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VIN REPORT

5XXGT4L38JG1851092018 KIA OptimaLX

Risk Score
33
MODERATE RISK
out of 100
2 Found
2 campaigns
223
Reported to NHTSA
Not Tested
See iihs.org/ratings
8 yrs
Made in UNITED STATES (USA)
D
Score: 64/100
Verdict & Risk Assessment
📄

Executive Summary

2018 KIA Optima was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. There are 2 open recalls on record — verify these have been repaired before purchase. 223 owner complaints include 8 reported injuries, indicating real-world safety incidents beyond normal wear.

  • 2 open recalls — verify these have been repaired before purchase
  • 8 injuries reported across 223 owner complaints
  • 9 complaints involved a crash — unusually high incident rate
  • Body/Structure is flagged in both recalls and owner complaints — double-confirmed failure pattern
33/100
Moderate Risk
3 moderate risk signals detected. Negotiate accordingly and verify service history.
LOWMODERATEHIGHCRITICAL
Contributing Risk Factors — 3 detected
Critical deferred maintenance — safety-critical components overdue
+20
Elevated fire risk signals detected
+7
2 model-wide recalls on record
+6
Critical Alerts

No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.

Vehicle
Make
KIA
Model
Optima
Year
2018
Trim / Series
LX
Body Style
Sedan/Saloon
Vehicle Type
PASSENGER CAR
Drive Type
FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel Type
Gasoline
Engine
4-cyl 2.4L 185 hp
Transmission
Automatic
Doors
4
Manufacturer
KIA GEORGIA, INC
Assembly
GEORGIA, UNITED STATES (USA)
GVWR
Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Base MSRP
$22,600
Safety
D
Score: 64/100
Crash Test Rating20/40
Recall Safety27/30
Complaint History17/30
10/100Low

✓ No high-risk recall components found

21/100
Moderate
6 of 20 safety features detected
Missing: Automatic Emergency Braking, Pedestrian AEB, Forward Collision Warning
Elevated
  • 10 complaint(s) involved a fire
Moderate
  • 8 injuries reported in complaints

Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.

The same components appear in both official NHTSA recalls and owner-filed complaints — a double-confirmed failure signal.

Body/Structure
1 recall7 complaints
Forward Collision Warning?Unknown
Automatic Emergency Braking?Unknown
Pedestrian AEB?Unknown
Rear AEB?Unknown
Lane Departure Warning?Unknown
Lane Keep Assist?Unknown
Lane Centering Assist?Unknown
Blind Spot MonitoringStandard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert?Unknown
Adaptive Cruise Control?Unknown
Adaptive Headlights?Unknown
Auto High Beam?Unknown
Parking AssistStandard
Backup CameraStandard
Electronic Stability ControlStandard
Tire Pressure Monitoring?Direct
Event Data Recorder?Unknown
Crash Notification?Unknown
Dynamic Brake SupportStandard
Keyless Ignition?Unknown
Recalls
70/100
Critical Deferred Risk
Critical deferred failure risk — 3 safety-critical or high-cost components are past their service interval. Without immediate attention, repair costs will compound significantly.
No odometer data on record. Mileage is estimated at ~96,000 mi based on average annual driving. Items marked EST. OVERDUE may already be due — verify service history with the seller. Items marked OVERDUE are confirmed past-due based on vehicle age alone.
DUE SOONCriticalTiming Chain Tensioner
Service interval: 120,000 mi · Est. ~96,000 mi (no odometer on record)
Schedule Timing Chain Tensioner service before 120,000 mi
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
EST. OVERDUECriticalWater Pump
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 8 yr · Past due by age
Service Water Pump immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
EST. OVERDUEHighTransmission Fluid / Service
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 8 yr · Past due by age
Service Transmission Fluid / Service immediately — already past the 60,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
EST. OVERDUEHighCoolant Flush
Service interval: 5 yr · Vehicle age: 8 yr · Past due by age
Service Coolant Flush immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 5 yr interval
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
EST. OVERDUEModerateSpark Plugs (iridium/platinum)
Service interval: 8 yr · Vehicle age: 8 yr · Past due by age
Service Spark Plugs (iridium/platinum) immediately — already past the 100,000 mi / 8 yr interval
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
DUE SOONModerateFuel Injectors
Service interval: 120,000 mi · Est. ~96,000 mi (no odometer on record)
Schedule Fuel Injectors service before 120,000 mi
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
22 RECALLS

NHTSA VIN-specific recall lookup returned no data for this VIN. The 2 recalls below are model-wide and may or may not apply to this exact vehicle depending on production date. Verify at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Estimated Repair Completion (Statistical)

Average repair completion across 2 recalls is ~67%. Always ask the seller for dealer service records confirming each repair.

67%
avg repaired

Statistical model based on recall age, component type, and manufacturer. Not a repair confirmation. Demand dealer service records.

KIA Recall Completion Rate — Industry Context
86%Fair

KIA completes recalls at a fair rate (86%). If this vehicle has open recalls, follow up with a dealer — average remedy time is ~20 months.

Avg time to remedy open recall: ~20 months · Source: NHTSA Recall Completion Rate Reports

Avg Fix Time
20mo
#18V161000
Aug 2018

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

SummaryKia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a Voltage Protection Device (VPD), designed to protect the high voltage battery module, that may activate inadvertently.
Read full details...
ConsequenceIf the VPD activates while the vehicle is being operated in Electric Vehicle (EV) mode, there may be a loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Est. Repair Completion~64%

~36% chance this recall was never fixed

Moderate Risk

Source: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type

#23V594000
Invalid Date

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH

SummaryKia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in Hybrid vehicles. The trunk latch base may crack, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Read full details...
ConsequenceA person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Est. Repair Completion~70%

~30% chance this recall was never fixed

Moderate Risk

Source: NHTSA statistical model by recall age & component type

LONG-STANDING OPEN
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
7.8yr open

⚠ One or more recalls have been open for over 5 years — may never have been repaired on this vehicle.

08/03/2018
2 total campaigns
Body/Structure
2
Part Replacements
0
Software/OTA Updates
0
Buyback/Refund
0
High-Effort Repairs
1 recall is over 2 years old — statistically less likely to have been completed. Verify repair status with any dealer using your VIN.
RECALL DIDN'T FIX IT

100% of complaints about "HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM" were filed AFTER recall campaign 18V161000 (2018-08-03) — the recall remedy may not have fully resolved the issue.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
100% post-recall
Recall: 2018-08-030 before · 44 after#18V161000

Continuing complaints after a recall may indicate an inadequate fix, a new failure mode, or that many vehicles never had the recall performed. Verify recall completion status directly with NHTSA.

7mo
Lag from first complaint to recall
First complaint: 2018-01-20 · Recall issued: 2018-08-03

Recall was issued within 7 months of first complaints — relatively prompt response.

Complaints
Engine/Powertrain
2 crash2 inj126
Electrical
41
Other
19
Brakes
1 crash10
Safety Systems
5 crash5 inj9
Steering
8
Body/Structure
1 crash1 inj7
Suspension/Wheels
2
2018
6
2019
17
2020
20
2021
17
2022
32
2023
43
2024
35
2025
44
2026
9
30% trend in recent years (increasing complaints)
Stable -7%
74
Last 24 months
80
Prior 24 months
Fire/smoke31
Engine stalling29
Electrical failure8
Steering loss1
Tire blowout1
Conditions Reported
Highway/high-speed (42)Startup (16)Parking/low-speed (7)Rain/wet (7)Cold weather (1)
223HIGH VOLUME
10
Fires
9
Crashes
8
Injuries
ODI #11736008ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate from a standing start the vehicle had experience sever jerking and hesitation. Also, the vehicle has experience oil consumption problems and the contact constantly added engine oil. The cause of the failures were not determine. Also, the hood latch had malfunctioned and the hood could not opened to add oil to the engine. The cause of the failures were not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failures but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 121,000.

ODI #11734333ENGINE

2018 Kia Optima LX, 2.4L GDI Theta II engine. Approximately 128,000 miles. Reporting severe internal oil consumption that has progressed to engine misfire and shaking, consistent with late-stage Theta II connecting rod bearing failure. The vehicle is now unsafe to drive and has been parked. Timeline: Purchased as a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle in December 2021. Excessive oil consumption began shortly after purchase. For approximately 4.5 years I have added about 1 quart of oil every 2 weeks to keep the engine from running dry. No external leaks have ever been found by any mechanic. Multiple independent mechanics attempted diagnosis and repair over this period. None resolved the issue. The vehicle has now developed a pronounced shake and apparent engine misfire, the textbook progression to rod bearing failure documented in NHTSA investigation PE19-004 and prior recalls/campaigns 17V-224, SC147, and SC172. Safety concerns: Sudden engine seizure or stall at highway speed creates a serious crash risk for me and surrounding traffic. Theta II 2.4L GDI rod bearing failure has been associated with under-hood fires. The defect develops gradually with no warning to the driver beyond elevated oil consumption, which is frequently dismissed as normal until catastrophic failure occurs. I am filing this complaint to document the failure and to add to NHTSA's data on the Theta II GDI 2.4L engine in 2018–2019 Optimas. This model year was excluded from the original 2017 recall but is included in the Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation class settlement and the lifetime engine warranty extension. My vehicle's symptoms match the defect pattern exactly. I will pursue warranty engine replacement, but I want this safety failure on the federal record regardless of how Kia responds.

ODI #11731478ENGINE

Consuming fuel to the amount of roughly 1/2 quart per 150 miles. Vehicle has been inspected by mechanic and the oil pan, oil filter, and PCV valve has been replaced and engine oil UV dye added and cycled with no leaks found. The risk is that if not rigorously checked often, the engine will malfunction because the car runs out of oil. I have had my mechanic checking this car since I purchased it in January 2026. We have had to replace the oil pan and do two full oil changes with three separate quarts of oil being added in between all of that to keep it topped up. My mechanic agrees that the engine is consuming oil at an extremely high rate. My mechanic and a mechanic at the dealership where I purchased it are the only one who has inspected the car for this issue so far. The mechanic at the dealership is who recommended we replace the oil pan to see if that fixed the leak, which my personal mechanic did. Yes the critical engine failure lamp illuminates on the dashboard when the oil ran out the first time while I was driving it. This was how I discovered that there was an oil leak. This specific incident occurred three weeks after I purchased the car which I bought in mid-January of 2026.

ODI #11725280ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I am submitting this complaint regarding ongoing and persistent mechanical issues with my vehicle since the time of purchase. The vehicle has repeatedly shut off unexpectedly, creating a serious safety concern. Initially, I suspected the issue might be related to the battery, and I have replaced the battery twice within the past 4 years. However, the problem has continued. In January, the vehicle began shaking and shutting down again. I took it to a mechanic, who diagnosed the issue as faulty spark plugs and an ignition coil. The diagnostic codes provided were P0303 and P0456, and the recommended repairs were completed. Approximately one month later, the vehicle began shutting off again. I then took it to the dealership, where I was advised that the valve cover gasket needed to be replaced, along with the belts, and that a fuel system cleaning was required. I subsequently had these repairs completed by my mechanic. Less than a week after completing those repairs, the vehicle once again began shutting down. A diagnostic scan then produced code P123300. In addition to these repeated shutdowns, the vehicle consumes an excessive amount of oil, has poor acceleration, and continues to stall unexpectedly both while driving on the road and while idling, such as in a drive thru. These recurring issues have made the vehicle unreliable and unsafe. I am concerned about the risk of the vehicle shutting off while in motion, which could lead to a dangerous situation. I am requesting that this matter be reviewed for potential defects or safety-related concerns.

ODI #11723632STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

My teenage daughter regularly drives this vehicle. The vehicle began experiencing significant oil consumption, oil leaks, and intermittent loss of power. During an early inspection at an independent repair facility, a check engine code P1326 was identified. Due to the symptoms and diagnostic code, the repair facility advised that the vehicle could be heading toward engine failure and recommended that the vehicle be taken to an authorized dealership because potential engine issues may fall under manufacturer warranty coverage. The vehicle was then towed to an authorized dealership. During the first visit, the dealership retained the vehicle for an extended period of time, approximately two months. During that visit, several recommended services were completed, including replacement of spark plugs, ignition wires, and replacement of the valve cover gasket along with other recommended maintenance. During that visit, it was also stated that the vehicle has a known issue with excessive oil consumption. Because of this, the oil level is checked weekly and oil is added as needed. I also informed the dealership that the independent repair facility had identified code P1326, but I was told that the dealership diagnostic codes were different. After these repairs, the vehicle experienced another incident where it lost power and began idling roughly while being driven on a busy highway. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership. During that visit, it was stated that the fuel injector harness and oil pressure sensor needed to be replaced. The dealership also indicated that the spark plugs needed to be replaced again, even though they had been replaced at the same dealership less than a year earlier. At that time, I asked if the vehicle would be safe to drive for approximately one week because I needed to travel out of town and my daughter would need the vehicle. The dealership advised that it was safe to drive during that time. The vehicle was then brought back to the deal

ODI #11722839STRUCTURE

About a month ago my paint on my 2018 Kia Optima snow white pearl car started bubbling, then it turned into peeling and has since then been coming off more and more. It is occurring right under the back seat of the drivers side window. Reading into this issue more, it is happening to many who own a Kia Optima owners, especially those who own the snow white pearl color. Kia is not helping customers who are out of warranty but since this is a manufacturer defect they should be, even if they are out of warranty.

ODI #11710029UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

It started with the oil. I constantly have to add oil. when it first started that’s what I was doing just adding oil. Then it got worse the engine light started to come on and it no longer gives me the low oil warning. I took it to the dealership and it was there for about three weeks. They said that the car needed a system update, they updated it and i took it home after that. Its been about a year since then and my car is still having the same issue and getting worse. I had to change the spark plugs a few times since then i also have oil coming out the back pipe and it’s been doing this since before I took it to the dealership. I also had to spend money on a rental car while it was at the dealership.

ODI #11709575ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

I turned the car off, it had difficulty turning back on and the brake pedal got really hard. I had to wait about 30-45 minutes and then I was able to get the car started and brake pedal back to normal and no lights. Recently, I left the car on to run into a shop real quick and come back out. When I got back to the car, the power steering light, battery, and warning light?(amber triangle with ! In the center of it) were all on. I rev the engine and the issue went away for a quick second but then came back on. To avoid turning my car off and being stuck, I just shift to reverse and tried to leave. I’m backing out of the spot and now the backup camera is going in and out lights flashing on the dash and I’m trying to brake but the brake pedal isn’t registering and next thing you know, I’ve backed into a guard rail. On the way to drop my kids off at the babysitter, I was coming to a stop sign, and my car wouldn’t brake, i went through oncoming trafic and had to run off the road. KIA did a multi point inspection a few months apart from one another. One the car tested fine, then the second time they are saying a brake booster and no engine oil in the vehicle and that the car is basically trash. The oil light goes on and off and I can smell burning oil. I still owe 7 grand on this car and I just bought it last year and it was seamingly fine.

ODI #11709524ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

I was sold an unsafe vehicle at J and J Auto house 6446 Wilshire Bl LA,CA 90022. Dealer withheld condition of car . Had car three months and was stranded on highway. Car was towed to Kia dealer and diagnosed with complete engine failure. Dealer will not honor limited warranty, shady sales practices withheld recall info during sale, won’t allow his mechanic to look at car, dodged calls, denied request to return car for refund

ODI #11708064STEERING

Steering column coupler went bad. Unable to swap out the coupler alone ($12 part) and had to get a whole new column (over $1200). Some of the Kia's around this one's make and model were recalled but not this one. Without this repair driving would have been dangerous.

