2014 Kia Optima Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Kia Optima most often describe engine trouble: knocking or ticking noises, sudden loss of power, and engines diagnosed as failed or seized, frequently around or past 85,000 miles. A second common theme is oil consumption, sometimes a quart every few hundred miles, in some cases after an engine replacement. Steering noise and looseness and ABS/brake concerns, including recall parts that owners say were unavailable, also come up repeatedly.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine knocking, stalling, or seizure

   • 189 complaints (32%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (127 state mileage)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe loud knocking or ticking from the engine, often followed by the vehicle stalling or losing power while driving at speed. Several owners report that a dealer or independent shop diagnosed the engine as failed and needing replacement, and some say the work was not done, was denied, or was pending. A number of these complaints reference the engine bearing recall, and owners report mixed responses about whether their vehicle qualified. Most reports in the sample are between roughly 85,000 and 160,000 miles, with a few at much lower mileage.

   Recall 17V224000Recall 18V9070006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the engine was replaced under a prior campaign and whether documentation exists, and have a mechanic listen for knock and check for stored engine codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A local shop diagnosed the car and said the engine seized. Before I brought it to the shop a local mechanic said that the bearing(s)/ needs to be replaced and said that the enging is very close to seizing. I call my local Kia dealership and asked about it, they said that there is only 1 recall showing on the Kia website. I have screenshots of 4 different recalls and 1 of them says bearing deffect can cause the engine to seize. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11404939, filed 2021-03, 100,000 miles

   “I was driving home with my child in the car approximately at 67 MPH on freeway 99 north from la to bakersfield ca and all of a sudden car stalled. I was on the fast lane and reacted immediately turned my emergency lights on but cars behind me were so short into rear ending me I cried because I was just shocked and scared for my son. Luckily my aunt was two cars behind me since we had took a short family trip and they helped me out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11310952, filed 2020-02, 171,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Excessive oil consumption

   • 144 complaints (24%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (91 state mileage)
   • 19 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe the oil level dropping quickly between changes, in some cases needing a quart every few hundred miles, with the oil warning light flashing or the dipstick reading empty. Some report this starting or continuing after an engine replacement. Several say they raised it with the dealer and were told no action would be taken unless the engine failed outright. Reports cluster from about 75,000 to 160,000 miles; some describe the problem within a few thousand miles of an engine replacement.

   Recall 17V2240004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the dipstick and ask for oil-change records; a service bulletin covers oil consumption testing, so ask whether that test was ever performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The car has lifetime engine warranty and Kia dealership confirmed the same and they are still rejecting me to fix my engine even I offered to pay a fair part of the repair, the engine is consuming oil like crazy 1 quart per 250 miles its makes ticking sound when accelerating and Kia seems like they dont care even if it has a lifetime engine warranty”

   NHTSA complaint #11399847, filed 2021-03, 112,000 miles

   “Check engine light has been on for a week. Had appt to go in 2/2/21 with Kia but driving down the interstate started hearing a light ticking sound. When I accelerated on the gas it didnt do anything. It was bogged down. It stayed at 60 MPH so I did it again and still the same thing. My husband aslo said that it's been sucking oil down for no reason. It has 89,000 miles on it. I had to pull over and have it towed to Kia. I'm still currently waiting to hear what they are gonna do.”

   NHTSA complaint #11390128, filed 2021-01, 89,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS warning lights and brake concerns

   • 39 complaints (7%)
   • median 85,000 mi at 8.1 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report ABS, traction, and brake warning lights along with spongy or long pedal travel and reduced braking. Some complaints describe vehicles covered by the ABS control unit recalls where owners say the parts were not available and the repair could not be completed. Others report fire or smoke from the engine compartment in connection with brake system warnings. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 150,000 miles, and several notices concern recall parts not yet available.

   Recall 20V519000Recall 21V331000Recall 23V652000

   What to check: Ask for proof that the ABS-related recalls (20V-519, 21V-331, 23V-652) were completed, and check that no ABS or brake warning light stays on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I left the dealer lot at closing time 2/5/2021 the traction light and brake lights warnings were on the ABS light the car brakes skidded upon applying brakes driving at a slow speed the car shook while applying brakes and it felt as though the entire motor was going to fall out . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11396011, filed 2021-02, 210,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11482053, filed 2022-08, 103,748 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Stalling or loss of power while driving

   • 170 complaints (29%)
   • median 88,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (120 state mileage)
   • 21 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $6,000 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out or the vehicle losing power at highway speed with little or no warning, sometimes with the check engine light or a hybrid system message appearing. Owners report towing the vehicle and diagnoses ranging from a failed engine to sensor faults, and some say the dealer could not reproduce the problem. Reported from about 50,000 to over 120,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling or warning lights, and have a scan tool check for stored codes in the engine and hybrid or electrical systems.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving on the interstate, my Kia Optima stopped accelerating, we were luckily near an exit and were able to pull over to the side of the road. The lights and music stayed on but the car would not start again. There was nothing happening up to the point that would have warned us this was going to happen, the check engine light never came on. I had to get the vehicle towed home.”

   NHTSA complaint #11298894, filed 2020-01, 92,000 miles

   “Car stops, losing all power and function without warning while you're driving it.at the time this happened, the car was in motion, but moving slowly to a stop on a city street. After several attempts to restart, it did and I brought it to Kia dealer. I bought the used car 60 days ago. It had been in an accident but seemed fine. From a dealer. I am terrified to drive it any more, because this could cause a fatal collision. Took it to dealer and they cannot find anything wrong. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11374978, filed 2020-11, 96,000 miles
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering noise, looseness, or lock-up

   • 88 complaints (15%)
   • median 11,250 mi at 2.5 yrs old (49 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $800 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe clicking or popping when turning the wheel, steering that feels loose or vibrates over rough roads, and in a few cases the wheel locking or the power assist cutting out. Owners report dealer repairs to joints, the steering column, or related parts, with some saying the noise returned after the work. Reported across a wide range, from very low mileage vehicles to over 100,000 miles.

   What to check: Turn the wheel slowly while parked and at low speed to listen for clicks or popping, and ask whether any steering column or joint work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A clicking noise in the front end started when the wheel was turned to the right. This was about 2 years ago. The dealership replaced a joint and said it was fixed. A couple of weeks later the noise started again, became worse and the steering felt looser. The front left wheel also felt loose when going over bumps. They replaced the steering column and some other related parts. This time the steering was looser, they had to replace a bolt and said it was fixed. As soon as I left the lot I heard the same noise but very faint. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415214, filed 2021-05, 50,000 miles

   “Recall on engine was replaced 2 years ago for having metal shavings in the oil. The second motor has 15,000 miles on it and it's burning oil and smoking to where you can't see anything. I was getting on I 65 going north and smoke came out. It hesitates to go. Can't drive it over 45-50. Steering has a recall for a plastic cuffling behind steering wheel. It was replaced last year according to riverchase Kia in pelham alabama. It is now making a popping noise again. Condensation is getting in tail lights causing the bulbs to blow. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11383573, filed 2020-12, 15,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on engine noise, oil consumption, and stored codes is worthwhile, and it is worth confirming which open recalls have actually been completed. Records showing engine replacement history and oil-change intervals help gauge how the car has been maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.