2014 Kia Optima Brakes Problems
22 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Brakes Recalls (3)
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Fix: Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Owner Complaints (22)
Your car's brakes failed to stop the vehicle during a front-end collision at 30-35 MPH, and the airbags did not deploy despite the impact. The airbags may have been removed or disconnected, and no warning light appeared before the crash. Fixing this would require a complete inspection and reinstallation of the airbag system, brake system diagnosis, and verification that all safety sensors are properly connected.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2014 Kia Optima lost power while driving and began smoking from under the hood, with no warning light appearing beforehand. You were notified about a recall (NHTSA Campaign 21V331000) for the hydraulic brake system, but the dealer said they couldn't perform the repair because other unknown work needed to be done first, and your vehicle was never diagnosed or repaired. The issue occurred at approximately 130,000 miles and may require brake system inspection and potentially other repairs to address the root cause of the power loss and overheating.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2014 Kia Optima may have a fuel leak causing the vehicle to run out of fuel unexpectedly, even after refueling. You might also notice a strong fuel smell coming through the air vents, and warning lights (check engine and ABS) appearing on your dashboard. The dealer identified a damaged battery terminal as a separate issue that needs repair, and the fuel leak may require inspection and sealing of fuel system components.
Parts you may need:
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The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under two unidentified NHTSA recalls; however, the recall repairs failed to prevent the failures from occurring. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to a stop as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal felt spongey and depressed to the floorboard. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated after the vehicle was started and warmed up, the engine made an abnormal loud knocking sound. The vehicle was towed to Chavez Automotive, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. Additionally, the dealer was contacted for the recall repair of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the dealer informed the contact that the recall repair could not be performed due to the vehicle having a Salvage Title. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that there was a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that while driving 5 - 10 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and lost all power. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The ABS, check engine, and battery warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 133,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the oil level was lower than expected. There was an unknown warning light illuminated. The vehicle vibrated while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); and the engine was replaced under the recall in September 2020. The contact stated that 5 years after the recall repair was completed, after approximately one month, the brake failure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who added brake fluid to the brake reservoir, and the brake warning light illuminated approximately 2 weeks later and remained illuminated. The contact spoke with the dealer, who confirmed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 294,000.
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while parked and unoccupied, the vehicle caught fire. Smoke and flames were coming from the engine of the vehicle. No injuries were sustained. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The fire department was notified and extinguished the fire. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's insurance company. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) however the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure opened a case and the vehicle was inspected; however, the inspector could not determine the origin of the fire due to the fire damage. The failure mileage was 113,000.
Oil consumption issues. Was informed when check engine light appeared. Oil light also appeared. Over 3qts consumed in 20 days. Car shut off while driving. Engine noisy and shaky.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started losing motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced. However, while replacing the battery and starting the vehicle, there was white smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that an unknown recall repair for the ABS had been completed; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed ABS due to an internal leak. The contact was informed that the ABS system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and requested that the vehicle be taken to another dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage, the vehicle had begun to burn. The fire department was called and the vehicle fire was controlled using water to extinguish the flames. The contact stated that the fire department filed a report. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to an impound lot and had not been examined by a dealer or insurance adjuster. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact was aware of one recall associated with the VIN, NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), however there were a total of three recalls - NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine), and NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that she was not aware of the other two recalls. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the contact depressed the brake pedal to slow for traffic however, the vehicle failed to properly respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the vehicle drove off the roadway, jumped the curb and came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to a towing compound. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 79,000.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) and 22V093000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact had taken the vehicle to two dealers for the recall repairs. The contact stated that one charged her a fee for the recall repair however, there was no evidence that the recall repair was completed. The contact was referred by the manufacturer to another dealer who did not perform the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
I was driving the Kia Optima 2014 down the highway. Without any warning or indication that something was wrong my tires locked up, causing the car to chirp twice and then the engine just died. I had to pay 250$ for a tow company to pick up the car and bring it home. The whole situation was very dangerous. Now I am having trouble with the Kia owner website. It will not even let me report the issue or schedule a maintenance appointment with any Kia Dealer to determine if this is due to a recall issue, or anything.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that the dealer stated that the vehicle would not receive the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) until parts for 20V100000 was available, and the repair was completed. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel and emitting a fuel odor within the cabin of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The approximate failure mileage was 103,748. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled while driving. The contact manually pushed their vehicle to the side of the road and noticed smoke coming from the engine compartment. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle where more smoke was coming from the engine and fire coming from the passenger side of the engine. The contact ran to a nearby business to get a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. The contact was in process of the vehicle being towed to a local dealer. The contact concerned that NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 ( service brakes, hydraulic) was related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that as he attempted to merge onto a highway at 45 MPH, the brake pedal and steering wheel locked up upon the depression of the brake pedal without warning. Due to the failure, the contact hit an electrical box encased in concrete as the vehicle continued to roll into bushes before it came to a halt. The airbags deployed upon impact. The contact exited the vehicle and removed his son from the back seat. The contact was not treated for injuries at the scene. The contact's son had a few lacerations on his neck that did not need medical attention. A police report was filed. A few days, his insurance towed the vehicle from the scene to an independent junkyard where the vehicle was deemed a total loss. A week later, the contact sought medical treatment for pain in his chest and right arm; the contact was diagnosed with a hairline fracture to his sternum. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that his vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact attempted to reach out to the manufacturer by email but did not receive a response. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHICH RESULTED IN HER VEHICLE ROLLING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND LANDED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WAS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND CHEST; AS WELL AS LACERATIONS TO HER RIGHT LOWER ARM AND LOWER ABDOMINAL AREA. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNCERTAIN OF ITS CURRENT WHEREABOUTS. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:17V224000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, SHE HAD NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK BRAKE LIGHT WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN ITS WARM OUTSIDE. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ALWAYS COMES ON AT THE SAME TIME. THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL GO OFF AFTER THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED, THE TRACTION LIGHT WILL STAY ON FOR AWHILE. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF AFTER A FEW MILES, OTHERS IT TAKES A DAY TO GO OFF. ONLY DIFFERENCE I CAN SEE WHILE DRIVING IS THAT BEFORE IT COMES ON THE BRAKES WILL GRAB HARDER THAN USUAL. THE LIGHTS ONLY COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING TO A STOP. NEVER WHEN IN PARK. THIS STARTED A FEW DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'VE HAD THE CAR AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ON ONE OCCASION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW LOT AND THEN TOWED TO KIA ATLANTA SOUTH (7310 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260, (770) 968-3400); HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.