ODI #11706817ENGINE

My engine is under the Kia class action lawsuit for the KDS with the rod bearing clearance issues. I have done all my oil changes with paper work available. I got the update to the ECU several years ago as needed to be covered. Now my engine has failed and I took to the dealer to check but they said I didn't have a specific code and that they can't do any testing to verify it would be under the warranty. I called Kia Customer Care and have talked to them several times. They have told me there wasn't a need for the code and that the dealer could do other testing. The dealer stated that they can't do the BCT test due to a cylinder not having compression. I told Kia this is all related to the bearing going out and they said they can't do anything if the dealer said it's not under warranty. So I have now been going in circles with kia and dealer since 11/18/25. I sent kia another email on 12/15/25 and another on 12/18/25 due to not receiving a response. It's now 12/23/25 and still no response. They have a service bulletin that I seen online that was for dealers if any issues with testing they had other options but still nothing has been done.

ODI #11704303ENGINE

While driving my 2018 Kia Optima S, the car suddenly jerked, lost power, and stalled in traffic. Multiple warning lights came on at the same time including the oil light, battery light, and check engine light. I had no acceleration and the brakes became very hard to press. The vehicle had to be towed for safety reasons. The Kia dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed internal engine failure due to “cylinder failure” and stated the engine needs complete replacement. This failure occurred without any external leaks and without warning other than the sudden loss of power. The dealer stated the issue is not covered, even though it is clearly an internal engine malfunction. This is a major safety hazard because the stall happened while I was in active traffic. A sudden loss of power and braking ability puts me and others at risk of an accident. The problem has been confirmed by the Kia dealership through diagnostic testing. The vehicle is still available for inspection. Warning lamps appeared only at the moment of failure, giving no advance warning. This appears to be related to the ongoing engine defects in Kia vehicles involving oil starvation, loss of compression, cylinder scoring, and internal engine failure. Cylinder failure and sudden stalling should be investigated as part of the known safety-related engine defects affecting this model.

ODI #11702775UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Paint on all four door handles are bubbling and chipping. I rarely use the backseat handles and passenger door, which makes it more likely to be a malfunction in whatever paint was used for the handles. There is no fading, chipping, or bubbling on other parts of my car.

ODI #11701971STRUCTURE

Paint peeling from driver side door.

ODI #11701737ENGINE

Car keeps stalling while driving

ODI #11701751AIR BAGSCRASH1 INJURY

I was rearended, all air bags deployed except steeringwheel

ODI #11697664ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

On August 26, 2025, I brought my 2018 Kia Optima Plug-In Hybrid to an authorized dealer for recall SC218 (engine inspection and KSDS software update). The dealer verbally stated both SC218 and SC278 recalls were completed, and the repair order (RO #XXX) lists them as performed. In September 2025, Kia America emailed me showing recall SC218 still open, and a warranty coverage report dated September 26, 2025, again listed SC218 as unclosed. On November 4, 2025, NHTSA’s official VIN lookup confirmed the recall remains “Incomplete.” On October 21, 2025, Kia America emailed me under Case #XXX stating that SC218 was “confirmed completed” and that the dealer performed a software update to the ECU, referencing RO #XXX. However, NHTSA’s database still lists recall SC218 as incomplete. This contradiction between Kia America’s internal record, the dealer’s invoice, and the federal NHTSA database raises a serious safety concern that the recall inspection or software update was never actually performed or was never reported correctly. I have requested written proof and diagnostic data (Battery SOH report) multiple times but have not received them. If accurate, this means I was led to believe my vehicle’s engine-safety recall had been repaired when federal records still list it as open. I am requesting NHTSA to review this reporting discrepancy, ensure Kia America and the dealer produce verifiable proof of completion, and confirm that the federal record is corrected. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ODI #11693147UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Trunk latch broke leaving it impossible for someone in the trunk to get out and very difficult for someone on the outside to open the trunk

ODI #11691928ENGINE

I’ve had my car for 6 months and it constantly burns oil I’ve had 4 oil changes because it Is completely disappearing but my mechanics can not find any leaks. Then I changed all my spark plugs and two were completely burnt and they were changed a month ago and now one of them went again and this time is completely covered in oil

ODI #11690169ENGINE

The engine of my 2018 Kia Optima is burning oil. When it started, I had 72,000 miles, and it's burning one quart of oil every thousand miles. There is no oil leak. I will take it back to Kia on October 2, 2025. The mechanic reported that it has an internal engine issue.

ODI #11689592ENGINE

The oil consumption is burning at a faster rate than normal. My oil changes are always on time but for months I have been having to take it for an oil change about 2,000 miles below mileage time. I have had it inspected but found no oil leaks. This is a major problem for the engine and safety.

ODI #11689026ENGINE

Engine seized and stopped working. While I could not find any recall information based on the VIN, it is a 2018 Kia which was subject to the Kia Engine Settlement (In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation , No. 8:17‑cv‑00838‑JLS‑JDE and Flaherty v. Hyundai Motor Company, et al. , No. 18‑cv‑02223 (C.D. Cal.)). Was never notified of such settlement as the VIN would have triggered this notification by Kia but they obviously did not list this in the recall.

ODI #11688052ENGINE

I was driving on the highway with my children and the engine started to knock and lock up. I had to swerve onto an exit and roll into a gas station. My check engine light was on. I had it serviced in 2023 at a kia dealership. I had electrical issues to my battery that I opted to get fixed elsewhere. The dealership was aware of the recall on my engine, when I had it towed to them in 2025. Dealership said I opted out of a recall on my engine.

ODI #11687988ENGINE

Car would convulse and shake very wildly metal parts spread around engine. It has very rough idle. 4th cylinder went out and car only has about 99060 miles. The valve went out. My safety was very bad as car was not driving safely and shaking like a person having a seizeure each time it would stop. Vehicle has been inspected by a Kia dealer. This problem I had seems to get an issue many other people with Kia Optima have.

ODI #11685738ENGINE

My 2018 Kia Optima has a cracked oil pan, which caused an excessive oil leak —up to 5 quarts in a matter of hours. This eventually led to my engine going out.

ODI #11684905ENGINE

Car suddenly stopped working; it was struggling to stay on. Mechanic stated cylinder is not functioning at full force.

ODI #11681636ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFIRE

My cars bulbs have been blowing on a regular basis for two years..some of the bulb connections are catching fire and exploding .Ive changed on numerous occasions but doesn’t matter even with new fittings…obviously an electric problem

ODI #11681328ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal with the oil warning light flashing on the instrument panel. The contact's friend initially inspected the vehicle and discovered that the engine oil was empty. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the mechanic discovered oil around the engine; however, the source of the leak was not discovered. The contact was informed that an engine valve was sealed and that the failure was repaired. Despite the repair, the failure persisted, and the oil light was frequently illuminated on the instrument panel. The engine oil level was checked and was extremely low. The dealer had not offered any additional assistance for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact made several attempts to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

ODI #11678073ENGINE

My 2018 Kia Optima went into limp mode while exiting the freeway. I had it scanned and received a P1326 code, which is directly tied to the known engine knock sensor / bearing wear issue in Kia models. The engine light came on and the car lost power suddenly. This created a very unsafe situation. I contacted Kia, and they confirmed that my VIN is not included in the engine recall (KSDS campaign), even though my symptoms exactly match the covered vehicles. I am now stuck with an undriveable car and no recall coverage, even though I’m facing the same failure risk. I believe this VIN should be included, and that this is a clear safety issue. I am requesting the NHTSA to investigate and push Kia to expand coverage to include more affected vehicles.

ODI #11674425ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My 2018 Kia Optima LX began using excessive oil (>3 quarts/1000 miles) just over 100K miles. I researched and found that the Theta II engine in my car is known for this. When I took my car to dealership (Stokes Hodges Kia, North Augusta, SC), with the check engine light on, they told me me plugs were fouled (they were just replaced 1 yr prior), cylinder 3 misfiring, and that I needed to pay a few thousand dollars to have repaired. When I asked them to guarantee the soaking process they recommended, they responded that they couldn't, that it "only worked 80% of the time." I have the KSDS download since 2019 and asked them to follow the guidelines of their TSB ENG 222 for the class action lawsuit and start a 1000 mile oil consumption test. they refused, basically telling me the only way to get a new engine from Kia, since my car is over 100K miles, is to drive it until the engine seizes. I expressed my fear for personal safety, but they wouldn't help me. I am original owner and have all services, etc documented. I called Kia customer affairs, then was told only local dealership could help. they stuck me in a loop between them without helping. Please help me.

ODI #11673608ENGINE

Kia is aware of the engine oil consumption causing misfires, failed emissions test, blowing a rod and engine lock up. THEIR SOLUTION WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT STATE ONCE THE CAR IS LOCKED UP OR ROD HAS BLOWN THROUGH THE ENGINE THEN THEY WILL FIX IT. I HAVE HAD TO ADD OIL AT LEAST 3 TIMES EVERY 3000 MILES AND CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE OIL FILTER AS WELL. THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MUTLIPLE TIMES ALSO TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. KIA ADVISED THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICHLE IS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALL STATES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND THEY SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH SELLING DEFECTIVE VEHICLES AND NOT REPAIRING THE ISSUES THEY KNEW THEY HAD PRIOR TO SELLING THE VEHICLES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

ODI #11672753ENGINE

Engine failed despite maintenance and repairs. The car is part of the active class action for Kia Engine Defects. The KSDS software was never installed as we were never notified about the recall by kia. As a result, Kia denied coverage under the engine defect class action settlement. We need this vehicle repaired or compensation for replacement

ODI #11672508VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Purchased car about 4 months ago, before warranty ran out, the shop looked at it told me it was fine, it wouldn't accelerate. Few weeks later same issue but all my oil was gone, they found 11 things wrong with the vehicle, told me warranty wouldn't take care of it unless the engine blow up. The salesman Scottie Mitchell told me check Kia for recalls, called Kia 3 recalls, they were trying to finance another car higher, back wanted to know why the dealership didn't know about recalls, Kia place did call a Robert. One of the owners did know about recalls, why dealership didn't pass them on. They trying to sell me a higher vehicle to keep cover the cost of the one I got 1st

ODI #11672225ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

The car is literally burning through oil so bad every other week I am putting more in, the electrical system continues to fail and shorts, the motor sounds like it is ticking now due to the oil consumption.

ODI #11671015ENGINE

The 2.4L Theta II engine in my 2018 Kia Optima is failing, exhibiting excessive oil consumption, with oil loss documented at over 1 quart per 1,000 miles, leading to secondary failures in the catalytic converter, clogged with oil carbon and breaking into pieces that may damage the cylinder walls, and the spark plugs, which are fouled with carbon, causing misfires. The engine and related components remain intact and un-repaired, pending Kia’s required 3,000-mile consumption test. Safety of drivers have been put at significant risk. The excessive oil consumption and potential engine seizure threaten sudden loss of power, especially on freeways where car fails to accelerate to city and highway speeds, increasing the chance of a collision. The clogged catalytic converter poses a fire hazard, (reported by NHTSA investigations into Theta II) where oil leaks or debris can ignite on hot surfaces. Risk is heightened during the mandated 3,000-mile test as well. Problem has been confirmed by both a dealer and an independent service center as recent at 1 July, '25, documenting oil loss and new engine recommendation. Symptoms began with noticeable oil loss during oil changes, starting at least 1 quart per interval on May 10, 2023 (mileage 43,374), with the loss increasing over time. Misfires and RPM loss during acceleration first appeared after the oil valve gasket replacement in late May 2025, and freeway pickup issues became apparent around mid-June 2025. The full engine failure was confirmed by Spitzer on July 01, 2025.

ODI #11667034ENGINE

Got an oil change, and they advised that it was low on oil. (I had just replaced it recently) I took it to the dealer and they advised a part was bad, that they replaced. I was driving and the check engine light and oil light came on . I had to tow car. Dealer said the engine was burning oil, and that the engine is covered, but I would have to drive it until it got worse.

ODI #11666542ENGINE

Subject: Urgent Request for Engine Replacement – 2018 Kia Optima Dear Kia Consumer Affairs, I am writing to formally report a recurring and increasingly dangerous engine issue with my 2018 Kia Optima, and to request immediate assistance, including consideration for an engine replacement due to ongoing safety and reliability concerns. Since June 2024, I have routinely visited the Kia dealership on a near-monthly basis for service due to persistent problems with excessive oil consumption and spark plug failures. Each visit has resulted in service-related expenses, despite my efforts to maintain the vehicle in accordance with manufacturer recommendations. Unfortunately, the issue has not been resolved and continues to worsen. Most recently, on [XXX], I experienced a critical incident. While driving, the engine began shaking aggressively, the check engine light illuminated, and smoke was detected coming from the engine compartment. Out of concern for my safety, I immediately pulled over and had the vehicle dropped off at a nearby garage for emergency inspection. This incident, combined with the repeated monthly service visits and associated costs, clearly indicates a systemic issue that may be linked to known engine defects in similar Kia models. I urge Kia to review my case for warranty coverage, recall eligibility, or goodwill engine replacement assistance. I have attached supporting documentation including service records, receipts, and oil consumption logs. Please advise on the next steps for resolving this matter. Thank you for your attention. I look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ODI #11664974POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

There is already the theta 2 campaign on my Kia optima but Kia is not upholding their warranty for a new engine. Kia customer care told me that untill my car actually throws a rod then they will not fix it. So I could be doing 80 down the freeway and jeopardize not only my safety but everyone else's for them to uphold their lifetime warranty? Also upon doing further investigation and I don't know how many cars this pertains to but the fuse box in my 2018 actually belongs to a 2016 which if you look it up yes they are comparable but don't offer all the same functions or power that my 2018 needs to run I fully believe Kia knew this when they were being built on the factory line because it just so happens that there is about 6 different versions to the pcb relay that can fit from a 2016 to a 2020 k5 but for some odd reason every car got something different why?

ODI #11662780ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact turned off the cruise control; however, the failure persisted, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the check oil warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart, and the vehicle was towed to a service station. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed, causing fuel intrusion into the engine and engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

ODI #11662673AIR BAGSCRASH

The contact called on behalf of his son who owned a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 MPH, the front of the vehicle crashed into the rear end of the vehicle that was in front of him whom made a sudden stop. The contact was concerned that the air bags were not deployed. No warning lights was illuminated. A police report was filed. No medical attention was sought, and no injuries were sustained. The vehicle was pronounced totaled at the scene. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer however, received no response. The failure mileage was 96,145.

ODI #11660972ENGINE

This vehicle has an active recall: SC218 / DTC P1326 – ECU UPDATE / ENGINE REPAIR. I brought it to Martin Kia in Newark, Delaware, but they refused to perform the recall stating that since the vehicle is owned by a used car dealer, the recall is not applicable. They also provided a written statement saying that the extended warranty does not apply because I am a dealer, and that they will not perform any recall work until the vehicle is owned by a “customer.” However, federal law requires all safety recalls to be completed free of charge, regardless of the vehicle’s current ownership status or whether it is owned by a dealership. This is a safety issue and refusal to perform recall work puts future drivers at risk. I have attached the letter they gave me for your reference. I kindly request your urgent review of this case and enforcement action to ensure the dealership complies with federal recall obligations.

ODI #11660558ENGINE

I am the current legal owner of a 2018 Kia Optima Hybrid (VIN: [XXX] ), which has an open safety recall under campaign number SC218Y3 (DTC P1326 – Knock Sensor Detection System / ECU Update / Possible Engine Repair). I attempted to schedule the recall repair with Martin Kia in Newark, Delaware. However, the service department refused to perform the recall service on the basis that I purchased the vehicle from an auction and do not have prior service records. This denial is a clear violation of federal recall regulations. As stated by NHTSA, all safety recall repairs must be completed free of charge regardless of ownership history or how the vehicle was purchased. I am now left with a potentially dangerous vehicle that Kia refuses to service, despite an active recall on file. This situation is unacceptable and puts me, as well as other road users, at risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate Kia’s non-compliance and ensure they are held accountable for refusing to fulfill their legal obligations regarding this recall. I am willing to provide proof of ownership and any supporting documentation. Thank you Best regards My Contact Info: [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ODI #11660200ENGINE

Burning oil prematurely causing engine to go and need replacement.

