2014 Kia Optima problems and complaints
Owners have filed 591 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Optima. The most-reported areas: Engine (284), Steering (97), Unknown Or Other (89).
Key takeaways
- 591 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 | 97 | 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% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 16 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2014 Kia Optima
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| 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.
Steering - filed 2026-10-23
1. Component or system that failed/malfunctioned & availability for inspection: The Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) system and the steering column assembly have failed. The vehicle and the defective steering column are fully available for inspection upon request. 2. How safety was put at risk: A known, dealer-diagn...
Engine And Engine Cooling - filed 2026-10-15
The contact's daughter owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the engine stalled and shut off. The vehicle coasted to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was...
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...
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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.