Skip to content
EnginePart report

2017 Kia Optima Phev Engine Problems

Complaints
11about this part
Share
48%of 23 total for the year
Median mileage
75,750miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the engine of the 2017 Kia Optima Phev, 48% of the 23 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 75,750 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.

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.

“Getting onto the freeway accelerating, when heard rattling and saw smoke, exited the freeway and parked the vehicle. There was no warning or lights that came on prior or during this time. Had the car towed to the nearest Kia dealership in city of carson. I received a phone call on saturday 1/2/2021 from tony at the dealership asking for permission to diagnose the vehicle. I agreed to the diagnostic testing. Received a call back within an hour to notify me that there was a hole in the engine, no repairs could be done and I needed a new engine. I asked how did the hole get in the engine. …”

NHTSA complaint #11386121, filed 2021-01, 64,000 miles

“Oil pressure sensor leaked out all of the oil and no warning lights lit on the dashboard to let me know that I had lost oil pressure or that I was low on oil. Problem part #1: oil pressure sensor Problem part #2: no warnings on dashboard Result: #1: Engine failure / loss of engine #2: This caused engine to seize on main highway on Feb 14, 2024. This could have caused a major accident.”

NHTSA complaint #11576645, filed 2024-03

“We bought the car used in November of 2020 from Conicelli used Toyota dealership. We had the car not even a year when the engine broke and we got it looked at and found it was a rod knock which there is a recall for this vehicle for the same issue we were having. We had the car towed to kia on the boulevard on January 3rd of 2022. …”

NHTSA complaint #11455702, filed 2022-03

“I have 2017 Kia plug in I had to replace batteries system twice within a year. I also have a engine knocking at 26000 miles that the dealer claims is a that was cause by service done to oil filter that don't make no sense. No oil light or engine light went off. Further more after that happened the electrical went out. The Kia company's refuse to fix it. The vehicle has 5 year warranty.”

NHTSA complaint #11193782, filed 2019-04

“I was getting on the freeway and my car suddenly just stopped accelerating. I even tried pushing the pedal to the floor and all power was gone. I was almost ran down by a 18 wheeler who must not have noticed my hazards had been switched on. A warning came on “check hybrid system. Turn off engine” When the car lost its momentum as I was pulling over and eventually came to a stop I followed the warnings directions and shut the car off since I couldn’t get any further anyways. …”

NHTSA complaint #11570391, filed 2024-02

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2018338%
20171148%

Other parts of the 2017 Kia Optima Phev

Electrical system
8 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsAir bags
2 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsHybrid propulsion system
2 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
2 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2017 Kia Optima Phev

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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