2017 Kia Optima Driver assistance Problems

My vehicle is experiencing engine issues consistent with the known Theta II GDI engine defects — including rod bearing failure piston rings engine stalling, I understand that Kia has offered extended warranty coverage through the engine defect settlement, provided the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) update was installed before failure. I am unsure whether this update has been applied and would like to confirm my eligibility. I respectfully request: 1.Confirmation of KSDS update installation on my VIN 2.A review of my eligibility for engine inspection and coverage under the extended warranty 3.Assistance with coordinating service and coverage at my local dealership (LeBlanc Kia, New Iberia, LA) I am the second owner of this vehicle and want to ensure I am treated fairly under the known warranty extension guidelines. Thank you for your support. I look forward to your prompt response.

NHTSA ID

11669359

Incident

Jun 25, 2025

The power steering stopped working and the car became hard to turn because of it. The power steering light (red color with steering wheel and exclamation point to the right of it) came on also.

NHTSA ID

11661833

Incident

May 16, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11607864

Incident

Aug 9, 2024

Twice while driving in rain my front end collision warning has taken control from me and slammed on the brakes bringing my car to a full stop. There was no vehicle or object in front of me either time. The second time I narrowly missed being rear ended.

NHTSA ID

11547008

Incident

Sep 10, 2023

Engine needed to be replaced as part of the recall for knock, however they said because the repair was done on a subsequent work order and the first one was for a failed AEB module that none of the repairs are covered. I'm out over $13,000 for what should have been warrantied

NHTSA ID

11545834

Incident

Apr 21, 2023

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

NHTSA ID

11544067

Incident

Aug 30, 2023

First I had an oil leak which I was advised to warm my car up to prevent from getting worse. At the time I was told it was minor. Then my oil light started coming up every 2 weeks and when checked there was no oil. Now 2 months later, my car has stopped and showed a blinking check engine light. When checked I was told a code of p1326 which is the knock sensor. I have only had my car 7 months and it’s been problem after problem. Not to mention only a month after buying it was stolen. Due to no immobilizer So I’m sure a lot of the issues are also a result of the dumb theif who decided to damage my car. Also my cruise control doesn’t work a lot of the time.

NHTSA ID

11542002

Incident

Jan 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the "Check High beam Assist System" and "Check Lane Departure System" messages were displayed. The Forward Collision Avoidance warning light and an unknown warning light were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front view camera needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 39,715. The contact is requesting to withdraw the complaint.

NHTSA ID

11540701

Incident

Aug 16, 2023

Mileage

39,715 mi

On 6 June 2022 I was driving Eastbound Interstate 80 passing Fairfield, CA. Traffic was moderate, average traffic speed 65. The Kia’s Adaptive Cruise was enabled and set to the maximum amount of safe distance. I recall the car directly in front of me changed lanes to pass a truck towing a trailer. I remember the Kia began to accelerate and I couldn’t turn the wheel. Next memory was opening my eyes to the dust smoke of deployed air bags. I lost consciousness likely due to the sudden impact and air bags deployed. I was taken to a Fairfield hospital by ambulance where I spent 4 days. A slurry of tests ruled out loss of consciousness as the cause. No stroke, heart attack or seizure occurred. I was treated for bruised ribs due to the airbag. No doubt to me that this collision could have been catastrophic to this driver and others driving nearby. Witness reported that I sped up and clipped the truck/trailer while attempting to pass. What I believe happened: 1) the Adaptive Cruise accelerated when it determined there was room but failed to see the trailer and 2) the steering was unresponsive when I attempted to avoid a collision. The reaction time between car accelerating and getting knocked out had to be a mere three or four seconds. The vehicle was totaled, The insurance company, Mercury Insurance, released the vehicle

NHTSA ID

11534208

Incident

Jun 7, 2022

Cruise control does not maintain a steady speed and constantly fluctuates 10+- miles an hour! The dealer refuses to fix and says they cannot reproduce the symptom. I used a tracker and saw the dealer drive it around the block, never attempting to put it on the freeway.

NHTSA ID

11511882

Incident

Mar 12, 2018

Forward collision avoidance system activated with no vehicle stopped in front. Brakes locked up multiple times and then unlocked.

