What 136 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Optima

Engine replacement needed at 99,782 miles. P1326 code continuously popping up. Also has excessive oil consumption and electrical problems concerning the forward collision system. Kia refuses to replace engine although the P1326 code is covered by lifetime warranty. The cause of the incident was defect in engine resulting in a recall of all 2011-2019 models. The 2020 Kia optima LX contains a 2.4L GDI engine which has identical problems relating to previous lawsuits.

NHTSA ODI 11743902

My transmission failed the week I got it it was inspected by the dealership and I was told that they could not do anything about it I’ve been calling them for a whole year I’ve made notes and complaints I’ve contacted my lender they contacted the dealership to trade me in a new car and was told no I have been out of thousands of dollars paying every month I’ve been ubering I’ve been late to work this is costing me money and my job is on the line

NHTSA ODI 11743522

I was driving on the freeway and my check engine light started to flicker and I felt my car shake and going to limp mode. I made an appointment with the Kia dealership and they told me the engine is failing. They submitted a request for a Goodwill case to Kia corporation and it was denied since there’s no open recalls and is not covered by the extended warranty. the dealership recommended me to take my car and keep driving it even though it’s unsafe the vehicle will not go above 50 mph and it starts to shake when driving I have tried to call Kia corporate and explain this situation but they have yet to follow up with me in my case

NHTSA ODI 11740375

Car is consuming oil every three weeks. Engine is going to burn if it does not stop. It’s not in a class action but probably should be. It’s been 4 months and over 1,000 spent.

NHTSA ODI 11737059

Out of town July 12th 2025 my 2020 Kia Optima engine started having problems. I tried to get to my hotel but it was obvious I was not going to make it. I pulled into the nearest station and was told my car had no oil. There were no signs of leaking oil and no warning lights so they changed my oil and I was able to made it home. Shortly after I broke down again at night and pulled into a parking lot again no warning and no oil. I had to call someone to get oil and from that point on I had to put oil in my cart every other day with no signs of a leaks and no warning lights. It has become to dangerous to drive and the engine has now failed and knocking and shaking has caused me to park my car and not drive it. I am deeply concerned about the risk of catastrophic engine failure and the potential for fire, which has been documented in similar cases. Despite having the Knock Sensor Detection System installed, my vehicle continues to exhibit these dangerous symptoms. I sought assistance from Landers Crain dealership and KIA; however, they declined to properly evaluate or service my vehicle along with KIA declining according to the KIA Regional Manager. This lack of support has left me with an unsafe, undrivable car and no clear path toward resolution. The Center for Auto Safety Key Affected Vehicles (2.4L GDI) Kia Optima 2011–2018 (some 2019) exact same engine in 2020 Optima Kia Sorento 2012–2019 Kia Sportage 2011–2018 (some 2019) Details of the Recall and Settlement The Problem Manufacturing debris and tight tolerances can cause connecting rod bearings to fail, causing knocking, seizure, and potential engine fires. The Fix Dealers will update the software with a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) to detect rod bearing issues before failure. My Optima has the KSDS installed but failed. Warranty Extension As part of a class action settlement, Kia extended the warranty on these engines to 15 years or 150,000 miles, provided the KSDS update is installed.

NHTSA ODI 11736366

My vehicle burns oil too quickly. I schedule my regular oil change based on the feedback from the auto repair shop. During my last oil change he said I practically had no oil left, but it has been less than 5,000 miles since my previous oil change. The tech informed me he's seen this happen a lot within Kia's including the optima that I currently drive. Fast forward a few months i noticed my oil light illuminate for a moment and immediately turn off. I still want to get it checked out just in case so i brought it back to the same shop. They informed me my oil was very low even though, but I still have another 1,500 miles before my next due oil change. He looked around and confirmed there were no leaks or damage that would affect the consumption rate. He highly recommended me look to see if there were any recalls on my specific model of vehicle that would warrant both an explanation and reason for replacement. In the meantime he topped off my oil and i was all good to go.

