2017 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 255 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2017 reports, 4 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Latches/locks/linkages, trunk lid, latchAug 24, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base subassembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 19, 2023. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC278.
Campaign 23V594000 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
Hybrid propulsion systemMar 8, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
If the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will remove the VPD switch and install two newly designed Battery Management Systems (BMS) that contain Overvoltage Protection Devices (OPDs), free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2018. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC162.
Campaign 18V161000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
255 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 4, 2021, fire
THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED IN MY 2017 KIA OPTIMA IN 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. KIA REPLACED MY ENGINE JANUARY 2020 BECAUSE IT WAS CONSUMING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK IN JANUARY 28, 2021 WITH A SUPPOSEDLY NEW ENGINE. ON MARCH 3, 2021, MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ACTUALLY DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD THE OF THE CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURNED. THANKFULLY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THE FIRE OUT AND NO ONE WAS INJURED.
Power train, Mar 2, 2021
I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR. IT IS AN LX WITH THE 2.4L ENGINE GDI. IT'S THE STANDARD ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED "OFF" AFTER A FIRMWARE UPDATE. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CAR REALLY PERFORMED AND ROLLED NICELY. BY THAT I MEAN, THERE WAS NO DETECTABLE DRAY WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IN DRIVING THE CAR NOW, THE CAR JUST SEEMS TO LUG, AS IT TAKES MORE ACCELERATION TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THE TRANSMISSION "HANGS UP" AT AROUND 40MPH, WITH NO LOAD ON THE ENGINE. THE TACH AT 40MPH OR THEREABOUTS, READS AROUND 1900-2200RPMS. THIS IS FAR TOO HIGH IN MY OPINION, BEFORE I GO A LITTLE FASTER, AND THE TRANS FINALLY SHIFTS TO THE NEXT GEAR, LOWERING THE RPMS TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AT 40 MPH. GAS MILEAGE IS DOWN APPROX. 20% TO WHAT I ENJOYED BEFORE THIS STARTED. I DID HAVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, FRED BEANS IN LANGHORNE PA, FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE WRITER. OF COURSE (AND I MEAN THIS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT), THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE EXPERIENCE. WHAT THE DID DO WAS WIPE THE TRANSMISSION MEMORY CLEAN AND WE STARTED FRESH. THE IDEA BEING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD RELEARN MY DRIVING HABITS. I DON'T PROFESS TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT A TRANS LEARNING HABITS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE TRANS SHOULD NOT HANG UP BETWEEN GEARS FOR ANY REASON. DUE TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR SERVICE. WILL MENTION IT AGAIN. OUT OF REGULAR WARRANTY BUT I DID PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.
Electrical system, Feb 6, 2021
THE WIRING IN THESE CARS ARE COATED WITH SOMETHING THAT SMALL RODENTS LIKE TO EAT THEY CHEW THROUGH THE TAPE THEN THEN WIRING. CAUSING HYBRID ENGINE NOT TO WORK LITES COME. LUCKLY NO FIRE YET. DEALER SAY SORRY THAT WILL BE $ THE CARS WIRING HYBRID PART . RODENTS LIKE TO EAT IT KIA HAS COATING ON IT THAT ATTRACTS THEM THEN IT COSTS YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM CAUSE IT'S NOT COVERED BY THEM. LUCKLY THE CAR DID NOT CAUGHT ON FIRE YET.
Visibility, Nov 23, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN THE HOUSE SHE HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD BOOMING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,300.
