Your vehicle report

2014 Kia Optima

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
591
Received Jan 2014 to Oct 2026
Official recalls listed
7
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
3
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Engine stalls and loses power while driving73 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Paint peels off roof and hood45 complaints · 7.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Vehicle catches fire from wiring44 complaints · 7.4% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #23V652000Park outsideKia 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 Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
  • Recall #21V331000Park outsideKia 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.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 20 crashes, 43 fires, 22 people injured, 2 deaths.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

5 more problems

Brakes

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

1 more problem

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 2014 Kia Optima
75
Show as a table
YearComplaints
201440
201515
201626
201722
201847
201975
202058
202159
202259
202359
202447
202549
2026 (to Oct 2026)35
Total591

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Engine stalls and loses power while driving7312%8.1×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Jan 2015
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.6%
Paint peels off roof and hood457.6%29.5×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Sep 2021
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.3%
Vehicle catches fire from wiring447.4%7×NHTSA recall #23V652000
Steering wanders or pulls at highway speed325.4%–
Engine knocking from rod or main bearings244.1%–NHTSA recall #17V224000
Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly203.4%2.8×
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving183.0%–
Steering wheel clunks or clicks when turning183.0%19.5×BrakeNews flag · First signal: Oct 2019
Model estimate of a matched recall within 24 months: 0.8%
Glass shatters or cracks without impact122.0%–
Unintended acceleration despite braking122.0%–
Check engine light comes on repeatedly122.0%–
Engine burns excessive oil between changes122.0%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes111.9%–
Headlights dim or fail at night101.7%–
Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline91.5%–NHTSA recall #18V907000, #22V093000
Power steering cuts out while driving71.2%–
Airbag warning light stays on61.0%–
Brake lights fail or stay on50.9%–
Engine won't start or cranks intermittently50.9%–
Fuel pump fails and engine stalls40.7%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #23V652000September 25, 20231,730,192 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

    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 Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

    An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    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 of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.

  • NHTSA recall #21V331000May 10, 2021440,370 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

    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.

    An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.

    Remedy

    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 the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.

  • NHTSA recall #20V519000August 27, 2020440,370 vehicles affected

    Park outside: NHTSA advises this until the repair is done.

    service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

    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.

    If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.

    Remedy

    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 and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.

  • NHTSA recall #22V093000February 17, 202272,848 vehicles affected

    fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    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.

    A fuel leak can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    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 this recall is SC228.

  • NHTSA recall #20V100000February 21, 2020141,774 vehicles affected

    fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    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 compartment.

    If the fuel hose cracks, a fuel leak can occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    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 installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC187.

  • NHTSA recall #18V907000December 19, 201871,653 vehicles affected

    engine; fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

    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 Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.

    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.

  • NHTSA recall #17V224000March 31, 2017618,160 vehicles affected

    engine and engine cooling: engine

    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.

    Bearing wear may result in the engine seizing, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    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 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC147.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2014 Kia Optima.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN