2019 Kia Optima Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 70,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

Vehicle shut off while driving at 40mph, engine seized ,will not crank .suspected conecting rod bearing failure under safety recall sc200, I call kia [VIN] denied recall repair and bearing clearance test stating vehicle is rebuilt title. Federal safety recall cannot be denied due to rebuilt title per NHTSA .requesting recall remedy.Owner complaint, filed 2026

The vehicle experienced a sudden and severe loss of engine power while being driven on the interstate at highway speeds. The vehicle lost the ability to accelerate normally beyond approximately 60 mph, the Check Engine Light began flashing rapidly, and the vehicle entered “Limp Home Mode.” This sudden loss of power occurred in heavy…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles. Parts named most: Warnings (30), Automatic emergency braking (10).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving down the highway when I kinda noticed speed changed. ABS lights, foreword collision light, and rear end lights, so I turned around went back home. I rarely drive my car and I never had any problems with it. I purshased it brand new.Owner complaint, filed 2026

While I was drive these warning lights came on as you in the picture there are no signs of a crash. I have took my car in for service at Kia of Bradley for them to reset my system on 7/01/2025 and they have came back on and they would not go off. I feel like this is a recall on my Kia Optima 2019.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 51,000. It was later discovered that the mileage was 82,000.Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 82,000 miles

I was driving down the main street on my way home when my check engine light came on, and my car began shaking and sputtering, and I was unable to excel. I was barely able to make it home, less than 1/4 mile away. cars had to go around me in heavy traffic. taking it to the dealership Monday not the first time this has happened. I took it…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

When attempting to stop, my brake petal goes all the way to the floor causing me not being able to stop! No warning lamps or messages and no other symptoms or problems with my brakes It start month ago and seems to be getting worstOwner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, there were knocking sounds before the engine suffered a failure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over safely and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with an Electronic Stability Control…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 62,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

On XXX, Towbin Kia Service (Henderson, NV) officially diagnosed my 2019 Kia Optima (VIN: [XXX], Mileage: 118,325) with a critical component failure: "LOW PRESSURE FUEL PUMP IS LEAKING FROM TOP HAT" (Invoice #XXX). Despite documenting a severe, volatile raw fuel leak that presents an immediate fire and explosion hazard, the dealership…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Strong smell of gasoline from the rear of the vehicle started around 60,000 miles . Car dealership said it’s normal but I don’t smell other cars like thisOwner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

2019 Kia Optima EX, 1.6L turbo, 7-speed dual-clutch transmission. Second owner, purchased August 2019 at Jeff Wyler near Cincinnati, Ohio, not Certified Pre-Owned. Transmission was previously replaced under warranty in my first year of ownership. In spring 2026 I reported rough low-speed shifting. The dealer performed a DCT fluid service…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Double clutch failure replacement twice in 3 years Transmission being replaced My son has same model and year of car and has had double clutch replaced once. Beat friend also owns same year and model Kia with same double clutch issue Transmission fails to engage from stopped position to starting off from dead start. Car begins to shake…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Parts named most: Body (14).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am the owner of a 2019 Kia Optima SX Turbo in Snow White Pearl (SWP) paint. At approximately 100,000 miles, I observed bubbling and peeling of the paint, no collision or exterior impact occurred to trigger this. The peeling area has since enlarged, exposing the underlying primer or bare metal, which is visible in an attached photo. I…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The snow pearl white is paint is just peeling off just peeling off there’s 34,000 miles on it I noticed a small look like a chip last week. I went to wash it today and it’s just peeling off.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 14,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

I brought my Kia Optima into the dealership in October 0f 2024, because my airbag light came on. It has not been there over 6 months because my passenger airbag module is not operable and rending all my airbags useless; it is also on backorder with no ETA. The dealership wouldn't help with my escalation it has taken me 6 months to get to…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Diagnostic scan of car's computer showed trouble code B138400 Side Airbag Front PAssenger-Resistance Circuit Short to Ground.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to immediately accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure to determine the cause of the failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 15,000 miles

I have a 2019 Kia Optima S with the 2.4L engine and 117,000 miles. The vehicle has diagnostic codes P1326 and POOOB. The check-engine light is continuously flashing, the engine is knocking, and the vehicle has lost acceleration and will not go over approximately 65 mph. I believe this may be related to the KSDS connecting-rod bearing…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Two thefts of my 2019 Kia Optima in less than one year; 9/12/2021 and 7/30/2022 due to Kia's negligence in fixing a very obvious security flaw and lack of engine immobilizer. I have spent approximately $2,500 of my own money between insurance deductibles and replacing items that were stolen from my vehicle in addition to the actual…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Lane safety control system makes unusual turns while I'm driving resulting me having to correct. In some situations vehicle almost turned into cars in nearby lane. Incidents have happened both on surface streets at speeds less than 55 miles per hour and on the freeway at speeds exceeding 55 miles per hourOwner complaint, filed 2019, at 33,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The low beam headlight assembly failed on my 2019 Kia Optima LX with no prior warning, while the high beams and LED daytime running lights continue to function normally, indicating an isolated component failure within the assembly. Notably, the headlight assembly shows no physical damage whatsoever, and both independent licensed repair…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2019 kia optima. While driving 40 MPH, the fixed pane glass abruptly fractured. There were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The [VIN] was contacted. The failure mileage was 3,100. The VIN was invalid.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 3,100 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: PureContact LS, Tire Size: P235/45/R18, DOT Number: [VIN]. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 60 MPH, the contact felt an abnormal vibration coming the front passenger’s side tire. The contact stated that his wife heard an…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 47,800 miles

Dear National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction and concern regarding the Goodyear Assurance Weather Ready tires, size 235/45R18, installed on my 2019 Kia Optima SX. These tires have proven to be defective, failing to meet the standards of safety and durability promised by…Owner complaint, filed 2024

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

I just think theres some sort of a tech issue with my electronic dashboard. My passenger seatbelt sign goes on and beeps incessantly when there is no passenger in the seat. My caution alert button comes on saying I have low tire pressure when it’s only one number less than all the other tires. My oil change reminder never comes on. Today…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Brakes don't feel right some times when I stop. My passage side seat belt dangs for no reason even when there nothing on my set. And ever once in a blue moon I can hear a dang dang noise idk where it's coming from but it's very soft sound.Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

Dear National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, I am writing to bring to your attention a grave safety concern regarding my 2019 Kia Optima SX. Despite diligent maintenance and care, my vehicle has experienced persistent alignment issues, particularly on the right side. Additionally, I have encountered premature axle shaft…Owner complaint, filed 2024