Vehicle Data Hub

2014 Kia Optima engine problems

300 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2014 Kia Optima, which is 37% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
300 38% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
88,000 miles 183 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
8 and 30
Injuries and deaths
10 and 0

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2014 Kia Optima Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 88,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 20 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 16 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 26 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 17 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 26 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 30 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 17 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 15 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 8 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 4 complaints 200k+ miles: 4 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 88,000 miles
Based on 183 complaints that include mileage. 34% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles20
20k to 40k miles16
40k to 60k miles26
60k to 80k miles17
80k to 100k miles26
100k to 120k miles30
120k to 140k miles17
140k to 160k miles15
160k to 180k miles8
180k to 200k miles4
200k+ miles4

What the data shows

Of the 183 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 88,000 miles, and 34% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 8 crashes, 30 fires, 10 injuries.

What owners wrote

Summer 2017 The engine failed while driving with my family. The engine seized and a fire was engulfed. I was in the interstate and we feared for our life. Out of town visiting family we were stranded in another state for a month waiting for repairs. Kia took the vehicle and replaced the engine with another faulty engine that has seized several times while commuting. I have been living in fear and anxiety since this incident. I never know if I start my engine if I will loose my life.

June 2017 FireInjury

My car has been perfectly fine for the past two years I have had it. Up until yesterday morning on my way home from work I noticed my car was starting to run hot on my way home.I brought it to the nearest shop and they cleared that it was in fact my motor after they checked everything and now my vehicle is not drivable ... I always keep up with oil changes and continuous maintenance on my vehicle ever since I purchased it .

Reported at 115,000 miles, March 2019

Other problems reported for the 2014 Kia Optima

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Kia models