Kia Optima Complaints (2018)

244 consumer complaints on file.

#11376266November 25, 2020
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AS I WAS DRIVING ON I65 AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11374076November 11, 2020
POWER TRAIN
THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES TO NOT ONLY MYSELF. IT MY WIFE AS WELL. AS WE'RE DRIVING ANYWHERE ABOVE 45MPH. A WARNING DISPLAY COMES ON TELLING US TO CHECK THE HEV, TO PULL OVER, AND TURN OFF OUR VEHICLE. WE COMPLY TO THE WARNING AND WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THEN SAME ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN A FEW MINUTES AFTER DRIVING. ONE OUT OF THE FOUR TIMES THAT THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURED TO US, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED ON MY WIFE DUE TO THE BATTERY NOT CHARGING. SO WHEN SHE PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON, IT WOULDN'T RESTART. CODE ON CAR IS P2600 GENERIC COOLANT PUMP CIRCUIT A OPEN. EVERYWHERE SAYS RECALL ISN'T AVAILABLE FOR OUR CAR BUT AM SEEING THAT SAME ISSUE WITH OUR YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL IS OCCURRING. WHICH IS THE HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM IS BEING AFFECTED. THE VOLTAGE PROTECTION DEVICE (VPD), DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY MODULE IS BEING ACTIVATED INADVERTENTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11373638November 8, 2020
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
ON NOVEMBER 7 WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN SC I HAD A CATOSTROPHIC FAILURE IN MY FRONT LEFT TIRE AT 55 MILES PER HOUR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO EXIT SAFELY AND GET MY VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE TIRE WAS FILLED TO MANUFACTURER PSI AND WAS DRIVEN ONLY 13,151 MILES. THE SIDEWALL WAS BLOWN OUT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THIS FAILURE THE TIRE IS A KUMHO 215 R17 94 V. MY VEHICLE IS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA S. I BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE A FULL REPLACEMENT FOR THIS FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365705October 22, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2018 KIA OPTIMA EX. SOMETIMES HESITATES WHEN TRYING TO START, UNTIL TODAY. ALL LIGHTS ON DASH LIT UP BUT NO IGNITION. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES, THEN STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED UP AND I HEARD CLICKING NOISE. HAD SOMEONE JUMP MY BATTERY AND THE CAR STARTED UP, BUT WHEN I TURNED IT OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. NOTHING WAS LEFT ON ALL NIGHT, CAR WAS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WITH HANDLE. I AM CONTACTING THE DEALER THIS AFTERNOON TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365368October 20, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR SUDDENLY EXPERIENCE MAJOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I DROVE MY CAR TO THE STORE AND BACK HOME. I WENT BACK TO MY CAR AND IT STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM BUT MY DASH WAS FLASHING, MY BRAKE, STEERING, CHECK ENGINE, AIRBAG, ABS, AND TRACTION'S CONTROL INDICATORS CAME ON ALL AT ONCE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO GEAR. I USED THE PARK RELEASE SHIFT TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND THE CAR HAS NO POWER STEERING. BUT IT MOVES. I TOOK IT TO THE JEFFERY KIA IN ROSEVILLE,MI AND BASICALLY WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH CAR. THEY ASK ME HAD MY CAR BEEN STRUCK BY LIGHTNING! YOU CAN LOOK AT THE CAR AND SEE THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR LIGHTNING STRIKES TO THE CAR. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME EXTRA MONEY TO KEEP THE CAR JUST TO TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I KNOW THIS IS A DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. I SEE THE EPD RECALL ON 2018 KIA OPTIMA BUT THEY ARE SAYING IT'S ONLY FOR HYBRIDS. WHICH IS FALSE THIS HAS TO BE HAPPENING TO ALL THE KIA OPTIMA MODELS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360439September 22, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHEN I GO TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION; THE CAR STALLS AND TURNS OFF AND THEN IT TURNS ITSELF BACK ON. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I DRIVE OVER 50 MPH THE CAR/TIRES START TO VIBRATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360488September 22, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL CUT COMPLETELY OFF. YOU HAVE TO SWITCH FROM AUTO TO THE ON POISTION. ITS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353033September 3, 2020
