There are 7 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2009 Kia Optimain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was making an abnormal knocking noise and then stalled. The contact stated that the battery and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic and the vehicle stalled several times while driving to the mechanic. The mechanic had diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there were metal shavings in the oil pan and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 152,000.
A BEARING IN THE MOTOR OR SOMETHING GAVE OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. I AM UNABLE TO START IT AND KEEP IT STARTED. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE CEASED UP. IT ONLY HAS LIKE 126000 MILES ON IT.
THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING TWO MONTHS AGO AND YESTERDAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY RESULTING IN THE CAR SHUTTING OFF WITH NO WARNING.
MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA WAS FOUND TO HAVE A LEAKING OIL LINE WHICH FEEDS LUBRICATION OIL FROM THE ENGINE TO THE TURBOCHARGER. THIS OCCURRED AT 58,000 MILES, WELL WITHIN THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR THE DRIVE TRAIN. HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE OIL SUPPLY LINE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY, BUT THE ENGINE AND TURBO WERE. THE LOSS OF THIS LINE WOULD RESULT IN THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO NO OIL, AS WELL AS THE TURBO, AND THIS WAS MOST LIKELY TO FAIL WHEN UNDER ACCELERATION IN TRAFFIC AS THAT IS WHEN THE LOAD ON THESE COMPONENTS IS GREATEST. FAILURE OF THE ENGINE AT THIS TIME COULD RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. EVEN IF THE LINE DID NOT FULLY FAIL, THE LEAKING OIL IS LOCATED AT THE TURBO HOUSING WHICH IS PART OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND IS LIKELY, AFTER SOME TIME, TO RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE WHICH WOULD LIKELY DESTROY THE CAR. SINCE THIS COMPONENT, THE OIL SUPPLY LINE CONNECTS THE ENGINE AND THE TURBO I FIND THAT IT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT ALSO IS A SEVERE POTENTIAL HAZARD TO THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. I WISH TO ENTER MY CONCERNS TO THE NHTSA.
AFTER I BOUGHT MY USED 2009 KIA OPTIMA, I WAS EXPERIENCING A HARD DOWNSHIFT WHEN IT DECELERATED, IT WAS SO ABRUPT IT FELT AS IF THE BRAKES HAD BEEN APPLIED VERY RAPIDLY AND THE CAR WOULD JERK FORWARD. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE FIRST STARTS AND GOES AWAY AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A KIA DEALER AND WE BELIEVE THEY REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. IT STOPPED FOR A WHILE BUT IT IS DOING IT AGAIN AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS.
I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS OTHER DESCRIBE HERE. I HAD THIS ISSUE IN 2011 WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM 10 MILE SPEED (BELIEVE) . DEALER FIXED WITH PROGRAMMING (AS THEY SAID). NOW RECENTLY LAST THREE MONTH HAPPENING EXACTLY LIKE FOLLOWING POST. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALER AND HAVE APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK. (SEE WHAT HAPPENS..) =========================== LATE LAST YEAR (2014) IN OUR KIA OPTIMA 2009 GOT SOME TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHICH IS DIFFICULT TO EXPLAIN FOR. TO ME IT LOOKS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH KIA MUST RESOLVE. THIS IS WHAT I EXPERIENCED: IN 2014 OCTOBER, I STARTED FEELING A HEAVY JOLT/JERK WHENEVER I USED THE CAR AND THE ENGINE IS COLD. THE JOLT IS SO STRONG THAT EVERY PASSENGER NOTICED IT. THIS HAPPENS ONLY WHEN I TRY TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR AND IT GETS NEAR TO 20 MPHR. SO THE FACTORS ARE: 1. COLD 2. DOWNSHIFT 3. SPEED 20 MPHR ON SLIPPERY ROADS IT MAY BE VERY DANGEROUS WHICH CAN LEAD TO MAJOR INJURIES. KIA MUST ACCEPT THIS DANGEROUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT BEFORE IT START TAKING LIVES. IT IS VERY ANNOYING ISSUE TOO, IT IS ALWAYS ON MY MIND WHILE DRIVING WHICH IS CAUSING DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. KIA MUST TAKE AN ACTION INSTEAD OF SITTING QUITE. THEY MUST ISSUE RECALL THIS TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. NHTSA ALSO SHOULD SUPPORT ALL THE PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM SO THAT PEOPLE CAN BELIEVE THEIR SAFETY STANDARDS. I TOOK MY CAR 2-3 TIMES THERE AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIX IT SO FAR. IF KIA'S OWN DEALERS CANNOT FIX THIS PROBLEM THEN WHO WILL? THANKS FOR READING MY COMPLAINT AGAINST KIA! *TR
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2010 AND HAD ONLY 2400 MILES ON IT WHEN THE OIL PUMP FAILED. IT TOOK CITRUS MOTORS IN ONTARIO, CA ALMOST TWO WEEKS TO ACQUIRE THE PART AND REPLACE IT. UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026