'M HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO KIA SO THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS ENGINE ISNT SHOT NOW ALSO. THAT'S ALSO THE REASON THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING I'M SURE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR SINCE I GOT IT BACK ON 02/15/2018 WITH NO COOLING PROBABLY DRIVEN IT 20 HOURS SINCE I'M A LYFT DRIVER. SO AFTER THEY PUT IN A REPLACEMENT LONG BLOCK BECAUSE OF THE RECALL THIS THURSDAY 02/15/2018 THEY DIDN'T PUT COOLANT OR ANTIFREEZE IN THE CAR SO II BLEW THE NEW ENGINE AND ALSO MESSED UP MY STARTER. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 02/19/2018
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2018
ANTENNA COVER CAME OFF. RUSTED AND BROKEN SCREWS. APPEARS TO BE A DEFECT IN MANUFACTORING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT VIA THE WEB.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 2, 2018
WE STARTED REPORTING ISSUES THIS PAST JULY TO OUR DEALERSHIP, KIA RIVERGATE IN MADISON, TN. THEY HAVE HAD OUR CAR IN THREE TIMES AND KEEP TELLING US THERES THINGS "WE" NEED TO FIX.MY CAR IS STILL ON WARRANTY AND IS UNDER A TOTAL ENGINE RECALL. THE CAR STARTED WITH A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE AND HAD ISSUES WHEN WE WOULD ACCELERATE. THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AT ALL CAUSING US TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES. THEY TOLD US NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT THEY REPLACED A SENSOR. THE CAR CONTINUED TO KNOCK AND STALL. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AND THEY SAID NO, IT'S FINE. THEY SAID WE COULD TRY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND THEY CHANGED THE OIL (AT OUR EXPENSE). THE CAR HAS HAD BATTERY REPLACED THREE TIMES BECAUSE THEY TOLD US THAT WAS THE ISSUE THE FIRST TWO TIMES. THE CAR HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THE LAST TIME WE TOOK IT IN TO THEM THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT IT MIGHT BE THE FUEL INJECTOR. ONCE AGAIN THEY ARE STATING THAT WE MUST PAY FOR IT. I'VE CALLED THEM BECAUSE THE CAR HAD HUGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK AND IS SHAKING EVEN WORSE. ONCE AGAIN THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I TOLD THEM WE ARE HAVING TO ADD OL 3 TIMES A WEEK WITH NO SIGNS OF A LEAK. MY CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND I REPEAT, MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND IS ON A RECALL FOR SEVERAL ISSUES INCLUDING THE ENGINE. NOW MY CAR ISN'T DRIVABLE AT ALL. IT STARTED SHAKING TO THE POINT OF THROWING US FORWARD IN THE CAR AND SMOKES LIKE IT IS ON FIRE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF AT ALL, SO YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S NOT AN ENGINE ISSUE? [XXX]. EVEN A FUEL INJECTOR WOULD BE CONSIDERED PART OF THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT HAS TO RUN THROUGH THE ENGINE TO MAKE THE CAR RUN. I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY KIA IS NOT HONORING THEIR WARRANTIES OR RECALLS. MY NEXT STEP IS TO CALL AN ATTORNEY AND SUE KIA. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2017
IGNITION SWITCH NOT WORKING AT TIMES
Other or unspecified, Apr 6, 2017
24,000 MILES. CLICKING/ TICKING NOISE COMING FROM BEHIND THE DASH ON THE DRIVER SIDE/CENTER OF DASH. NOISE STARTS WHEN CAR IS STARTED AND CEASES WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. NOISE IS CONTINUOUS DURING DRIVING. NOISE DOES NOT CHANGE IN VOLUME OR PACE DURING DRIVING.
Other or unspecified, Apr 3, 2017
SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. NOTHING HIT IT OR WAS THROWN THROUGH IT.
Other or unspecified, Aug 31, 2015
I PURCHASED A KIA OPTIMA IN DECEMBER OF 2014. AT 8,000 MILES I NOTICED UNUSUAL WEAR ON MY TIRES, I HAD THEM ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 7,500. I RECENTLY WENT TO AMERICA TIRES WITH THE MILEAGE AT 14,50 THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO LESS THAN 50% OF THE TREAD. THEY ROTATED AND BALANCED THEM BUT THE LIFE OF MY TIRES IS SHORT. IT APPEARS THAT THE TIRES ARE INFERIOR. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL CARS HOWEVER I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACED TIRES THIS SOON ON A VEHICLE. I HAVE ABOUT 5 TO 7 THOUSANDS MILES LEFT BEFORE REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. THE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE NPRIZAH8. MY FEAR IS THAT SEVERAL UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND ON THESE UNSAFE TIRES WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE REGULAR SERVICE ON THEIR TIRES. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE HAS THERE BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH THESE TIRES?
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 24, 2015, crash
I WAS TRYING TO BACK IN BETWEEN2 VEHICLES IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. AND WHILE DOING SO, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNCHED BACKWARDS WITH A JERKING MOTION, LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO DO 2 DIFFERENT THINGS ATONE TIME, AT FULL RATE OF SPEED AND DOING SO, IT BACKED INTO THE VEHICLE TO MY LEFT, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SIGHT, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS HAPPENING ON THE NEWS. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF AND I WENT ONLINE TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. I WAS NOT HURT AND IF MY COUSIN WASN'T IN THE CAR, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD'VE BELIEVED ME. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I'M REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.
Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2015
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG IS CRACKED.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 6, 2015
THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IF I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE MY SPEED, WHETHER FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR TO PULL INTO A BUSY ROADWAY, OR TO INCREASE MY SPEED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL START TO GO THEN CHOKE, SO THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPM STAY THE SAME AND THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT SPEED UP. IF KIA DOESN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS - BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT OPTIMA VEHICLE YEARS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS - SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO SEE MANY PEOPLE SAYING KIA IS TELLING THEM THIS IS THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE - REALLY??? MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER TO HOPEFULLY HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR, WHICH IS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA, AND GUESS WHAT? PULLING OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IN THE LOANER I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE LOANER ALSO HAS THIS PROBLEM, BUT 10 TIMES WORSE THAN MY CAR. IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 30 TIMES BETWEEN THE DEALER AND WHERE I WORK - ABOUT A 30 MINUTE DRIVE. ALWAYS WHEN SPEED NEEDS TO BE INCREASED BY WAY OF THE GEARS NEEDING TO UPSHIFT. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SOMEONE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS - I HOPE KIA ISN'T WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY LOOK INTO THIS FAILURE THAT IS HAPPENING THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE WRITING OFF AS NORMAL FUNCTION! JUST AS I WAS READY TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT, MY DEALERSHIP CALLED ME BACK AND SURPRISE: "WE ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND "NO PROBLEM CODES WERE DETECTED." PLEASE KIA, TAKE NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!!! *TR