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Error Code P1326

75459 Views 47 Replies 24 Participants Last post by  mstove
I was traveling and the car slowed down with the engine light flashing. The P1326 code was found.

The KSDS detects vibrations indicating the onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. It is designed to alert the driver at an early stage of bearing wear before the occurrence of severe engine damage, including engine failure.

If vibrations caused by bearing wear start to occur, the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) will blink continuously, and the vehicle will be placed in Limp Home Mode. This
will reduce further damage to the engine and ensure that the vehicle occupants are not exposed to the risk of a more severe engine failure. At that time, Diagnostic Trouble Code (“DTC”) P1326, specific to the KSDS, will be recorded in the ECU.

The vehicle can continue to be operated for a limited time in Limp Home Mode, but it will accelerate slowly and have a reduced maximum speed. Also, engine RPMs
will be limited to approximately 1800-2000 RPM.

I am taking the car to a Kia dealer. Does anyone have any idea what to expect?
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Welcome to the group. Hopefully, it's not a false code, but a friend of mine drove the car 200 miles home in limp mode, to the dealer, and picked up the car a week later with, a new engine.

Good luck and Kia is pretty easy with engine replacement so you'll be good to go in a couple of weeks. They'll also pay for a rental.
So as it turned out the problem was a faulty wiring harness!
But it took two days to get the part, so I was stuck in Fort Walton Beach for that time AND I had to leave it there!
Got it back this past Thursday. My daughter started driving it home today got 3 hours east of Mobile, Al on I-10 and the same dang thing happened!

going to rescue the car in the morning to take it to Leesburg, Fl (30 minutes from my home) straight to another Kia dealer.
Also got I formed that the car WILL one day have catastrophic failure and will be replaced.
Well!!! 4 days after picking the car up my daughter started to drive it from Mobile, Al to central Florida, drive about 250 on I-10 when the same dang thing happened!
So my Dad, myself, and a friend with a trailer left Mobile at 6:15am on a Tuesday and dropped the car off at Kia in Leesburg, Fl then back to Mobile by 10:45pm!
Got a call the next day saying they will be replacing the motor (Wednesday).
On Saturday they called at 9:45am and said it was done! Picked the car up at 2:30! Had a few other things that I can’t do fixed as well. Next is brakes in my garage, already ordered.
Hopefully this saga is over, because I love my car.


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With all the wasted time and aggravation, you seem to be taking the experience quite well.
Hopefully the worst is over and the love continues.

If familiar with the brake system on these cars, no need reading, but I've found over the last decade the Kia system leaves a lot to be desired, especially with high mileage. The sliders freeze in the brackets, caliper piston freeze in their bore, so after some hit and miss on the 2.0T, last year ordered all new aluminum calipers along with associated brackets and hardware, and finally received a repreive and haven't needed to touch the system since, but we do put a lot of mileage on the car.
Was traveling and the car slowed down with engine light flashing. The P1326 code was found:
The KSDS detects vibrations indicating the onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. It is
designed to alert the driver at an early stage of bearing wear before the occurrence of severe engine
damage, including engine failure. If vibrations caused by bearing wear start to occur, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (MIL) will blink continuously, and the vehicle will be placed in Limp Home Mode. This
will reduce further damage to the engine and ensure that the vehicle occupants are not exposed to the
risk of a more severe engine failure. At that time, Diagnostic Trouble Code (“DTC”) P1326, specific to
the KSDS, will be recorded in the ECU. The vehicle can continue to be operated for a limited time in
Limp Home Mode, but it will accelerate slowly and have a reduced maximum speed. Also, engine RPMs
will be limited to approximately 1800-2000 RPM.
Taking the car to a Kia dealer. Anyone have any idea on what to expect?
Was this covered under warranty? We have a 2016 Kia Optima that we bought used with 41K mi and the remainder of the 60K warranty. Car is now at 63K mi.... scared they won’t fix this, but will take to dealer in the morning.
Hope you got a good deal on the car, but because of the poorly designed engine and the number that have gone bad, the engine is a lifetime deal for all owners. Hopefully the 1326 is not a false alarm as some have found, like above, but eventually, if the engine goes, fully covered along with a free loaner.
Hope you got a good deal on the car, but because of the poorly designed engine and the number that have gone bad, the engine is a lifetime deal for all owners. Hopefully the 1326 is not a false alarm as some have found, like above, but eventually, if the engine goes, fully covered along with a free loaner.
I think we got a pretty good deal on the car... and...

* UPDATE *
Perhaps influenced by the knowledge I gained here / research I did on the P1326 code, attempted / failed resolution by other dealers, and having seen the actual Kia memos to Kia Service advisors on the subject / coverage / etc...

