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
586 reports, newest first.
Steering, Apr 9, 2014
THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME CONTINUING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING ALWAYS PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR EITHER GOES 1 LEFT OF 1 RIGHT. THERE IS NO CENTER. IT IS A STRAIN TO TRY TO KEEP THE CAR IN A LANE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
Steering, Apr 7, 2014
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE PULLS SHE YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT GETS WORSE. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT. WHILE DRIVING ON LONG TRIP I AM EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BY THE STEERING OF THIS VEHICLE! *TR
Steering, Mar 26, 2014
2014 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO POWER STEERING ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE POWER STEERING WAS TOO SENSITIVE, TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT KEEPING THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE ISSUE, TEN DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY TRIED TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BY ALIGNING THE FRONT END, AND EVEN REPLACING THE TIRES. BUT, TO NO AVAIL. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WAS TO RE-DESIGN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE OWNER OF THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE VEHICLE HANDLED FINE. *JB
Steering, Mar 24, 2014
CAR DEMANDS CONSTANT CORRECTION OF STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT LINE. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY TIME OR STEERING POSITION WHERE CAR WILL TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE LEAST CORRECTION TO THE LEFT WILL RESULT IN THE CAR MOVING LEFT PAST WHERE IT SHOULD BE TRACKING, NECESSITATING A SMALL CORRECTIVE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, WHICH RESULTS IN THE SAME OVER-CORRECTING. THERE IS NO CENTER NULL SPOT WHERE IT DOESN'T REQUIRE MORE AND CONSTANT ATTENTION. ONE SECOND OF INATTENTION AND YOU ARE OVER THE LINE OR OFF ON THE SHOULDER. VERY TIRING TO DRIVE. CAR IS NOW FIVE MONTHS OLD AND HAS ONLY 3900 MILES ON IT BECAUSE WE ONLY USE IT WHEN WE HAVE TO. DEALER HAS TRIED TWICE TO FIX IT, BUT HAS MADE NO IMPROVEMENT. I NOTICE PAGES DEVOTED TO SIMILAR COMMENTS ON A CALIFORNIA WEBSITE SINCE MODEL YEAR 2011. HOW CAN KIA GET AWAY WITH SOMETHING THIS DANGEROUS AND ANNOYING WITHOUT IT BEING REPORTED IN SOME OF THE CAR MAGAZINES? I AM CONSIDERING BINDING ARBITRATION BUT DON'T EXPECT ANY HELP BECAUSE THESE RETIRED LAWYERS AND/OR JUDGES MAY BE GREAT LEGAL WIZARDS BUT DUMB AS A SACK OF ROCKS WHEN IT COMES TO MECHANICAL THINGS. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Vehicle speed control, Mar 13, 2014
I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE ROUGH RIDE AND HARSH RIDE BUT WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY. I THEN TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE STEERING PULLED TO THE LEFT AND I NEVER FELT CONFIDENT ABOUT THE STEERING ONLY TO SAY THAT IT DID NOT FEEL RIGHT AND IT WAS WORRISOME TO ME. IT SIMPLY DID NOT FEEL RIGHT TO ME. I'VE BEEN DRIVING 50 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER FELT THIS UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING/STEERING A CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
Steering, Mar 12, 2014
VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GO STRAIGHT WITHOUT CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT. EVEN WITH CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT THE CAR WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. *TR
Visibility, Structure, Feb 20, 2014
DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 IN VIRGINIA, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A GUNSHOT. MOMENTS LATER, I HEARD THE SOUND OF AIR RUSHING PAST FROM ABOVE MY HEAD AND DEBRIS VIBRATING ON THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SCREEN. I LATER FOUND THAT IT WAS BROKEN GLASS CRACKLING AND FALLING AGAINST THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SCREEN. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK THE ROOF FOR DAMAGE. WHAT I FOUND WAS A GAPING HOLE (8-12 INCHES IN DIAMETER) IN THE GLASS OF THE FRONT SUNROOF. I WAS NOT NEAR ANY OVERPASS OR WORK TRUCKS, NOR DID I EVER OBSERVE ANYTHING STRIKING THE CAR AT ANY TIME- NOT DURING THIS INCIDENT OR EVER BEFORE. I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXPLOSION OR GUNSHOT SOMEWHERE NEARBY. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE EXPLODING SOUND ALONE MIGHT CAUSE A PERSON TO GO OFF THE ROAD OR OTHERWISE SWERVE INTO TRAFFIC. *TR
Steering, Feb 18, 2014
VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE HIGHWAY, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60+ MPH) AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TO MAINTAIN LANE POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE TIME WE PURCHASED IT NEW LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AGO. THE STEERING IS VERY HYPER-SENSITIVE AT SPEED AND A CORRECTION TO THE RIGHT REQUIRES A CORRECTION TO LEFT WITH NO APPARENT "GRAY" OR MIDDLE CENTER AREA WHICH WOULD KEEP THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. MOST OF THIS IS ON VERY STRAIGHT SURFACES WITH LITTLE TO NO CROWN & CAMBER ON THE ROAD. STEERING MODE WAS CHANGED BY THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. (AT OUR REQUEST) FROM EX SPORT TO EX STANDARD, WITH MINIMAL IMPROVEMENT. WE REPLACED THE OEM TIRES, WITH UPGRADED TIRES. WHILE TRACTION AND TURNING PERFORMANCE HAVE IMPROVED, STILL NO NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT IN THE WANDER. MY WIFE REFUSES TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAYS, AS SHE FEELS FEAR, STRESS AND EXHAUSTION FROM THE CONSTANT CORRECTION DURING LENGTHY DRIVES. *TR
Engine, Feb 2, 2014
I HAD MY CAR KID OPTIMA 2014 2 WEEKS (800 MILES ON MY NEW ).THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING NOISES TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS THE PISTON NOT WORKING FULLY THEY SAID I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED .I DON'T WANT THE CAR ! I'M NOT HAPPY. *TR
Steering, Jan 28, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Engine, Jan 15, 2014
MY KIA OPTIMA 2014 STARTED A NOISE NEAR THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CLAPPING NOISE. THE FIRST KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT IT IS NOT TO WORRY AND IS PART OF THE KIA ENGINEERING DESIGN. THE SECOND KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE NOISE IS BAD NEWS AND AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. JUST 5,000 MILES INTO THE LIFE OF MY BRAND NEW KIA OPTIMA 2014. I WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE THAT IF YOU HEAR A CLAPPING NOISE NEAR THE TOP OF THE ENGINE THAN PLEASE TAKE IT INTO A KIA DEALER IMMEDIATELY WHILE IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IT IS NOT CURRENTLY A KIA RECALL BUT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE SINCE THIS CAN LEAD TO REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THANK YOU. *TR