2017 KIA OPTIMA Fuel/propulsion System Problems

I own a 2017 Kia Optima with a major internal engine defect. Starting shortly after purchase, the car lost power and consumed fuel unusually quickly. Over time, the engine began burning excessive oil and now produces a loud knocking sound (bearing knock), indicating internal bearing failure. These symptoms are consistent with known Kia engine defects (bearing wear / piston ring failure). The defect is a serious safety concern: because of weak bearings and high oil consumption, the engine could stall, seize, or catch fire. The dealership has refused to repair or replace the engine. I am reporting this as a safety defect and request NHTSA investigation.

I purchased the 2017 Optima Hybrid from Huntington Beach Hyundai on [XXX]. I made sure to double check with the dealer if the engine and hybrid battery were in good condition, in which the salesman reassured me everything is good. The car was driving okay for a while, and I had oil change and tires/alignment changed recently. Just barely 4 months in after I owned the car, the incident happened on the night of [XXX]. I was driving on the highway near the Getty going roughly 70 mph up the mountain roads while all of a sudden the "check hybrid system" warning came on in the car. The car immediately went into limp mode, and I did everything I could to slow the car to a complete stop, and stop on the freeway shoulder safely. It was a traumatizing experience to me, as this is a major safety issue with the vehicle, and other cars were travelling really fast in LA mountain areas. I had the car towed to a auto repair shop the next day, the mechanics did a deep inspection and informed me the hybrid inverter has failed. I paid $2,177 to replace the hybrid inverter with the mechanic. The mechanic also informed me while they were test driving they heard a knocking sound from the engine. I did a look up and found out there is a class settlement and safety campaigns on the engine for 2017 Optima Hybrid due to the faulty factory rod bearings, and the 150K miles extended warranty from Kia should apply to replace my faulty engine free of charge. I will be getting my car towed to Car Pros Kia in Huntington Beach on October 15th, 2025, and request the dealer to replace my engine per Kia's extended warranty. I am filing the complaint because the car is having problems after problems in barely 4 months of ownership, in which I believe I have purchased a lemon, or Huntington Beach Hyundai knowingly hid the facts the components were faulty. I have also filed a case with Kia corporate. Attached is the repair invoice for the hybrid inverter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6

While driving my 2017 Kia Optima (Theta II engine) at approximately 115,900 miles, I suddenly experienced engine failure. The vehicle began to stall and produced a burning smell shortly before the engine seized completely. I had the car towed to a Kia dealership, which confirmed an internal engine failure and noted that there were no signs of external oil leaks or neglect. The failure occurred only 4,500 miles after my last oil change, which was documented and professionally completed. The Kia technician mentioned verbally that this was due to excessive oil consumption and burning — an issue I later found to be widely reported in other Kia vehicles using this engine type. The estimated repair cost is over $14,000, which is more than the value of the vehicle. Despite my warranty being expired, this type of failure appears consistent with known manufacturing defects. I am reporting this for public safety and accountability. The vehicle failed without warning and could have caused a dangerous situation on the road.

A auto repair shop said my Kia Optima has a bad knock sensor which is a common problem with those cars. My safety and others was put at great risk when I suddenly lost power on the freeway Problem was confirmed at an independent service center Has not yet been inspected by manufacturer Warning message came up at the same time as losing power

The KSDS in my engine is causing engine failure due to the dealership failing to fix the problem when I first experienced stalling, lagging and misfiring of my vehicle, which would often make it shake and I would have to turn the car off and reignite it, sometimes more than once. My safety is at risk when driving, because the vehicle will lag while trying to accelerate in traffic. My mechanic researched the issue and found the recall and Kia said they fixed it when it was issued and they didn’t. My CHECK ENGINE light is flashing now and it continues to lose power. I have contacted Kia about the issue and I’m waiting on a response.

ON [XXX], AROUND 11:30 A.M., I WAS DRIVING [XXX] ON [XXX], GOING ABOUT 78 MPH, JUST PASSED [XXX], WHEN THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR, THEN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS. THERE WAS A FULL FLEDGE FIRE UNDER MY HOOD. THE GUY DRIVING NEXT TO ME, KINDA GESTURED FOR ME TO PULL OVER, ALTHOUGH I WAS ALREADY THINKING I NEEDED TO PULL OVER, THE SHOCK OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT. I PULLED OVER AND SO DID THAT GUY, HE HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND TRIED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BUT TO NO AVAIL. 5 MINS AFTER I GOT OUT, THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I AM THANKFUL FOR THAT GUY, BECAUSE I FROZE FOR A MINUTE AND COULDN'T THINK OF WHAT TO DO, I PULLED OVER JUST IN TIME. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND IT TOOK THEM AWHILE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT, THE CAR WAS BURNT TO A CRISP, A 100% LOSS. A POLICE OFFICER TOOK MY NAME & PHONE NUMBER AND ARRANGED FOR A TOW TRUCK. I HAD TO ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE TO PICK ME UP FROM THE SIDE OF INTERSTATE I [XXX] AND HAD TO CALL OFF WORK. THE CAR WAS TOWED BY PROFESSIONAL TOWING TAMPA LOCATED - PHONE# 813-242-0610 EXT. 5 EMAIL - [email protected] | WEBSITE - www.professionaltowingtampa.com I SPOKE TO SOMEONE AT THE TOW YARD AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THEM THE TITLE TO THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND SUGGESTED I PAY THE TOWING FEE RIGHT AWAY BEING THAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT DUE INCREASES EVERY DAY. ON [XXX], I BROUGHT THEM THE TITLE TO THE CAR AND PAID THE, I BELIEVE, $285 TOWING & STORAGE FEE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Every time after I get an oil change I’m constantly having to put oil in it because it goes dry every 2 days and my check engine light stays on before and after oil change, randomly shaking soon as I turn the car on then the oil light comes on every time I go over a speed bump! The car slams on breaks when it wants and has even did it when in fast traffic on the highway.

