Kia stopped responding after Theta II engine replacement. How do I get goodwill trade assistance?
Hi everyone,
I’m hoping for advice from anyone who has dealt with Kia America’s escalations team or gotten goodwill assistance from Kia.
I bought my 2018 Kia Optima new. In February 2026, it had an engine/powertrain computer reprogramming, and then it needed a Theta II engine replacement under warranty. The car was at the dealership from August 8 until the end of September, nearly two months. When I picked it up on October 9, it felt shaky on the drive home, and since October 11 it has had a new, unfamiliar smell. My family no longer feels safe driving it, so we’re borrowing a relative’s car for now.
An attorney reviewed my situation and declined the case because of the lemon law’s statute of limitations, so I’m working directly with Kia.
Kia escalated my case on October 9. I followed up by phone and email on October 13, then emailed Kia’s Consumer Affairs office on October 15. No one from the escalations team has contacted me, and I haven’t been given a timeline.
What I’m hoping for: I’d like to stay with Kia and buy the 2026 K4 I was driving as a service loaner. KBB values my Optima at $5,285, and I owe $3,354, but the dealership’s trade-in offer was far below KBB and would leave me underwater. I’ve asked Kia for goodwill trade assistance toward the K4.
My questions:
Has anyone received goodwill or trade assistance from Kia after a Theta II engine replacement? What did they offer, and how long did it take?
Is there a better contact or approach for getting Kia’s escalations team to respond?
Any tips for getting a fair trade-in value from the dealer?
Thank you for any advice.








