2014 Kia OPTIMA
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2014 Kia OPTIMA has 779 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 9.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (37% of all complaints), specifically: my kia optima 2014 started a noise near the engine that sounds like a clapping noise. the first kia dealer i took it to said that it is not to worry and is part of the kia engineering design. the second kia dealer i took it to said that the noise is bad news and after further diagnostics, they deter. ⚠️ 58 fire reports filed.
779
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
9.7x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
290 complaints- • MY KIA OPTIMA 2014 STARTED A NOISE NEAR THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CLAPPING NOISE. THE FIRST KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT IT IS NOT TO WORRY AND IS PART OF THE KIA ENGINEERING DESIGN. THE SECOND KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE NOISE IS BAD NEWS AND AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, THEY DETER
- • I HAD MY CAR KID OPTIMA 2014 2 WEEKS (800 MILES ON MY NEW ).THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING NOISES TOOK IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP IT WAS THE PISTON NOT WORKING FULLY THEY SAID I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE ENGINE REPLACED .I DON'T WANT THE CAR ! I'M NOT HAPPY. *TR
- • PURCHASED MY NEW OPTIMA ON 4/14/2014 (MONDAY) AND LATER THAT SAME WEEK AND FIRST OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK HEARD A NOISE BEST DESCRIBED AS A DIESEL ENGINE IDLE SOUND AT STARTUP. TOOK IT INTO MY DEALERSHIP ON 4/24/2014 TO FIND OUT IT WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. AFTER LOOKING ON A FORUM FOR THESE CARS,
“MY KIA OPTIMA 2014 STARTED A NOISE NEAR THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CLAPPING NOISE. THE FIRST KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT IT IS NOT TO WORRY AND IS PART OF THE KIA ENGINEERING DESIGN. THE SECOND KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE NOISE IS BAD NEWS AND AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, THEY DETER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
93 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
- • VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON THE HIGHWAY, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60+ MPH) AND REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION FROM LEFT TO RIGHT TO MAINTAIN LANE POSITION. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE TIME WE PURCHASED IT NEW LESS THAN 3 WEEKS AGO. THE STEERING IS VERY HYPER-SENSITIVE AT SPEED AND A CORRECTION
- • VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GO STRAIGHT WITHOUT CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT. EVEN WITH CONSTANT ADJUSTMENT THE CAR WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
88 complaints- • THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IF I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE MY SPEED, WHETHER FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR TO PULL INTO A BUSY ROADWAY, OR TO INCREASE MY SPEED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL START TO GO THEN CHOKE, SO THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE
- • TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG IS CRACKED.
- • I WAS TRYING TO BACK IN BETWEEN2 VEHICLES IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. AND WHILE DOING SO, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNCHED BACKWARDS WITH A JERKING MOTION, LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO DO 2 DIFFERENT THINGS ATONE TIME, AT FULL RATE OF SPEED AND DOING SO, IT BACKED INTO THE VEHICLE TO MY LEFT, THE
“THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IF I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE MY SPEED, WHETHER FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR TO PULL INTO A BUSY ROADWAY, OR TO INCREASE MY SPEED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL START TO GO THEN CHOKE, SO THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
58 complaints- • WE HAD TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND FIXED WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. WE FOUND THE FUSE COVER ON THE DASHBOARD. 1 DAY LATER, THE SYMBOLS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO LIGHT UP AND THE CAR FROZE, LOCKED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT
- • MAY 9TH 2016, DRIVING TO WORK ON I-44 HEADING TO WORK, MY VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING SHUTS OFF AND DIES, I START TO SEE WHITE SMOKE COME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I SAFELY PULL THE CAR OVER TO SHOULDER BECAUSE IT WAS STILL ROLLING. EXIT THE VEHICLE AND OPEN THE HOOD, AND THE ENGINE CATCHES FIRE ON T
- • VEHICLE PERIODICALLY WILL NOT CRANK AFTER SITTING. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES RECENTLY AND DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE.
“WE HAD TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND FIXED WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. WE FOUND THE FUSE COVER ON THE DASHBOARD. 1 DAY LATER, THE SYMBOLS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO LIGHT UP AND THE CAR FROZE, LOCKED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BODY/STRUCTURE
48 complaints- • DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 IN VIRGINIA, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A GUNSHOT. MOMENTS LATER, I HEARD THE SOUND OF AIR RUSHING PAST FROM ABOVE MY HEAD AND DEBRIS VIBRATING ON THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SCREEN. I LATER FOUND THAT IT WAS BROKEN GLASS CRACKLING AND FALLING AGAINST THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SC
- • THE ANTENNAE FALLS OF, IT SNAPPED. IT IS ONLY PLASTIC AND IT LEAVES COMPONENTS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ROOF. ALSO IF IT SNAPS OF WHILE DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT TO THE CAR BEHIND YOU. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE OUT THERE THAT HAVE COME OFF. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED I
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SHARK FIN FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF ABILENE (4702 SOUTHWEST DR, ABILENE, TX 79606) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS
“DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 IN VIRGINIA, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A GUNSHOT. MOMENTS LATER, I HEARD THE SOUND OF AIR RUSHING PAST FROM ABOVE MY HEAD AND DEBRIS VIBRATING ON THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SCREEN. I LATER FOUND THAT IT WAS BROKEN GLASS CRACKLING AND FALLING AGAINST THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SC”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 779 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: MY KIA OPTIMA 2014 STARTED A NOISE NEAR THE ENGINE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CLAPPING NOISE. THE FIRST KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT IT IS NOT TO WORRY AND IS PART OF THE KIA ENGINEERING DESIGN. THE SECOND KIA DEALER I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THE NOISE IS BAD NEWS AND AFTER FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS, THEY DETER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IF I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE MY SPEED, WHETHER FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR TO PULL INTO A BUSY ROADWAY, OR TO INCREASE MY SPEED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL START TO GO THEN CHOKE, SO THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: WE HAD TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND FIXED WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. WE FOUND THE FUSE COVER ON THE DASHBOARD. 1 DAY LATER, THE SYMBOLS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO LIGHT UP AND THE CAR FROZE, LOCKED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Kia OPTIMA — Year Comparison
How does 2014 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 779
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 58
- Crash reports
- 28
- Injury reports
- 29
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2014 Kia OPTIMA