2019 KIA Optima Engine Problems
Owners have filed 92 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2019 KIA Optima, 43% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “oil consumption” (21% of reports).
- 92engine complaints
- 65,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 48%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Oil consumption: mentioned in 19 of 92 complaints (21%)
- Spark plugs: mentioned in 8 of 92 complaints (9%)
- Engine started: mentioned in 5 of 92 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 17 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 92 complaints, 6 a fire.
KIA Optima engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Optima | 102 | 68% | 103,593 |
| 2019 Optima | 92 | 43% | 65,000 |
| 2018 Optima | 131 | 56% | 69,000 |
| 2017 Optima | 164 | 64% | 72,000 |
| 2016 Optima | 426 | 56% | 88,000 |
| 2015 Optima | 622 | 62% | 87,992 |
| 2014 Optima | 284 | 48% | 85,000 |
| 2013 Optima | 613 | 44% | 99,062 |
| 2012 Optima | 398 | 43% | 100,000 |
| 2011 Optima | 256 | 43% | 101,000 |
| 2010 Optima | 9 | 12% | 76,500 |
| 2009 Optima | 14 | 12% | 70,000 |
| 2008 Optima | 19 | 13% | 96,000 |
| 2007 Optima | 16 | 10% | 99,560 |
| 2006 Optima | 7 | 5% | 105,735 |
| 2004 Optima | 3 | 1% | 89,400 |
| 2003 Optima | 2 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2002 Optima | 4 | 4% | 118,049 |
| 2001 Optima | 2 | 1% | 105,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the 2019 KIA Optima. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Car smelled of what seemed like motor oil while driving. Parked, saw white smoke, and confirmed an engine fire. I was clearly in life threatening danger, especially with a full tank of gas. Fire developed rapidly into a roaring blaze. Entire front of car melted. Car is currently being investigated…
Vehicle shut off while driving at 40mph, engine seized ,will not crank .suspected conecting rod bearing failure under safety recall sc200, i call kia 18003334542 denied recall repair and bearing clearance test stating vehicle is rebuilt title. Federal safety recall cannot be denied due to rebuilt…
The vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of engine power while being driven on the interstate at highway speeds. The vehicle lost the ability to accelerate normally beyond approximately 60 mph, the Check Engine Light began flashing rapidly, and the vehicle entered âLimp Home Mode.â This…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2019 KIA Optimas have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 92 owner complaints about engine for the 2019 KIA Optima (43% of the 212 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2019 KIA Optima engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2019 KIA Optima?
The most frequent phrase is “oil consumption”, in 19 of 92 complaints, followed by “spark plugs” (8).
See all 2019 KIA Optima problems or engine problems across all Optima years.