[Aj1]

Hey everyone, does anyone know if this generation of Optima is still reliable after the motor recall? I had my engine for free under the P1326 recall back in 2018 at about 120,000 km. The cars at just a little over 200,000 km now so approx 80,000 km on the new motor. My local Kia says that they will not replace the motor again even if the problem is caused by the recall. I was under the impression that the motor would have lifetime warranty now if the motor ever seizes up again due to the same problem. Now I'm not sure that they would even cover it. I love the car and want to keep it around still, but I wonder if the new motor still has chances of seizing due to the same rod bearing issue. I'm from Canada btw, car has a few mods. Anyways, sorry for the rant, just want an expert opinion! Were you affected by the recall? Have you had to get your motor replaced more than once? Is your new motor covered under lifetime warranty?

 

[chauncey]

Hey everyone, does anyone know if this generation of Optima is still reliable after the motor recall? I had my engine for free under the P1326 recall back in 2018 at about 120,000 km. The cars at just a little over 200,000 km now so approx 80,000 km on the new motor. My local Kia says that they will not replace the motor again even if the problem is caused by the recall. I was under the impression that the motor would have lifetime warranty now if the motor ever seizes up again due to the same problem. Now I'm not sure that they would even cover it. I love the car and want to keep it around still, but I wonder if the new motor still has chances of seizing due to the same rod bearing issue. I'm from Canada btw, car has a few mods. Anyways, sorry for the rant, just want an expert opinion! Were you affected by the recall? Have you had to get your motor replaced more than once? Is your new motor covered under lifetime warranty?

I think I read somewhere that in Canada it's a limited lifetime warranty on the Theta II engines at 200,000km on original engine but not sure on replaced. In US it says lifetime but then they do throw in limited lifetime in there on the pamphlet they sent out with no mileage. 🤷‍♂️

 

[Turbonut]

Settlement in Canada is Lifetime Warranty after the KSDS update, and as far as I'm concerned, the replacement engine must have the same warranty as the engine it replaced, lifetime. Even here in the US the dealerships can't get the warranty on the replacement engine correct.

 

[chauncey]

There's where I read it for Canada but not sure about Kia.

 

[fishingwithyou]

I wouldn't keep it. After I got the Knock Sensor update done on my hybrid, the Knock Sensor is extremely sensitive. There's a noise that comes from the top of my engine. Every time I've gotten my car serviced, they've told me the noise isn't a problem and not to worry about it -- the engine is in good health. Well, as soon as I get the Knock Sensor update and they inspect the engine, the next thing I know the car is lighting up with the blinking check engine light. The reason? The Knock Sensor is detecting knocking in the engine. I took it to a third party shop (Kia was quoting me 7 business days to a MONTH just to get the diagnostic run on it, which Kia employees have admitted to me is because they're backed up on all this recall-related work). That shop replaces the knock sensor, which my third party warranty company covered because the Knock Sensor ITSELF was not under warranty with Kia -- all they do is update the software for the sensor. Then I take the car to the dealer since getting the recall was supposed to provide my engine with an extended warranty. BUT the extended warranty only covers issues with engine caused by the rod bearing... nothing else. So my car is now UNDRIVEABLE and unreliable due to this software update, but Kia is not taking any responsibility.

 

[Silvoptma]

I’m keeping mine till it dies or get totaled. The 2012 2.4 original motor went out at 100K got it fixed for free and lifetime warranty. I’m at 172,000 Miles now 4 years later.

 

[Fortbragg707]

Hey everyone, does anyone know if this generation of Optima is still reliable after the motor recall? I had my engine for free under the P1326 recall back in 2018 at about 120,000 km. The cars at just a little over 200,000 km now so approx 80,000 km on the new motor. My local Kia says that they will not replace the motor again even if the problem is caused by the recall. I was under the impression that the motor would have lifetime warranty now if the motor ever seizes up again due to the same problem. Now I'm not sure that they would even cover it. I love the car and want to keep it around still, but I wonder if the new motor still has chances of seizing due to the same rod bearing issue. I'm from Canada btw, car has a few mods. Anyways, sorry for the rant, just want an expert opinion! Were you affected by the recall? Have you had to get your motor replaced more than once? Is your new motor covered under lifetime warranty?

So when you took your car in for the moter recall did they give you a rent a car or did you have to wait for ur car

 

[bigbxsallday]

... as soon as I get the Knock Sensor update and they inspect the engine, the next thing I know the car is lighting up with the blinking check engine light. The reason? The Knock Sensor is detecting knocking in the engine...

The KSDS update doesn't Cause any problems, it helps detect them before they get very serious. Anything else that happened to your car is just a coincidence, there is no cause/effect between KSDS and engine failure.

So you say it is not driveable, describe how - no start, turns off?

... There's a noise that comes from the top of my engine.... as soon as I get the Knock Sensor update and they inspect the engine, the next thing I know the car is lighting up with the blinking check engine light. The reason? The Knock Sensor is detecting knocking in the engine.... BUT the extended warranty only covers issues with engine caused by the rod bearing... nothing else. So my car is now UNDRIVEABLE and unreliable due to this software update, but Kia is not taking any responsibility.

The 'noise' on top is most likely the high pressure fuel pump, they all do it, normal.
The KSDS is a software update to improve the car's ability to detect early rod bearing wear (which leads to a locked up engine).
The agreement Kia made was to replace engines that have had the KSDS update, a CEL code = P1326 and dealership inspection stating excessive rod bearing wear exists. This is a lifetime warranty (car's life not yours).
Attached is more info. Whatever has happened after the update that isn't warranty covered was just a coincidence, nothing more.

 

[road rash]

Our 2011 Sorento had 166,000 miles on it when I received the recall notice. After reading what the recall would do to the ECU I decided not to have it done. We had to run middle grade fuel to eliminate pre-ignition from day one.

So far the Optima is okay and I don't know if the recall flash was done before we got it or not.

 

[bigbxsallday]

The KSDS software update only allows the ECU to detect specific engine vibrations Earlier than otherwise, to aid in preventing a catastrophic engine failure at speed, say when going down the highway, instead letting it let you down slowly to a safe stop. It comes with a vehicle Lifetime warranty, that is otherwise known as Free Money, so who would not want That??

On the flipside I would be very concerned why an engine predetonates, that is Bad news.