2014 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 589 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (284), Steering (96), Unknown Or Other (89).
Key takeaways
- 589 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 20 involve a crash, 43 a fire, 22 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 284 | 48% |
| Steering | 96 | 16% |
| Unknown Or Other | 89 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 60 | 10% |
| Structure | 48 | 8% |
| Service Brakes | 42 | 7% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 42 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 21 | 4% |
| Power Train | 20 | 3% |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 3% |
| Hydraulic | 17 | 3% |
| Air Bags | 16 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Kia Optima 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Unknown Or Other,engine - filed 2026-10-05
I was driving normally on I-76 when suddenly, I couldn’t feel the gas working. Everything was fine with the car until then, but all of a sudden, I saw all the lights on the dashboard. I could slowly smell the smell of flames, and later, it caught fire! I was terrified for my life, and seeing that happen to my first car...
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,parking Brake,engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-10-05
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after leaving the vehicle parked for approximately 4 hours, the contact returned to the vehicle and the engine running even though the vehicle was turned off. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the traction control light, ABS, and the parking brake light were...
Steering - filed 2026-10-05
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact’s son stated that while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel became inoperable. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized, and significant effort was required to control or turn the steering wheel. The contact’s son also became aware of an electrical burning odor du...
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More for the 2014 Kia Optima
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.