repaired · 2025 Q4
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
2014 Kia OptimaProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 591 owner complaints about the 2014 Kia Optima, most often about the engine. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-652 the manufacturer reports only 28% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 23, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2014 Kia Optima has problems
591 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
284Engine37 crash/fire/injury
97Steering1 crash/fire/injury
60Electrical system11 crash/fire/injury
48Structure4 crash/fire/injury
42Fuel/propulsion system
25Service brakes
21Vehicle speed control
20Power train
18Exterior lighting
9816 other systems13 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 284 | 37 |
| Steering | 97 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 60 | 11 |
| Structure | 48 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 42 | 10 |
| Service brakes | 25 | 8 |
| Vehicle speed control | 21 | 3 |
| Power train | 20 | 3 |
| Exterior lighting | 18 | 1 |
| 16 other systems | 98 | 13 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2014 Kia Optima recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2024 Q2
Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
repaired · 2022 Q3
Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
Park outsideRisk. If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Show 3 more recalls
repaired · 2022 Q1
Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk. If the fuel hose cracks, a fuel leak can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2020 Q2
Engine
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Risk. Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kia.
Mileage at failure
When do engine problems start?
85kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 169 engine complaints. 60% were reported before 100,000 miles.
23under 30k miles101under 100k miles68100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
9 owners mentioned a cost$5,422median
Middle half: $890 – $6,585
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2014 vs. every other Optima year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Optima median. How we score
'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2014 Kia Optima safety ratings
2014 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.6% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
8 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2014 Kia Optima, and the recalls they led to.
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresOpen
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 18V-907
- Throttle control system vulnerabilitiesNo recall
- Loss of Motive PowerNo recall
- Electrical overstressLed to recall 20V-024
- Engine FiresLed to recall 23V-877
- Non-crash Vehicle FiresLed to recall 20V-519
- Scope and TimelinessLed to recall 19V-101
In owners' words
What Optima owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
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…
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…
Own a 2014 Optima?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.