NHTSA ODI 11733038

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, and while the vehicle was parked, there was a loud banging sound coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The RPM failed to operate as intended while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed, and determined that there were metal shavings inside the engine, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic referred the contact to a dealer for additional assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 69,751.

NHTSA ODI 11732390

The rod barring failed in my engine. I broke down in the middle of the parkway with my daughter. This is my third Kia optima that has had this issue but the dealership is stating there is not a recall on this model. The check engine light did not come on except when the car lost all power.

NHTSA ODI 11729509

My engine has failed. This is the second car I’ve had from Kia that the rod barring has failed.

NHTSA ODI 11728508

My car burns oil. I had to have my spark.plugs and engine coils replaced. I was driving and my check engine light came on. Also, my car was sputtering like you wouldnt believe. When i had the spark plugs and ignition coils replaced, the spark plugs were covered in oil. Last year, I got an oil change and within a few weeks the oil was empty. A neighbor told me my car was burning oil. I also took it to an independent mechanic and he said that was an issue with the kia optima.

NHTSA ODI 11726778

It either has issues shifting gears like its stuck or the transmission may be slipping, it's had this issue since I bought the car. However I wasn't aware until my uncle drove the car and said something might be wrong.. I have no idea what's causing it. It shudders when I make turn or speed up to pass. Not all of the time but at least twice per my normal trip

NHTSA ODI 11723595

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a full stop, the red oil warning light illuminated; however, after driving off, the warning light disappeared. The vehicle was driven to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with an oil pump failure caused by low oil pressure while the vehicle was stationary, and the RPM was low. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 167,000.

NHTSA ODI 11720784

Stable track control failed to work, the driver seatbelt did not tighten & stayed loose, & air bags did not deploy upon hitting the ditch & small trees resulting after hitting ice/water upon coming to a stop sign at a “T” cross road.

NHTSA ODI 11715952

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering and vibrating abnormally while starting. There were no warning lights illuminated. The failure was intermittent but became a recurring failure. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic out of fear of the vehicle stalling on the highway. Prior to the engine failure, the contact became aware that there were oil spots where the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the mechanic sealed two holes in the oil pan and replaced the spark plugs that were fouled by engine oil. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the same mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the spark plugs were covered in oil again. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer to check for engine failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and an oil consumption test was performed; however, the vehicle failed the oil consumption test. The dealer had not yet diagnosed the vehicle, but suggested that the engine needed to be disassembled to check for engine wear. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,185.

NHTSA ODI 11714482

I’ve been told by multiple Kia dealerships that my Kia needs a new engine however I am barely outside of their class action lawsuit so they are not willing to settle with me. They recently within the last two months came out with two recalls that did not fix the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11713970

I took my vehicle to the dealership in Chantilly, VA on May 17, 2025. On July 24, 2025, I discovered that my vehicle had no oil, despite being approximately 4,000 miles away from my next scheduled oil change. I have video documentation confirming that there was no oil in the vehicle. The car was towed back to the dealership; however, no corrective action was taken. The dealership offered to perform a test, which I declined, as this issue did not exist before servicing my vehicle at their location. Additionally, no explanation or guidance regarding the oil was provided to me. I was only advised to pay for another oil change, or a 205 dollars to diagnose the car. Subsequently, I took the vehicle to Fairfax Auto Shop, where a dye test was conducted to check for oil leaks. While no leaks were found, they advised that the vehicle has an oil consumption issue. They recommended that I monitor and top off the oil every 1,000 miles and return for oil changes every 2–3 months.

NHTSA ODI 11713294

Engine has been burning oil for at least a year now. Cause ignition coil/spark plug failure and have replaced all 4 coils and plugs 3 times now within a year. Engine will randomly start to sputter after about 3-5 months of replacement. Adding a quart of oil every 1-2 weeks. No leaks and no smoke, just money down the drain.