ODI #11659714ENGINE

Vehicle engine shut down without warning while driving on the interstate on April 27,2025. I had the vehicle towed and come to find out a "campaign" was issued for the vehicles engine in July of 2018. I purchased the car used in March of 2021 and was not aware of the "campaign" in which the vehicles engine was defective and could possibly cause a fire. I have reached out to KIA to see if they could help me in resolving the issue with the engine, but have yet to hear back from them.

ODI #11654394ENGINE

Mi Kia Optima 2018 con motor 2.4L GDI presenta consumo excesivo de aceite, un problema que he visto reportado por muchos otros propietarios del mismo modelo. En solo 700 millas recorridas, el aceite baja hasta el punto “Low” sin fugas visibles. Este consumo anormal puede causar fallos en el motor si no se revisa constantemente. El concesionario Kia ya revisó el vehículo, pero como no hay recall abierto, no ofrecieron solución, a pesar de que este motor ha sido identificado en boletines técnicos por este problema. Solicito que este caso sea considerado por la NHTSA para que se investigue si debe emitirse un recall extendido para los Kia Optima con motor 2.4L GDI.

ODI #11653766ENGINE

Oil consumption and engine code P200A

ODI #11652695ENGINE

Kia is aware of the engine oil consumption causing misfires, failed emissions test, blowing a rod and engine lock up. THEIR SOLUTION WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT STATE ONCE THE CAR IS LOCKED UP OR ROD HAS BLOWN THROUGH THE ENGINE THEN THEY WILL FIX IT. I have had to replace the spark plugs multiple times in last 12 months due to misfires while driving. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY CANT DOING ANYTHING TO HELP EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE THEY SUGGEST THAT I DRIVE WITH NO OIL AND LOCK THE ENGINE UP EVEN THOUGH IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH. MY LIFE SHOULD NOT BE PUT IN DANAGER FIRST IN ORDER FOR THEM.TO FIX THE ENGINE.

ODI #11651118ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact noticed an abnormal oil consumption. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a spark plug misfire. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to a local independent service center, and the spark plugs were replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was repaired several times; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to a second local independent mechanic, where the spark plugs and other unknown repairs were made. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

ODI #11649251ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shuddered and stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was able to restart but was shuddering significantly. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a fractured valve in cylinder #1. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the maintenance records of the vehicle were satisfactory; however, the manufacturer denied assistance and informed the contact that the failure was not a factory defect but was due to wear and tear. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

ODI #11644939ENGINE

Complaint-Car misfired, oil leaking on spark plugs causing an Engin Replacement that was first complained to Gossett Kia Covington Pike,1900 Covington Pike, Memphis, Tn 38128 on [XXX].On [XXX] complaint car shakes, misfire. Complaint to Gossett Kia South 2680 Mt.Moriah Rd, Memphis, Tn 35115. This date car stayed at dealership 3 days invoice a diagnostic was performed total amt $913.38. On 12/26/24 Mr.Macias on Mt.Moriah asked me to bring my vehicle in for another diagnostic test, amt to be charged $251.00 this time a tune up, replaced #4 spark plug that had misfired, fuel injectors cleaned I asked Mr.Macias "why would I have that done when it had been done the month before, the Tech recommended Engine Replacement. I also asked the above, what about the Tech's findings, Mr.Macias stated he would get back with me. On 1/16/25 Mr.Macias called to discuss Engine replacement (Projected Amt:$6,300). I have contacted Kia Consumer Assistance on 1/10/25 to discuss all of the above to no avail. I have been without a vehicle since 12/3/26 I am continually getting the run around, I have all invoices to verify my dilemma with a vehicle that is sitting unused. I am a [XXX] who is still making a $484.00 car payment per month. I've done my research on the 2018 Kia Optima's, only to find that the same problem that I'm having with the oil leaking on the spark plugs, misfiring , shaking, causing stalling in the middle of traffic, if this is not a hazard, what is ? This a problem that should have been corrected long ago. I would appreciate it if you would please help me. I'm tired of having to pay to get to and from Dr's. Office visits, drug stores and grocery stores. Thanking you in advance, [XXX] [XXX] or email address : [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

ODI #11644266SEAT BELTS

Passenger seat belt goes off when no one is sitting there.

ODI #11637108POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

My engine burns oil very bad. Black smoke comes out of my tailpipe and I burn through 5 quarts in less than a thousand miles. I just got my oil changed two weeks again and I just had to add more oil to my car bc it was empty. I’ve had to replace the spark plugs twice due to soot build up. I can’t afford a new car I’m 17 and can barely afford the maintenance let alone a whole new engine. Have spoken to many mechanics and they all say the same thing “it’s a Kia it’s gonna burn oil” ITS A KNOWN ISSUE. And yet Kia will not resolve it bc they don’t want to spend their own money to fix their mistake. I got an estimate for a new engine which is basically crucial and it’s over three grand. No matter where I take it everyone always says the same thing- to get rid of it before it’s too late. But I simply cannot afford to do that and I know my car is not the only one with this issue so many other people with the same car/engine have the same issue. 2.4 L GDI !!!!! I wish someone would have warned me before buying Kia. A recall to fix this issue is needed now. I lose control of the speed sometimes. I will keep my foot at a set position on the throttle and the engine will take off because it’s jumping to the usual power it should have. ( it has reduced power most of the time bc of the struggling engine) sometimes on the highway I’ll get a sudden burst of power and I have to let off the accelerator. Not safe at all

ODI #11636731POWER TRAIN

It burns oil constantly. I constantly have to get new filters put on because they become black very quickly same with the oil itself. The engine has a tic and I know other people with optima’s that have the same problem. I burn through 4 quarts in two weeks- less than 600 miles.

ODI #11632125ENGINE

Increased oil consumption with needing oil added and or changed half way before date or milage stated, oil changes performed by Kia dealer. Car staling and engine knocking while driving. Burnt smell while driving.

ODI #11631816ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

ODI #11628268ENGINEFIRE

I drove the car to the park about 6 miles round trip with family. I came back home and started having lunch for about 25 minutes. I then attempt to start the engine to go to my appointment but then car didn't turn on. On third attempt I had a weird noise coming out of the hood and I went back inside the house to get my gloves. When i came outside of the house, the hood of the car was in flames. I called 911 to turn off the fire. The car is now at a total loss.

ODI #11627569ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the spark plugs had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the dealer that the repair could not be covered due to the poor maintenance of the vehicle; however, upon providing all the maintenance records, the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired unless the engine had fully seized. The dealer offered a trade-in offer; however, the contact declined the offer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

ODI #11627235STEERING,ENGINE

Check engine light began flashing halfway down the highway. Oil changes and maintenance are done regularly. Vehicle handling seemed to be unsafe. Vehicle would not accelerate. Had inspection done in September.

ODI #11621536EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Kia Optima headlights turn off randomly while on automatic. This dangerous issue has been investigated on other Kia models by the NTSB, which them prompted Kia to issue a recall. I have found many, many posts on car and Kia forums about headlights shutting off while driving at night with the Kia Optima (as well as other Kia items). It's very scary and very hazardous. This is a widespread issue.

ODI #11621162ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

While driving at night if the headlights will randomly turn completely off

ODI #11619614ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

Engine is burning oil at a high rate have to add at least three quarts twice a week and headlights and brake lights got out twice a month

ODI #11617527POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that there was an abnormal growling sound coming from under the floorboard, and the engine was making an abnormal knocking sound. The contact stated that the RPM gauge was revving high while depressing the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the vehicle was not running normally. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. Additionally, the contact stated that vehicle was consuming approximately one quart of engine oil per week and the transmission was hesitating and was making the vehicle jerk while shifting gear. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,270.

ODI #11616664ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The engine and oil warning lights were flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who performed an oil consumption test. The vehicle failed the oil consumption test and determined that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Monroeville Kia (3721 William Penn Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146); who informed the contact there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

ODI #11615842ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Oil pressure switch faulty only has 58168

ODI #11614674UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

I’ve had the 2018 Kia Optima for a little over a year. I purchased it as a used vehicle. I’ve noticed that the car is utilizing an excessive amount of oil. Each time I get an oil change for the vehicle I am having to purchase oil to refill the vehicle about 2weeks to a month after. I’ve made multiple road trips where I’ve gotten the oil changed before leaving and I drove around 350 miles; halfway through the drive the oil was half empty on the dipstick. The first time this happened I was unaware of this issue and when I arrived to my destination after around 350 miles of driving, the car had little to no oil. I will provide store receipts of each time I had to purchase oil for the vehicle. I will also provide service interval receipts upon request. Dates of oil purchase are as follows: 1.7/18/23 2.8/16/23 3.10/20/23 4.12/18/23 5.2/7/24 6.2/29/24 7.3/18/24 8.5/4/24 9.5/11/24 10.7/9/24 Service intervals for oil changes are kept up with every 3-5k miles and can provide maintenance receipt.

ODI #11613462EXTERIOR LIGHTING

My grandson was driving home last night on our Clay County West Virginia narrow unlighted road when his 2018 Kia Optima Headlights went out completely. He wrote that he was scared but finally was able to get lights back on before running off the road. Also, several nights while car is locked with one in the car: the headlights came on. He had to unlock the car and start it up to finally get the headlights off. The lights were off when he first entered the house. I have a service call set up for 09-27-24 with Dutch Miller Kia, but there is a $180.96 + tax diagnostic charge and then the cost to repair the situation. I see there are many NHTSA complaints on your website for this problem. Kia apparently has not issued a statement or recall. HELP!

ODI #11611014ENGINE

Car cut out and stutters and the engine light flashes. Code P1326 is displayed on the OBD reader.

ODI #11605073ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle hesitated upon depression of the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact continued to drive the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH and was shaking abnormally. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 132,378.

ODI #11604993SERVICE BRAKES

Driver side brake light will only work with headlights off. Turn headlights on and it goes out and doesn't start to work until turning off headlights. Also brakes give out when trying to stop, you have to actually shift to neutral for brakes to work again.

ODI #11602764ENGINE

Have completed 4 oil consumption tests and replaced knock sensor and now have knocking in the engine

ODI #11597470ENGINE

Engine continuously stalls,while driving in both city and hight way. I have taken it in while under warranty and am told that's just how the car runs. Sudden jerks / seizure will happen while driving. since I haven't gotten the vehicle it happens at min 15mph or on the freeway at 65 mph. It is stalls at all mph .

ODI #11596313UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Sudden loss of acceleration at freeway speed. Unable to start after incident. Unknown cause. Shop unable to diagnose.

ODI #11595516ENGINECRASH

Took my vehicle for an oil change next day my vehicle was not working well stopped on me could start didn’t want to do damage so I stopped driving and had it told to a shop found out there is METAL IN THE ENGINE

ODI #11593109ENGINE

Code P-030300 was detected when doing a diagnostic on my car when the check engine light came on. It is a cylinder 3 misfire. When the car comes to a idle the car starts to shake roughly. I took it to the KIA dealership I bought the car from and they told me I would need a new engine and not to drive it.Thankfully nothing bad happened while my baby was in the car. I drove it home and stopped driving it completely once the issue occurred.

ODI #11591444ENGINE

Oil consumption issue. My mechanic referred me to Kia because oil consumption. I would bring car in because oil light and no oil in car and had oil change only 1000 miles. Kia did 2 checks one at 1000 miles and one at 500 miles and oil consumption failed both times. Now I have to pay $686 for oil combustion cleaning even though I am being told this is more than likely going to have engine replaced by Kia because of known issues,

ODI #11590383ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal amount of smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact inspected the dipstick and discovered that the engine oil level was low. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

ODI #11590203ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact’s sister owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that engine oil needed to be added every 2-3 weeks. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle received an unknown repair; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with valve cover gasket failure. The valve cover gasket was replaced however, the failure persisted. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that there was an oil leak as well as there was excessive oil consumption. The independent mechanic stated that the engine might need to be replaced; however, a diagnostic result was not confirmed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,000.

ODI #11584615ENGINE

It started with the car using oil but the mechanic could not determine where the oil was going. It quickly lead to the Cadillac converter going out with a host of other things that cost me over $2900 to fix. Which only lasted a few weeks and the last incident occurred when I was on my way home and it would not pick up speed at all and would stall. The first time it happened I was on the free way and it lost speed almost causing a semi to run into the back of me. The second time I was at a red light and when I tried to accelerate in speed and it stalled and then began to jerk before it would pick up speed. Each time the occurrence happened it placed my life as well as my families life in danger as it was sudden with no engine light or any other lights coming on. The last time it happened it left me stranded with a child, over 2 hours from home and in the middle of the night on isolated highway. Every time I would call KIA they would give me the run around on the issue and say it was due to my negligence but I beg to differ as I feel as if it is an engine error on the manufacturing. Please help. Currently the car is sitting in my yard and I can not afford to keep paying for repairs due to a faulty engine that they refuse to fix.

ODI #11583365ENGINE

My 2018 Kia Optima experienced an oil consumption issue. After awhile out of nowhere my vehicles oil light kept coming on. There was zero oil in my garage. Unbeknownst to me It was burning oil due to this oil consumption issue.I took it to multiple mechanics all which told me that this issue is a known issue and would eventually blow the engine, which is exactly what happened. I reached out to Kia in person via dealerships over the phone via their consumer line and they went out of their way to tell me all the reasons why they could not replace the engine. I have spent enormous amounts of money on rental cars and Ubers and Lyfts to get to work or appointments just to Because of this issue . I was referred to this organization by the Ga consumer bar help line.

ODI #11578952ENGINE

Indiana - car in reverse in driveway and started shaking. I turned car off and back on and it drove normally. The next day, I put the car in reverse and the shaking started again and check engine light illuminated. This car has a history of burning oil and we constantly have to add oil between oil changes. Car is at Andy Mohr Kia dealership at this time where we were told that engine would not be covered by Warranty because we are second owners. Mileage of car is 62,000 miles.

ODI #11575441ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

In case of a vehicle lockout and keys are locked in the trunk when car is opened by locksmith there is no way to unlock the trunk from inside of the car the locks become disabled and you have to reset the master switch very inconvenient for emergencies. There is no trunk release or emergency Button to open the trunk from inside the vehicle. 2018 kia optima lx

ODI #11573686ENGINE

My vehicle is constantly running out of oil within a 30 day period and I constantly getting an oil change. I was advised to get an oil consumption test at the dealer and was out of oil in 3 weeks. I was told that I have a warranty, however, it's only if the rod bearings are an issue. I think my engine should be replaced without paying a $300 diagnostic fee that might get refunded without an exact time frame.

