2020 Kia Optima Consumer Reviews

Our 2017 Kia Optima EX has been our best car ever! It is stylish, well-equipped, and runs like a dream. We bought it new in August 2017 and it now has 45,000 miles on it. We have had zero service problems with it. Other than our scheduled maintenance, all we've had to do is install a new battery (we were in Europe for 6 months) and change our tires at 35,000 miles. This summer it will be nine years old. We have had many different new cars over the years, including a 1993 MB 190 2.3 and a 1999 MB S320, and this is the most trouble-free vehicle of all. Plus, it drives very well, is comfortable inside, and gets super mileage (28+/38+) Also, it does not have a digital speedometer which manufacturers insist on putting in new cars these days. All and all, a great car!

This car was unreliable and not dependable. The transmission was seconds away from failing. I was the only owner and took great care of it. However, I started having sensor issues. In one year, I took the car to the dealership at least a dozen times, and they only replaced the O2 sensor each time. I noticed that after the seventh replacement, the engine would lag when I accelerated. I took it to a non-Kia dealership for an assessment, and they advised that since I had so many sensor issues, they should have requested a new transmission. When I escalated my concerns, they gave me the runaround. Of course, the car had a 100k warranty, but the engine and transmission were covered to 80k. Since the car was in the mid-70k range, I was running close to the warranty expiring. The dealership then redirected the issue and said we needed maintenance proof, such as all oil changes and spark plug maintenance, before they could submit a request for a transmission. As if all the trips to replace the sensor and all the check engine lights weren’t enough. I was disgusted. I thought I could trade it to CarMax, but they found all the issues Kia denied and offered me $3k for a 2019 fully loaded, top-of-the-line Optima with 70k miles! Talk about a blow to the chest. Kia is a crook. Take your hard-earned money to a more honest and reputable manufacturer.

My parents bought this car used from a dealership about 5 years ago. They gifted it to me the beginning of 2025. It has a lot of bells and whistles that make it very appealing and has pretty great gas mileage. It worked well for all of us. But it has a laggy acceleration and burns through oil. In December my car started shaking pretty violently. Specifically if it was in gear. I looked at the spark plugs and one was completely destroyed. I replaced them and the shaking stopped for about a month. In this time I was burning 4qts of oil every 1,000 miles. After that month with new spark plugs it started shaking again. We ran the codes and turns out my 3rd cylinder was not operating at full strength. Its pushing 25psi which is very not good. This has caused the car to need a new motor. Apparently there was a manufacturing error for this year of car on certain motors. They released a knock sensor recall but nothing specific for the cylinders. Foolishly I hadn't gotten the recall fixed due to my schedule. Once I had car troubles I took my car to the dealership, theres an extended warranty for this damage only if you have had the knock sensor recall fixed. So they didn't honor the warranty. I called to some shops to see if there was any way to repair my cylinder, but they all recommended just getting a new car entirely. This seems to be a pretty common issue for these cars. If you are looking to buy one or already have one, please get the recall fixed so if this happens, you can get the repairs done for free from the dealership. Or find a different year of this car. Its still pretty low miles and having to buy a whole new car because of this, is honestly ridiculous. In the long run, there are better vehicles that will last a lot longer for you.

I have had my used 2019 Kia Optima since 2020 bought it from Enterprise car rental in Shreveport Louisiana and other just basic maintenance such as oil changes the only mechanical thing I have had to do and that was just over a year ago and that was get another battery. No mechanical problems what so ever. The best car I have ever had and I'm 61yoa. Have had a number of vehicles in my lifetime But this is the Best. Thank you

Replaced spark plugs twice in a year and almost a third time if I didn’t trade it in. Constantly refilling the engine oil. Very spacious inside and goof car for about 4 years. Starting mileage 88,000, ending mileage of 154,000

I absolutely loved my 2019 KIA Optima LX/S. I bought it brand new in the beginning of 2019. I had not one problem with my car whatsoever. I drove it for 3.5 years. Then it went to my son when he turned 16 years old. He had it for just over 2 years until one of our neighbors was pulling out of her parking spot and out of nowhere she slammed right into the front passenger fender, breaking the rim, fender, and tore a window. It was over $8,700 in damages! How do you total two cars in a parking lot, especially when you are backed in your parking spot and pulling forward?!? Her insurance company wouldn’t give me any choice unless I wanted to deal with a loss title. USAA is the worst insurance company around! I just read yesterday that my car had minor damages! Not a surprise! I had the worst, rudest adjuster ever! Long story short, my car was taken to a lot and sold for a whole $200! But in the statement it says minor damages and “great deal.” With the VIN number it of course showed all my service records! I knew something wasn’t sitting right about everything with this entire situation! You can’t trust anyone anymore! It’s sad! From car dealerships to auto insurance right down to the person that was you don’t expect to slam right into you 10 minutes before 7 in the AM! I’m everything when it comes down to it, everyone in the entire world should and needs is honesty, people. Lying, stealing, and cheating people are only sad, miserable, greedy people. I’m glad I’m not them… Long story long … My son and I absolutely loved our 2019 KIA Optima “Sally.” She was a great car! We will miss her!

For the most part it was reliable until one day I left my partners apartment and it was gone. I had the security feature that was supposed to keep it from getting stolen but it didnt work. That sucked because I was stranded and I missed almost a full week of work. You also cant insure the car most places. Save yourself some time and get anything other than a kia.

Love my KIA OPTIMA , great gas mileage, roomy enough back seat for 3 grandchildren 's car seats. Great on long trips and around town.