Engine, Nov 10, 2020
I'VE TAKING MY LEASES VEHICLE INTO CARSON OF KIA 3 TIMES FOR OIL LIGHT THEY REPLACED THE OIL PRESSURE SWITCH TWICE OF THE 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE CARS WARMS UP I GET TICKING NOISE YOU CAN HEAR THE BETTER WHEN WHEN DRIVING NEXT TO A RETAINING WALL AT THIS I'VE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND AFTER REVIEWING THE WORK ORDER FROM THE DEALER ALL THEY OFFER ME WAS 2 MONTHS OF CAR PAYMENT WHICH I DECLINE SO I'M CONTRACTING NHTSA FOR HELP AND ADVISE
Vehicle speed control, Wheels, Service brakes, Oct 23, 2020
WITHIN A WEEK BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED. RESULTING IN A PROMPT ON DASH AT START UP AND CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYED FOR AEB SYSTEM SERVICE AFTER VEHICLES AUTOMATIC SYSTEM SCAN AN SEE DIFFERENCE IN MILEAGE IN ATTACHED PICTURES. KIA TECHNICIAN SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND SEES ATLEAST 4-5 VEHICLES PER WEEK WITH THIS PART FAILURE.
Engine, Oct 20, 2020, fire
MY 2017 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE ON OCTOBER 15, 2020. I WAS DRIVING TO THE STORE AND HEARD A TICKING SOUND AND SOME NOISES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON. I PULLED OVER IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE ON THE HIGHWAY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. I HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND SAW FLAMES. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911. MY CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.
Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 1, 2020
THE CAR STALLS AND HESITATES AT TIMES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Engine, Sep 5, 2020
BOUGHT MY KIA 1 AGO & ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM W/HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS TURNING ON & OFF WHEN IN AUTO MODE. TRUNK LATCH HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE LATCH NOT LOCKING WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE TRUNK. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY GET 20-30 LATCH ISSUES W/MY MAKE & MODEL OF KIA EVERY WEEK. AFTER VEHICLE STARTS CAR JUST DIES & ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. AT TIMES CAR WILL STAY ON BUT STUTTERS LIKE ITS GOING TO DIE.
Engine, Aug 28, 2020
I JUST PURCHASED MY 2017 KIA OPTIMA TWO MONTHS AGO. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK TODAY IN THE CENTER LANE ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. OUT OF NOWHERE WITHOUT WARNING MY CAR SHUTTERS AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY LOST ACCELERATION AND GOT DOWN TO ABOUT 45 MPH AND WAS FALLING FAST. CARS WERE FLYING AROUND ME AND I WAS AFRAID FOR MY LIFE, I HAD TO FIGHT MY WAY OFF OF THE HIGHWAY TO GET TO SAFETY. I WAS LOOSING SPEED THE WHOLE TIME AND ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I GOT INTO A PARKING LOT AND LET THE CAR REST. I CHECKED ALL MY FLUID AND OIL AND EVERYTHING WAS FULL/ FINE. I DECIDED IT WAS A FLUKE AND TO TAKE A BACK ROAD TO WORK. BIG MISTAKE. THE CAR WOULDN'T GO OVER 20 MPH AND I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR DOWN WITH NO LUCK. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ACCELERATOR WORKED AND MY CAR SPED UP TO 25 MPH FROM 15. THIS WAS ALSO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I PULLED BACK OVER AND CALLED RICK CASE KIA. MY BOYFRIEND USED HIS CODE READER AND FOUND OUT IT WAS THE KNOCK SENSOR. THATS WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE LAWSUIT. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AND GOT A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ARRIVED I MENTIONED WHAT HAPPENED AND SAID THAT I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE LAWSUIT FROM THIS ISSUE. THE ONE SERVICE MANAGER FREAKED OUT THAT I MENTIONED THE LAWSUIT IN FRONT OF OTHER CUSTOMERS AND JUMPED TO EXPLAINING HOW MY CAR WAS ALREADY HANDLED AND THIS ONE ISSUE IS COVERED FOR LIFE. THIS MEANS THEY ADMITTED TO KNOWING ABOUT THIS LIFE THREATINING RECALL WHEN SELLING ME THE CAR. IF THEY DISCLOSED THIS CRUCIAL INFORMATION THAT I HAD THE RIGHT TO KNOW, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO FIX IT AGAIN BUT I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT.
Other or unspecified, Aug 26, 2020
ABS LIGHT AND TRAC LIGHT ON. RIGHT REAR HUB BEARING NEEDS REPLACING. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 78,000 MILES.