Kia fuel rail spurting gas out. Kia dealer said it’s not under warranty and no recalls. Gas leak is so bad car can’t be driven.

Oil burning faster. After an oil change I go about a month before I have to add more oil again. There is no leak as every time I get an oil change I make sure they check. But around the month period I have to check to see if I am low on oil again. Very frustrating and starting to become costly

My vehicle came up with a check engine light blinking. I took it to a Kia dealership where they put the ksds update in. A week after driving it, I started experiencing loss of power and the check engine light came back on. But this time not blinking. My car accelerates slowly, it is a struggle to get to 30 mph. My engine is making loud noises as if I am flooring the gas pedal when going 10 mph. Hills are impossible and dangerous to drive up. I took it in where the man told me my oil was empty, when just the day before it was full. I ran the code reader which came up p0010 for a camshaft. Now I’m being told it’s the entire top motor needing replacement due to “no oil”. I saw online recalls for this exact issue on the engine. It states of a lifetime engine warranty for this qualifying engine problem. I called the dealership where the lady informed me that there is a third party company that makes warranty coverage decisions, and that they make the decision on if it’s covered based on how much they will have to pay. If it’s a lot, it’s on me. Basically my engine failure qualifies but they don’t want to pay the amount of repairs. So I’m stuck with paying thousands for a hazardous car that I’ve only had for 8 months.

i had engine light a code P200a on my 2017 kia optima ex 17,000 miles i have like a hesitation when accelerating, sometimes just sitting idling or sitting at a light feels like going to stall. i had some one check it they told me to bring it to the dealer because they looked it up and said it is like a recall on 2016 kia optimas there is a Technical Service Bulletin on the same condition that i have i went to the dealer and they said thats what it was the (VCMA)variable charge motion actuator on the intake manifold..i dont drive to much with the car i looked on line and a bunch of people say they had the same problem with my year and older models.thank you.ihad it fixed at the dealer on 8-30-23 case #15777155

The vehicle will shake during acceleration. It comes without warning and will cause the check engine light to flash and stay on for about a minute. It goes away on its own. However, there do not seem to be any stored codes, according to my personal OBDII scanner. The dealer refuses to take it in because there is no check engine light. However, this has happened in several occasions and could lead to an accident. The dealer appears to be waiting for the warranty period to run out.

My car is consuming major oil. I am having to put at minimum 3 to 4 quarts of oil every 3 days. I am having major loss of power. My car has oil fouled far too many spark plugs. In the last 3 months, I have had to replace the spark plugs three separate times. Within the last 3 weeks I have replaced the following: 1. Ignition Coils 2. Valve Cover Gasket 3. PCV Valve 4. 2 separate sets of spark plugs and 1 singular spark plug for Cylinder #4. My car is having a major oil consumption problem and the performance has been severely affected.

THE CAR STALLS AND HESITATES AT TIMES WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED

Mileage: 86,000

THE CAR STALLS AND INTERSECTIONS INTERMITTENTLY. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON SO FAR IT HAS STARTED EVERY TIME.

Mileage: 81,000

WHILE ON AN HOUR'S DRIVE THE BSD (BLING SPOT DETECTION SYSTEM) CEASED TO OPERATE. THE ACTUATOR SWITCH WAS ILLUMINATED, BUT AN ERROR EXCLAMATION POINT APPEARED ON THE DASH NOTING THE BSD FAILURE. I DROVE ON FURTHER UNTIL I CAME TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THIS HAD HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, ALSO. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND PULLED THE KEY. I WAITED 30 SECONDS AND RESTARTED THE CAR. THEY SYSTEM CAME BACK ONLINE. FURTHER ALONG ON THE DRIVE IT HAPPENED AGAIN, AS I WAS DRIVING ON A HILLY ROAD. WHEN I WENT TO GIVE THE CAR MORE GAS, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND. I FLOORED THE ACCELERATOR, AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT RESPOND, WHILE THE BSD MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. IT WAS SIMULTANEOUS. ADDITIONALLY, THE SYSTEM ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATES WHERE THE SHIFTER IS WENT DARK AND THE EXACT SAME TIME AS THE FAILURE IN BOTH CASES ON THIS DAY. OF COURSE I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE THE ISSUE. THEY CALLED KIA CORPORATE TO SEE IF THERE WERE SIMILAR REPORTS WITH A FIX THEY MIGHT KNOW OF. THE FACTORY SENT A CYA RESPONSE TO THE DEALER STATING THAT KNEW NOTHING OF THIS ISSUE. I HAD GONE ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SCORES OF SIMILAR BSD FAILURES IN BOTH KIA AND HYUNDAI WHICH ARE SISTER COMPANIES. I HAVE TO BELIEVE THE BSD MODULE IS MADE BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER FOR BOTH COMPANIES. I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE I WAS IN THE AREA OF THE DEALERSHIP I WOULD DRIVE THE CAR THERE SO THEY COULD SEE AND POSSIBLY COME UP WITH A DIAGNOSTIC CODE WHILE THE FAILURE WAS IN PROGRESS. THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION FOR THE ASSOCIATED LOSS OF POWER...

Mileage: 11,000