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN UNKNOWN NOISE, THE CONTACT COSTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECK UNDERNEATH AND AROUND THE VEHICLE TO SEE WHERE THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STATED THAT SHE WAS ON A WAY TO TAKEN THE VEHICLE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE TECHNICIAN HEARD THE NOSE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WAS WOULD NEED TO CHECK EVERYTHING BEFORE HE CAN COMPLETE AN OIL CHANGE. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE PROTECTIVE SHIELD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED OIL WAS ALL OVER AND METAL SHAVING WAS IN THE OIL AROUND THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT IT MAYBE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT CALLED NAPLETON'S MID RIVERS KIA, 4955 VETERANS MEMORIAL PKWY, ST PETERS, MO 63376, AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AND APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AUFFENBERG HYUNDAI, 1300 CENTRAL PARK DR, O'FALLON, IL 62269, AND THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD SEND AND ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING ELECTRIC SHACK FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AND THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS LOSING PRESSURE AND THAT SMOKE WAS COMING THROUGH THE VENT OF THE CABIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,573.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11352846September 2, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FIRST OFF MY CAR IS FINE. AGAIN MY CAR IS FINE NO COMPLAINTS. NHTSA HAS MISS IDENTIFIED MY 2018 OPTIMA LX WITH 2.4L ENGINE HYBRID. NHTSA WITH THIS SCREW UP HAS OHIO BMV THINKING MY CAR IS HYBRID AND WANTS AN EXTRA $100 DOLLARS AS A FEE FOR LICENSE BECAUSE THEY THINK IT IS ELECTRIC. OHIO BMV OR APPARENTLY NHTSA DOSE NOT HAVE A PROCESS TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR FIGURE OUT MY CAR IS GASOLINE ONLY. OHIO BMV WILL WILL ONLY GO ON WHAT NHTSA WEB SITE SAYS. IT APPARENTLY SAYS MY CAR COULD BE A HYBRID. AS I SAY NO PROBLEM WITH CAR BUT NHTSA HAS MISS CODED WHAT MY CAR IS. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ANY HELP FROM KIA YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11350846August 24, 2020
ENGINE
CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342855August 2, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON HIGHWAY WHILE IN AUTO MODE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11339940July 17, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE THE KIA OPTIMA SX WITH THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE THAT COMES EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTO-LEVELING AND AUTO-BENDING LED HEADLAMPS. I BELIEVE THAT THE AUTO-LEVELING FUNCTION IS WORKING INCORRECTLY. WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED TO THE CAR (MORE PASSENGERS) THE BEAM PATTERN AUTO ADJUSTS ITSELF TO POINT EVEN LOWER INSTEAD OF HIGHER. THIS CAUSES AN ADVERSE EFFECT. THINK OF IT THIS WAY, THE BEAM HAS A DEFAULT SETTING TO WHERE IT POINTS TO WHEN THERE IS NO WEIGHT ADDED TO THE CAR. WHEN TWO PASSENGERS SIT IN THE CAR, THE BEAM SHOULD NOT POINT LOWER, INSTEAD IT SHOULD AUTO-LEVEL ITSELF TO A HIGHER POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE FOR THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOW LOWER WHEN WEIGHT IS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS BY DEFAULT ARE POINTED A BIT LOW, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP (CONCORD KIA IN CONCORD, CA) TO HAVE THEM RE-ADJUSTED. ALAS, NO BETTER RESULT WAS ACHIEVED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE AUTO-LEVELING. OFTEN WHEN DRIVING IN THE CAR WITH MY FIANCE (A COMBINED WEIGHT OF ABOUT 600 LBS DISTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT SEATS), THE LED LOW-BEAMS APPEAR TO REACH A MAX DISTANCE OF 40 FT ON LEVEL LAND, AND AROUND 70 FT. GOING UP A HILL. WHEN ONE IS GOING DOWNHILL, THE PROJECTED LED LIGHT REACHES A DISTANCE OF AROUND 25 FT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE 2017-2020 KIA OPTIMA SX MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE AUTO-LEVELING AND AUTO-BENDING LIGHTS HAVE RECEIVED A FANTASTIC RATING. I AM SURE WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING AT OPTIMAL CONDITIONS (1 PERSON IN THE CAR WHO MAY WEIGH UNDER 200 LBS) THE LIGHTING CAN BE GREAT. HOWEVER, I ENCOURAGE THE NHSTA TO RE-CONDUCT A THOROUGH TEST UNDER THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: SEAT TWO PEOPLE IN THE FRONT WHO WEIGH AT LEAST 200 LBS. FIRST SEAT ONE PERSON, NOTICE THE BEAM PATTERN AGAINST A WALL ABOUT 50 FT. AWAY, THEN SEAT ANOTHER PERSON IN THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE HOW THE BEAM PATTERN IS LOWERED. I ALSO ENCOURAGE THE TESTERS TO DRIVE THE AROUND A BIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11339152July 13, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