NHTSA ODI 11713215

While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of engine power and entered limp mode. The check engine light began flashing and the vehicle had very limited acceleration, creating a safety concern when driving in traffic. The vehicle was towed to a Kia dealership for diagnosis. The dealer retrieved diagnostic trouble code P1326 (Knock Sensor Detection System – range/performance). During inspection, the dealer found metal contamination in the engine oil and oil control valves and advised that the engine has internal damage and requires replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11709712

I purchased in July 2020, from sept 2020 I've had it at the dealership with shuddering, stalling and loss of acceleration. I originally thought fuel pump or transmission but kia said no. then in 2022 I received a letter from kia corporate stating low pressure fuel pump failure. so i called the dealership and told them the letter states everything I had been in to see them about numerous times. made an appointment they said they found an error but had no fix. I complained heavily due to the fact I sat there for 4 hours, and they knew they had no fix as of yet. It was too dangerous like this. so the Manager said he'd just replace it with a whole new fuel pump but it could also fail. I sent the car in for 4 days just to find out they did not replace it. they only changed the fuel filter. stating kia wont let them put in a new pump due to their system not showing any other issue. The problem persisted and multiple visits to kia to no avail. Then on top of that my air bag light came on Jan 4, 2024. They said it was my responsibility it's not covered 1138.67 it would cost me. Then in Feb kia corporate sent me a letter about airbags. I did not go back because the light eventually went off by itself without a fix, then April 17, 2024 the original problem got even worse, shuddering, lack of acceleration , stalling feeling. Dec. 10, 2025 back to Kia. they have a code for dual clutch and flywheel so they ordered it & had my car for 19 days. I called numerous times to see about progress. I was told they are trying to chase down a code with a tech line. 7 days after that I picked it up & they said they did not change out any parts because there was no code. They only did a cap discharge. I have my car back now after 19 days & it's still not fixed. I called Jan5, 2026 and they said if kia is to fix it they need a code to be present or it'll cost me several thousand, even if its a known issue. so far it's been in the shop 9 times and 24 days total.

NHTSA ODI 11708981

Immediately after getting Kia's latest recall "Voluntary Emissions Service Campaign" software update, my transmission began to Hard-Shift between neutral and 1st gear, and when slowing down, from a gear to a neutral position with the transmission. The car has lunged a few times when going from neutral to 1st gear position--concerning. This is most noticeable when car is cold, but is still always noticeable. Stop-and-go traffic it's also most noticeable. I have notified local dealership by phone message and email but have not heard back in 2 weeks.

NHTSA ODI 11708020

Took to Kia for engine burning excessive oil. They determined the cylinder wall was scorched due to piston ring. The warranty people say it’s normal wear and tear and won’t honor the warranty. It’s still sitting in their engine bay because they want me to pay for the diagnostic which I don’t have. $4000 roughly for that but it needs a new engine. The warranty should be covering this! NEVER PAY FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY!!! They will not help you

NHTSA ODI 11706800

Vechile is burning oil and knock sensor came on which indicated rod bearing. While driving the car lost power the check engine came on was abl to pull over and turned off the car. Did not drive it was tow home.

NHTSA ODI 11705475

I got the car was running good week or 2 later I see the oil light flash after my oil change I go back top it off repeat the cycle almost weekly burning losts of oil then I get a code p1326 for a knock sensor same day car go into limp mode no power rpm won’t go over 2 car won’t go over 60-65 I park it go outside to take it to the dealership next day it ain’t start I haven’t had the car 4 months only have 138,000 miles

NHTSA ODI 11704907

It is an oil burner and engine failed and went into limp mode less than 5 years when drove off dealership brand new.

NHTSA ODI 11704364

Out of the blue I get a code for a misfire on cylinder one. Got in to head to work as normal and it was stalling and shaking so bad that I am scared to drive it. The next day the check engine light was on when I started it to seek out the issue. Car was manufactured in September 2019 but is the 2020 model year. I was told by a license mechanic this is related to an internal Kia engine issue. I contacted 800 333 4KIA to see if this was a known issue that they had a solution to. Of course I was told to self repair that my VIN is not covered under the recall. Can you tell me how Kia assumes that engine issues with the 2019s model year would have been fixed before the 2020 models were assembled? Sounds like my dream car is now my nightmare. 3rd White Kia Optima but I am likely leaving the Kia family if this requires a new engine.

NHTSA ODI 11700692