Kia Optima Complaints (2011)

628 consumer complaints on file.

#11297448January 6, 2020
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A THETA II TURBOCHARGED ENGINE 6 SPEED MANUAL AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET TAKING MY SON TO WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 2ND GEAR. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK HAD IT SENT TO MECHANIC THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND 2 P CODES CAME BACK FROM CRANKSHAFT AND CONTROLS AND SEIZED ENGINE. SO I HAD IT TOWED INTO WESTON KIA DEALERSHIP. PLUS I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN APRIL. THE DEALERSHIP SHIP CALLED ME SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND WIRING AND COMPUTER AND SENSOR CHIP. ALSO MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING OFF 3 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND STILL IS. MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESN'T WORK AND ROLLED WHILE IT WAS PULLED UP IN NEUTRAL AND HIT MY DAUGHTER AS SHE WAS RUNNING AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT IN HER KNEE CAP. I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM WESTON AND IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. SOMEONE PUT 380MILES ON MY CAR IT HAD A 1/2TANK OF GAS AND MY CLUTCH AND CLUTCH PEDAL AND GEAR SHIFT WAS WAY SHORTER AND 1/4 INCH OFF IN SHIFTER BOX. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING 60 MPH WITH MY KIDS AND WE WERE LEAVING MY PARENTS HOUSE FROM XMAS. ALL OF A SUDDEN I ALMOST LIST CONTROL OF THE CAR MY CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. I GOT US TO SAFETY ALMOST AVOIDING A HUGE WRECK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM AND HAD NOTICED ON INVOICE THEIR TECHNICIANS HAD TIGHTENED UP BY BOLTS AND FLYWHEEL. WELL I GO OUTSIDE AND THEIRS FLUID ALL OVER THE PAVEMENT UNDER THE CAR BUT NONE ON INSIDE. THEY PAID FOR A TOW TRUCK AND BY THE WAY SINCE REPLACING THE NEW ENGINE I WENT FROM 34 MILES TO THE GALLON TO 20 AND PASSENGER AIR BAG STILL ILLUMINATED OFF. MY DEFROST ISNT WORKING NOW AND MY ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED 3XS. THEY WANT ME TO PAY 1500 FOR NEW CLUTCH.THEIR TECH ADJUSTED MY FLYWHEEL BOLTS AND CLUTCH CABLE. 65.00 EMERGENCY BRAKE AND 125.00 FOR TEST. IT ALREADY HAD ONE. FUEL LEAK?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292545January 2, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN SMOOTHLY AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE VEHICLE RESPONDING WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT PAID TO HAVE THE FRONT END REPLACED AND BELIEVED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, TIE ROD, AND STRUTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED HOW TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE WITH A $2.00 PART FOR THE STEERING PLASTIC COUPLER; HOWEVER, THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS OVER $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291835December 29, 2019
ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR LOST POWER SO I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER A CAR ALMOST HIT ME FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TURNED MY CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291692December 28, 2019
POWER TRAIN
RECENTLY WHEN I HIT ABOUT 103,000 MILES MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA 2.0 TURBO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGE. WHEN DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AS I'M PULLING OFF ACCELERATING THE CAR JERKS MAKE AND WON'T ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. AFTER DOING ACOUPLE RESEARCH I WAS TOLD IT'S THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR. I. BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT AS YOUR PULLING OFF AFTER THE COMPLETE STOP IT JERKS SO HARD YOU JERK SO HARD WITH THE CAR. ALSO IF ANYBODY IS BEHIND YOU AND IT DOES THAT SUDDEN JURK IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU ISN'T AWARE BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR HITTING THE BREAKS. I ALSO SEARCHED ONLINE THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR CAR HAS TWO OPEN RECALLS FOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (UNKNOWN).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11290089December 19, 2019
AIR BAGS, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, ANOTHER VEHICLE REVERSED INTO THE FRONT OF HER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE AIR BAG AND TRACTION WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, NECK INJURY, AND CONVERGENCE INSUFFICIENCY TO THE LEFT EYE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF BEDFORD (LOCATED AT 18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146, (440) 735-4000) WHERE THEY REPLACED THE BUMPER AND STATED THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR CRASH PARTS, BUT NOT FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11289815December 18, 2019
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. OIL PRESSURE GAUGE WAS NORMAL AND THE CAR JUST STOPPED. MADE NO NOISES, JUST STOPPED. TECHNICIAN PULLED OIL PAN AND STATED THAT HUNKS OF METAL FELL OUT AROUND THE BEARINGS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289037December 14, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY KIA 2011 INTERIOR DOME LIGHT GOES ON & OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT'S DANGEROUS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE LIGHT GOES ON & OFF WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11289066December 14, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THEY'RE BARELY VISIBLE AT NIGHT. THE REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE THE LIGHT HOUSING FLAKES FROM GETTING HOT. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11288648December 12, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY COLLEGE STUDENT DAUGHTER DRIVES THE VEHICLE AND IS UNABLE TO SEE SUFFICIENTLY AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING. THE LIGHTS ARE TOO DIM TO SAFELY SEE AT NIGHT. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE $1,000 TO REPAIR THE WIRING PROBLEM THAT IS WELL KNOWN TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE WERE UNABLE TO AFFORD TO MAKE THE REPAIR AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER TO DRIVE WITH HER BRIGHT LIGHTS ON WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHICH COULD CAUSE OTHER DRIVERS ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11286787December 4, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE SEIZED UP WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. I HEARD KNOCKING, WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND OIL LIGHT WAS FLASHING PERIODICALLY DAYS BEFORE BUT NEVER STAYED ON SOLID. NO PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES AND ALL SERVICING KEPT UP TO DATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11281652November 21, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTING IS VERY VERY POOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11279652November 12, 2019
