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Issues with Kia Optima POWER TRAIN by Years

The Kia Optima had plenty of problems with various aspects of POWER TRAIN as 208 complaints were lodged, most of which revolve around AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Models of 2013, 2009, 2012 appear to be the most susceptible to problems with POWER TRAIN.

Browse Kia Optima POWER TRAIN problems by years

2019 2 2018 4 2016 23 2015 13 2014 6 2013 33 2012 27 2011 20 2010 22 2009 29 2008 10 2007 11 2006 14 2005 3 2004 8 2003 8 2002 6 2001 12

Do Kia Optima models have POWER TRAIN problems?

Below you may see the POWER TRAIN components and the number of complaints they received.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 28 MANUAL TRANSMISSION 5 DRIVELINE 3 CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT 2 CLUTCH ASSEMBLY 2 AXLE ASSEMBLY 1 PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) 1 FLOOR SHIFT 1

Worst Kia Optima Problems

POWER TRAIN
2018 Kia Optima January 20, 2018 Victims: 2 Mileage: 14770 miles

Saturday, january 20, 18:55(approximately) amherst massachusetts, 39 degrees fahrenheit parked car, pulled keys and exited car to help my mother exi...

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2009 Kia Optima February 18, 2010 Victims: 1 Mileage: 12000 miles

Bought a kia optima a few months ago and recently it has developed a dangerous shifting pattern when down shifting from 2nd to 1st about 20mph it jerk...

POWER TRAIN
2010 Kia Optima June 1, 2010 Victims: 1 Mileage: 1750 miles

Tl* the contact was driving a rented 2010 kia optima. the consumer stated she stopped the vehicle while the gear was in drive, turned off the ignition...

Recently reported POWER TRAIN problems on Kia Optima

The POWER TRAIN
2011 Kia Optima

Transmission is sometime shifting abruptly, & also slow to up shift gears.

The POWER TRAIN
2011 Kia Optima

Recently when i hit about 103,000 miles my 2011 kia optima 2.0 turbo transmission has been acting strange. when driving for a little while and coming to a complete stop as i'm pulling off accelerating the car jerks make and won't accelerate past 40 mph. after doing acouple research i was told it's the transmission temperature sensor. i. believe this is a serious problem due to the fact as your pulling off after the complete stop it jerks so hard you jerk so hard with the car. also if anybody is behind you and it does that sudden jurk it can cause an accident because the driver behind you isn't aware because it's not like your hitting the breaks. i also searched online that this model and year car has two open recalls for engine and transmission problems (unknown).

The POWER TRAIN
2019 Kia Optima

If i slow down then speed up it takes off slow. if i go up a hill it putts and when i drive it just feels like its puttering the whole time. took it to dealership of course they didn't find anything but this is a new car i know something is wrong. i just got the car in march drove fine no accidents or anything and it's kind of disappointing that my car is like this but know one knows what's wrong.

The POWER TRAIN
2012 Kia Optima

I was on the interstate traveling at approx 70 mph changed lanes and when i went to accelerate the vehicle stalled lost power i coasted to the breakdown lane and attempted to start the vehicle. it would not start. i had aaa tow it to a hardings garage in fairfield. the technician said this morning the vehicle started but stalled as soon as he tried to move it. he told me that there was a kia recall 17v224000 that applied to the engine so i got aaa to tow the vehicle to charlies kia in augusta, me. they tell me that there is no recall on my vin. why would i have the same stalling as indicated in the recall if my vin does not apply???

The POWER TRAIN
2015 Kia Optima

I started having issues with my vehicle in october 2019, i tried to reach out to kia dealerships, with no help. i kept being told there were no recalls on my car and that i did not need to be concerned. my car finally stopped working, it just would not drive. it was jumping from 0-7000 rpms and then flying forward before it stopped working altogether. around the moment it stopped driving it started smoking and i just pulled over and turned it off and then it wouldn't even go into neutral for a tow truck. i placed a brand new transmission into my car even while making a car payment on it on november 23rd 2019, it is now december 11, 2019 and i have only driven it 302 miles and i am having the same issues on it. when i call kia i am told that there isn't anything they can do to fix the vehicle and that i need to have it diagnosed again for a charge of 170.00. i am now way upside down on the vehicle and am continuing to have issue after issue with it. i do not recommend this car. i have two ...

The POWER TRAIN
2013 Kia Optima

Driving and check engine light came on then car just stopped running and would not start, on a state road

The POWER TRAIN
2016 Kia Optima

P1326 engine code came on while driving 60mph on the interstate. luckily was in far left lane when engine shut off and was safely able to get off freeway to a nearby gas station.

The POWER TRAIN
2016 Kia Optima

E - c v v t seal seating issue. my 2016 kia optima is giving an obd ii error code of p0010 "a" camshaft position actuator circuit. this causes reduction in power during acceleration, and elevates engine idle speeds to 1200-1400 rpm. this elevation in engine speed causes the car to try to move forward even when the brakes are pressed in stop and go traffic. in stop and go traffic, this could easily lead to vehicle crashing. this, i believe, should be a part of recall instead of a technical service bulletin from the manufacturer. hyundai and kia use same engine, and has a tsb number 15-01-022-1, and kia has a tsb to change the motor plug and ecvvt cover for it. they are aware of this issue in their car, and it should be a recall. when the car was in motion for me the first time the check engine light came on, i almost hit a car in front of me as the engine does not go back down to idle speeds. this is dangerous.

The POWER TRAIN
2012 Kia Optima

Steering column coupler

The POWER TRAIN
2013 Kia Optima

2013 kia optima sport with approximately 47,000 miles loss of turbo. pulled out of my garage and my car seemed sluggish. i noticed the engine light was on. as i accelerated my turbo did not seem to kick in and my car would rev up and not accelerate very well. called kia they said i have 5 year or 50,000 mile warranty. i told them i also have 10 year 100 mile powertrain warranty. just ran a recall check and nhtsa states recall on long block engine and turbo recall on my sport model.