I brought the car to the dealer this morning. 2hrs later, got a call that they verified the P1326 code, did more investigation, discovered the issue to be the crank shaft, had already called the Manufacturer and got approval for all (related) repairs (Which seems to be everything that is going wrong now), and that they already ORDERED A NEW ENGINE for full replacement - should be done within 2 weeks. 😳🤩🙏🏻
I hope it DOES come thru this smoothly - very impressed that I didn’t have to fight at all... will update again when done.
There have been a few dealers that were reluctant to apease the customer, but Kia headquarters/service center very helpful. They just keep replacing engines, but just keep an open mind if they call and say something not covered should be replaced.
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There have been a few dealers that were reluctant to apease the customer, but Kia headquarters/service center very helpful. They just keep replacing engines, but just keep an open mind if they call and say something not covered should be replaced.
Yep - was telling my husband I will relax when it’s all done... let’s see what they say “needs to be done” along with the engine.... still - anticipated a fight, and haven’t gotten it so far.
When the CV boot cracked and they replaced the whole axle under warranty, they said the brake pads needed to be replaced, so I did that....
To ease your mind, when mine was done '11 2.0T, 7 days and the only phone call I received was when the car was done.
Let us know the outcome.
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Was traveling and the car slowed down with engine light flashing. The P1326 code was found:
The KSDS detects vibrations indicating the onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. It is
designed to alert the driver at an early stage of bearing wear before the occurrence of severe engine
damage, including engine failure. If vibrations caused by bearing wear start to occur, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (MIL) will blink continuously, and the vehicle will be placed in Limp Home Mode. This
will reduce further damage to the engine and ensure that the vehicle occupants are not exposed to the
risk of a more severe engine failure. At that time, Diagnostic Trouble Code (“DTC”) P1326, specific to
the KSDS, will be recorded in the ECU. The vehicle can continue to be operated for a limited time in
Limp Home Mode, but it will accelerate slowly and have a reduced maximum speed. Also, engine RPMs
will be limited to approximately 1800-2000 RPM.
Taking the car to a Kia dealer. Anyone have any idea on what to expect?
The same thing just happened to me. Did you get it fixed. Im not sure what to do 2014 kia optima sxl
The same thing just happened to me. Did you get it fixed. Im not sure what to do 2014 kia optima sxl
Take it to the dealer. With that code chances are you'll only be able to go 2000 rpm max.
Was traveling and the car slowed down with engine light flashing. The P1326 code was found:
The KSDS detects vibrations indicating the onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. It is
designed to alert the driver at an early stage of bearing wear before the occurrence of severe engine
damage, including engine failure. If vibrations caused by bearing wear start to occur, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (MIL) will blink continuously, and the vehicle will be placed in Limp Home Mode. This
will reduce further damage to the engine and ensure that the vehicle occupants are not exposed to the
risk of a more severe engine failure. At that time, Diagnostic Trouble Code (“DTC”) P1326, specific to
the KSDS, will be recorded in the ECU. The vehicle can continue to be operated for a limited time in
Limp Home Mode, but it will accelerate slowly and have a reduced maximum speed. Also, engine RPMs
will be limited to approximately 1800-2000 RPM.
Taking the car to a Kia dealer. Anyone have any idea on what to expect?
So maybe in the wrong post but has anyone had any issues with a 2016 Optima LX 2.4L with the same P1326? I just got my first code but was able to reset the code and drove it home. I had a knock sensor issue with our 2012 Rio Hatchback EX 1.6L but fixed when I grounded the Knock Sensor to the chassis. I'm worried!
Hey all. Just had this happen to me. Driving on the fwy, limp home mode activates, P1326 code. Just got the call today that a new motor is headed my way. Only thing I have to pay for are new rad hoses as they apparently are getting a bit worn. No biggie. They are also providing a car, rental-not loaner (was hoping to test drive a stinger...), but still, they're doing the right thing.
Was this covered under warranty? We have a 2016 Kia Optima that we bought used with 41K mi and the remainder of the 60K warranty. Car is now at 63K mi.... scared they won’t fix this, but will take to dealer in the morning.
You should have nothing to worry about. Go to your Kia dealer and have the car checked for any updates or recalls. This should put you in the system that if ever. I mean every have this issue it will be replaced at no cost.
Was traveling and the car slowed down with engine light flashing. The P1326 code was found:
The KSDS detects vibrations indicating the onset of excessive connecting rod bearing wear. It is
designed to alert the driver at an early stage of bearing wear before the occurrence of severe engine
damage, including engine failure. If vibrations caused by bearing wear start to occur, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (MIL) will blink continuously, and the vehicle will be placed in Limp Home Mode. This
will reduce further damage to the engine and ensure that the vehicle occupants are not exposed to the
risk of a more severe engine failure. At that time, Diagnostic Trouble Code (“DTC”) P1326, specific to
the KSDS, will be recorded in the ECU. The vehicle can continue to be operated for a limited time in
Limp Home Mode, but it will accelerate slowly and have a reduced maximum speed. Also, engine RPMs
will be limited to approximately 1800-2000 RPM.
Taking the car to a Kia dealer. Anyone have any idea on what to expect?
THIS JUST HAPPENED TO MY CAR LAST WEEK!!!! (2014 Optima SXL). My mechanic ran the code and said I need an engine replacement (which Kia themselves would have to do) so he cleared the code or did whatever to make my check engine light stop blinking and turn off. when I brought my car to Kia they couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it... left it there with them for a week and they found nothing. Now I’m driving the car again and have to wait until I have the issue again for Kia to be able to do anything
Was this covered under warranty? We have a 2016 Kia Optima that we bought used with 41K mi and the remainder of the 60K warranty. Car is now at 63K mi.... scared they won’t fix this, but will take to dealer in the morning.
my car has about 80K miles, I bought it CPO with only 10K miles so my warranty also expired at 60K miles. Kia said if my car starts doing this again (see my other posts about what happened) they will cover it as long as I can show full maintenance records lol
Just had this code happen cleared it to get home, called dealer and they said they will not do anything if the MIL light is not flashing and the past code is not stores in the ECU. I finally got it to come back on and now they will warranty my 2016 Sorento with 113k on it. Now I will see how long it takes to get done.
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Just for future reference, worst thing one can do is to erase the code to have the CEL go off.
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