2020 Kia Optima engine problems
108 of the 148 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Kia Optima name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 74 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 108 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 14 · 2024: 21 · 2025: 44 · 2026: 24
Half of the 15 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 80,000 and 118,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
148 complaints in all about the 2020 Kia Optima, 24 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Kia Optima engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shuddering. The contact's husband was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with DTC Code: P0304 “Cylinder # 4 misfire).
My engine is failing as of right now . It has yet to completely fail , but I was told by KIA today that it’s failing and they don’t know how long it has left . I just thought I would try and get a re call on it to get it fixed instead of putting myself or others at danger if/when the engine does fail
On July 4th 2023, I was driving with my son in car, when unexpectedly the check engine light came on and car lost power. We were on a highway with a 65mph speed limit. I was able to pull over to side of road. Car did Start back up, however was missing and misfiring. Shaking especially under acceleration.
The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine maintenance, it was discovered that the engine oil level was extremely low. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed an oil consumption test. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.
Car burns through 3 quarts of oil per week with just normal usage. Confirmed there are no oil leaks
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsNHTSA investigation
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
74 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SC340_TSB_R5 EmissionsApr 4, 2026
- VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS SERVICE CAMPAIGN: THETA II 2.4L GDI EMISSIONS: ECM LOGIC IMPROVEMENT (SC340 REVISION 5) - This bulletin has been revised to include additional information. New/revised sections of this bulletin are indicated by a black bar in the margin area. This bulletin provides information to upgrade the Electronic Control Module ‘ECM’ system software for certain 2016-2020MY Optima, 2016-20
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Kia Optima names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2020 Kia Optima?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 108 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (73% of everything owners filed about it), and 74 manufacturer bulletins, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2020 Kia Optima?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year. A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2020 Kia Optima?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 116,000 miles; half of them between 80,000 and 118,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.