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLICKING SOUND WHEN IT IS TURNED, ADDITIONALLY, THE PART BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES A LOT, ALMOST AS IF ITS LOSE. THE CLICKING HAPPENS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO TURN RIGHT OR LEFT AND THE RATTLING HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11277844November 3, 2019
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM YOU CAN BARELY SEE USING LOW BEAM LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS ARE BARELY BRIGHTER THAN REGULAR BEAMS ON OTHER CARS. HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT BULBS 4 TIMES AND IT HAS NEVER CHANGED THE PROBLEM. ENGINE SEIZED UP WITH NO WARNING OR MECHANICAL SIGNS WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11271491October 28, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS ON I 95 YESTERDAY IN THE EVENING HEADING HOME AND ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR WENT TO SHAKING IN THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING ON AND OFF I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP THE CAR AS I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I SAT IN THE CAR WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING PART IN THE CAR CUT OFF BY ITSELF END IT ALL THE SUDDEN STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND ONCE I TURN THE CAR BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11268834October 16, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 40 MPH AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK BECAUSE SHE WAS CONSTANTLY ADDING OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY KIA (7849 MALL PKWY, LITHONIA, GA 30038, (678) 374-3820) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER, ENGINE AIR FILTER, AC REFRESHER, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD LOW COMPRESSION AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11267907October 11, 2019
AIR BAGS
I HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT ON 1 OCT 2018. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 18 OCT 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA CONCERNING THIS MATTER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY WILL NOT RESPOND TO ME.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11267541October 9, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE PARKED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS (ON STREET, AT GAS PUMP, IN PARKING LOTS), AND ON ABOUT 8-10 OCCASIONS, I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO START AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND START BUTTON ON MY CAR. ALL THE LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE RADIO WENT ON AS WELL - THE REST OF THE CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED FINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY STIFF AND WAS HARD TO DEPRESS. I PUT MY KEY FOB INTO THE BYPASS IN THE TRUNK AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO START WAS TO DEPRESS THE STIFF BRAKE PEDAL, THEN SHIFT FROM P TO D AND BACK AGAIN. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO LOOSEN UP AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR SUCCESSFULLY. I HAD RESEARCHED THE REMEDY THROUGH YOU TUBE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS OCTOBER 2, 2018 AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8-10 TIMES SINCE THEN. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT OF THE SOLUTION THAT I FOUND ONLINE, THEREFORE I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH ANY DOCUMENTATION. I NOTICED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS "VOLUNTARY" NHTSA # 13V-114, BUT FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY FIX INSTEAD SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN TO ME. JUST LAST WEEK WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I REMEMBERED WHAT TO DO QUICKLY AS I WAS STUCK IN A LONG LINE AT THE GAS STATION JUST LAST WEEK, WITH CARS HONKING AT ME TO MOVE WHEN I COULD NOT. IT HAPPENED TO ME THE LAST TIME JUST YESTERDAY 10/8/2019 INSIDE MY GARAGE. PLEASE LOOK INTO MAKING THIS A MANDATORY RECALL. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL DEALER THIS WEEK AS WELL. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11267314October 9, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AFTER PRESSING THE BRAKE ON A WET STREET WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO GET A OIL CHANGE AND NOTICED THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES. MY TAIL LIGHTS WORK BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT. I CHANGED THE BULBS AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED. I ALSO CHANGED THE BRAKE LIGHT PEDAL SWITCH BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS FAIL TO WORK ALL THE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266808October 7, 2019
STEERING
MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX STARTED MAKING A LOUD RATTLING SOUND IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. ANY LITTLE BUMP OR DIP MADE IT WORSE AND MUCH LOUDER. THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND THE STEERING FEELS VERY UNSAFE. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266199October 4, 2019
ENGINE
METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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