2018 Kia Optima Body & Structure Problems
6 owner-reported body & structure complaints from NHTSA data
Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
Owner Complaints (6)
Your car is burning through oil quickly and leaking oil, which has caused it to lose power and run roughly while driving. The dealership found a known issue with excessive oil consumption on this model and replaced spark plugs, ignition wires, and the valve cover gasket, but the problem persisted. On a second visit, they replaced the fuel injector harness and oil pressure sensor, and needed to replace the spark plugs again despite doing so less than a year earlier. Fixing this will likely require diagnosing the root cause of the oil consumption—which could involve the engine's internal seals, gaskets, or rings—and addressing whatever is causing the fuel injector and spark plug issues.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
Your car's paint has started bubbling and peeling near the driver's side rear window. The issue began about a month ago and continues to worsen over time. This appears to be a paint defect that affects multiple Kia Optimas with snow white pearl paint. Addressing this will likely require professional paint stripping, surface preparation, and repainting of the affected area.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH AND SUDDENLY THE FRONT PART OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS. WE WEREN'T HIT BY ANY ROAD DEBRIS OR ANYTHING IT JUST EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING.
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND STARTED TO HEAR AN NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MILES AND MOVED OVER ONE LANE TO THE RIGHT AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW - HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON CAR. I GOT THE TIRE REPLACED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WHEELS ALIGNED. THEN,DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, 45 MPH A FEW WEEKS LATER, GOT TO A PASSING ZONE, AND PASSED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AFTER ACCELERATING TO 65 DURING THE SHORT PASSING ZONE. AFTER PASSING THE CAR I TAPPED THE BREAKS TO SLOW BACK DOWN TO 45 AND THE TRACTION, BRAKE, AND TMZ LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. WHEN BRAKE ENGAGED, CAR DID NOT BRAKE AS NORMAL AND A ODD NOISE LIKE A GRINDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS, SAID IT WAS A 'MISS-TRIPPED' SENSOR AND CLEARING IT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I DROVE MY CAR LESS THAN 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE ON A 40 MPH ROAD AT A STOP LIGHT, ALL THREE LIGHTS CAME RIGHT BACK ON. HAD TO CALL AND TAKE CAR BACK IN AND THEY ENDED UP KEEPING MY CAR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE SAYING I HAD A BAD TIRE SENSOR, BUT CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. DROVE AGAIN, TO A NEIGHBORING CITY AND HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AND FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW. GOT IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID TIRES BLOWING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CENSOR. GOT TIRE CHANGED AND ROTATION. PICKED UP CAR AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON -LOW PRESSURE. NITRO WAS ADDED BY DEALERSHIP AND LIGHT WENT OFF. TURNED MY PRESSURE READER ON AND 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WENT FROM 37 TO 45 PSI. I THINK BAD SENSOR IS CAUSING OVER INFLATING OF TIRES AT THE DEALERSHIP LEADING TO BLOWN TIRES.TESTED PRESSURE WITH SEPARATE PRESSURE READER AND TOO HIGH SO LET SOME AIR OUT, DROVE DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND CAR 'BOTTOMED OUT' ON A ROLLING DIP IN THE ROAD SCRAPPING THE PLASTIC PROTECTION PIECE BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE UNDER THE CAR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT AND THEN A RUSH OF AIR INTO THE DRIVER/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THANKFULLY I HAD THE INTERIOR SHADE (PANEL) CLOSED AND WAS NOT RIDDLED WITH BROKEN GLASS.
The paint is peeling off your driver's side door. This is a cosmetic issue that doesn't affect how your car runs, but it may expose the underlying metal to rust over time. You'll likely need to have the door repainted or the damaged area refinished by a professional.
Parts you may need:
As an Amazon Associate, MyCarTSB earns from qualifying purchases.