ODI #11570807ENGINE

My engine started leaking oil from the inside and all of a sudden my car started shaking out of nowhere

ODI #11570857ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to stop; however, after numerous attempts to restart the vehicle, the contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The vehicle was later towed to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that prior to the stall, the vehicle had been consuming an abnormal amount of engine oil. The contact stated that he was adding a quart of oil every week. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

ODI #11568088ENGINE

I have had this car in the shop multiple times for a engine light that kept coming on, they would reset and say they couldn't see anything wrong. Well my car died in Dec, it made a noise and would not accelerate. To avoid any further issues I parked it and had it towed to a dealership. They told me the catalytic converter had come apart taking out the turbo and it would cost me $6k to fix. I decided to see if i could find parts cheaper, to find no one anywhere in the US or Canada has a converter for this car and it seems many dealerships have customers on waiting lists to get one, so I am now wondering if this is in fact a pretty large problem Kia is not addressing. I called Kia and got a very canned answer that parts were hard to come by right now and it could be up to 2 years to get the part. So I am now paying for a car i cannot drive and have no idea at this point if I will ever be able to drive it. i am hoping you are able to do some research to see if this is a bigger problem that nobody seems to be talking about. thank you

ODI #11566222ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing abnormal oil consumption. The contact stated that on one occasion, 3 quarts of oil were added to the vehicle after less than 1,000 miles of driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who initiated an oil consumption test. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer twice after 1,000 miles; however, upon returning to the dealer the third time, the dealer informed the contact that they could not complete the oil consumption test because the vehicle had been driven 1,200 miles. The dealer initiated another oil consumption test. The contact stated that the local dealer was 45 miles away from his residence, which made it difficult to complete the oil consumption test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

ODI #11564960ENGINE

1- My 2018 Kia Optima engine seized while driving on interstate 64 West -Had the car towed to a mechanic (J TEAM AUTO REPAIR) and was told me to contact kia because after replacing the spark plugs and coils and knock sensor there was still no compressing in cylinder 4. My life and safety was at risk when my engine blew out on the interstate. When I went to Kia Dealership they confirmed that my VIN number was included in the recall and in the class action lawsuit. customer support told me since I wasn't the first owner of the car they weren't required to honor the recall -I asked why I was never informed they told me I bought the car as second owner my 60,000 warranty has expired and the extended warranty for engine doesn’t cover compression issues - its stated on the NHTSA website that they are required to send notices to all owners.When I contacted (Escalation Case specialist) with this information they said the extended warranty only covers the rod bearing connectors, and not compression. Completely contradicting the first call I had with another employee at Kia. Kia is deliberately keeping people in cars with engines that were manufactured improperly. I had the KSDS update-It takes more than reading engine codes to get to the bottom of things. Compression is part of the engine block. Prior to the Engine failure, my Kia Optima, was constantly burning oil.

ODI #11563947ENGINE

Car burning excessive oil in engine. 2 quarts every 1,200 miles

ODI #11561944ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the low-pressure engine oil warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked and almost lost motive power however, the contact depressed the accelerator pedal and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on two occasions. The contact stated that the vehicle received an engine oil change; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

ODI #11559541ENGINE

I took my vehicle to jenkins kia-ocala back in march and may of this year for my check engine light lashing on and off and acceleration issues, car shaking, and excessive oil spilling into my spark plugs. The 1st time I took my vehicle to this location i was told to "drive my vehicle until it no longer had any motor oil to "allow the motor to lock up" to then be approved to have my vehicle engine approved under the GDI recall". I expressed my great concerns to the employees about that statement and also reported the issue to bbb. I recently took my vehicle to kia jenkins Dec 8th for the very same reason only this time I showed them paperwork from a different certified mechanic who indicated that I have an internal engine issue. Kia then created a tech line case after seeing the paperwork showing i took my vehicle to a different shop. Over the course of holding my vehicle for over a week without any answers i was able to contact kia consumer affairs who offered to repair my vehicle under good will. Kia jenkins employee told me over the phone that my car will not be approved to be fixed due to the high mileage on my vehicle. I asked them what the miles has to do with my safety and the volunteer payment that kia consumer affairs is willing to pay as that is not a reason to deny a good will payment. The employee proceeded to state its not going to be approved and I expressed I felt this is due to my previous report to the bbb. 12.8.23 i received an email from Kia consumer affairs stating the good will case has been declined due to my vehicle not being "routinely maintained" according to the feedback from jenkins kia service department. I went to kia to pick up my vehicle. I proceeded to question what maintenance was recommended that they are claiming i did not complete as they never advised me of any issues with my car pertaining to their new list of things, they added on the invoice of things they claim i denied.

ODI #11553985ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled and jerked. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was purchased from. The contact was advised that the vehicle would be towed to a Kia dealer for service. The vehicle was towed to the Kia dealer and diagnosed with failed spark plugs. The contact was informed that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed back to the Kia dealer and the contact was informed that the spark plugs were corroded due to oil consumption and the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The contact was also informed that the engine needed a combustion cleaning. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

ODI #11553112FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUEL PUMP HAS AN ACTIVE RECALL. TOOK ITIN TO DEALER AND WE ARE BEING ADVISED KIA WILL NOT COVER THE COST. THEY HAVE AN ARTICLE OUT THAT CLEARLY STATES THEY WILL COVER THE COSTS. THE CAR WREAKS OF THE SMELL OF GAS AND WE ARE SCARED IT WILL CATCH FIRE.

ODI #11551076ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEFIRE

Was driving on the interstate. The only light on was the ABS light and the car started smoking. Had to come to a stop as they were sparks coming from out under the car through it into park at around 15 mph steel jumped out of the car and within a minute the car was fully engulfed in flames.

ODI #11550544SERVICE BRAKESCRASH

I slowly pulled into the parking lot at work coming around a corner with my break song slowly to see if anything was coming from the other side, pull it around to THE back looking straight ahead to pull into my parking spot as I pulled into my parking spot mind you I have had my foot on the break before. I got there and I got into the park spot. I hit the brakes and the brakes went to the floor multiple times and the car just searched straightforward into the brick wall of the building.

ODI #11550168SUSPENSION,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE

I purchased my 2018 Kia Optima directly from the dealership, brand new. I've had the vehicle since then and have followed all of the warranty guidelines and only went to them for oil changes & other maintenance issues. Since February 2023 I've noticed where i've been having oil loss, but no sign of an oil leak. When I first noticed this, I would take a turn and my oil light would come on. I'd check the oil and it'd be low so I would refill my oil. However, this was happening 2 months after my last oil change which wasn't normal. I took the vehicle to Kia and they did an "Engine Consumption Test" where I had to drive for 1000 miles with a seal on the drain plug. After the 1000 miles, I came back and I was only 1/2 quart low. According to Kia it didn't meet the guidelines for engine replacement so they topped off my oil and I left. About 2 weeks after, my oil light came back on. I went back to Kia and spoke with the Shop Manager who stated I was 3 1/2 quarts low! He added oil to my engine and we did another round of the consumption test. When I came back in after that, I was 2 quarts low so that meant I qualified for a "Consumption Cleaning". They kept my vehicle overnight & I had to drive another 1000 miles. When I came in after my 1000 miles again I was only 1/2 quart low and therefore Kia said there wasn't an issue. I've reached out to multiple auto repair shops who state it is a Kia problem, that the engine is using it and processing it out of the exhaust. I don't know what else I have to do in order for Kia to honor the 20 year, 200k warranty. I have all documentation for all of my oil changes and from the consumption tests also.

ODI #11549514ENGINE

Excessive Oil consumption. Manufacturer specs 1 quart of oil to every 1000 miles to be added. I'm adding 1 quart for every 500 miles. Advised kia and had oil consumption test and was told nothing is wrong. I am having to add extra oil 0so engine does not seize causing a safety issue for people in car. The car randomly spits smoke out.

ODI #11548703UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Trunk latch is broken. Car doesn’t alert that trunk is open.

ODI #11547817VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? ******Speed Control- Vehicle will stall while on road/ highway causing rear vehicles to brake. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? *****Several times I was forced to pull over to side lanes to avoid being rear ended. *****Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I have called dealership several times in regards to this issue, all I was told was to do not use A/C or heater as that will make the vehicle lose power. Refused to conduct was full inspection of vehicle. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? *****No, no it has not been inspected Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? *****No warning lamps not symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

ODI #11546867ENGINE,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

My engine is under a million mile warranty because it burns 1qt oil/1,000 miles. My engine burns just under 2 quarts of oil about 800 miles. For long trips, this is very unsafe because my engine is going seize or burnout on the highway at some point. This will put my life and possibly that of other drivers at significant risk.

ODI #11546513ENGINE

vehicle stated was consuming a large amount of oil by burning it. this was able to be determined by the lack of oil or residue anywhere on the engine or engine compartment. It was then taken to the dealership were it was determined an engine oil consumption test needed to be done. the test was done and was determined that it needed an upper engine combustion cleaning to correct issue. The vehicle was then scheduled to have this procedure done. upon completion of this procedure the vehicle continued to burn oil as it could be seen out of the tailpipe upon acceleration. a second oil consumption test was performed and was found to be within dealer specs of acceptable oil consumption at 1qt per 1000 miles. When the next oil change was done by an independent garage, it was noted that the vehicle was now leaking oil from what appeared to be the oil drain plug. The dealer was then informed with pictures of the oil leak. The vehicle began leaking more and more oil now at a rate of 1/2 qt a day as of writing this the independent garage inspected again and found that there was a crack in the oil pan just to the side of the oil drain plug. After doing some research it appears to be a very common problem. The vehicle in question is supposed to be taken into dealership to have the issue checked out on the 4th of October 2023. todays date is 9/26/2023.

ODI #11546598AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Unknown

ODI #11545624POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

Car will NOT go pat 60mph and i haven’t had this car just over 6 months. And the camshaft sensors are gone out. Smoke comes out the pipe when mash on gas…. It is really a bad vehicle. And Southeast auto refuses to fix it. I really honestly think the motor is bad in it. Because I been having issues with it since I had it

ODI #11541341ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Car is burning to much oil and have to change oil every three thousand miles

ODI #11540760FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Leaking gas at the firewall when running.

ODI #11540039UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Excessive oil consumption 1-1.5 months approx. 1,000 miles into new oils change. It is available for inspection. Safety was put at risk due to not knowing there was no oil in my vehicle while constantly driving it as it did not display the oil warning sign on the dash board. The oil change dealership has confirmed an oil consumption issue two separate times. I am familiar with multiple people having this same issue with Kia and hyuandia vehicles. The dealership is requiring multiple steps to be paid out of pocket prior to using the full warranty i purchased to cover the issue even though they know what the issue is and how to fix it.

ODI #11539542ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

purchased my car in june of 2019. Ive scheduled regular oil changes and maintenance until june of 2020 where the engine light began to flicker and the car would shake. I took to Koons Kia owings mills md and it was repaired. Next year same thing. Oil compression issues all year round where i have to keep putting oil in. Now my car starts and shakes violently. the kia service modurator on the car indicated there were an engine issue. I cannot keep dishing money into this car with so many recalls (current fuel pump recall and anti theft issue) is also included. Please help

ODI #11537251POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I'm reporting these issue pertaining to the engine within the first 3 weeks AFTER the engine replacement recall was serviced and completed. The vehicle was exhibiting the same defects and major health and safety hazards as before the new engine. Intermittent engine failure, even worse, while i was trying entering the hwy at speeds of 45-50 miles it jerked very violently and loss total power while vehicles were behind me nearly rear ended. Prior to this I reached out multiple times to have it serviced at again. The original service department didn't respond, so I called other service departments and was told it needed to be serviced by the original dealership/service department that replaced the engine. I had the vehicle in normal working conditions a few days before it began exhibiting the same problems as before the engine replacement. It was in operable condition but still stalling and refusing to crank unless primed, until it ultimately just would not crank at all and is back in the same condition it was before the new engine but it is not locked up currently. The time frame and Milage between first experiencing the issues to now, March 2023-64745 Started shuddering, loss of power while driving, but would crank right back up without issues. Happened a few times, charged up battery thinking is was am electrical issue. April 2023 More frequently the issues occurred, still same severity levels. May 2023 Began happening every time at an idle, whether I was at a fast food in drive through placing an order, or to wash the car. Every time at an idle this would happen, and would take a few times of trying to start the vehicle and after about 5 seconds of cranking it would catch and work. I began placing the vehicle in neutral while at idle and it would assist In the stalling out sometimes. After a few days of this it refused to crank due to the engine locking up. Milage at this time was 68048. Aug 2023-New engine, drove about 2k miles-70207 current

ODI #11534174ENGINE

My vehicle is under a engine / oil consumption recall, I have contacted kia multiple time in regards to this issue as the vehicles are having engine fires due to this. I was advised by kia that my vehicle is under recall and has lifetime warranty but they will not fix or swap the motor until it goes out. This is a huge safety risk I am literally scared to drive my vehicle due to not knowing if the engine is going to go out at anytime or start on fire in the middle of the expressway.

ODI #11533288UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Vehicle is burning excessive amounts of oil rapidly. Date of Purchase: 04/13/2023 - mileage : 94,000-96,000 Oil light and engine light began flashing about 1-2 weeks after purchase, then went off after first oil change. noticed burning smell on occasion. First oil change 05/23/2023 - mileage: 98,045 Mechanic reported no oil in vehicle. Traveled out of town, checked oil. no oil in vehicle upon arrival. Second oil change: 06/19/2023 - mileage ~99,641 Mechanic reported no oil leak. Checked oil: 07/18/2023 - no oil in vehicle, mileage: 100,790 Having to schedule an oil change before future date and mileage listed below. Next date of oil change: 09/17/2023 - future mileage: 102,641

ODI #11532079SERVICE BRAKES

The braking system "catches" at 13mph regularly. It feels like the brakes are being applied or the vehicle is downshifting when it is decelarating to around 13mph without any actual braking being manually applied. So far no safety risk, but if the brakes fail at any point for any reason, there will be potential for great risk. The local Kia dealer was able to reproduce this but had no explanation, no recommendation, and no further advice or assistance was offered. At this point, the Kia dealership is the only entity to inspect this issue. There are no warning lights or indicators of failure or problems, but this issue has been ongoing since the vehicle was purchased.

ODI #11531860UNKNOWN OR OTHER

When we drive the car it hesitates as if it’s going to cut off and it keep burning oil. We have to put in at least 2-3 quarts in per week.

ODI #11531463VISIBILITY/WIPER

Was driving vehicle on freeway, around 65 mph, smooth road, no bumps, no indication of any road debris and suddenly heard a loud cracking/exploding noise which was extremely startling. After hearing some outside wind noise and the sound of glass pieces rattling, I realized that the glass panoramic sunroof must have broken somehow. Luckily I had the interior fabric shade closed, so no glass pieces entered the cabin to injure anyone. After getting out of the car, I could see around a 12 inch diameter hole in the sunroof glass. The remaining glass that was still attached was full of cracks. I have created a case with Kia Consumer Affairs and waiting to hear back from them. The vehicle has not received any outside inspection as of yet for this incident. There was no prior warning to this issue, no creaking noises or visible cracks.

ODI #11530105ENGINE

Engine failure just like all the other optima’s.

ODI #11528200ENGINE

MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE AND JUMPIMG. THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED AND IS FINE. HAVING TO REPLACE ENGINE AND ONLY HAD CAR 2 MONTHS

ODI #11527753VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

Knock sensor detection system. Driving and all the sudden felt like it hard down shifted… car behind me almost hit me. Engine light started flashing so I pulled into autozone and plugged it in and got the knock sensor code. It’s had oil consumptions issues for a while. It’s so dangerous to drive with limited power and speed

ODI #11527580ENGINE

I purchased this vehicle used in April 2023 with 3,000 to go prior to another oil change. I returned home from a trip and the oil light would come on only while turning or braking. When checking the oil there was no oil in the motor. The reservoir was filled and two weeks in the engine is low on oil again. There are no leaks. The car jerks at lights as if it wants to stall out. I feel unsafe driving this car.

ODI #11525549STEERING,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

High injector fuel pump top engine mount went out at 68000 miles. It caused the vehicle to stall and lose power and basically cut the car off while driving.

ODI #11524862POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Ever since I got my car I’ve had black oil since the start . Second my car breaks on its own at times 3rd my car system keep breaking down as the sparks leaking in some where has this issue since bought it 2 years ago low miles

ODI #11524617VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

-Knock Sensor Detection System - ECU Logic Improvement - I Was driving with my infant son in the backseat. I was going 70 mph when my car started rapidly losing speed. This happened again with just myself after receiving the car from mechanic. There was heavy traffic and I had to swerve to avoid being hit by an 18-wheeler. - I can see on the website where I received the car from, there is a recall for my exact make and model with the same code but they say there is no recall for my specific car. - The check engine light started flashing and Kia Systems starts talking.

