2014 Kia Optima Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: September 30, 2026 · Filed: October 23, 2026

1. Component or system that failed/malfunctioned & availability for inspection: The Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) system and the steering column assembly have failed. The vehicle and the defective steering column are fully available for inspection upon request. 2. How safety was put at risk: A known, dealer-diagnosed defective steering column compromises structural steering control. Operating a vehicle with an unresolved steering column defect creates an immediate risk of catastrophic steering failure, locking, or sudden loss of control at high speeds, placing myself, my passengers, and other drivers in imminent danger. 3. Reproduction or confirmation by a dealer/independent center: The problem was explicitly confirmed by a certified Kia dealership. After a prior flex coupler repair, a severe whining noise immediately developed upon leaving the lot. I returned the car, and the dealership's secondary inspection confirmed that the entire steering column was defective and required complete replacement. They issued an official itemized cost invoice for the replacement work. 4. Inspection by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others: The component was formally inspected by the local authorized Kia dealership. However, the dealership subsequently misinformed Kia Corporate by falsely reporting that the vehicle was fully "resolved" to close the corporate case file, leaving the safety hazard unaddressed. 5. Warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms: There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages. The primary symptom was a distinct, loud whining noise that developed immediately following the dealer's physical teardown and replacement of the steering flex coupler. The issue became persistent from that exact date forward.

Incident: March 19, 2025 · Filed: October 15, 2026

The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the engine stalled and shut off. The vehicle coasted to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an engine failure and it was determined that the engine required replacement. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) due to insufficient service records. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 145,848.

Incident: September 29, 2026 · Filed: October 5, 2026

I was driving normally on I-76 when suddenly, I couldn’t feel the gas working. Everything was fine with the car until then, but all of a sudden, I saw all the lights on the dashboard. I could slowly smell the smell of flames, and later, it caught fire! I was terrified for my life, and seeing that happen to my first car, which I had only had for three weeks, still haunts me.

Incident: September 28, 2026 · Filed: October 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact’s son stated that while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel became inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized, and significant effort was required to control or turn the steering wheel. The contact’s son also became aware of an electrical burning odor during the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure by telephone. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

Incident: October 3, 2026 · Filed: October 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after leaving the vehicle parked for approximately 4 hours, the contact returned to the vehicle and the engine running even though the vehicle was turned off. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the traction control light, ABS, and the parking brake light were illuminated. The contact stopped, parked the vehicle, and restarted the vehicle, attempting to reset the vehicle; however, the lights remained illuminated. While the vehicle was at the residence a family member disconnected the battery and used water on the body of the vehicle closest to the steering wheel underneath the hood of the vehicle. The contact was advised by the family member not to drive the vehicle because of the overheating.

Incident: September 28, 2026 · Filed: September 28, 2026

Steering effort loss. Can’t drive vehicle as steering wheel is hard to move. EPS and Traction light came on. Could cause accident as I was driving and with no warning could not make turns unless using excessive force.

Incident: September 2, 2026 · Filed: September 15, 2026

My vehicles Low-Pressure Fuel Feed Tube disconnected from the engine and sprayed fuel over the top. The vehicle was running and the engine was hot but luckily there was no fire and no was injured, but if this had happened any sooner it could have been much worse. There is currently a recall for this part on my exact model car and year, but my VIN does not show the recall. The part was inspected by a mechanic who informed me this should be covered by the recall based on everything listed in the safety recall campaign. The vehicles check engine light came on just before the temperature gauge light up. after pulling over there was a clear gasoline smell in the vehicle and upon inspection the feed tube was no longer connected to the engine.

Incident: September 17, 2025 · Filed: September 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. The contact stated that a quart of oil was added every 600 miles. The contact stated that the dealer had replaced the engine with a rebuilt engine under an unknown recall seven years prior. The dealer was informed of the recent failure and informed the contact that the manufacturer approved an engine replacement if the engine failed. The manufacturer was contacted by phone, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Incident: July 24, 2026 · Filed: August 30, 2026

I owe a lady made a complete stop in front of me and I hit her. I wasn’t traveling close behind her. Her car was not damaged at all, but my Kia was totaled from the front. They had to cut the car off because it was smoking like it was gonna catch a fire. I’ve been had this sign on my car the steering wheel with an! It says that the car is hot before the car accident I had driven to [XXX] back to my house in the car motor was just shaking up under even though the car was off about 1015 minutes a hour late I had to wreck. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Incident: August 18, 2026 · Filed: August 28, 2026

The component was the engine. The engine has since been replaced. The safety of myself or others was not in immediate danger before the engine seized. Luckily my mechanics employee was test driving for other issues at the time. My mechanic said it was likely due to the recalls that have been issued from KIA. Unfortunately the engine was seized so the dealership I had the car towed to was unable to inspect the motor for the recall because of the engine seizing. The vehicle was not inspected by any of the listed entities. There were no warning lamps messages or any other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure/seizure of the engine.