Kia Optima HybridModel year report

2014 Kia Optima Hybrid Problems

Compared with other Kia Optima Hybrid years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

18/100 0.5× a typical year · 50 = typical

Complaint rate is 0.5× that of a typical Kia Optima Hybrid year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
5 of its 31 complaints were filed by the end of 2016.
Most reported part: Engine (16 complaints, median 51,998 mi).

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints: 31filed with NHTSA
Median mileage: 45,000miles, 29 complaints with mileage
Recalls: 0campaigns on record
Trend: FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating: 5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy: 37 mpgcombined, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 35 city / 38 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The part named most often is engine, with 16 complaints (52% of the total), followed by electrical system (11) and other or unknown (4). 29 of the complaints include a mileage, and 52% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 45,000 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 164 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine complaints overlap with 13 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 62 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 4 Kia Optima Hybrid model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 18 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Hybrid propulsion system (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Engine: “While trying to park the car in the parking lot structure, the car accelerated beyond control on it's own and hit the wall head on. I was already in my parking spot and only few feet away when the car accelerated. The passenger air bag was deployed and body damage occurred. Everything happened so suddenly, I am not sure about the speed at the time of impact.”

NHTSA complaint #10620789, filed 2014-08, 765 miles

Electrical system: “I was traveling on the freeway when the dashboard read 'hev system warning. Pull over and shut off vehicle.' engine then shut off. After nearly being hit by a semi-truck, I coasted from the carpool to the off ramp exit. The vehicle was able to travel at approximately 5-15mph and made it home safely. I towed my vehicle to the citrus valley motors in the city of ontario. They ran diagnostics stating it was a fuse in the engine and it will cost me $686.97. …”

NHTSA complaint #11220953, filed 2019-06, 87,000 miles

Other or unknown: “While I was driver on the street. A warning check hev system light came on. Then the car electrical system just shutdown and I lost all power. The car went from working perfect to completely out of power in 30 second.”

NHTSA complaint #11195666, filed 2019-04, 50,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “While parking into a parking space that faces a supermarket building, with my foot on the brake, the car suddendly accelerates at an unkown speed , while I am stepping harder on the brake , and the car is not responding crashing into a parking barrier pole finally making the car stop inches from the wall where people go in and out of the supermarket, I was screaming the whole time while being pushed rapidly at an unkown speed feeling helpless and scared, the car side aribags deployed on the right side of the vehicle making the vehicle all full of smoke inside. …”

NHTSA complaint #10745882, filed 2015-08, 38,581 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

52% of the 29 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 17,000 and 84,000 miles.

Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (29 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 45,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Side pole	Rollover
Optima Hybrid · sedan FWD	★★★★★	5 / 5	5	5	5 · 9.6% risk

Neighbouring years: 2013: same overall rating; 2015: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

Version	Engine	Transmission	City	Hwy	Comb.	Fuel / yr
Optima Hybrid FWD	2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid	6-speed automatic	35	38	37	$1,800
Optima Hybrid EX FWD	2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid	6-speed automatic	35	38	36	$1,850

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 164 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

11036628Aug 28, 2026Electrical system, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PARTIAL REPAIR – ELECTRICAL A/C COMPRESSOR - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a…
11035124Jul 15, 2026Fuel system, Electrical system. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC269 FLIGHT #401) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if…
11030342Mar 18, 2026Electrical system, Engine. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2104 FLIGHT 501) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a…
11026698Dec 9, 2025Back-over prevention (rear camera). PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS: EXTERNAL DAMAGE TO ULTRASONIC SENSOR: This Pitstop provides information related to Parking Distance Warning (PDW) alerts and repairs involving ultrasonic sensors. The…
11020817Jul 15, 2025Engine, Electrical system. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2104) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Product Improvement Campaign to perform a software update on…
11017172Apr 17, 2025Transmission and drivetrain. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TRANSMISSION FLUID APPLICATION GUIDE - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black…
11015971Mar 25, 2025Fuel system, Electrical system. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC269) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary, replace…
11010705Nov 20, 2024Engine. PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (PI2104) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting an important Product Improvement Campaign to perform a…
11010513Nov 7, 2024Engine. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN: SUBSEQUENT REPAIR ACTION: ENGINE REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR DTC P1326 (PI2104Y/Z) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional…
11006367Aug 19, 2024Electrical system. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN: OWNER RENOTIFICATION (SC269) - This document is the owner renotification advising that Kia is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to inspect and, if necessary…

See all 164 bulletins →

Other model years of the Kia Optima Hybrid

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	Crash ★	MPG	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2017	26	23,000	2	5	42	50 · Typical	Rising
2015	12	56,200	0	5	37	—	Not enough data
2014	31	45,000	0	5	37	18 · Fewer	Falling
2013	56	68,000	2	5	37	53 · Typical	Rising
2012	109	87,200	3	5	36	74 · More	Stable
2011	34	80,500	3	—	36	50 · Typical	Rising

All Kia Optima Hybrid model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid have?

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid is reported most often?

Engine is named most often, in 16 complaints (52% of the total), followed by electrical system with 11.

Has the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid get?

The EPA rates the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid (Optima Hybrid, 2.4L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 37 mpg combined, 35 city and 38 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid reported?

Among the 29 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 45,000 miles and the middle half falls between 17,000 and 84,000 miles; 52% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.