ODI #11524344VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

Car smoking white , and driving slow after I hit a pothole when it was raining hard.

ODI #11522447ENGINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering while being started. The contact stated that the vehicle also sputtered while driving at various speeds, and while reversing. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that oil was getting onto the spark plugs and ignition coils. The spark plugs and ignition coils were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.

ODI #11521153ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the oil warning light illuminated. The contact checked the dip stick and there was no oil on the dip stick. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and an oil change was performed; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the engine was cleaned but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 77,000.

ODI #11521243ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

My car had been consuming 2 quarts every 1,000 miles for the past 3-4 months and the kia dealership told me that the best thing i could do is keep getting an oil change. So one day i tried starting my car and it starting shaking and turned off so i turned it back on and it shut off again. I jump started it and it shut off again and i jump started it again but it never turned on. All of the problems that i have has been confirmed by the dealership (Open Road Automotive) My engine is all the way messed up, my fuel pump was messed up .My engine light came on after this and i just keep having problems with my car. I seen that kia keeps having these problems but i chose to get my car anyways because I love kias cars but I will have to switch if these problems are not solved with my car and i get new parts on my car because these are failing parts not because of me. I’m having So many problems with my car right now and it’s been costing me a lot of money .It’s at the shop right now and it’s been at the shop for maybe 2 weeks now. I can’t get a rental because they are only covering $40 a day and they are charging me $200 a day. So please help me with these problems and get these problems fixed.

ODI #11519668ENGINE

consistently getting oil changes. if the car doesn't rcvd an oil change before 3000 miles the check engine light comes on and then the light removes after oil change. in between the time period of getting oil changes it may run junky or you hear the catalytic converter trying to push air thru and it rattles.

ODI #11519334ENGINE

My car engine burns oil EXCESSIVELY. After an oil change, 2 weeks later i had to put more oil in. The dealership is no help even with a warranty. The car burning oil is also causing other mechanical problems that are a hefty price that are only a temp fix. I have to put oil in every single week. 2-3 quarts a week. Due to the oil being burnt off, it has affected my spark plugs and has caused a misfire in the same exact cylinder for when it misfired for this same problem, a year prior. I took it to a kia dealership last year and they performed a combustion chamber cleaning ($650+) and it only worked for 3 months before my car was back to performing poorly due to power loss from misfiring again. This car has put me in a VERY TOUGH financial situation and the dealership and corporate are absolutely no help. a year apart, this car has misfired on the same cylinder twice. the dealership just tells me to do a combustion cleaning but due to it being very pricy and with how much oil i have to buy, it’s not an option for me due to my financial situation. right now i’m just hoping something will be done for the millions of people that are effected by this.

ODI #11519357ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The engine consumes all the oil within 1000 miles. The oil light comes on around 800 miles after oil change. The dealership did the 3 separate tests and they all failed. Dealership stated the engine is faulty however Kia corporate denied the claim. There is already a class action lawsuit in progress in California.

ODI #11516617EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Headlights randomly turn off while driving. To get them back on you have to switch on and off before they turn back on. Very dangerous for my 17 yr old daughter driving down a highway at night. The lights will also turn on in the middle of the night and if we happen to notice, we have to go to the car and turn the lights on and off to get them fixed. There are numerous reports on this when Google. I am not the only one. Really dangerous!

ODI #11514003ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after an oil change was performed on the vehicle, the oil pressure warning light illuminated. Upon inspection, the contact noticed there was no oil in the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who added oil to the engine. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,760.

ODI #11510727ENGINE,FIRERELATEDFIRE

The car caught on fire in our driveway

ODI #11510005POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was then taken to Battleground Kia of Greensboro (2927 Battleground Ave, Greensboro, NC 27408) but no cause for the failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

ODI #11502650ENGINE

2018 KIA OPTIMA EX A/T. MY WIFE DRIVE THIS CAR TO WORK EVERY DAY, 45-50 MILE ROUND TRIP FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT OIL CONSUMPTION IS STARTING TO BECOME A PROBLEM. IM UNSURE THE EXACT AMOUNT IT GOES THROUGH BUT IT SEEMS TO BE ALMOST 3-4 QUARTS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. EVERY NOW AND THEN IT WOULD RANDOMLY BE A QUART LOW, BUT NO LEAKS, NO NOTICEABLE SMOKING, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. MY WIFE HAS HAD A FEW TIMES WHERE THE CAR WOULD RANDOMLY LOOSE ACCELERATION NAD SLOW WAY DOWN. THE CAR WOULD COME BACK UP TO ACCELERATION AFTER PULLING OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENS. IM WONDERING IF IT MIGHT BE RELATED TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION, BUT NOT SURE. IT HAS THE RECAL FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR UPDATE WHICH WE ARE WAITING FOR FEB 28TH, THATS THE TIME THE DEALER CAN GET THE CAR IN FOR IT. OUR CLOSEST DEALER IS 150 MILES FROM HOME. WE HAVE OWNED IT SINCE NEW AND THIS IS THE ONLY PROBLEM WE'VE HAD WITH IT. I HOPE WE CAN GET THIS RESOLVED. NO NEW CAR SHOULD GO THROUGH THIS MUCH OIL AT ALMOST $6 A QUART OR MORE.

ODI #11498673SERVICE BRAKES

Front brake calipers seize and burning smell and smoke coming for front wheels. Have replaced the rotors, calipers and brake pads(twice) and it does not seem to fix the problem.

ODI #11496523ENGINE

Excessive oil consumption will burn through around 4qts of oil before 1k miles

ODI #11493460ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Normally, when the doors are open my car will tell me. The doors notify me that they're open but my trunk was not showing that it was open. It blinks when it is. Due to that I was driving and my trunk seemed closed and it just flew open. So the problems I'm having is that my trunk will not show its open but it also will not close AT ALL due to the latch. I literally had to bungee it closed. This is dangerous. I have seen many recalls in other kia's and hyundai's just like this. This is very dangerous and needs to be recalled and/or fixed.

ODI #11492374UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

At around 40,000 miles my car started burning oil rapidly. No leaks were found and I would get an oil indicator light then the car would shut down while driving. I couldn’t get it to accelerate. Mechanic said Kia’s and Hyundais have been having those issues. I have needed oil changes every 3 weeks to keep in functioning.

ODI #11491042POWER TRAIN

UNKNOWN When slowing to a stop, the vehicle spontaneously makes a sudden jolt, throwing passengers forward. It’s as if the the transmission malfunctions when down shifting and results in engine braking.

ODI #11489713ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that when the vehicle's oil will be as low as half a tank or lower the engine would suddenly stall. The vehicle would immediately regain power and function as expected. The failure occurred at various speeds with the highest speed being 60 mph. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that there was fuel pressure pump failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact received a letter stating that the manufacturer was well aware of the failure and have also created an extended warranty, however, they did not have the remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 122,652.

ODI #11486765ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Rough idle, chugged along before killing engine power. Has happened a couple of times. No check engine light has come on

ODI #11486502STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

Just Started Having Problems On It’s On The Car Only Has 38,000 Miles

ODI #11486511ENGINE

My car is consuming 2 quarts of oil for every 1,000 miles. This falls under the oil consumption that needs a motor replaced and I am getting a run around from the dealership about getting it replaced. They are saying that Kia does not like to replace the motors and I'm better off trading it in. I bought this car intending on keeping it long term, not purchasing a new one. All of the regular maintenance has been done on the vehicle. I've been into the dealership a multitude of times a month due to issues with the car.

ODI #11484676ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

When headlight switch is set to automatically come on, the light will sometimes randomly turn off. No warning or indicator on the dash appears showing that they are off. Technicians are unable to reproduce the issue in the shop. Have recommended replacing the entire headlight switch on the turn signal stick.

ODI #11484505ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle went into Limp Mode. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a faulty knock sensor that needed a software update. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that after receiving the vehicle from the dealer the vehicle was slow to accelerate and the vehicle was driving sluggishly. The contact stated that the vehicle needed to be taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed and repaired. The contact related the failure to the Kia Consent Order with NHTSA; however, the 2018 Kia Optima was not included. The contact stated that the remedy was not sufficient to remedy the vehicle failure. The manufacturer was notified and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 62,709.

ODI #11483363ENGINE

Excessive oil consumption. Dealer says it is normal to burn a quart every thousand miles. At that rate I would have no oil left before my next oil change. That is not normal and could cause overheating and engine lock up. The car only has 45,000 miles.

ODI #11482867UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I got out of my car to talk to someone and my car was running With my purse and phone in the car and the trunk open.i was meeting someone to buy a vacuume from Facebook marketplace. I decided to put the vacuum in the back seat instead so closed the trunk. When I went to open the door all the doors were locked. I was locked out in the rain for an hour. The person I bought the vacuum from called kia and they sent someone out to unlock my car. Several people have said the car is supposed to recognize that the key is inside the car and not lock it. And that this is an issue. I do know it has only started doing this recently because I live 8n the country and never lock my car in my garage. And recently I have noticed it is licking itself now every time I get out. So I have been leaving the windows down at home but it was raining today when I got out and I didn't think about or remember that it is locking itself .... Also I have never gotten out of the car to get something with it running and the windows closed since this issue came up.

ODI #11482644EXTERIOR LIGHTING,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Trying to cut off and jerks when stopping vehicle

ODI #11480349UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My car was stolen

ODI #11478256ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her fiancé was driving at a slow speed, the vehicle inadvertently shifted into LIMP mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and DTC: P1326 (KSDS) was retrieved. The contact was informed that there was vibration caused by excessive connecting rod bearing wear. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 99,000.

ODI #11477875FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE

ECM telling fuel pump to put too much gas, causing exhaust into cabin, unnoticed while in car, but hair and cloth reak of exhaust and getting headaches. Reduced mileage by 20+mpg from 30+ to 11mpg. BSD- no lights or codes thrown by 3rd party, but dealer said there was a code on the BSD. BSD was not working and no codes appeared. NO LIGHTS OR CODES FOR FUEL ISSUE OR BSD, but dealer said there is a recall that I cannot find for fuel and said there was a code for BSD, but it didn’t pop up on my husband’s code reader previously.

ODI #11477023ENGINE

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. THE ENGINE MADE A NOISE AND LOSS POWER WHICH ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. I CONTACTED KIA, THEY EXPLAIN TO ME THAT A KNOCK SENSOR NEED TO BE INSTALLED AND SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THEY INSTALLED IT AND RETURN THE CAR TO ME. NOW AGAIN WHILE I AM ON THE HIGHWAY I HEAR A LOUD KNOCK, LIGHTS FLASHING IN THE CAR AND THE CAR HAS LOSS POWER. I ROLLED OFF THE EXIT PULL OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. WHILE WAITING I CHECK THE OIL IN THE CAR THINKING MAYBE THE ENGINE IS LOCKING UP. THERE IS NO OIL IN THE CAR, WHICH IS STRANGE BECAUSE TWO MONTHS PRIOR KIA JUST DID AN OIL CHANGE. I HAVE DOCUMENTS TO PROVE EVERYTHING. KIA HAS BEEN THE ONLY DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICE THE CAR. THEY NOW BEEN IN POSSESSION OF MY VEHICLE FOR FOUR MONTHS NOW AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. I CONTACTED COOPERATE AND THEY HAVE FAILED TO GETTING BACK TO ME AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO GET ANSWERS. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME. I HAVE CONGESTIVE HEART FALIURE WHICH I EXPLAIN TO THEM AND I REALLY NEED MY CAR BUT MOST OF ALL I NEED IT TO BE SAFE FOR ME.

ODI #11474556ENGINE

Flashing engine light out of nowhere. Fault code is for faulty knock sensor Lacks power. Wants to stall when hitting the gas. Can cause engine compartment fire. As well as engine fire. Safety put at risk if stopped In the middle of traffic.

ODI #11472960UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Hello, My Kia was stolen lastnight. The criminals apparently the “KIA BOYS” took my car, it wasn’t until after I spoke with my daughter she expressed to me that she saw a video on social media about Kia’s and another car, being stolen excessively. So after doing my research I was sent to this page to share my story. I am sure Kia is aware of the situation, so much so to where they are/have made a change in their 2022 model. But those of use who have a Kia model that is not a 2022, we are screwed. I make monthly payments on a vehicle engineered by adults, but what I’ve just found out is the criminals are mainly middle school age children who takes the cars for a joy ride. It is hard to process this oversight by Kia, I love my car, I’ve had 2 Kias. But this will be my last. Especially if they (Kia) doesn’t own this oversight. To have my car stolen hurts, I didn’t leave the key in, nor the door unlocked. I parked my car, activated my alarm, only to wake up and my car gone. I see there is a lawsuit in a state (I forgot the state) against Kia. I hope and pray the state of Georgia can start one as well. My car wasn’t the only Kia, taken lastnight. There were 3-4 others taken from this complex.

ODI #11472646ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Me and my family just returned home from the laundry mat and took 2 children inside our house and turned around for our belongings and clothing/bedding for the family as the wheels spun out being followed by a silver hyundaii. Just a matter of seconds to 2 minutes. The keys were not in the vehicle. 2 childrens carseats and almost ALL of my family's belongings were stolen inside of the vehicle. 2018 kia optima dark slate grey in color with dark tinted windows and sun strip at the top of windshield, black rims. CR 21077 IL LICENSE PLATE This seems to be an ongoing issue with kia and hyundaii vehicles being stolen and somehow im still not being offered a loaner vehicle with full coverage insurance

ODI #11471297ENGINE

When driving this vehicle in heavy rain Critical Error Code P1326 comes on limiting the speed to 62 MPH and slow acceleration. This has happened 6 times. Two of those times I took to a KIA Dealer. One said they replaced parts and fixed - but still have issue and one did nothing but download software to get ride of code. The other 4 Auto Store has reset code which they should not be doing and sometimes say no. This has happened 6 times since I have owned the vehicle.

ODI #11468187ENGINEFIRE

2018 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ILLIMINATED OIL LIGHT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONSUMED OIL QUICKLY, BUT WITHOUT ANY LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED DRIVING 1000 MILES AND THEN RETURN TO THE DEALER TO BE FURTHER INSPECTED. AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SMOKING. THE DEALER STATED IT COULD BE DUE TO SPILLED OILED THAT OCCURED DURING THE OIL CHANGE. THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND IT CAUGHT FIRE AND EXPLODED.

ODI #11466164ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

My car has been at the dealership since February 10th. The dealer has been giving me the run around. Didn’t have any transportation for over two months and car hasn’t moved since the day I dropped it off. I’m really getting impatient, as I am making monthly payments on a car that I can’t even use. Nearing four months and I’m totally lost on what to do. Thank you for any assistance

ODI #11463963POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,LANE DEPARTURE

Engine overhead and stopped working in addition to it consuming massive amounts of oil without physically putting oil in. I've went to 2 dealerships who refuse to provide me with a new engine even though I'm covered under the engine extension warranty due to me having the knock sensor update done. I am now involving my attorney and will go to the news channels to inform how kia manufacturer has become a disgrace with not providing quality engines in their vehicles and don't want to be responsible for it. there's already a settlement going on for kia optimas and other cars they've made because of faulty engines. They can better believe I'm coming for them next with a lawsuit.

ODI #11463677UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2018 KIA OPTIMA EX.ALL THE WINDOWS EXIBIT DISTORTION SO BAD ,AS TO INTERFERE WITH LINE OF SITE FROM THE DRIVER SEAT.THERE ARE RIPPLES IN THE GLASS FRONT REAR AND SIDES. AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULD BUFF THEM OUT,I MADE A BET WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER HE COULD NOT AS THE PROBLEM WAS BETWEEN THE PLATES OF GLASS.THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELDAND HE SAID HE WOULD REPLACE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW.BUT THAT WAS SERVERAL MONTHS AGO.I CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW AT NITE.IF IT RAINS ALL VISIBILITY IS SCARY.

