P1326 code but passed the bearing clearance test. No new engine for me

We’re the original owners of a 2016 Optima with 165K miles. The knock sensor detection software was installed in 2018. Last weekend, while on a 4-hour drive, I heard a sound I now realize was knocking as we went uphill. Seconds later, the engine light started flashing, and we were stuck at 1,750 RPM in limp mode.

Since we live in a rural area and the weather wasn’t great, I decided it was safer to drive another hour to a place where we could tow it 40 miles to the nearest dealership.

The service rep called today to say they got the P1326 code but that the engine passed the bearing clearance test. They updated the software, which cleared the error, and took it for a road test.

I told the rep that I’d be driving 4 hours home, with half of that being through the wilderness. I don’t care if they drive it 1,000 miles— I need to know it won’t go into limp mode again.

From what I’ve read, the P1326 code means a serious engine failure is coming. I was almost relieved when the knock happened, thinking I wouldn’t have to worry about this anymore. Now, it seems like they won’t replace the engine unless it fails the bearing clearance test or seizes.

What can I do to push Kia to replace the engine before something worse happens?

Hey! I had a similar experience with my 2017 Soul. I was at the end of a long road trip when I got the P1326 code. Luckily, I was near a dealership, but here’s where I am now:

I traveled back to where the car was left a few weeks ago. They said it was repaired and running fine, but I was nervous about driving it back since ‘running fine’ around the block isn’t the same as a long drive through remote areas.

I asked for a tow back home, but they refused. I decided to drive it around the city, and after 15 miles, it went back into limp mode.

The good news is they’re replacing the engine now. It failed before I was hundreds of miles away from a Kia dealership, but the bad news is it’s been stuck there for three months.

It took a while for the sensor to get fixed, and I spent a long time in customer support limbo. They won’t tow it home until the engine is replaced, and it won’t be done until the end of the month.

I’d recommend having them drive it at least 20 miles, including highway miles, to ensure the sensor fix actually worked. Mine went into limp mode on the interstate. Hope it all works out for you!

Layla said:
Hey! I had a similar experience with my 2017 Soul. I was at the end of a long road trip when I got the P1326 code. Luckily, I was near a dealership, but here’s where I am now:

I traveled back to where the car was left a few weeks ago. They said it was repaired and running fine, but I was nervous about driving it back since ‘running fine’ around the block isn’t the same as a long drive through remote areas.

I asked for a tow back home, but they refused. I decided to drive it around the city, and after 15 miles, it went back into limp mode.

The good news is they’re replacing the engine now. It failed before I was hundreds of miles away from a Kia dealership, but the bad news is it’s been stuck there for three months.

It took a while for the sensor to get fixed, and I spent a long time in customer support limbo. They won’t tow it home until the engine is replaced, and it won’t be done until the end of the month.

I’d recommend having them drive it at least 20 miles, including highway miles, to ensure the sensor fix actually worked. Mine went into limp mode on the interstate. Hope it all works out for you!

Exactly, not just 20 miles, but make sure they drive it on inclines similar to where OP heard the knocking sound.

Same thing happened with my 2015 Sportage. They did the software update first, but it went into limp mode after 5 miles. When I went back, they finally replaced the engine. Good luck!

take that thing out and see if it goes into limp mode again.

I appreciate your logical, no-nonsense approach. The dealership is limited by what corporate tells them to do, especially if it’s a bearing issue. I’d suggest getting AAA for peace of mind in case you get stuck in a remote area. It might help with towing or other benefits.

petrabrinkman said:

take that thing out and see if it goes into limp mode again.

I appreciate your logical, no-nonsense approach. The dealership is limited by what corporate tells them to do, especially if it’s a bearing issue. I’d suggest getting AAA for peace of mind in case you get stuck in a remote area. It might help with towing or other benefits.

Thanks, I do have AAA, but the real issue is that once I leave my county, I’m at least two hours from the nearest city for most of the drive. The engine replacement isn’t about getting another 150K miles out of it; it’s about not having to walk an hour to the nearest call box in the rain.

Cindie said:

petrabrinkman said:
take that thing out and see if it goes into limp mode again.

I appreciate your logical, no-nonsense approach. The dealership is limited by what corporate tells them to do, especially if it’s a bearing issue. I’d suggest getting AAA for peace of mind in case you get stuck in a remote area. It might help with towing or other benefits.

Thanks, I do have AAA, but the real issue is that once I leave my county, I’m at least two hours from the nearest city for most of the drive. The engine replacement isn’t about getting another 150K miles out of it; it’s about not having to walk an hour to the nearest call box in the rain.

How are you getting back there? If someone’s driving you, they could follow you home in case you need help. It’s a pain, but better than being stranded. I had a coolant issue an hour from civilization, and I understand the stress of being stuck in the middle of nowhere. These engines don’t give me peace of mind either.

Two quick things:

  1. I had just taken the car in for its 165K service the day before this happened. Not sure if it’s related, but I’ve stuck to the maintenance schedule.

  2. I get that corporate has a process— test, update, road test, repeat— but how often is a P1326 actually a sensor or software issue?

Can I even sell this car in good conscience? If I ask the dealership to make a trade-in offer, they’ll probably laugh me out of the building, right?

Cindie said:
Two quick things:

  1. I had just taken the car in for its 165K service the day before this happened. Not sure if it’s related, but I’ve stuck to the maintenance schedule.

  2. I get that corporate has a process— test, update, road test, repeat— but how often is a P1326 actually a sensor or software issue?

Can I even sell this car in good conscience? If I ask the dealership to make a trade-in offer, they’ll probably laugh me out of the building, right?

If the engine is under warranty, maybe it’s best to wait for it to fail, get a replacement, and then sell it.

Cindie said:
Two quick things:

  1. I had just taken the car in for its 165K service the day before this happened. Not sure if it’s related, but I’ve stuck to the maintenance schedule.

  2. I get that corporate has a process— test, update, road test, repeat— but how often is a P1326 actually a sensor or software issue?

Can I even sell this car in good conscience? If I ask the dealership to make a trade-in offer, they’ll probably laugh me out of the building, right?

Since the engine has a lifetime warranty, you can disclose that to a buyer. Get the KSDS update documentation and consider selling it if you want. Also, if you’re serious about trading it in, ask the dealership what deal they’d offer. They think the car is fine, so let them prove it with a fair offer.

Kia will keep stalling until your warranty expires, then it won’t be their problem anymore. They’ve shown time and again that they’ll do whatever it takes to avoid engine replacements. The dealerships are overloaded, and they’ll charge you crazy fees to diagnose issues, hoping you won’t bother trying to get that money back.