NHTSA ID

11493365

Incident

Oct 12, 2022

For the past 5-6 months I’m have ongoing issues with my engine and excessive oil consumption. I’ve completed the three oil consumption test per 1000 miles. On the last test(3rd check), I was told I passed and nothing further was needed. Approximately 1 month after that my engine light illuminated and my car violently shook upon acceleration and while sitting idle. Was informed it was my spark plugs and electric coil… oh and a routine oil change, which I paid to have repaired at approx. $650 this was in late August/Early September. Now here we are in late October and my oil lamp is on yet again! My car does not achieve speeds no higher than 50 mph. I’ve been to the dealership 7 times since April 2022. There’s an expense with owning cars but this is ridiculous. I’m currently a few hundred miles shy of 80,000 miles

NHTSA ID

11490469

Incident

Oct 17, 2022

I was driving with an SUV in front of me at 18-wheeler in front of them. This is on a road where the speed limit is 65 however there's a section on 301 where there's a traffic light. All three vehicles came to a slow normal stop and the adaptive cruise control was doing a good job of slowing the vehicle down without my input. But the SUV when we were at about stopping speed but had not yet come to a complete stop, the SUV switched to the left lane. At which point I was maybe 20 ft behind the 18-wheeler and all of a sudden the car is adaptive cruise control tried to accelerate the car back up to the setting of 65. It didn't register the 18-wheeler at all It just registered that the car in front of me had cleared the space and if I had not been paying attention and immediately applied the brakes to stop the car manually It absolutely would have accelerated directly into the back of the 18-wheeler. I was maybe 5 ft and it was still accelerating when I slammed on the brakes. I've been able to since reproduce the effects, it doesn't register 18 wheelers correctly in this specific situation as vehicles. I've even had the camera recalibrated in between tests. I have everything on video but unfortunately do not have access to the car's computer logs. I would be willing to send in my ECU for whatever is needed to identify this further.

NHTSA ID

11486092

Incident

Sep 23, 2022

Hello I've been having my car for a year I told the dealership the problem but it seem as they don't want to fix it My car wouldn't go over 60miles and also my engine just locked up this doesn't make sense when they know these problems are a recall on this type of vehicles

NHTSA ID

11484063

Incident

Aug 21, 2022

This has happened 3 times driving car almost comes to a complete stop. Acceleration dropped down to 20 MPH. Was told it was a knock sensor replace in March in May did it again . Replaced it against the very next day it did it again. Went online and said it was a recall but nothing is showing up here . I will contact Kia in the morning we could have been killed this happened in the expressway

NHTSA ID

11467641

Incident

Mar 26, 2022

WITHIN A WEEK BOTH FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER WHEEL SPEED SENSORS FAILED. RESULTING IN A PROMPT ON DASH AT START UP AND CONSISTENTLY DISPLAYED FOR AEB SYSTEM SERVICE AFTER VEHICLES AUTOMATIC SYSTEM SCAN AN SEE DIFFERENCE IN MILEAGE IN ATTACHED PICTURES. KIA TECHNICIAN SAID IT IS A COMMON ISSUE AND SEES ATLEAST 4-5 VEHICLES PER WEEK WITH THIS PART FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11365946

Incident

Oct 19, 2020

Mileage

20,526 mi

DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC HAD TO PUSH THE GAS TO THE FLOOR TO GET VEHICLE TO MOVE ALMOST HIT IN THE REAR. CAME TO A STOP LIGHT ONCE GREEN PRESSED ON THE GAS THE CAR WENT TO 25MPH JERKED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25MPH. SOMEONE CAN BEEN KILLED.

NHTSA ID

11277045

Incident

Oct 29, 2019

Mileage

45 mi

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT NIGHT TIME FOR ABOUT A WEEK STRAIGHT MY HEAD LIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF BY THEIR SELVES WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THEN MY CAR WOULD BE SITTING IN MY PARKING SPACE AND MY NEIGHBORS TOLD ME MY LIGHTS WOULD JUST BE ON ALL NIGHT AND MY CAR WOULD BE LOCKED AND EVERYTHING AND ONE DAY I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND I COULDN'T EVEN UNLOCK IT TO GET IN IT SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT'VE BEEN MY CAR REMOTE BATTERY DIED AND SO I ASKED A NEIGHBOR THAT WORKS ON CARS TO SEE WHAT IT COULD BE THEY POPPED MY HOOD AND CHECKED MY CAR BATTERY AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, THEY TRIED TO GIVE ME A JUMP WHICH WAS JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO UNLOCK AND GET INTO MY VEHICLE BUT MY CAR BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY FRIED DUE TO HEADLIGHT SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

11259078

Incident

Jul 20, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT FUNCTION WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TOOK MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO BE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. LUPIENT KIA OF BROOKLYN PARK (7911 LAKELAND AVE N, BROOKLYN PARK, MN) WAS CONTACTED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED OR REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 500. *TT *TR

NHTSA ID

11065016

Incident

Jun 1, 2017

Mileage

500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WESELOH KIA CARLSBAD (LOCATED AT 5331 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008 AT (760) 496-3131) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VOLTAGE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO WESELOH KIA CARLSBAD, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

NHTSA ID

11021617

Incident

Jun 5, 2017

Mileage

300 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY FOUR SECONDS FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIVE OTHER TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LUPIENT IMPORTS INC. IN BROOKLYN PARK, MINNESOTA), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 450.

NHTSA ID

11004903

Incident

Jun 24, 2017

Mileage

450 mi