Power train, Engine, Jul 27, 2020
A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE CAR 61K MILES..BASICALLY THE DEALSHIP IS SAYING THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE
Exterior lighting, Jul 26, 2020
WHEN CAR IS DRIVING, OR SITTING THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. LIKE WHEN ITS DARK THEY WILL SHUT OFF. THEN COME BACK ON, SWITCH IS ON AUTOMATIC MODE. THEN WHEN YOU SWITCH TO TURN LIGHTS ON IT WILL DO ON AND OFF. BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, FINALLY DID IT ON MY HUSBAND HE WAS THINKING I HAD LOST MY MIND.
Engine, Jul 21, 2020
2.4 L HAVE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL
Suspension, Power train, Jul 18, 2020
POWER TRAIN; SHIFT LOCK SPECIFICALLY: HAD TO USE THE RELEASE CONTROL MORE THAN ONCE. WHILE DRIVING WHEN IT HAPPENS, I FEEL A SURGE/ DECLINE IN ACCELERATION(SOMETHING I REQUESTED BE CHECKED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, BUT KIA SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE MY DESCRIPTION).CONTINUES TO DRIVE BUT SLUGGISH TO ACCELERATE. ONCE I PUT INTO "PARK" I CANNOT GET IT OUT OF PARK EXCEPT TO USE RELEASE. IT DID RESET(?) WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF. SUSPENSION; FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNING THE CAR I PERIODICALLY HEARD A CREAK IN REAR SUSPENSION HERE AND THERE WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY/GUTTER SLOPE. HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASED CREAKING AND MORE BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING OVER TIME BUT HAVE NOT EVEN OWNED CAR MORE THAN 2 YEARS.
Engine, Jul 9, 2020
A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. CAR WELL MAINTAINED.
Engine, Apr 27, 2020
DRIVING TO WORK AT ABOUT 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY CAR LOST POWER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED OFF THE FREEWAY. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP &' THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING MY CAR FOR A WEEK GAVE IT BACK &' SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. VEHICLE ONLY HAD ABOUT 10.5K MILES
Visibility/wiper, Apr 2, 2020
I CAN NOT SEE THE CAR ON THE RIGHT IF I WANT TO SWITCH LANES ON A HIGH WAY. IN TRAFFIC I GET NOT ZOOM IN AND OUT OF LANES, EITHER I (THE DRIVER) OR THE PASSENGER NEEDS TO TURN THEIR HEAD IN ORDER FOR THE DRIVER TO TURN RIGHT. I TRIED THE LITTLE MIRRORS THAT YOU STICK ON BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, I DID NOT REALIZED IT FOR I DROVE IT REGULAR ROADS
Structure, Mar 27, 2020
THE SHARK FIN ANTENNA COVER JUST BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING
Engine, Mar 10, 2020
WHEN ACCELERATING THERE IS ENGINE KNOCK NOISES. THERE MAY BE A BLUE SMOKE UPON ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE IS USING OIL AT A RATE OF 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1100 MILES.
Engine, Mar 9, 2020
ENGINE IS USING 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1100 MILES
Power train, Feb 25, 2020
MISSFIRE ON CYLINDER 3, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CODE P0303. AT 34,900 MILES.
