2009 Kia Optima engine problems
16 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2009 Kia Optima, which is 10% of all its NHTSA complaints.
At a glance
- Complaints
- 16 10% of this year's complaints
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 13 complaints with mileage
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
When engine problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 1 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 4 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 13 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 70,000 miles, and 38% were reported before 60,000 miles.
These complaints mention 4 fires.
What owners wrote
After returning from work and parking my vehicle at home, the car sat in my driveway in 40 degree weather for approximately 12 hrs. I woke up the next morning and found my car on fire and is a total loss. The police and fire department were called and dispatched to my home. The fire department extinguished the fire and determined it was probably an electrical fire. There is no remote starter installed or any other accessories installed in the vehicle after purchase.
Late last year (2014) in our kia optima 2009 got some transmission issue which is difficult to explain for. To me it looks like a manufacturing defect which kia must resolve. This is what I experienced: in 2014 october, I started feeling a heavy jolt/jerk whenever I used the car and the engine is cold. The jolt is so strong that every passenger noticed it. This happens only when I try to slow down the car and it gets near to 20 mphr. So the factors are: 1. Cold 2. Downshift 3.
Other problems reported for the 2009 Kia Optima
- Drivetrain & axles 29 complaints
- Air bags 28 complaints
- Brakes 21 complaints
- Electrical system 16 complaints