47 complaints reported

2019 Kia Optima Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
47
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Apr 2024

GDI MOTOR CONSUMES A LOT OF OIL

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2021
Apr 2024

2019 Optima EX excessive oil consumption. Oil changed every 3000 miles, but is always empty within 1000miles. Car has 101,000 miles. Took to Kia dealership due to loss of power on acceleration and stalling and excessive oil consumption, they said I have multiple misfires on cylinder 1, excessive sludge buildup under cap and again no oil present. I was advised the engine needed replaced and that somehow this is a me problem and not a Kia problem. Spoke with Kia support and because it’s 1,000 miles over warranty they will not do anything even though they are aware of excessive oil consumption issue in these motors

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Apr 2024
Mar 2024

Engine is consuming extreme amounts of oil. I have never been late for an oil change, and often go before I’m even due. My car was stalling and the RPM was fluctuating. I had to pull over and turn the car off. I then noticed my oil light on for 2 seconds, then it turned off. I’m not due for an oil change for another 2,000 miles. I pulled in to a mechanic shop (thankfully I was right next door) and low and behold, hardly any oil in my car. Had maybe half a quart left. I should have been good for another 2,000 miles. This is not the first time this has happened either. I no longer feel comfortable driving myself or my kids in this vehicle. It has been nothing but constant worry about my engine dying, burning or stalling. This car only has 70,000 miles on it and only 4 1/2 years old!!!! This is the second incident of this car jerking and stalling on the highway. Thankfully I’ve been able to pull over to avoid being slammed. I had the oil topped off so the engine could function, but once again, I was not due for a change.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2024
Mar 2024

Was driving my vehicle when it started shaking violently and the check engine light came on. Took it to my mechanic and then it was towed to the Kia dealership. Both say that cylinder 2 won’t hold compression due to leaking valves causing oil to flood the engine and the engine to not work properly. I was told I could drive it still but that the engine could seize at any time putting us at risk for an accident. Kia says this is not covered under the extended warranty, but I have had multiple mechanics say this is an issue with 2017 and newer Kia’s and Hyundai’s,

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2024
Feb 2024

No oil burning oil

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Feb 2024
Feb 2024

My car was having to get the spark plugs once a month loosing oil. Lots of Oil is coming out through the exhaust my grandfather just saw it. I still owe 20,00 on this car. I was told by Kia I’m going to need a new engine. I stopped driving it

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Dec 2024
Jan 2024

The car has been getting progressively rougher while driving and jerking when trying to accelerate. I checked the oil and it was nearly empty. There has been no sign of an oil leak even though I park in the same spot every single day.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2024
Jan 2024

My car is burning oil when i drive & my oil is not lasting in my car , i have to get a oil change done every 2 weeks im not sure what’s going on and im being told that there is no recall on my engine but i have others telling me that the GDI engines have recalls on them

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2024
Dec 2023

Good Afternoon, I have a recall on my 2019 Kia Engine but since I’m over my mileage Kia does not want to help with it but i read that there is a lifetime warranty on the cars with this type of engine I got a disgusted test done and they are still not wanting to fix the problem

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2022
Nov 2023

Vehicle engine light on and oil burns out fast, car jerks and delay on starting

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2023
Sep 2023

The engine is malfunctioning,! and is available for inspection. Within one month of owning(leasing) the vehicle, While driving on the highway, the engine light started flashing, and the car immediately decelerated. Gas pedal was to the floor, and couldn’t get over 40mph. Safely got it to my mechanic who put it on the computer, and read knock sensor. The car was 2 quarts short, and we had 800 miles to go until next oil change was due. The vehicle is BURNING oil. Not one zero leak! We are subjected to continually checking and replenishing the oil to prevent the engine to go back into safe mode. I have 3 small children. Car still under warranty, dealership can’t get car in for months and no shop can get their hands on a motor. Please help!!!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2023
Sep 2023

Smart choice auto financial in Indiana sold me a vehicle with a defaulted engine. Purchased car 9/20/2022 I have been consistently changing an add oil, to up keep the vehicle til I receive help . Vehicle have been attempted to be fix 6times, 3 by dealership I purchased from, an three different kia dealership. Not yet acknowledged the so call life time warranty, I was told engine had to go out . At this point 9/14/ 2023 the engining knocking, smoking, engine light on. So I took it to another kia dealership am it's there as we speak. Waiting I fro

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Nov 2023
Sep 2023

Engine Oil light come on / Low on Engine Oil

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Sep 2023
Aug 2023

Just had oil changed on June 30th, 2023. However, for the second time now after about 1.5 month after the oil change the oil light is flashing on and off at either takeoff or breaking. Checked oil stick and it say it’s full then check again it’s spotty as if there’s no oil in the engine. Took cap off engine and it was smoking and smelling burnt. Oil on the stick was definitely darker than normal as well. What is the cause of this?

