2014 Kia Optima Problems, Recalls & Reliability
786 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2014 Kia Optima, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 8 defect investigations. It scores 43/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 90,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2014 sits among all Optima years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that an independent mechanic informed her that the engine needed to be replaced. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Optima
“Steering violently shakes at 65 mph. Steering wheel makes a clunking noise when moving side to side.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Optima
“Driving 65mph warning comes on 'hybrid system failure pull over and turn off' so i pulled over and turned the car off then it wouldn't start.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Optima
“Kia optima recall i was driving on the freeway and all of a sudden my engine turn off and everything else was on i got off the freeway and park at a hotel try to turn the car on again and it wouldn't turn on again i noticed that it was smoking from the hood of my car. Can you please help me out”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Optima
“Pearl White paint peeling around windshield, paint bubbling and lifting on roof and trunk lid.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Optima
“Low pressure fuel line start leaking, creating a fire hazard for me and my family. You can smell the fuel inside the cabin while you're driving. I did take the car to the dealership and they told me is not a recall on my car at this moment. No warning lights came on .”— owner report to NHTSA, 2014 Optima
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 400 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 80,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 48,000 and 113,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (7)
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The…
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners…
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles that were previously repaired under NHTSA recall number 20V-100. The low pressure fuel hose may be damaged, or missing heat-protective tape, which can result in a fuel leak.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel hose, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 2, 2022. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-33-4542. Kia's number for…
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing…
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles…
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Optima vehicles equipped with 2.4L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) or 2.0L GDI Turbo engines. The low pressure fuel hose may deteriorate and crack over time due to heat generated within the engine…
Fix: Kia will notify Owners, and Dealers will inspect the low pressure fuel hose for damage or leaking, replacing it as necessary. If no damage or leaking is found, a heat-protective tape will be…
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product…
Fix: Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Kia Motor Company (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2014 Optima, 2012-2014 Sorento and 2011-2013 Sportage vehicles. Machining errors during the engine manufacturing process may cause premature bearing wear within the engine.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine assembly, and replace the engine if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 20, 2017. Owners may contact Kia customer service at…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units…
Led to recall campaign 23V877.
Led to recall campaign 20V024.
Led to recall campaign 20V088000.
Led to recall campaign 18V907000.
Led to recall campaign 17V224000.
Technical service bulletins
268 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2014 Kia Optima. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2014 Optima TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2014 Kia Optima reliable?
The 2014 Kia Optima drew 786 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 43/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).
What are the most common 2014 Kia Optima problems?
The top reported problems for the 2014 Kia Optima are engine (294 complaints), steering (94), and other (94).
At what mileage do 2014 Kia Optima problems show up?
Owners most often report 2014 Kia Optima problems around 80,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 48,000 and 113,000 miles.
Does the 2014 Kia Optima have recalls?
7 recall campaigns apply to the 2014 Kia Optima. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.