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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2014 Kia Optima Hybrid Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
3about this part
Share
10%of 31 total for the year
Median mileage
76,128miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid, 10% of the 31 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 76,128 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Driving normally, hcu error popped up on nav display as well as drivers display. Told to pull over immediately and turn off engine. I was traveling on once he interstate, by the time I got into the emergency lane the car completely lost all power. Turned on emergency hazard lights and after 5 minutes the car was completely dead. Called a tow truck and brought it to rock river Kia in rockdoed, il. Later was told that the engine had seized and the hybrid battery was no longer holding a charge. Estimated 14,000 repair cost.”

NHTSA complaint #11170476, filed 2019-01, 152,238 miles

“I was driving down a city street (35mph) when I was cut off by another car making a turn in front of me and we collided. I t-boned his car and my air bags didnt got off. My car stalled completely and nothing about the vehicle safety equipment reacted to the crash. The system (cluster and screen) didnt show that there had been any impact and the car was ready to drive. I reported this to Kia of downtown la (the dealer) and kiausa corporate where they offered to check the car out and see if the car reacted the way it was suppose to. …”

NHTSA complaint #10985410, filed 2017-05, 19 miles

“While driving during colder weather the car will show HEV (hybrid system) warning and tell you to shut it off. I was in a construction zone with no where to pull over when the car died and lost all propulsion and brakes. This seems to be a common problem on KIA Optima hybrids from 2012-2015.”

NHTSA complaint #11710148, filed 2026-01

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2017312%
201518%
2014310%
2013713%
2012109%
2011412%

Other parts of the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid

Engine
16 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsVehicle speed control
4 complaintsAir bags
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSteering
3 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsHybrid propulsion system
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology