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Engine & cooling

2010 Kia Optima Engine problems

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2010 Kia Optima's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 15% of all its complaints, most recently on March 7, 2026. They describe 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Engine & cooling

The engine on my 2010 Kia Optima suddenly seized without warning around 150,000 miles. The vehicle had no knocking sounds or warning signs prior to failure. A mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a seized engine. This created a sudden loss of vehicle operation. I am concerned this may be related to the known engine failure issues reported in Kia vehicles.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11722673
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

1.We were driving and the car just cut off. Not from the lack of fuel but cut off in the middle of traffic. (Available for inspection) 2.The car stopping in traffic running about 65 mph causes the safety of all on the highway. A very dangerous situation. 3. The problem has showed itself numerous times. 4. The car had been inspected/checked after the incident. There was no errors on the computer after diagnosis. 5. No errors nor warning lights prior the incident. After the incident, the car cranks right back up without error.

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11646102
Engine & coolingDriver assistance

I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise it's been parked

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Engine · Forward collision avoidanceNHTSA 11640182
Engine & cooling

Rod bearing knocking noise. Vehicle stopped running when slowing down. Car is available for inspection. No warning lights come on. The rod bearing can pierce the engine and cause oil to leak and then a fire. Problem first identified by Monroe and then another independent when the car died in front of his shop- both confirmed this is a known issue with kias- but since ours is a 2010 it is not covered under the current recall for the same issue in years 2011 to 2013. I spoke with cooper Kia in Utica as I was looking...

Read the full complaint

for support with this issue and was told by Mike Digiovanni to call a lawyer. On a later call to Pat Stacey he said they don't work for Kia and he stated that the salesman said I came in threatening to call a lawyer- not true- I was advised to call one. I had gone in explaining that I was upset as I thought this was a safe car for my 17 year old to travel in between college and work and it's the same issue as the 2011-2013 recall

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11483785
Engine & cooling

At 134000 miles car got a knock on interstate. 5 miles to next exit a loud bang. Then the knock went to a loud loud bang. Pulled over to find rod thru block. It is a 2010 kia optima with 2.4l 1 year before the recalls with exact probelm. Full of oil and coolant. Just out of the blue.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11466668
Engine & coolingFire

The contact owns a 2010 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 1 mph, the vehicle started overheating then there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. Upon investigation, it was found that the radiator had a hole on the right side. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer and was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 11417917
Acceleration & cruise controlEngine & cooling

Engine blew doing 40-45 on a county road 1,000 rpm 5th gear, in automatic. 2Nd to 1st, soft to hard kick. Vehicle speed sensor must be faulty I have to pump brake more to slow the engine speed it likes to bog trying to speed up in automatic mode

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EngineNHTSA 11403364
SteeringEngine & cooling

My optima has 104,000 miles. Just last week while driving on wet roads, I lost control as the power steering stopped working. The battery light comes on during this period for between 5-30 seconds as you loose almost all control of your vehicle's steering. Just as your vehicle gains power steering again, a screeching sounds comes from the engine compartment (maybe belts re-engaging). It has been raining her the past week and the issue has happened about 8 times. Sometimes directly after driving through puddles, and sometimes just while driving. The issue only occurs though when the roads are wet. This is a major safety issue.

Filed Incident Steering · EngineNHTSA 11311465
Engine & cooling

Driving car just shut off in heavy traffic on rd average speed 40 no warning lights came on restarted stalled all the way home and huge knocking sound

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11195570
Engine & cooling

While driving home one day in december 2015, each time I approached a stop light, yield sign or slowed to a low speed (less than 15 mph), my vehicle would shut-off multiple times. My in motion speed was approx 45 mph when not approaching a stop light or yield sign. It happened both when I was turning and going straight on main roads with 2-4 lanes. The dealership and another asme certified mechanic both state engine failure, which seems to be a widespread problem with 2.4L engines manufactured by kia and hyundai around this year up to 2015.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 10861976
Engine & coolingCrash

I was parking my car in a lot when it surged forward (accelerated suddenly) without my depressing the accelerator causing me to lose control of my car and hit another vehicle, severely damaging the other vehicle and mine. My car was towed to a repair facility. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10340860

Kia Optima engine complaints by year

Optima engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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