ODI #11461811ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH after leaving the dealer, the vehicle started to overheat. The contact stated that the high engine temperature warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to safely pull over and turn the vehicle off. The contact restarted the vehicle and the engine temperature was still elevated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled in the middle of the roadway. The vehicle was left on the side of the roadway. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed; however, the contact was not provided the diagnostic result. The contact was informed by the mechanic of an unspecified engine failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,200.

ODI #11460136ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The headlights on my 2018 Kia Optima have been turning off and on randomly by themselves while in motion. Each time it's happened has been in different areas at different times of the night. The headlight switch is kept in the auto position most of the time. When the headlights turn off, the screen in the dash for the headlight function switches from auto to off by itself. Sometimes if the turn signal switch is jiggled the lights will come back on. Other times the headlight switch, located on the end of the turn signal switch, has to be turned to the on position to get the lights to turn on. The car has been in for service but each time the technician is unable to reproduce the fault. It is occurring more frequently and becoming a safety issue.

ODI #11458485ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical components connected to the headlights seem to be faulty. When lights are set to AUTO, the lights will turn off completely when switching on turn signal. At times the light will not come on at all when set to AUTO or On without cycle back to off.

ODI #11457598ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil without warning. The contact stated that after receiving an oil change, the oil reservoir was empty within less than a week. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the oil change was performed and the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The contact then took the vehicle to the dealer where she was informed that since she was the second owner of the vehicle, they could not offer any assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

ODI #11453718EXTERIOR LIGHTING

When driving with headlights set to Auto the headlights turn off whenever the blinker is used. I've found many complaints however my vehicle has not been inspected. This poses a hazard of driving at night with no headlights, then having to fiddle with the switch to turn them back on.

ODI #11451302POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I purchased my Kia optima brand new I believe it had 7 miles on it when I purchased it, shortly after it was purchased it started having a problem with the transmission, I would go to takeoff and it was lunch and jerk pretty hard to where it was very noticeable. I took it into the shop they thought that it was something a computer program could reset they performed that I did not fix it, I don’t drive my Kia very much I barely have 25,000 miles on it right now I am a real live in care provider so I don’t drive very much my job is at home. I have taken the car into several dealerships repeatedly to have it fixed, IA really was at a loss and did not know what to do because I had taken it to two different dealerships and the problem was never resolved. I contacted an attorney they got nowhere because apparently I needed to take my car in one more time within a timeframe for them to be able to do anything about it? And any right, still to this day the car does the same thing it’s been in the shop four or five times for this problem. One time I took it to Kia and Elk Grove they kept it looked at it said they couldn’t find the problem. Every time I’m renting a car paying for the insurance going through the inconvenience of renting a car paying extra insurance etc. just to have nothing done with my car. When I went to pick up my car from the Elk Grove dealership I threw a fit because I was tired of it and I said look somethings wrong with the car I’m not a mechanic I can’t tell you what it is but I need this car fixed, the service manager came out and said I’ll take a a ride with you and we’ll see if maybe I can see what the problem is we didn’t even get out of the parking lot and it jerked so hard at the service manager noted it in the file had me drop it back off and leave it it’s still wasn’t fixed. I took it in again after that the new service manager took it on an hour drive on the freeway hooked up to a computer with Kia and of course it didn’t do anything while h

ODI #11443512STEERING,ENGINE

We would like to know what Kia is planning to do to address the fact that Kia built a car without the basic immobilizer circuit making it very easy to steal. Over the last few months, local and national news reports, as well as many social media sites, have reported on this security flaw which likely emboldens others to attempt a theft of a Kia and/or Hyundai. As I do not live in Milwaulkee, I would like to know how the company will fix this problem for the rest of us. It will not be restricted to just one city. There are numerous articles by victims that have detailed how their car theft cost them thousands of dollars in insurance deductibles, rental cars, and repairs. Many of the articles explain how thieves as young as 12 years old are able to still these cars in under a minute in broad daylight and driving recklessly creating a serious safety hazzard. Please advise what Kia will do to negate this serious security flaw.

ODI #11441188STEERING

Turned on my car and steering wheel was stuck , it didn’t turn, turn the engine off and back on and it went back to normal.

ODI #11439651EXTERIOR LIGHTING

while driving, all lights (headlights, instrument, etc) would randomly go dark. Lighting usually restored after toggling the instrument control arm from on-to-off-on. Obviously super dangerous as driver can't see roadway and other drivers can't see the car.

ODI #11433400ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle is making a noise when trying to accelerate. Have replaced all spark plugs and coil #4. It is making noise still and shaking. Coil has been switched and issues are reading fuel injector or air intake or electrical. Previous reading was head gasket... Only on spark plug 4 coil is it reporting an issue...All dealerships locally are booked to even get a diagnostic test.

ODI #11431769ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEAT BELTS

While driving, car in motion, Front Passenger Seat belt Audio Warning Periodically goes off without reason. Indicating seat is occupied & seat belt needs putting on. When seat has been unoccupied / clear from any type of weight on seat to trigger sensor. Audio warning will continue until seat belt is latched over the empty seat. Local KIA Service Dept was informed & could neither confirm or deny its faulty behavior for it did not present itself during time of service. They said, wiring looked fine but did no further testing. To be honest they showed no interest into seeing any real importance for my concern for them to feel any further investigation was warranted. Its happened again twice since that service visit be it last incident Aug 7th. My concern is.... if there is faulty wiring or sensor signals being crossed somewhere, whats to say there is a passenger or no passenger in that seat, to ensure the correct signal is getting to the passenger side air bags of when to correctly deploy if an accident should happen with passenger in seat? This situ is only recent starting about a year a go. So something has changed from being fine for 2 yrs up to the last year that's now showing some kind of seat belt / sensor failure. I'm unfamiliar with how that wiring system works & linked within it for me know what other things I might need to pay more attn to, looking for other signs that could be saying is direct cause to the prob. Unsure if this a simple solution or is something that others are experiencing with this year & model car & poss be a Manufacturer Part Default

ODI #11430848ENGINE

ENGINE LOSES COMPRESSION AND CAR DIES WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD! THIS CAR IS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY WITH ONLY 104,000 MILES! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!

ODI #11428618UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While driving at highway speed my children (11, 7, & 5) and I were almost rear-ended when my Kia Optima 2018 (79k) without ANY warning loses power, jerks and then regains power. A number of vehicles behind us had slam on their brakes to avoid a pileup. My Optima almost resembled the feeling when a vehicle runs out of gas but much more abrupt. The drink my son was holding was thrown out of hand due the vehicle jerking to an almost stop and jerking back to power. No warning light, battery & alternator both test good and tank was half full. Two days pass and the same system fail while driving with the same similarities (no warning lights). My Optima is no longer under warranty and I have no financial resources for repairs.

ODI #11427323EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Driving at night, was getting onto the freeway. Entrance to the freeway was on a curved street, as I was taking the turn leading into the freeway the lights turned off, Then suddenly turned back on and then off again all while I was merging onto the freeway. I quickly took the light out of “AUTO” setting. Very scary as I almost got hit by the truckers already on the freeway. I’ve had issues with the blind spot warning as well. It fails all the time so of course I never put my trust on that. The lighting situation is very scary, as it was happening you could see the dashboard setting itself to AUTO and randomly going up and down the list of options as if it was being controlled by someone else. I could’ve caused an accident. Please check this issue.

ODI #11424542ENGINE

Back in September of 2020, my car randomly went to limp mode while driving at highway speeds. Had the car towed to the dealer. Dealer advised of apparent “software issue” to correct the problem. Well this happened two more times after that twice the software was updated which didn’t work. The third time the replaced the knock sensor and so far I haven’t went to limp mode, however, the car has not drove the same and seems to get worse each passing day. Rough shifting, engine vibrates more than usual. Car struggles at times to go up hills, when giving gas a though way speed the car has a few second delay. Sometimes it feels as if the transmission is skipping. The car is up to date on all recommended services, I.e transmission flush and fill etc. There are also times when the vehicle is started but struggles. Almost as if it want to loose power but it doesn’t. Has happened numerous times however recently it actually didn’t start. Struggle to turn over a couple time but then finally did. A check engine light came on but then went away the next day after driving. I have an appointment with the dealer this week to look at this and other issues, again, hoping for some progress at that point.

ODI #11419744EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Problems: lights switch is in auto position and I have locked the vehicle. I noticed at least twice the exterior lights come on and stays on until I unlock start the vehicle and turn engine off. Additionally on June 3 2021 light switch in automatic position coming home at night the head lights turned themselves off the dashboard lights remained on. I was a half mile from home and able to get the vehicle home safely. Turned the headlights switch to manual to turn lights back on.No warning lights came on. Mechanic will look at vehicle later this week. I have no confidence the mechanic will be a to replicate the problem. That's their if can't be reproduced or the computer did notice, it didn't happen .The vehicle is available for inspection

ODI #11416530POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES IT HAS A BURNING SMELL/GAS SMELL. IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES OIL.OIL AT LOW LEVEL BEFORE DUE. THIS MAKE AND MODEL IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. IT HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. WHY WERE CONSUMERS ALLOWED TO BUY THIS CAR. PROBLEMS ARE ACTIVE AND ONGOING. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR OR CLOSE TO A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. IT IS A LEMON . THE DEALER WANTS TO DIAGNOSE THE ENGINE, BUT THEY ALREADY KNOW THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD.

ODI #11413054STRUCTURE

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH AND SUDDENLY THE FRONT PART OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS. WE WEREN'T HIT BY ANY ROAD DEBRIS OR ANYTHING IT JUST EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING.

ODI #11408382ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE UNTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO ANCIRA KIA (6139 BANDERA ROAD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78238, (210)684-4000) DUE TO THE HESITATION AND STALLING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND CHANGED THE OIL HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,800.

ODI #11398642ENGINE

I ORIGINALLY LEASED MY 2018 OPTIMA WITH 98 MILES ON IT AND BOUGHT IT OUT AT THE END OF MY LEASE THIS WAS MY SECOND OPTIMA, I ALSO HAD 2 HYUNDAI SONATAS. SINCE I'M IN SALES I HAD THE ADDED MILEAGE ON IT. AT 98,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED TICKING. I ORIGINALLY HAD A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA THAT WHEN IT HIT 105,000 STARTED TICKING ONLY TO FIND THAT IT WAS BURNING OIL (1.5 QUARTS A WEEK) SO I WAS HESITANT ABOUT ANOTHER KIA BUT THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT KIA HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD FIXED IT. GUESS WHAT?! IT HASN'T. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN EVERY 1,000 MILES FOR OIL CHANGE AND HAVE THE DOCUMENTS SHOWING HOW MUCH OIL WAS BEING BURNED OFF. ACCORDING TO KIA CORPORATE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE REQUIRES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES AND WAS UNDER OWNERS WARRANTY. NEVER AGAIN. PEOPLE WATCH YOUR VEHICLES. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH KIA AND HYUNDAI AND THEY DO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTIES.

ODI #11398552UNKNOWN OR OTHER

BOTH OF MY BACK DOOR SENSATORS ARE SAYING THE BACK DOORS ARE OPEN BUT THEY'RE LOCKED

ODI #11390809SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

LOUD RATTELING WHEN CRANKING, CONTINUOUS RATTELING WHEN ACCELERATING UNDER DRIVERSIDE FLOOR BOARD MADE A CLUNK SOUND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND NOW ITS LIKE A SLIDING SOUND BEFORE IT CATCHES BRAKE

ODI #11387770STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED IN MID TURN WITH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED PERRIS VALLEY KIA (707 E 4TH ST, PERRIS, CA 92570) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WAS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE OFFER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

ODI #11383186STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES

I HAVE 63,826 MILES ON MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA S AND I DROVE IT TO THE STORE AND ALL MY LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHEN I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND MY POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT AND ABOUT CAUSE ME TO WRECK. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR BUT AFTER GETTING A NEW ALTERNATOR I THEN DROVE IT TO GET DINNER A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AND MY POWER STEERING KEPT GOING OUT AGAIN. I HAVE TWO NEWBORN BABIES, A 5 YEAR OLD AND A 10 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND HAD I WRECKED WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION.

ODI #11376266AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCRASH1 INJURY

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AS I WAS DRIVING ON I65 AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP

ODI #11374076POWER TRAIN

THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES TO NOT ONLY MYSELF. IT MY WIFE AS WELL. AS WE'RE DRIVING ANYWHERE ABOVE 45MPH. A WARNING DISPLAY COMES ON TELLING US TO CHECK THE HEV, TO PULL OVER, AND TURN OFF OUR VEHICLE. WE COMPLY TO THE WARNING AND WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN SAME ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER DRIVING. ONE OUT OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURED TO US, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED ON MY WIFE DUE TO THE BATTERY NOT CHARGING. SO WHEN SHE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON, IT WOULDN'T RESTART. CODE ON CAR IS P2600 GENERIC COOLANT PUMP CIRCUIT A OPEN. EVERYWHERE SAYS RECALL ISN'T AVAILABLE FOR OUR CAR BUT AM SEEING THAT SAME ISSUE WITH OUR YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL IS OCCURRING. WHICH IS THE HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM IS BEING AFFECTED. THE VOLTAGE PROTECTION DEVICE (VPD), DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY MODULE IS BEING ACTIVATED INADVERTENTLY.

ODI #11373638TIRES

ON NOVEMBER 7 WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN SC I HAD A CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE IN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT SAFELY AND GET MY VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS FILLED TO MANUFACTURER PSI AND WAS DRIVEN ONLY 13,151 MILES. THE SIDEWALL WAS BLOWN OUT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE THE TIRE IS A KUMHO 215 R17 94 V. MY VEHICLE IS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA S. I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE A FULL REPLACEMENT FOR THIS FAILURE.

ODI #11365705ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2018 KIA OPTIMA EX. SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO START, UNTIL TODAY. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIT UP BUT NO IGNITION. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, THEN STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP AND I HEARD CLICKING NOISE. HAD SOMEONE JUMP MY BATTERY AND THE CAR STARTED UP, BUT WHEN I TURNED IT OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. NOTHING WAS LEFT ON ALL NIGHT, CAR WAS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WITH HANDLE. I AM CONTACTING THE DEALER THIS AFTERNOON TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE THIS.

ODI #11365368ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR SUDDENLY EXPERIENCE MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE STORE AND BACK HOME. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM BUT MY DASH WAS FLASHING, MY BRAKE, STEERING, CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG, ABS, AND TRACTION'S CONTROL INDICATORS CAME ON ALL AT ONCE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO GEAR. I USED THE PARK RELEASE SHIFT TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND THE CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING. BUT IT MOVES. I TOOK IT TO THE JEFFERY KIA IN ROSEVILLE,MI AND BASICALLY WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH CAR. THEY ASK ME HAD MY CAR BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING! YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CAR AND SEE THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR LIGHTNING STRIKES TO THE CAR. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME EXTRA MONEY TO KEEP THE CAR JUST TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I KNOW THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. I SEE THE EPD RECALL ON 2018 KIA OPTIMA BUT THEY ARE SAYING IT'S ONLY FOR HYBRIDS. WHICH IS FALSE THIS HAS TO BE HAPPENING TO ALL THE KIA OPTIMA MODELS.

ODI #11360439ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN I GO TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION; THE CAR STALLS AND TURNS OFF AND THEN IT TURNS ITSELF BACK ON. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I DRIVE OVER 50 MPH THE CAR/TIRES START TO VIBRATE.

ODI #11360488UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL CUT COMPLETELY OFF. YOU HAVE TO SWITCH FROM AUTO TO THE ON POISTION. ITS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION.

