2020 Kia Optima: What to check before buying

Heavy oil burning with no visible leak is the main pattern. Owners add oil between changes, find the dipstick nearly dry within 2,000 miles, and say the low-oil warning comes late or not at all. Many reports then move to a flashing check engine light, code P1326, limp mode, knocking, and sudden power loss at highway speed, with some drivers nearly rear-ended. Limp mode and engine failure cluster around 91,000 to 98,000 miles. One crash-related report describes metal debris in the oiling system. Second owners often report warranty disputes.

Excessive oil consumption dominates, with owners adding about a quart weekly and the low oil pressure light coming on only when pressure is already very low. Reports describe rattling, a crackling noise, hesitation, and a flashing check engine light with code P1326 ending in engine failure. In one case a mechanic blamed faulty piston rings at 127,000 miles. Dealers often order an oil consumption test rather than a diagnosis, and owners say the repair was not covered under warranty.

Oil consumption leading to code P1326, limp mode, and engine knocking shows up here too. Owners describe a flashing check engine light, speed dropping on the highway, and quotes of about $10,000 for a replacement engine. A second group of reports covers a dual-clutch transmission that shudders in low gears, stalling, and repeated fuel pump and fuel injector repairs that do not fix the problem. One fire-related report describes a car that kept leaking oil and stalling after fire repairs.

Highway limp mode with code P1326 tied to the knock detection system is common, with speed falling sharply and the car unable to accelerate. One owner replaced the knock sensor three times after hard rain or car washes. Theft is a separate theme: cars started without a key, sometimes with a USB cord, and owners report trouble getting insurance without an immobilizer. Headlights that flicker or short out also appear. One fire-related report describes flames in the engine bay of a car already burning oil.

Brakes that feel spongy or let go are the most serious reports. One crash-related complaint blames a faulty ABS module for a pedal that sometimes fails to stop the car, and another describes braking that disengages when hitting a bump mid-stop. Other reports include a brake pedal that wobbles side to side at 36,128 miles and a front caliper bolt that fractured at about 91,000 miles. Two complaints say forward collision warning never detects the car ahead.

Airbags failing to deploy in crashes is the main concern, across four crash-related reports with four injuries. Cases include hitting a guardrail at 60 mph, striking a pickup after forward collision braking slowed the car, and leaving the road into a ditch where the seatbelt also stayed loose. One owner received a warranty extension for an airbag warning light, but the dealer had no parts to fix it. Another says the knee airbag blocks the brake pedal for large shoe sizes.

Repeated low-pressure fuel pump failure causes hard starting, loss of power, and a risk of stalling. In one case the dealer replaced part of the pump three times before concluding the whole assembly needed replacement, with code P123300 showing low pump pressure. Other reports describe the car quitting while idling at a red light and a fuel line quick-connect fitting that came loose and needed replacement. Only 3 complaints are on file, so the fuel pump is the one clear pattern.

A broken steering wheel bearing that fails again after replacement is one of only 2 reports here, and that owner calls it a major safety concern. The other describes steering that feels wrong after an engine replacement, alongside new engine noise and collision warning lights coming on. Neither report describes a crash. With so few complaints, steering draws far less attention than the engine problems reported on this car.

The passenger seat belt chime sounds on its own and keeps going until the belt is buckled. Both complaints describe the same behavior, and neither mentions an injury, a crash, or a belt that fails to hold. In these reports the issue is a nuisance rather than a safety failure. A related problem appears under airbags, where a driver's belt alarm chimed even though the belt was fastened, alongside an airbag warning light.