Other or unspecified, Feb 17, 2020
MY 2017 KIA OPTIMA, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT NUMEROUS TIMES AND WHEN IT DOES IT STARTS TO RIDE ROUGH LIKE IT IS IN THE WRONG GEAR, SEEMS LIKE IT IS READY TO DIE OUT WHEN SLOWING DOWN. ALSO FEELS LIKE IT WON'T PICK UP SPEED. I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY MOST OF THE TIME AT SPEEDS FROM 40 TO 70 MPH. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHEN DRIVING IN TOWN. I AM CRYING OUT FOR HELP. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT MY SAFETY. I COMMUTE IN THE MID MORNING HOURS AND VERY UNSAFE IF I BREAK DOWN . MY LIFE IS AT STAKE. THANK YOU
Engine, Feb 13, 2020
BOUGHT VEHICLE NEW FROM RICART KIA IN COLUMBUS, OH IN 2018. VEHICLE HAS 41,917 MILES NOW. VEHICLE DEVELOPED FLASHING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY REDUCED POWER TO 1800-2000RPMS. VEHICLE WILL RUN AND DRIVE BUT WILL JERK VIOLENTLY AT 1800-2000RPMS TO LIMIT ENGINE REVOLUTIONS. TOOK VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALERSHIP WHERE BOUGHT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED DTC P1326. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED WIRING INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF KSDS (KNOCK SENSOR). RELEASED VEHICLE TO CUSTOMER. IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEPTION OF VEHICLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES AND VEHICLE EXHIBITS SAME SYMPTOMS AS STATED BEFORE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP WITHIN 24 HOURS. VEHICLE IS INSPECTED AND DTC P1326 IS DISCOVERED AGAIN. DEALERSHIP PERFORMS ECU UPDATE FOR KSDS. VEHICLE RELEASED BACK TO CUSTOMER. WITHIN 48 HOURS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGINS FLASHING, LIMITS POWER, AND SPEED. CURRENTLY SCHEDULING 3RD APPOINTMENT FOR SAME CONCERN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING EACH TIME AFTER BEING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS FOR ROUGHLY 20 MINUTES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED ONLY AT RICART KIA. ALL PAPERWORK/RECALLS PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Seat belts, Engine, Jan 29, 2020
BOUGHT ON 9-12-2019 WITH APPROXIMATELY 15,400+ MILES. IT NOW HAS 15,750+ MILES. IT HAS STALLED/POWERED OFF ON ME TWICE. FIRST TIME WAS OCT 7, 2019, PARKED ON THE CURB WHEN I WAS PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL, WHEN SHE GOT IN THE CAR AND I WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE OFF FROM THE CURBSIDE AND WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE AND STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. I REALIZED THE POWER OFF SO I SWITCHED THE IGNITION TO OFF AND TURNED IT ON AGAIN TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A LITTLE GLITCH. IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON OCT 26, 2019 WHEN I WAS ON THE DRIVE THRU OF TACO BELL. I WAS WAITING IN LINE AND AGAIN, WHEN I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO MOVE FORWARD, IT WOULDN'T MOVE BECAUSE THE POWER HAD JUST SHUT OFF AGAIN. I HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE. I COMPLAINED TO MY SON ABOUT THE CAR BUT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS PAST THE 7 DAY EXCHANGE OR RETURN. BUT PLANNED TO BRING IT UP ON MY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE UNLESS IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I WAS ALWAYS CAUTIOUS AND WORRIED THAT I WILL STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR WORSE, WHILE DRIVING. MOSTLY THE REASON WHY I'VE ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR LESS THAN 300 MILES SINCE I BOUGHT IT ABOUT 4.5 MONTHS AGO. THEN YESTERDAY MORNING, JAN 28, 2020, ON MY ERRANDS TO TWO DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS, THE PASSENGER SEATBELT SIGN WAS BEEPING AND FLASHING THE WHOLE TIME I DROVE AROUND THAT DAY, WHEN THERE WAS NOBODY WITH ME IN THE CAR. IT FINALLY STOPPED WHEN IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN I WAS CLOSE TO HOME AND AFTER I PICKED MY PRESCRIPTIONS FROM THE PHARMACY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. NOW I AM CURIOUS AND WONDERING WHY THE NAVY MAN TRADED THIS CAR IN WHEN HE'D ONLY HAD IT FOR LA YEAR AND SPENT MONEY ON NEW BLACK RIMS AND BLACKED OUT TINTED WINDOWS. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN INQUIRY ON WHAT PROBLEMS THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD WITH THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE SHORT TIME HE OWNED IT AND DROVE IT. I'M MORE TERRIFIED TO DRIVE AFTER READING OTHER'S ISSUES.