2019 Kia Optima · symptom sheet
Burns oil or oil level rises
- 31owner reports
- 65,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 20, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
99 of the 209 complaints on this car are about the engine. 31 of those describe oil consumption. Only engine failure is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 31 reports
Oil consumption on other Optima years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014.
What this problem usually is
Two different complaints land here. The more common one is an engine that uses oil: owners add a quart between changes, get a low-oil warning, or are told by the dealer that the rate is normal. The other is the opposite, where the oil level climbs and the oil smells of gasoline. Both deserve a proper test, and both are easier to argue with records in hand.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (13 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2019 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Optima
Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.
Engine fires. Closed feb 5, 2024, led to recall 23V-877.
Scope and timeliness. Closed dec 22, 2021, led to recall 17V-224.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 6,000 and 103,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2019 Kia Optima that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2024MY vehicles (refer to the table on pages 9 and 10 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION NU/GAMMA/THETA/KAPPA ENGINES This bulletin provides information on diagnosing and/or repairing some 2011-2021MY vehicles (refer to the tables on pages 8-9 for applicable models and engine), which may exhibit a symptom of excessive oil consumption.
What owners wrote
“The motor burn oil even after the oil change is done. Also, the car shaking and is not damage to be found.”
Filed Nov 24, 2025
“Oil is getting into cylinders causing spark plugs to misfire. Very high oil consumption so I have to put oil in it every other day in between oil changes. Iâve been to Kia Service department several times in the past 2 months.”
Filed Mar 31, 2025
“Excessive oil consumption for a car with 45,000 miles with no observed leaks under the car or on the outside of the engine”
Filed Feb 7, 2025 · 45,000 miles
“I recently had an oil change and not even 600 miles later the oil is completely gone. My engine is burning oil like crazy. This just started happening at the 95,000 miles mark”
Filed Jan 4, 2025 · 95,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 31 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 33 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 30 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 27 reports