One Oregon Kia owner thought his car problems were over when the dealership replaced his failed engine under warranty. But getting his car back turned out to be just the beginning of another expensive headache.
The trouble started in June 2026, when the 2016 Optima’s original engine failed. Kia agreed to replace it under an extended warranty, and the owner finally got his car back on August 7.
Just four miles into his drive home, the check-engine light came on. He pulled into a Walmart parking lot, shut off the car, and tried starting it again. No luck. The Optima needed another tow back to the dealership.
Back at Weston Kia, technicians diagnosed a clogged catalytic converter and quoted more than $4,300 for repairs. The unexpected bill left the owner wondering whether his Optima was even worth saving.
Back on the Hook
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The breakdown left the owner wondering how thoroughly Weston Kia had tested the new engine. In an August Reddit post, he said the dealership initially told him it had driven the car about 50 miles to make sure everything worked.
But the paperwork he received showed something different. According to the owner, the odometer moved just three miles during testing, from 161,622 to 161,625. Four miles later, the Optima broke down.
Before releasing the car, Weston Kia also recommended other maintenance work but didn’t mention a problem with the catalytic converter.
The owner later shared a video showing his attempts to restart the Optima. The starter briefly engages before stopping, even as he keeps the key in the start position. During the fourth attempt, a grinding noise can be heard.
That’ll Be $4,300
According to the owner, the dealership’s first repair estimate totaled $4,314.50, including $3,992 for the catalytic converter and $322.50 for labor.
But the owner says the dealership linked the clogged converter to the engine Kia had just replaced. In a voicemail, a service advisor reportedly told him, “The cat is clogged, and it’s most likely due to the failed engine from what we’re seeing.”
Despite that reported connection, Kia declined to cover the converter replacement. The owner says the company cited the vehicle’s mileage and the expiration of its federal emissions warranty.
Still Won’t Start
By October, the owner was still trying to figure out whether the converter was the only problem. In another Reddit post, he shared two diagnostic codes recorded after the breakdown: P016B00 and P017200.
Both codes point to an engine running too rich, meaning it’s getting too much fuel compared with the amount of air. That can damage a catalytic converter, but the codes don’t prove the converter is clogged or explain why the car won’t start.
The owner also said a dealership employee tried using a battery jump box, but the Optima still wouldn’t start. That left him questioning whether the converter was the only thing keeping the car off the road.
Out of Options?
The owner says he filed a claim with BBB National Programs on October 14, hoping to resolve the dispute. But the organization ruled his claim ineligible on October 22 and closed the case without a hearing.
By late October, the Optima was still at Weston Kia. The owner was weighing whether to sell it, scrap it, or take it to an independent exhaust shop for another diagnosis.
“I’ve been without my car for months and am pretty frustrated with the situation,” he wrote.
Before spending any more money, he wanted to know whether replacing the catalytic converter would actually get his Optima running again.