ODI #11353033AIR BAGS,ENGINEFIRE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN UNKNOWN NOISE, THE CONTACT COSTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECK UNDERNEATH AND AROUND THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STATED THAT SHE WAS ON A WAY TO TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE TECHNICIAN HEARD THE NOSE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WAS WOULD NEED TO CHECK EVERYTHING BEFORE HE CAN COMPLETE AN OIL CHANGE. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED OIL WAS ALL OVER AND METAL SHAVING WAS IN THE OIL AROUND THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT IT MAYBE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED NAPLETON'S MID RIVERS KIA, 4955 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY, ST PETERS, MO 63376, AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AND APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AUFFENBERG HYUNDAI, 1300 CENTRAL PARK DR, O'FALLON, IL 62269, AND THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD SEND AND ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRIC SHACK FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AND THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS LOSING PRESSURE AND THAT SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENT OF THE CABIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,573.

ODI #11352846UNKNOWN OR OTHER

FIRST OFF MY CAR IS FINE. AGAIN MY CAR IS FINE NO COMPLAINTS. NHTSA HAS MISS IDENTIFIED MY 2018 OPTIMA LX WITH 2.4L ENGINE HYBRID. NHTSA WITH THIS SCREW UP HAS OHIO BMV THINKING MY CAR IS HYBRID AND WANTS AN EXTRA $100 DOLLARS AS A FEE FOR LICENSE BECAUSE THEY THINK IT IS ELECTRIC. OHIO BMV OR APPARENTLY NHTSA DOSE NOT HAVE A PROCESS TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR FIGURE OUT MY CAR IS GASOLINE ONLY. OHIO BMV WILL WILL ONLY GO ON WHAT NHTSA WEB SITE SAYS. IT APPARENTLY SAYS MY CAR COULD BE A HYBRID. AS I SAY NO PROBLEM WITH CAR BUT NHTSA HAS MISS CODED WHAT MY CAR IS. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY HELP FROM KIA YET.

ODI #11350846ENGINEFIRE

CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.

ODI #11342855ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON HIGHWAY WHILE IN AUTO MODE

ODI #11339940EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE THE KIA OPTIMA SX WITH THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE THAT COMES EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTO-LEVELING AND AUTO-BENDING LED HEADLAMPS. I BELIEVE THAT THE AUTO-LEVELING FUNCTION IS WORKING INCORRECTLY. WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED TO THE CAR (MORE PASSENGERS) THE BEAM PATTERN AUTO ADJUSTS ITSELF TO POINT EVEN LOWER INSTEAD OF HIGHER. THIS CAUSES AN ADVERSE EFFECT. THINK OF IT THIS WAY, THE BEAM HAS A DEFAULT SETTING TO WHERE IT POINTS TO WHEN THERE IS NO WEIGHT ADDED TO THE CAR. WHEN TWO PASSENGERS SIT IN THE CAR, THE BEAM SHOULD NOT POINT LOWER, INSTEAD IT SHOULD AUTO-LEVEL ITSELF TO A HIGHER POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOW LOWER WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BY DEFAULT ARE POINTED A BIT LOW, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP (CONCORD KIA IN CONCORD, CA) TO HAVE THEM RE-ADJUSTED. ALAS, NO BETTER RESULT WAS ACHIEVED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AUTO-LEVELING. OFTEN WHEN DRIVING IN THE CAR WITH MY FIANCE (A COMBINED WEIGHT OF ABOUT 600 LBS DISTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT SEATS), THE LED LOW-BEAMS APPEAR TO REACH A MAX DISTANCE OF 40 FT ON LEVEL LAND, AND AROUND 70 FT. GOING UP A HILL. WHEN ONE IS GOING DOWNHILL, THE PROJECTED LED LIGHT REACHES A DISTANCE OF AROUND 25 FT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE 2017-2020 KIA OPTIMA SX MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTO-LEVELING AND AUTO-BENDING LIGHTS HAVE RECEIVED A FANTASTIC RATING. I AM SURE WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING AT OPTIMAL CONDITIONS (1 PERSON IN THE CAR WHO MAY WEIGH UNDER 200 LBS) THE LIGHTING CAN BE GREAT. HOWEVER, I ENCOURAGE THE NHSTA TO RE-CONDUCT A THOROUGH TEST UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: SEAT TWO PEOPLE IN THE FRONT WHO WEIGH AT LEAST 200 LBS. FIRST SEAT ONE PERSON, NOTICE THE BEAM PATTERN AGAINST A WALL ABOUT 50 FT. AWAY, THEN SEAT ANOTHER PERSON IN THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE HOW THE BEAM PATTERN IS LOWERED. I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE TESTERS TO DRIVE THE AROUND A BIT.

ODI #11339152SERVICE BRAKES

THIS HAS HAPPED NOW 5 TIMES!! WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES, THE PEDAL GETS FIRM WHICH LITTLE TO NO REDUCTION IN SPEED! THEN PEDAL GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WHEELS LOCK UP, COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP! EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING! EACH TIME I WAS APPROACHING A STOPS SIGN OR COMING UP TO AN OFF RAMP! BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT FOR HOURS AND THEY DID NOT COME UP WITH ANYTHING BUT TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPORT IT! SO STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT! I DON'T FEEL I CAN SAFELY DRIVE MY VEHICLE ANYMORE ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS!!! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!!! BUT OF COURSE KIA WON'T DO THE EXTRA WORK TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!

ODI #11330830ENGINE

I LEASED 2018 KIA OPTIMA EX. AT 6399MILES AND 9650MILES ENGINE LIGHT ON AND CAR VIBRATES A LOT. FIRST SERVICE REPLACED SPARK PLUG AND SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED ENGINE. THIS CAR WAS AWARDED AS BEST INITIAL QUALITY AWARD WHICH HAS ENGINE ISSUES. KIA SAYS THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF ANYTHING HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING CAR BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WILL REPLACE ENGINE OR REPAIR IT. KIA IS NOT CONFIDENT THAT REPLACED ENGINE WILL NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR

ODI #11329483ENGINE

ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING, GOING STRAIGHT, IN CITY. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. *TR

ODI #11316638STEERING

THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY.

ODI #11307413STRUCTURE,WHEELS,SERVICE BRAKES

I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND STARTED TO HEAR AN NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MILES AND MOVED OVER ONE LANE TO THE RIGHT AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW - HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON CAR. I GOT THE TIRE REPLACED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WHEELS ALIGNED. THEN,DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, 45 MPH A FEW WEEKS LATER, GOT TO A PASSING ZONE, AND PASSED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AFTER ACCELERATING TO 65 DURING THE SHORT PASSING ZONE. AFTER PASSING THE CAR I TAPPED THE BREAKS TO SLOW BACK DOWN TO 45 AND THE TRACTION, BRAKE, AND TMZ LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. WHEN BRAKE ENGAGED, CAR DID NOT BRAKE AS NORMAL AND A ODD NOISE LIKE A GRINDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS, SAID IT WAS A 'MISS-TRIPPED' SENSOR AND CLEARING IT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I DROVE MY CAR LESS THAN 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE ON A 40 MPH ROAD AT A STOP LIGHT, ALL THREE LIGHTS CAME RIGHT BACK ON. HAD TO CALL AND TAKE CAR BACK IN AND THEY ENDED UP KEEPING MY CAR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE SAYING I HAD A BAD TIRE SENSOR, BUT CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. DROVE AGAIN, TO A NEIGHBORING CITY AND HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AND FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW. GOT IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID TIRES BLOWING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CENSOR. GOT TIRE CHANGED AND ROTATION. PICKED UP CAR AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON -LOW PRESSURE. NITRO WAS ADDED BY DEALERSHIP AND LIGHT WENT OFF. TURNED MY PRESSURE READER ON AND 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WENT FROM 37 TO 45 PSI. I THINK BAD SENSOR IS CAUSING OVER INFLATING OF TIRES AT THE DEALERSHIP LEADING TO BLOWN TIRES.TESTED PRESSURE WITH SEPARATE PRESSURE READER AND TOO HIGH SO LET SOME AIR OUT, DROVE DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND CAR 'BOTTOMED OUT' ON A ROLLING DIP IN THE ROAD SCRAPPING THE PLASTIC PROTECTION PIECE BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE UNDER THE CAR

ODI #11301256UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

3 TIMES INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA FROZE AND TO IT WONT BRAKE. NO LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD. I HAVE ONLY 22.000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO NEAREST KIA DEALER TWICE. ACCORDING TO THEM THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND COMPUTER NOT READING ANY ERROR CODES VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE

ODI #11298131UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES

RANDOMLY BRAKE PEDAL ON MY KIA OPTIMA FREEZES AND IM UNABLE TO APPLY AND STOP VEHICLE IT HAPPENED TWICE ONCE IT HAPPENED ON HWY AND ONCE ON CITY STREET. CURRENTLY VEHICLE IS IN DEALERSHIP SINCE JAN 2ND AND DEALER STATING THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE

ODI #11291095POWER TRAINCRASH

THE CV AXLE ASSEMBLIES SNAP LIKE THE 2016 MODELS DO KIA'S RECALL NUMBER SC139.

ODI #11287697STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH MY CAR, I GET MAINTENANCE AS SCHEDULED SO IT'S ODD THAT THIS IS EVEN HAPPENING. ON DECEMBER 6TH I WENT TO MOVE MY CAR. I CRANK THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM. I NOTICED IT KIND OF HESISTATED SLIGHTLY, BUT CONTINUED ON WITH NO PROBLEM. WHEN I WENT TO PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE IN ORDER TO PARK IT STALLED AND ABOUT 5 OR 6 OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON, THE STEERING WHEEL WENT HARD TO MANAGE/STEER AND AS 6 OTHER LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING, I COULD NO LONGER MANIPULATE MY WHEEL SO I ALLOWED THE CAR TO ROLL INTO THE SPOT BECAUSE I WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND PUT IT IN PARK. THE MOMENT I DID THAT THE CAR CUT OFF. IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER, IT WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING BESIDES CLICK WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE CAR AGAIN. I EVENTUALLY ASKED SOMEONE FOR A JUMP AND MANAGED TO MAKE IT HOME. THE NEXT DAY I GOT UP AND DROVE AS I NORMALLY WOULD AND THATS WHEN THE ELETRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN THAT LIGHT COMES ON THE CAR BECOMES HARD TO MANEUVER. THANKFULLY THAT TIME IT WENT OFF AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AS IT WOULD NORMALLY. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. SO AT ANY MOMENT I COULD BE DRIVING AND THE CAR CAN STOP ON ME. I HAVE 4 KIDS AND LIVE IN A REALLY BUSY AREA SO EVEN THE THOUGHT OF THIS HAPPENING HAS ME SECOND THINKING EACH TIME I HAVE TO MOVE MY CAR!! I'VE SEEN MORE THAN ONE OF THE SAME COMPLAINT AND I NOTICE OUR VIN #'S ARE SIMILAR SO SOMETHING SHOULD REALLY BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS IT SEEMS THIS IS A TREND WITH THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF THIS CAR.

ODI #11287474ENGINEFIRE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY OTHER MOTORISTS THAT FLAMES WERE PRESENT UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT AND A PEDESTRIAN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE AT THE SCENE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHSTAR KIA (46-05 NORTHERN BLVD, LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101, (877) 244-0989) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

ODI #11287036AIR BAGSCRASH1 INJURY

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2019 @ 6:38 PM IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA ON 59TH AVE HEADING WEST I WAS IN A VERY TERRIBLE CAR COLLISION WHERE I WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A RED LIGHT AND WAS REAR ENDED BY A TOYOTA TACOMA GOING 45-60 MPH, UPON IMPACT I WAS FORCED FORWARD AND HIT THE BACK OF A FLAT BED TOW TRUCK AND COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT.

ODI #11282081STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

HELLO I AM NYCHOLE AND IN OCTOBER OF 2017 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 KIA OPTIMA . NEVER REALLY HAD ANY ISSUES WITH IT UNTIL FRI NOV 22. AS I WAS LEAVING FROM WORK MY CAR DID A VERY ABRUPT JERK THAT I ACKNOWLEDGED BUT DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT BECAUSE MY GAS LIGHT HAD JUST CAME ON. BUT TODAY WHICH IS SUNDAY MY CAR'S EPS (ELECTRIC POWER STEERING) LIGHT FLASHED. WEIRDED OUT I LOOK AT THE MANUAL IN THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. AS I EASED INTO MY APARTMENT COMPLEX THE CAR DID THAT SAME JERK, THE STEERING WHEEL WENT HARD TO MANAGE/STEER AND 6 OTHER LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING( PARKING BREAK LIGHT,EPB LIGHT ,ABS LIGHT,ESC LIGHT ,BATTERY CHARGE LIGHT, AND THE MASTER MALFUNCTION LIGHT) . I COULD NO LONGER MANIPULATE MY WHEEL SO I PULL FORWARD ONTO A OPEN SPOT AND PUT IT IN PARK. THE MOMENT I DID THIS THE CAR CUT OFF. IT WILL NOT TURN OVER, IT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING BESIDES TICK. I HAVE BEEN GREAT WITH MAINTENANCE BECAUSE IT WAS EITHER FREE OR DIRT CHEAP SO I ALWAYS TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE READ MORE REVIEWS OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR THINGS. JUST IMAGINE IF I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR, ON THE INTERSTATE AND COULD NO LONGER CONTROL MY STEERING WHEEL OR THE CAR JUST DYING MID DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE HOW DANGEROUS THIS ISSUE IS. MY CAR IS BASICALLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAT 50 K. IT HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED , TOWED OR DAMAGED STILL PRACTICALLY NEW. I HAVE ALSO READ SIMILAR RECALLS ABOUT ELECTRONIC ISSUES THAT ARE ONLY RELEVANT TO THE HYBRIDS . THE RECALL SEEMS SIMILAR.

ODI #11265744STEERING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 KIA OPTIMA IN NOVEMBER 2018. I HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 22,500 MILES ON IT AND HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH UPDATED OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE PER THE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER. ON SATURDAY 9/28 I DROPPED THE CAR OFF FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, AND AS I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IT SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO DIE, BUT IT DIDN'T. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN AND IT GOT ME HOME. THE NEXT DAY, SUNDAY 9/29, IT DROVE WITHOUT PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, BUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN AND STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR CITY ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP, AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO BE STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AT THIS TIME SO I CALLED THEM FIRST THING MONDAY 10/1 TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND DROPPED IT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING TO BE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE SO READY TO GIVE ME THE CAR BACK. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND I CAN'T BELIEVE WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE TO PUT OUR LIVES AT RISK TO WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN BEFORE ANY RECOURSE CAN BE TAKEN. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THE DEALERSHIP NOT TO BE ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FIX. KIA HAD 5+ YEARS OF ENGINE STALL PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER, AND THE DEALERSHIP CERTAINLY WILL NOT VALIDATE THIS. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BOTH GO OUT, SO YOU HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAYERS TO RELY ON TO KEEP YOU ALIVE.

ODI #11254060POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEFIRE

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON THE STREETS; ITS AN 2018 KIA OPTIMA.ON AUGUST 2,2019 MY CAR ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE.PEOPLE WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK AND OTHER DRIVERS STOP TO ALERT ME THAT THEY SAW FIRE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR.THEN WHILE DRIVING I START TO NOTICE EXTREME SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD SO MUCH I COULDNT NO LONGER LOOK WHERE I WAS GOING.I PANICKED AND MIND WAS RACING Q HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN I GOT THIS CAR NEW LAST YEAR MAY 1,2018. WHEN I JUMPED OUT TO LOOK AT THE HOOD I SAW MY ENGINE ENGULFED WITH FLAMES.NEARBY DRIVER THREW ME A BOTTOLE OF WATER,LUCKILY I HAD JUST BOUGHT 24 CASE OF WATER, ANOTHER DRIVER PULLED OVER AND WAS HELPING ME POUR WATER TO REDUCE THE DAMAGE OF THE FIRE.NO ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE OR AFTER THE FIRE AND I HAD MY RECENTLY OIL CHANGE.

