2014 Kia Optima Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

278Engine complaints

48.1%Of all 578 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE278 · 48.1%

STEERING93 · 16.1%

Unspecified / other87 · 15.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM58 · 10%

STRUCTURE:BODY48 · 8.3%

Share of the 578 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2014 Kia Optima overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS…”NHTSA complaint 11105076 — filed 07/02/2018

“WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 70 MPH MY CAR HAS RANDOMLY STOPPED AND CUT OFF.. AFTER SITTING THERE I WAS ABLE TO RESTART. HOWEVER I WAS BARELY…”NHTSA complaint 11099477 — filed 06/04/2018

“AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IT WONT SHIFT AND SOUNDS FORCED. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A RATTLE SOUND AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED! THE…”NHTSA complaint 11092694 — filed 05/09/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2014 Kia Optima have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2014 Kia Optima: 278 of 578 complaints on file (48.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2014 Kia Optima have in total?

578 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 19 involved a crash, 41 involved a fire, 20 reported injuries, and 2 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.