2020 Kia Optima: jerking or lurching

5 of the 153 complaints about the 2020 Kia Optima describe jerking or lurching.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 3%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 6 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Jerking or lurching by model year

2020
5
2019
4
2018
15
2017
8
2016
29
2015
25
2014
8
2013
23
2012
29
2011
16
2010
14
2009
26
2006
1
2005
1
2004
2
2003
1
2002
5
2001
2

What owners say

Filed Sep 21, 2025 · Driver assistance, Engine · MO

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Engine failure. I’ve been reporting engine stalling since around 34,000 miles or so I purchased the car and immediately had battery issues before 25,000 miles as well. While I was driving on the road the engine stalled about 34,000 miles with me and my pregnant daughter in the car. The seatbelts jerked. The car stuutered and shut off and every light on the dashboard went insane. I purchased the car with 34 miles on it. Now…fast forward I’ve been having the car engine check, consumption oil tests performed and more since 60xxx miles or so. I’ve done everything that I’m supposed to do with returning the car for testing and every time I’m told I just need to wait until the engine fails. They clean the engine up make it look pretty after the second test and run some cleaner through then I’m back in a couple of weeks to months for the same thing. The engine valve cover has been replaced many times, spark plugs keep going out, and a ton more engine work that was done under warranty. Brain the service man told both me and my husband it’s what we have TJ deal with, at Suntrup, and doesn’t matter if I’m driving or not wait until the engine blows before Kia can replace the full engine. He said if you’re outta warranty that’ll be your issue. Well when I talked to Kia they said I better not drive it that way, with no oil in the car regardless how it’s brining and keep taking it in. But Bryan every time seems to not want to deal with it. Test after test and he said i just need TJ fault before we replace it. The service department has deemed this a bad engine ever trip. But I’m told it MUST PASS KIA TEST. However, I’m 7,000 miles outta warranty now and I’m praying they cover it because I did everything I’m supposed to do. I have every record however, Lou Fuze has failed to reproduce my records and I’ve requested them by text many times.

Filed May 2, 2024 · Engine · CA

On April 19 of this year I was driving on the freeway and I noticed my car was losing power and my engine light came on and I quickly had to merge over to the emergency lane while my car was jerking back and fourth and making a knocking sound. I’ve only had the car for about 5 years and I took it to the dealership and explained to them that my oil would burn faster now and I think it was messing up my engine but they didn’t care. They said I need a new engine now and it’s going to cost me $6200 to fix and I’m still financing on this car.

Filed Aug 24, 2023 · Transmission · MD

The vehicles 7-speed dual clutch transmission (DCT), is horribly jerky at very low speeds and on take off. It has become dangerous to drive as my wife almost caused an accident from the vehicle not reacting to acceleration pedal, or from it reacting completely unexpectedly. The transmission is very jerky as you take the foot off the brake without pressing accelerator pedal, it shakes the entire vehicle. It also jerks heavily if you barely touch the gas pedal on take off. Dealership has done a software update on the transmission which only helped initially for about 2-3 weeks, after which the transmission started behaving in that way much worse. It is a constant and persistent issue, however, as there are no fault codes or check engine light is not displayed, the dealer states there is nothing they can do to fix the problem. The vehicle is under full manufacturer power train warranty, yet they refuse to fix it.

Filed Dec 21, 2022 · Transmission · MD

On Thursday, I was leaving to drive my son 5 miles up the road and my check engine light started flashing with no warning. My car slowed down and started jerking. I took it to auto zone (on limp mode) to receive a code and it came back with p1326. My car only has 64,216 miles and I also just recently got the oil changed. I have not taken it to a dealer yet but I wanted to report this because my car is only 2 years old and shouldn’t have engine/power train issues.

Filed Nov 21, 2021 · VA

When I accelerate the car jerks as if is going to cut off. I have taken it to the dealer, and they can not find any thing wrong. After searching the internet, I find I am not the only one with this issue. I just want my car fixed so that I feel safe driving it.