ODI #11245776ENGINEFIRE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER WAS TOLD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THEIR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHSTAR MITSUBISHI PARTS (41-05 34TH ASTORIA, NY 11101) AND AWAITING KIA INSPECTOR FOR A DIAGNOSES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

ODI #11241806ENGINE

ON 03/29/2019 WAS TRAVELING TO WORK. ON INTERSTATE 53 SOUTHBOUND CAR WENT TO LIMP MODE. NO POWER. MANAGED TO GET TO DEALERSHIP. THEY TRIED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH AFTER THEY TOLD ME THAT ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED THEY MANAGED TO CHANGE WIRING HARNESS. AFTER 1 MONTH IT WAS DONE. I TOOK CAR BACK. 1 OR 2 WEEKS LATER CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE AGAIN WITH SAME PROBLEM. FILED A CLAIM WITH KIA AND BBB TO RESOLVE IT. AS OF RIGHT NOW THEY HAD IN INSPECTIONS ON MY VEHICLE AS THEY STATED FROM KIA CALIFORNIA HQ AND FROM KOREA HQ WITH NO LUCK TO REPAIR IT. AS MANAGER TOLD ME THEY DONT HAVE ANY IDEAS HOW TO FIX IT. WANT KIA TO BUYBACK MY VEHICLE AND LET ME GET AWAY FROM THIS LEASE WITH REIMBURSEMENT ON PAYMENTS BECAUSE CAR NOT IN MY POSESSION FOR 128 DAYS AND COUNTING. THEY SWITCHED ME 3 LONERS.

ODI #11241258ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR AND SIDE SENSORS FAILED TO IDENTIFY TWO PEOPLE WALKING PAST. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNSET KIA OF AUBURN (3401 AUBURN WAY N, AUBURN, WA 98002, (855) 474-9626) WHO STATED THAT THE SENSORS WERE WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,356.

ODI #11218043ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE

TAKARA RECALL VEHICLE POWER DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ON A CITY STREET THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MOTION THEN POWERED BACK UP WITHOUT ME TURNING THE IGNITION.WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE

ODI #11217041SEAT BELTS

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT. OFTEN TIMES THE ALARM GOES OFF WHEN NO ONE IS SEATING IN THE SEAT ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SIT IT OVERLY LOCKS NO MATTER THE SPEED OF THE CAR, THUS CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HAVE TO UNDO AND REDO THE SEAT BELT WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT BELT HAS ITS OWN MIND.

ODI #11217052VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE CAN ON. I STARTED DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK, BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE WHY THIS LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THIS WAS/IS A NEW CAR. I HAVE LESS THAN 19K MILES ON MY CAR. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR REFUSED TO SPEED UP. THE MAX THAT I COULD DRIVE WAS 60 MPH. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. SO I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE IN JANUARY THAT THEY HAS PLACE A SAFTEY FEATURE ON MY CAR TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM BLOWING UP. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THERE IS POSSIBLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, HOWEVER, THEY ARE STARTING OUT BY CHANGING THE WIRING FIRST. I CAN NOT EXPLAIN HOW DIFFERENT THIS DRIVES SINCE THE WIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. IT IS THE WORST DRIVE. THE CAR IS VERY LOUD IT DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED WHEN IT SHOULD AND IT DOES NOT SLOW DOWN AS FAST AS IT USE TO. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND SEEMINGLY EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIRS, THE CAR GETS WORST. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A NEW/USED KIA AGAIN.

ODI #11206044POWER TRAIN

2018 KIA 12,000 MILES HAD RECALL 2 MONTHS AGO FOR SOFTWARE UPDATE AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE DAY GETTING ON INTERSTATE IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY SPEED AT TIME WAS PROBABLY 60 MPH CANT PUSH THE GAS CAR JUST STALLS 18 WHEELER BEHIND BLOWING HORN I PULL CAR TO SIDE OF INTERSTATE GOT CAR TO CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP I ASK WHAT WAS WRONG AND THEY STATED THEY USE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR BUT NOW THEY JUST PUT A PART CALLED A HARNESS ON IT PART WAS NOT IN THEY HAVE TO KEEP CAR SEVERAL DAYS

ODI #11187212STRUCTURE

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT AND THEN A RUSH OF AIR INTO THE DRIVER/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THANKFULLY I HAD THE INTERIOR SHADE (PANEL) CLOSED AND WAS NOT RIDDLED WITH BROKEN GLASS.

ODI #11173043POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 4 MONTHS AND 3800 MILES WHILE DRIVING ST LOCAL STREETS, KIA DEALERS REFUSED TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.

ODI #11165394ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THIS HAS OCCURRED ON 3 TIMES SO FAR. I WAS AT A GAS STATION FILLING UP THE TANK, THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR WAS IN PARK, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, AND MY CAR DOOR WAS CLOSED. WHEN I FINISHED GETTING GAS, I TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND IT WAS LOCKED. ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED. I WAS 20 MILES FROM HOME FORTUNATELY SOMEONE WAS AT HOME TO BRING A SPARE KEY FOR ME TO OPEN THE TRUNK, PUSH THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS DOWN AND CLIMB THRU TO THE FRONT TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE SAME SCENARIO OCCURED THIS PAST WEEK WHEN I HAD GONE OUTSIDE TO WARM UP MY CAR BY TURNING ON THE DEFROST FOR THE FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS. ONCE AGAIN, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND I CLOSED THE DOORS. ONCE THE CAR WAS WARM, I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT WAS LOCKED. I HAD TO GO IN THE HOUSE TO GET THE OTHER SET OF KEYS, OPEN THE TRUNK PUSH THE BACK SEATS DOWN AND CLIMB THRU THE TO THE FRONT, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THIS LAST OCCURENCE WAS ONCE AGAIN AT A GAS STATION, THIS TIME IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT, IT WAS 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND HAD TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE FROM MY HOUSE BRING THE SPARE KEYS. THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR MYSELF IS, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO IF NO ONE IS AT MY HOUSE TO BRING THE EXTRA KEY. SURELY, I DONT PLAN TO BRING TWO SETS OF KEYS WITH ME. EVERYTIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE KIAOFDAYTON SERVICE CENTER, I AM TOLD THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE ISSUE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. IN EVERY INSTANCE THE CAR WAS IN PARK, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, AND THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED WHEN I HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK IN, I COULD NOT BECAUSE THE DOORS HAD LOCKED BY THEMSELVES.

ODI #11163260SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN REVERSING THE BRAKES TAKE 5 TO 10 SECONDS TO RELEASE, ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON THE ENTIRE TIME OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING.

ODI #11154609UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FROM INSIDE OF THE TRUNK. MY KEYS WERE STUCK INSIDE THE TRUNK THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN IT. THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT RESPOND. THE TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON FROM THE TRUNK ITSELF DOES NOT RESPOND. THE REAR SEATS CANNOT FOLD FROM THE INSIDE EITHER, BECAUSE IT CAN ONLY BE ACCESSED FROM THE TRUNK

ODI #11153087AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKESCRASH1 INJURY

TAKATA RECALL. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY, SLID ON WATER AND CRASHED INTO A STEEL POLE. THE BREAKS DID NOT WORK AT ALL AND WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE THE BREAK PADS WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET LIKE THEY HAD JUST FALL OFF. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY FRIEND'S HEAD CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS TOTALED.

ODI #11122109AIR BAGSCRASH2 INJURIES

TL* THE CONTACTS DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE FRONTAL DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER AND THE DRIVER WERE INJURED AND TREATED AT A HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

ODI #11110921FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND THE FORWARD COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOT WARNED OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE SYSTEM DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN NECESSARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MORITZ KIA FORT WORTH, 8501 I-30 WEST, FORT WORTH, TX) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. *TT

ODI #11063913POWER TRAIN2 INJURIES

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 18:55(APPROXIMATELY) AMHERST MASSACHUSETTS, 39 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT PARKED CAR, PULLED KEYS AND EXITED CAR TO HELP MY MOTHER EXIT. PARKED ON INCLINE, VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACK DOWN DRIVEWAY HAD KEYS IN POCKET AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLE TRIED MOVING BACK TO DRIVER DOOR WHICH HAD LOCKED OR WAS STUCK USED ALL STRENGTH TO TRY TO KEEP VEHICLE STATIONARY, WITHOUT MUCH H SUCCESS FINALLY, MOTHER WAS ABLE TO OPEN DRIVER DOOR FROM INSIDE I AM 53, WITH MILLIONS OF MYLES UNDER MY BELT....MOTHER IS 73 BOTH OF US STRAINED OURSELVES, KEEPING VEHICLE FROM MOVING. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON PRIVATE, SLIGHTLY DESCENDING DRIVEWAY VEHICLE RENTED FROM ADVANTAGE RENT A CAR CALLED RENTAL COMPANY AND WAS NOT HELPED WE ARE STILL VERY SHAKEN FROM THE EXPERIENCE WILL NOT DRIVE VEHICLE AGAIN NO VIDEO FOOTAGE, JUST MY MOTHER AND I EXPERIENCED MALFUNCTION

Annual complaints and reliability score for KIA Optima — recall years marked in red
022440501002018201820192020202120222023202420252026Complaints/yrReliability (0–100)
Annual complaints (left axis)
Reliability score 0–100 (right axis, higher = safer)
Crash-involved complaints that year
Recall issued
Chart Analysis

The blue line shows 223 total NHTSA complaints filed over 9 years, with the worst year being 2025 (44 complaints, including 2 crash reports).

The amber reliability line averaged 15/100 across the vehicle's life — dropping as low as 10 in 2019 when complaint severity peaked.

The recall (red dashed line) were issued in the same year or before complaints peaked, suggesting the manufacturer identified and acted on the defect relatively quickly.

Red dots on the amber line flag 6 years (2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2024, 2025) where complaints included crash events — these are the highest-severity incidents in the dataset.

ACTIVEEXTENDED WARRANTYTT037 / SC158
Hyundai/Kia Theta II Engine Extended Warranty
Engine – Theta II 2.0T / 2.4L GDI (Long Block)
COVERAGE:10 years / 120,000 miles from original sale date

Theta II 2.0T and 2.4L GDI engines suffer from connecting rod bearing failure due to insufficient lubrication, causing a knocking noise and potential engine seizure. Hyundai and Kia extended the powertrain warranty on affected vehicles to 10 years / 120,000 miles following NHTSA investigations and class action lawsuits. Owners should also install the Engine Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update.

HOW TO CLAIM: Visit any authorized Hyundai or Kia dealer. Request the KSDS software update (free) and verify your VIN qualifies for the extended engine warranty under Technical Service Campaign TT037 (Hyundai) or SC158 (Kia). If you previously paid out-of-pocket for an engine replacement, you may be eligible for reimbursement.

Coverage eligibility depends on your VIN, original sale date, and current mileage. Always verify with an authorized dealer or manufacturer customer service — programs may have been updated since this database was compiled.

Details & Analysis
Financial
$0
Annual Fuel
EPA estimate
$1,800
Annual Insurance
US average
$1,800
Annual Maintenance
8-yr-old vehicle avg
$457
Annual Depreciation
Current period
Estimated 5-Year Total Cost
Fuel + Insurance + Maintenance + Depreciation
$20,285

Estimates use EPA fuel economy data, AAA 2024 national averages for insurance and maintenance, and a standard depreciation curve. Actual costs vary by location, driving habits, and vehicle condition.

$43,950
~$733/mo over 5 yrs
$0.5/mi
cost per mile
Fuel
$10,000
Insurance (est.)
$13,575
Maintenance
$15,500
Repair Risk Buffer
$3,000
Depreciation
$1,875

Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $43,950 (~$733/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.

$4,500
Low
$5,500
Est. Value
$6,500
High

Based on original MSRP of $22,600 with sedan depreciation curve. Range reflects ±15% market variance. Actual value depends on condition, options, and local demand.

2 open recalls (unverified repair status)−$1,000
1 recall over 2 years old — likely uncompleted−$400
Total recommended deduction−$1,400
Suggested fair offer: ~$4,100
HIGH
Verify recall HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM has been repaired
Recall on record for: Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Kia Optima hybrid vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with a
HIGH
Verify recall LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH has been repaired
Recall on record for: Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Rio, 2016-2018 Optima, 2017-2018 Optima Hybrid and Optima Plug-in
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: ENGINE
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Test drive and inspect: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Multiple owner complaints filed for this component — verify it functions correctly during test drive.
MEDIUM
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic
For any used vehicle with a risk score above Low, a $100–$150 independent inspection is always worth it.
MEDIUM
Run a VIN check on NHTSA.gov to confirm all recalls are closed
Free at nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/recalls — enter the VIN and confirm all campaigns show as completed.
MEDIUM
Verify title is clean and check for salvage/rebuilt brands at your state DMV
Title washing across state lines is common — confirm with your state DMV before finalizing purchase.
5%
18-month
10%
2-year
Low Probability
Cumulative 2-year risk: 10%

5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.

Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.

Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.

History & Auctions
Full Coverage
$2,030–$2,590/yr
~$169–$216/mo
Liability Only
$530–$680/yr
~$44–$57/mo
Category: MainstreamCritical surcharge risk
Very High theft risk model: +30% to comprehensive premium 8-year-old vehicle: −7% (moderate depreciation)

Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.

Very High
6.4× national average · 68/1,000 vehicles
Recovery rate:63%of stolen KIA Optimas are recovered

KIA Optima has a Very High theft risk — 6.4× the national average. Insurance premiums are likely significantly above class average.

KIA has been fined $27M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2020: Failure to promptly conduct recalls for Theta II engine defect.

2020$27MFailure to promptly conduct recalls for Theta II engine defect

Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.

Vehicle Identity

VIN5XXGT4L38JG185109
Model Year2018
MakeKIA
ModelOptima
TrimLX
Vehicle TypePASSENGER CAR

Body & Configuration

Body StyleSedan/Saloon
Doors4
Seat Rows5
Drive TypeFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel TypeGasoline
TransmissionAutomatic

Engine

Engine Cylinders4
Displacement (L)2.4
Horsepower185

Manufacturer

ManufacturerKIA GEORGIA, INC
Assembly CountryUNITED STATES (USA)

VIN Structure

WMI (Chars 1–3)5XX
Check Digit (Char 9)8
Model Year Code (Char 10)J
Plant Code (Char 11)G
Sequence (Chars 12–17)185109

Safety Data

NHTSA Recall Count2
NHTSA Complaint Count223
5
1
X
2
X
3
G
4
T
5
4
6
L
7
3
8
8
9
J
10
G
11
1
12
8
13
5
14
1
15
0
16
9
17
WMI (1–3)
VDS (4–8)
Check Digit (9)
Model Year (10)
Serial (11–17)
5
World Manufacturer
Country & region of manufacture
Position 1
X
Manufacturer
Specific manufacturer identifier
Position 2
X
Vehicle Type
Division or vehicle type
Position 3
GT4L3
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Body style, engine type, restraint system
Position 4–8
8
Check Digit
Mathematical validation character
Position 9
J
Model Year
Year of manufacture
Position 10
G
Assembly Plant
Where the vehicle was assembled
Position 11
185109
Production Sequence
Unique serial number for this vehicle
Position 12–17
Country of Manufacture
United States
From VIN position 1 (5)
Model Year Character
"J" → 2018
Could also be 1988
Check Digit (Pos 9)
✓ Valid
ISO 3779 weighted-sum algorithm

Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 6/5/2026, 3:48:28 PM.