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.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 27, 2023
HEV Warning light comes on and says HEV malfunction, stop car. Within seconds the car shuts off and has no brakes and then stops in road construction, blocking up an entire lane of traffic, as there was no shoulder because of barricades. I panic as I can’t get out without getting ran over. After sitting for 5 minutes, car restarts and drives away ok. Car has done this off and on for 2 years. After the first incident, I took it to Kia of New Bern who charged me $400 to “update software” according to a TSB, even though it was under warranty. After getting the car back, the next day the warning came back on. I called Kia of New Bern and they said they will charge another diagnostics fee I couldn’t afford, so I didn’t go back. There are many others who have had the same issue with their KIA Hybrids. These cars are a danger to their drivers and the unknowing public who share the roads with them. KIA Should be ashamed of the amount of cars experiencing this issue and their lack of solutions to fix it.
Steering, Feb 13, 2023
It feels slipping, clunking and metal hitting metal while turning steering wheel either right or left 1 inch or 2 inches either way. Feels like its going break. I uploaded the issue that I'm pretty sure it is, I called kia and they didn't extend the warrant on my specific kia optima 2014 even though it was affect and in their letter it said 2014 kia optima have that defect of coupler . I will also upload the letter but mines doesn't qualify and they're not able to tell my why
Fuel system, Gasoline, Feb 8, 2023
The contact's husband owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. Her husband had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic where a diagnostic test was performed and the fuel cap was replaced; however, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic for a second diagnostic test and the contact was informed that fuel was being consumed excessively; he was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The contract called a dealer and was provided an appointment. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000.
Other or unspecified, Feb 3, 2023
The paint is bubbling and peeling after i wash the car and it rust after a while
Traction control system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Jan 31, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an unknown recall repair which included a system update and while driving 45 MPH after the recall repair, the vehicle experienced inadvertent braking, without another vehicle nearby. The contact coasted the vehicle until the vehicle regained normal acceleration functionality. The contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance, Traction Control, ABS, and Blind Spot Detection system's warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic linked the failure to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000
Engine and engine cooling, Jan 30, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 2 MPH, after having stopped at a traffic signal, the contact heard a clicking noise coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights flashing. The contact was able to restart the vehicle after having a passerby jump start her vehicle. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the cam shaft had failed, and the vehicle was low on oil. The contact stated that the mechanic added oil and started the vehicle for a test drive. The contact stated that the engine seized while on the test drive. The independent mechanic researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
Engine, Jan 26, 2023
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle started to decelerate independently. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park at a nearby parking lot. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle first to her residence and the following day to the local dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 23, 2023
Last Friday(01/20/2023), I was driving my car suddenly out of nowhere my car slowed down and wouldn’t start. It has just been 20days since I last serviced. Engine light was on and the other two lights where on as well. I towed it to Kia dealership and after diagnosing they said there has been a lot of fuel leak and issue with the starter so the car wouldn’t turn on. I’m not sure if this isn’t a recall, because my car was completely fine before this incident. The dealer quoted me around $560 for the fuel tube and $890 for the starter.
Electrical system, Jan 16, 2023
The hybrid system on my vehicle continues to show an error when operating the vehicle. The manual says to not operate the vehicle, but the dealership continues to deny the issue with my vehicle. Currently, I'm without my vehicle for approximately a period of two weeks with no resolution to fix my car. I have asked for information under the vehicle care act, but have not been given a current report on the repair needed.
Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2023
Paint started peeling/flaking on passenger and driver pillars. Trunk paint is now peeling and sure the rest will peel over time
Steering, Dec 29, 2022
Steering column making rubbing noise when turning. It felt like a notch was rubbing against something. The car was no reason for this part to deteriorate the way it did. It just all of a sudden started this notch rubbing feeling in steering. I took car to Calavan KIA in Lithia Springs, GA to have it examined. They said the MDPS flexible coupling needed to be replaced. There are other KIA's that had this same issue, but repair was covered in recall. My repair was not covered even though it has less than 110,000 miles and is less than 10 years old.
Engine, Dec 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer replaced the engine; however, the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption after the engine replacement. The check engine warning light was illuminated while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 115,805.
Engine, Engine and engine cooling, Dec 2, 2022
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle was shaking with unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to pull over safely and smoke started coming from the vehicle with a smell of burning oil coming from the vehicle. While the vehicle was being towed, the contact saw that oil was leaking from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the stated that the oil drain plug was missing. The vehicle was not repaired because the vehicle had open recalls and the recalls could not be repaired because the oil drain plug needed to be replaced first. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the dealer reported the issue. The failure mileage was 101,000.
