2014 Kia OPTIMA HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
45,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 31 complaints (51.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 29.0% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 22.6% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 22.6% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 12.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 16 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
Engine: 16; Electrical System: 9; Unknown Or Other: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Air Bags: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Power Train: 3; Steering: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2017: 7; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10985410 · 2017-05-12 (May 12, 2017)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET (35MPH) WHEN I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER CAR MAKING A TURN IN FRONT OF ME AND WE COLLIDED. I T-BONED HIS CAR AND MY AIR BAGS DIDNT GOT OFF. MY CAR STALLED COMPLETELY AND NOTHING ABOUT THE VEHICLE SAFETY EQUIPMENT REACTED TO THE CRASH. THE SYSTEM (CLUSTER AND SCREEN) DIDNT SHOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN ANY IMPACT AND THE CAR WAS READY TO DRIVE. I REPORTED THIS TO KIA OF DOWNTOWN LA (THE DEALER) AND KIAUSA CORPORATE WHERE THEY OFFERED TO CHECK THE CAR OUT AND SEE IF THE CAR REACTED THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. AT THE END OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 10985410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10992951 · 2017-06-02 (June 2, 2017)
I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WAITING MY TURN, THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, AND I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO PUT IT ON THE GAS. AS I PRESSED THE GAS MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE, NO ACCELERATION, AND MY DASH LIT UP STATING "HYBRID SYSTEM NOT CHARGED PULL OVER AND TURN OFF ENGINE" I TURNED OFF MY CAR, TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT STATED THAT MY HEV SYSTEM (HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEM) HAS FAILED. I LUCKILY WAS BESIDE A GAS STATION AND I THREW IT INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT JUST INTO THE PARKING SECTION. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 91,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10992951 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015068 · 2017-08-14 (August 14, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, HEV, TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING, AND OIL CHANGE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (FRED ANDERSON KIA OF RALEIGH LOCATED AT 9209 GLENWOOD AVE, RALEIGH, NC 27617; [phone removed]). THE DEALER RECALIBRATED THE HYBRID ELECTRIC STARTER GENERATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TA…
Owner-reported narrative. 31,885 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683533 · 2015-02-15 (February 15, 2015)
ORIGINALLY THE NOISE STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY DID VERIFY MY COMPLAINT AND THEY FIXED IT THEN ON 2/14/2015 STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING THE REPAIR INVOICE STATES THEY PERFORMED BRAKE FLUID BLEEDING AND CALIBRATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683533 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745882 · 2015-08-03 (August 3, 2015)
WHILE PARKING INTO A PARKING SPACE THAT FACES A SUPERMARKET BUILDING, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENDLY ACCELERATES AT AN UNKOWN SPEED , WHILE I AM STEPPING HARDER ON THE BRAKE , AND THE CAR IS NOT RESPONDING CRASHING INTO A PARKING BARRIER POLE FINALLY MAKING THE CAR STOP INCHES FROM THE WALL WHERE PEOPLE GO IN AND OUT OF THE SUPERMARKET, I WAS SCREAMING THE WHOLE TIME WHILE BEING PUSHED RAPIDLY AT AN UNKOWN SPEED FEELING HELPLESS AND SCARED, THE CAR SIDE ARIBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAKING THE VEHICLE ALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,581 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714182 · 2015-05-02 (May 2, 2015)
THIS IS THE WORST DRIVING NEW CAR I'VE EVER HAD. ABOVE 60 IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTING TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE. STEERING IS SUPER SENSITIVE, IT WILL BEGIN TO WANDER, WHEN YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT, IT WILL OVER COMPENSATE AND YOU GO TOO FAR THE OTHER WAY. TRYING TO GET IT STABILIZED IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS VERY DIFFICULT. WIND AFFECTS IT TREMENDOUSLY, A DANGER TO DRIVE IN HIGH WINDS. AND A DANGER AT SPEEDS OVER 60. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10939181 · 2017-01-03 (January 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JOLT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10939181 at NHTSA ↗