2020 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 146 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2020 reports, 6 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
No safety recalls on file.
Representative owner complaints
146 reports, newest first.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 29, 2022
Vehicle was tampered before purchasing, transmission mounts broken, evap hose gas tank and engine.. car was claimed as a lemon vehicle, dealership sold me a vehicle that’s unsafe to operate. Dealership refuses to fix…
Service brakes, Engine, Forward collision avoidance, Jul 25, 2022
The Kia optima 2020 2.4 every 3000 to 4000 miles oil change is metal shavings in the old oil. The clicking noise stared it around the 10000 miles mark and now is getting worse with 60000 miles ,everytime I hit the gas and goes over 30 miles loose a lot of power and a clicking noise come out ,now is getting worse. Is a new car. Already change a ABS pump and I keep my oil change to the date. I m afraid the car is breaking . Help.
Electrical system, Jul 19, 2022
The vehicle is incredibly easy to steal. A simple flat head screw driver in the hands of a child will steal this vehicle. My car was stolen from Daytona Beach Florida on July 8 2022 by 2 14 year and one 15 year old kids. No key, no fob needed, who knew it'd be so easy to steal? They learned it on TikTok. This is a problem nation wide and social media seems to spread the issue even further. I provided a link to one of many news stories regarding this problem below. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/06/30/police-rise-car-thefts-kia-hyundai/7776099001/
Other/i am not sure, May 6, 2022
The driver side seat It goes off whenever sometimes for a few seconds other times a few minutes and this is when I'm driving
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 29, 2022
After changing the bulbs and fuses . The lights flicker and sometimes don’t come on at all .
Air bags, Apr 7, 2022, crash
The contact owned a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a guardrail, causing her to hit her head on the steering wheel and lose consciousness. The vehicle came to a complete stop in a ditch. No air bags were deployed upon impact. The contact later received medical attention at the hospital for a concussion and was later diagnosed with early signs of onset dementia. A police report was filed and the contact was taken to jail under the assumption that she was intoxicated at the time of the collision. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, but the contact was not aware if it was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the air bags should not have been deployed. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Seat belts, Feb 25, 2022
UNKNOWN But the passenger side seat belt start chumming on its on and won't stop until I connect the seat belt
Seat belts, Feb 20, 2022
The passager side seat belt goes off by itself
Other or unspecified, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the automatic braking system engaged without warning to stop the vehicle. Additionally, the cruise control failed to operate as needed and the vehicle intermittently failed to turn on while using the "Push to Start/Stop" button. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and Kia of Cape Coral (404 NE Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral, FL 33909) however, both dealers could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 7,500.
Engine, Feb 8, 2022
I was driving in the freeway nearby San Jose, CA with my family in the car. I was doing 67mph. It was high elevation curvy road. I experienced engine stalling. The car suddenly stop accelarating and speed drop to 35mph despite pressing on gas.
Other or unspecified, Nov 21, 2021
When I accelerate the car jerks as if is going to cut off. I have taken it to the dealer, and they can not find any thing wrong. After searching the internet, I find I am not the only one with this issue. I just want my car fixed so that I feel safe driving it.
Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 27, 2021
Fuel line had a quick detachment have to be replaced
Engine, Jun 18, 2021
Owner's manual states the 1.6Turbo requires 4.75 qrts of oil with filter change. The car reads full after adding 4 qrts. Still reading full after double checking after 250 miles. .Owner's manual typo? . Incorrect dipstick during final assembly? .Following the manual could lead to overfilling/foaming issues and thus engine failure/safety issues. Perhaps a TSB needs to be done? Note: I used a Fram filter. Slightly smaller dimensions than original but in no way accounting for 3/4 qrts.
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Apr 27, 2021
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL IF THE SHOE SIZE IS US10+. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FLOOR AND THE KNEE AIRBAG MECHANISM DOES NOT ALLOW THE USE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Service brakes, Apr 26, 2021
FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS I HAVE BEEN FEELING A LEFT TO RIGHT MOVEMENT AT TIMES WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL SO AFTER FURTHER CHECKING I NOTICED IT MOVES LEFT TO RIGHT WHEN MOVED BY HAND MY CAR ONLY HAS 36128 MILES SO WHY IS THIS COMING LOOSE ALREADY?
Air bags, Dec 6, 2020, crash
MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN A FORD 150 PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. FORWARD COLLISION WORKED & SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO 35MPH. I HIT THE TRUCK DOING SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHAT SO EVER.
Air bags, Nov 13, 2020, crash
AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE.*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT
Service brakes, Sep 8, 2020
I OWN A 2020 KIA OPTIMA (MY SECOND ONE IN LESS THAN A YEAR). THREE WEEKS AGO, I APPLIED MY BRAKES BEFORE ENTERING A CURVE. IN THE PROCESS, I HIT A BUMP (NOT A POT HOLE) IN THE ROAD'S AND MY BRAKES DISENGAGED AND I THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE THE BRAKE WERE GOING TO ENGAGE IN TIME FOR ME MISS A HIT ON COLLUSION. THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN, YESTERDAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH A KIA OPTIMA. IN MY 2016, THE SAME THING WAS OCCURRING. THE SERVICE SHOP REPLACE A ROD OR SOMETHING THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAD A LOANER KIA OPTIMA (2019). I COULD FEEL VIBRATIONS IN BRAKE PADDLE WHEN I DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SAME OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 2020 KIA OPTIMA THAT I PURCHASED LAST OCTOBER. KIA COUNTRY SAVANNAH TRY EVERYTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LUCKILY, THE DEALERSHIP TRADED ME I OUT OF THAT VEHICLE BEFORE MY FIRST PAYMENT AND WAS GIVEN A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL MY CURRENT VEHICLE WAS LOCATED AND DELIVERED FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. NOW, I EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR COMPANY'S VEHICLE. I WAS FORCED TO TRADE-OUT OF 2016 CAR DUE TO KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEMS.
Service brakes, Jul 4, 2020
THE FCW FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM SEEMS TO NOT GET ACTIVATED UNDER ANY CIRCUSNSTANCES. I HAVE CHANGED THE SENSITIVITY OF THE SYSTEM TO ALL LEVELS AND IT NEVER SEEMS TO DETECT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. IT NEVER WARNS YOU OF AN COLLISION.
Service brakes, Jan 9, 2020
THE FCW FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM SEEMS TO NOT GET ACTIVATED UNDER ANY CIRCUSNSTANCES. I HAVE CHANGED THE SENSITIVITY OF THE SYSTEM TO ALL LEVELS AND IT NEVER SEEMS TO DETECT THE CAR IN FRONT OF IT. IT NEVER WARNS YOU OF AN INMINENT COLLISION. THE CAR IS ALWAYS IN MOTION WHEN I TRIED THE SYSTEM
Structure, Dec 3, 2019
THERE IS A VERY LIMITED AND INADEQUATE SPACE BETWEEN THE THE BOTTOM OF THE DASHBOARD AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH CAN IMPEDE A DRIVER FROM MAKING AN EMERGENCY STOP.THE SAME LACK OF SPACE BETWEEN THE DASHBOARD AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL.NOTHING HAPPENED IT IS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.