Exterior lighting, Nov 19, 2022
The low beam (driving) lights are incredibly poor, almost non-existant. In order to actually see the road at night you need to use high beams, which is a problem for the drivers in front of you and on the other side of the road. It seems this is a widely know issue with this vehicle as I find multiple postings about it online. This has been going on for some time, and replacing the bulb does no good. I've gone to the dealership about it and they offer to "adjust" it at no charge, but there is no change and since they don't charge me for it there's no service ticket, which means there's no record. The consumer stated the form is outdated and has expired.
Engine, Nov 14, 2022
driving down the highway, there was no previous warning, all the warning lights on the dashboard came on simultaneously. The car began jerking and was difficult to steer. The car began to shut down in the middle of the road before I had a chance to get off the highway. I managed to get it off the road and into a parking lot. I was unable to bring it to a complete stop even after putting it in park. It rolled up to a fence, and that is what eventually stopped the vehicle from moving. It stalled out on itself, and shut down. At that time, underneath the hood began to smoke, and smelled like something was burning. It continued for about 5 minutes. it was towed to the Kia dealership and has been there for over 10 business days. They completed the diagnostic testing, and decided it was the engine, but they're waiting for corporate to make a decision about repairing at their cost, or placing the responsibility on me. They've been trying to make a decision, and in the meantime, I am out of a car. They did not provide me with a rental car as they make a decision, so i ended up having to pay for a rental car out of my own pocket. My insurance will not pay for a rental car until we hear back from corporate about their decision. This happened one other time in 2017.
Engine, Nov 9, 2022
While driving on the highway, the check engine light came on and started flashing. The vehicle simultaneously seems to lose power. We pulled over immediately and looked flashing engine light up in the owner's manual and saw it meant emergency and not to drive the car any further. Today, we are paying to tow the vehicle. After searching google, this seems to be a common issue in similar years of Optima's, yet it seems Kia is not addressing this. See blog at: https://cargurus.com/Cars/Discussion-t57983_ds1051588
Engine, Nov 9, 2022
Engine seized not even 10mins after driving it. Car now needs a new engine. I'm on disability and can't afford it and I need to go to my doctors appointments.
Steering, Nov 7, 2022
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that an abnormal clicking sound was coming from the steering wheel while turning in either direction. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the steering wheel coupler was defective and needed to be replaced. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the issue and both informed the contact that there were no recalls on the VIN. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 1, 2022
I was making a right hand turn and I noticed my turn signal was flashing very fast. So I pulled over once I had the opportunity to. I turned on my signal and checked to see if they were working and found my rear to be out. Went to the parts store purchased new bulbs and drove home. My husband changed the bulbs on both sides and it still did the same thing I checked the bulbs and they were the correct ones so we swapped it and still not working. Has a electrical issue in the tail light assembly.
Engine, Oct 20, 2022
Engine speed slowed. Engine knock noticed. Engine wouldn't remain running.Took it to mechanic. Checked NHTSA website for reals and TSBs. None found. He retrieved DTC P0014 Camshaft Position B - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1). He recommended replacing the Timing Chain, Tensioners, Guides AND the Camshaft Phasers. During this process, he discovered that the crank turned only with great difficulty.
Engine, Oct 17, 2022
While driving at highway speeds approximately (70mph), engine began knocking. Knocking sound got louder when accelerating. Suspecting a rod bearing failure, I pulled over and had the car towed to Greenway Kia in Antioch,TN. I am right waiting for them to analyze the engine. The car did not have an illuminated engine light. This engine was not recalled for a knock sensor to be installed.
Engine, Sep 28, 2022
Engine is making like a rattling noise and I am going through an excessive amount of oil in between oil changes that are done regularly ask about any oil leaks and was told I do not have any oil leaks that my car is just burning that much oil at my last oil change service
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 20, 2022
Engine light on car will not accelerate past 60 mph
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Sep 19, 2022
While driving around hand 35 miles per hour, I felt like the vehicles emergency brake came on. I had warning lights for AUTO HOLD, CHECK BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL, E- BRALE, vehicle self diagshows electronic brake system Check ABS/ESC condition. Breaks feel tighter and car doesn't brake as before plus you could feel the stability system not working. This has occurred 6 times in the last 2 weeks
Engine, Sep 15, 2022
My engine locked up while I was driving. I turned onto my street, luckily close to my home and the car stopped accelerating. I pulled over and turned the car off and it would not turn back on. My car is now undriveable, and it only has 105,000 miles on it. This could have put my safety at risk, imagine if I were going 50mph rather than 10-15mph. I had a mechanic take a look at it and he could not get the crank shaft to turn. Through his assessment, he said I will need a replaced or repaired engine. He offered me get another opinion, but he was pretty certain on the issue. Prior to this, the check engine light came on for less than a day back in June. I contacted my dealership and since it went off, nothing progressed.