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2023
Aug 2023

I been having problems with the oil I do the regular maintenance on vehicle I have all the repair paperwork from Dealer and Montebello Lube I put synthetic oil so that 5000 miles at 2500 oil is empty I already replaced the head gasket oil is being consumed fast constantly filling with oil every time I Drive engine light came on 2 times for no oil in engine I need something done

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2023
Jul 2023

Oil consumption issues, did an oil consumption test in august of 22 at Web Chevy, which is the dealership the car was bought from.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Aug 2022
Jun 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The contact's husband replaced the battery; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the starter was replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle needed an oil change; however, the contact stated that the vehicle had recently had an oil change performed. The contact stated that while driving from the dealer, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to an auto parts store, where a technician inspected the engine and confirmed that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the dealer advised the contact to check the engine oil level after every fill up. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2023
Mar 2023

My 2019 Kia Optim is starting to consume oil every 15 miles this is a problem that Kia have with thousands of 2019, 2020 and 2021 they have bad engines in them and Kia knows about the problem and refusing to do anything with the custom, you all need to make them have a recall and fix the problem with all those engines some vehicles only have 20,000 miles on them and have the same problem.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2022
Mar 2023

Engine failure

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2023
Feb 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing abnormal oil consumption. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed, but the diagnostic test was inconclusive. The contact stated that the failure persisted, and the contact had been adding 3 quarts of oil every two weeks. The contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light illuminated, and the vehicle made an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine. The dealer informed the contact that the manufacturer might not cover the repair unless the engine seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufactured was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Jan 2023
Jul 2022

Car ran perfectly. No indications on the dash cluster until the check engine light started flashing and car went into limp mode. Got to safety off freeway to a gas station lot. Parked car. Took video of the car running while recording the dashboard. Pushed the gas while in park to hear Rod knock. It was 10pm. Had car towed home. 2 days later towed to dealer. Between time it broke down and I had towed to them. I found out about the knock sensor. I also joined a group on Facebook with hundreds of people getting screwed over. There I learned about class action and oil consumption issues. Not on any oil change was I made aware of low oil. I check my oil levels and have a high class mechanic change my oil. So first the dealer calls me and says. Technician states no oil in engine. I ask. Well why was there no oil light on? I said if there was. I’d had had my car checked. I said only thing in was flashing check engine light at the moment of failure. He advised. No the engine lights not on but oil light is. I emailed him my dash cluster video. He calls me and says. Oh you’re right. Sorry miscommunication with technician. I also sent picture of oil dipstick that showed there was oil filled to The top indicator. Advisors Response was basically a shrug. They asked for most recent 6 oil change receipts. I furnished 8. They said sludge in engine. I asked for pics. After 6 requests I received 2 pics that do not match up with pics I took of same part. So at this point per at least 200 people and myself. Kia and Hyundai are voiding warranties and not backing up their crappy engines. WE NEED HELP URGENTLY. I have not paid car payment since breakdown. I am $3700 in the hole paying for rental that I was told would be reimbursed once engine replacement was approved. Well they SUCK. Many more in my position or worse now. This is criminal and fraudulent

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: May 2022
Mar 2022

We own 2 2019 Kia optimas, one my 20yr old daughter drives. On her way to school she smelled a burning smell. On her way home at a dangerous intersection she smelled a strong burning smell & the car just stopped. I told her to get out of the car quickly, she had to climb to the right side as it was too unsafe to exit from the left. Thankfully she wasn’t on a 55 mile/hr road bc it just stopped abruptly & surely would have been hit as brake lights would not have warned. The car was towed to the dealership where it was purchased & under warranty on Friday 3/18/22. Saturday 3/19/22 I went to inquire what happened & was told by the service advisor that it started once, there was a burning smell coming from the engine & the engine was only running on 2 cylinders & stopped. He said they created a ticket, which I came to know that they were conferring with Kia engineers by Kia consumer affairs & I also created a case with. We did research & found a class action suit that was settled describing the exact problem that we experienced, however bc it was settled, Kia was never had to issue a broad recall, so if your 2019 optima experienced this very serious problem of engine failure & fires after 11/30/2021, they say Kia will be handling the cases on a rolling basis, however we just got the run around & the car remains there today 3/26/22 unfixed & the dealership is trying to say it’s just a fuel pump & if that was the case, they wouldn’t need 8 days waiting for Kia engineers to be fixed. In the settlement, Kia was also noted to be denying proper fixes for this serious issue with cars still under warranty. We were denied a rental car & they will not call us. This is my daughter’s life, please help us. The other 2019 Kia Optima that I drive was brought to the same dealership under warranty complaining of the engine sputtering & jumping, they did nothing & said it should be fine however it’s still doing it & my daughter is now driving this potentially dangerous car to school. This vehicle has been there since 03/18/22 & it’s 03/29/22.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 KIA OPTIMA, Manufacturer: Kia America, Inc.
Incident: Mar 2022

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Quick Summary

The 2019 Kia Optima has 47 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.