THIS HAS HAPPED NOW 5 TIMES!! WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES, THE PEDAL GETS FIRM WHICH LITTLE TO NO REDUCTION IN SPEED! THEN PEDAL GOES ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND WHEELS LOCK UP, COMING TO AN ABRUPT STOP! EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING! EACH TIME I WAS APPROACHING A STOPS SIGN OR COMING UP TO AN OFF RAMP! BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT FOR HOURS AND THEY DID NOT COME UP WITH ANYTHING BUT TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPORT IT! SO STILL HAVING PROBLEMS AND THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT! I DON'T FEEL I CAN SAFELY DRIVE MY VEHICLE ANYMORE ESPECIALLY WITH MY KIDS!!! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT!!! BUT OF COURSE KIA WON'T DO THE EXTRA WORK TO HELP SOLVE THE PROBLEM!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330830June 25, 2020
ENGINE
I LEASED 2018 KIA OPTIMA EX. AT 6399MILES AND 9650MILES ENGINE LIGHT ON AND CAR VIBRATES A LOT. FIRST SERVICE REPLACED SPARK PLUG AND SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED ENGINE. THIS CAR WAS AWARDED AS BEST INITIAL QUALITY AWARD WHICH HAS ENGINE ISSUES. KIA SAYS THEY WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF ANYTHING HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING CAR BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN THEY WILL REPLACE ENGINE OR REPAIR IT. KIA IS NOT CONFIDENT THAT REPLACED ENGINE WILL NOT HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11329483June 17, 2020
ENGINE
ENGINE TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING, GOING STRAIGHT, IN CITY. DEALERSHIP CAN NOT DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11316638March 6, 2020
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LOCK WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK, TURN THE CAR OFF AND REMOVE THE KEY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307413February 6, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND STARTED TO HEAR AN NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MILES AND MOVED OVER ONE LANE TO THE RIGHT AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW - HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON CAR. I GOT THE TIRE REPLACED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WHEELS ALIGNED. THEN,DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, 45 MPH A FEW WEEKS LATER, GOT TO A PASSING ZONE, AND PASSED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AFTER ACCELERATING TO 65 DURING THE SHORT PASSING ZONE. AFTER PASSING THE CAR I TAPPED THE BREAKS TO SLOW BACK DOWN TO 45 AND THE TRACTION, BRAKE, AND TMZ LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. WHEN BRAKE ENGAGED, CAR DID NOT BRAKE AS NORMAL AND A ODD NOISE LIKE A GRINDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS, SAID IT WAS A 'MISS-TRIPPED' SENSOR AND CLEARING IT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I DROVE MY CAR LESS THAN 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE ON A 40 MPH ROAD AT A STOP LIGHT, ALL THREE LIGHTS CAME RIGHT BACK ON. HAD TO CALL AND TAKE CAR BACK IN AND THEY ENDED UP KEEPING MY CAR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE SAYING I HAD A BAD TIRE SENSOR, BUT CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. DROVE AGAIN, TO A NEIGHBORING CITY AND HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AND FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW. GOT IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID TIRES BLOWING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CENSOR. GOT TIRE CHANGED AND ROTATION. PICKED UP CAR AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON -LOW PRESSURE. NITRO WAS ADDED BY DEALERSHIP AND LIGHT WENT OFF. TURNED MY PRESSURE READER ON AND 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WENT FROM 37 TO 45 PSI. I THINK BAD SENSOR IS CAUSING OVER INFLATING OF TIRES AT THE DEALERSHIP LEADING TO BLOWN TIRES.TESTED PRESSURE WITH SEPARATE PRESSURE READER AND TOO HIGH SO LET SOME AIR OUT, DROVE DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND CAR 'BOTTOMED OUT' ON A ROLLING DIP IN THE ROAD SCRAPPING THE PLASTIC PROTECTION PIECE BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE UNDER THE CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11301256January 22, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3 TIMES INTERMITTENTLY BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA FROZE AND TO IT WONT BRAKE. NO LIGHTS CAME ON DASHBOARD. I HAVE ONLY 22.000 MILES ON IT. I TOOK THE CAR TO NEAREST KIA DEALER TWICE. ACCORDING TO THEM THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND COMPUTER NOT READING ANY ERROR CODES VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11298131January 9, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
RANDOMLY BRAKE PEDAL ON MY KIA OPTIMA FREEZES AND IM UNABLE TO APPLY AND STOP VEHICLE IT HAPPENED TWICE ONCE IT HAPPENED ON HWY AND ONCE ON CITY STREET. CURRENTLY VEHICLE IS IN DEALERSHIP SINCE JAN 2ND AND DEALER STATING THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291095December 24, 2019
POWER TRAIN
THE CV AXLE ASSEMBLIES SNAP LIKE THE 2016 MODELS DO KIA'S RECALL NUMBER SC139.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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