Kia Optima Complaints (2014)

622 consumer complaints on file.

#11413177April 21, 2021
ENGINE
ON APRIL 9, 2021 MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING MY KIA ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY. THE CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING AND MY HUSBAND WAS ABLE TO (BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH) VEER OFF TO THE SHOULDER. EVENTUALLY THE CAR WAS TOWED TO DIFEO KIA IN LAKEWOOD. AFTER ABOUT 1 WEEK OF TESTS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED AND IT "SHOULD BE" COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT APPROVAL FROM CORPORATE WOULD HAVE TO BE ESTABLISHED PRIOR TO ANY WORK BEING DONE. ON MONDAY APRIL 19, 2021 I WAS TOLD BY KIA THAT CORPORATE IS NOT COVERING THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF AN UNRESOLVED RECALL AND THAT THE NEW ENGINE WOULD BE $6,000+.. THERE IS AN UNRESOLVED RECALL ON MY KIA FROM AUGUST 2020. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS RECALL, IF I DID RECEIVE NOTICE ON A RECALL, I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO GET CHECKED LIKE I DID IN 2018 FOR A DIFFERENT RECALL. I HAVE FULL SERVICE RECORDS THAT CAN PROVE HOW I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, AND WOULD HAVE HAD THE CAR CHECKED HAD I EVER RECEIVED A NOTICE. THE PRESENT RECALL ON MY CAR IS FOR A HECU ASSEMBLY ISSUE, NOT AN ENGINE SEIZING. I DO KNOW THAT KIA HAS RECALLED NUMEROUS KIAS DUE TO MACHINING ERRORS DURING ENGINE MANUFACTURING WHICH CAN CAUSE PREMATURE BEARING WEAR WITHIN THE ENGINE. MAYBE MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE AS WELL (?). I AM THANKFUL THAT MY HUSBAND SURVIVED THAT DAY ON THE PARKWAY, AND AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE TO HELP ME RESOLVE THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11408271April 15, 2021
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME AND ANOTHER MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED HIM TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. TRIPLE J AUTO GROUP (470 NORTH, MARINE CORPS DR, TAMUNING, 96913, GUAM) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HIM THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.*DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11407249April 9, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
PAINT HAS BEGUN BUBBLING AND PEELING IN SEVERAL AREAS. BODY SHOPS HAVE SAID IT IS DELAMINATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405102March 27, 2021
ENGINE
ENGINE DEVELOPED ENGINE KNOCK AND LOW COOLANT. STILL RUNS BUT NOT NORMALLY. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404939March 26, 2021
ENGINE
A LOCAL SHOP DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND SAID THE ENGINE SEIZED. BEFORE I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BEARING(S)/ NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND SAID THAT THE ENGING IS VERY CLOSE TO SEIZING. I CALL MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THAT THERE IS ONLY 1 RECALL SHOWING ON THE KIA WEBSITE. I HAVE SCREENSHOTS OF 4 DIFFERENT RECALLS AND 1 OF THEM SAYS BEARING DEFFECT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. SO IDK IF THEY ARE TRYING TO NOT ENTERTAIN MY RECALL BUT THEY ALSO SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TOWE IT THERE AND THEY WILL DO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL THAT IS SHOWING UP ON THEIR END WHICH IS NOT THE REASON WHY THE CAR IS DOWN. LUCKILY THE CAR DIED WHEN I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I WAS JUST STUCK ON THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400109March 10, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FOURTH TIME THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED: WHILE AT SPEED, THE ENGINE TURNS OFF AND I GET A HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING. THIS TIME I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, SPEED ABOUT 10 MPH. CAR BARELY DRIFTED OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. I SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MINUTES. UPON RESTART, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THESE ENGINES SHUTTING OFF. IT'S BEEN ABOUT 10 MONTHS SINCE "REPAIR" AT A KIA DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE. KIA HAS FAILED TO FIX THESE ISSUES AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ON VARIOUS WEBSITES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400023March 9, 2021
TIRES
TIRE WENT FLAT THEN BLEW OUT AFTER BEING RE-INFLATED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11399847March 8, 2021
ENGINE
THE CAR HAS LIFETIME ENGINE WARRANTY AND KIA DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THE SAME AND THEY ARE STILL REJECTING ME TO FIX MY ENGINE EVEN I OFFERED TO PAY A FAIR PART OF THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE IS CONSUMING OIL LIKE CRAZY 1 QUART PER 250 MILES ITS MAKES TICKING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING AND KIA SEEMS LIKE THEY DONT CARE EVEN IF IT HAS A LIFETIME ENGINE WARRANTY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11398096February 26, 2021
ENGINE
ENGINE SOUND LIKE ITS ABOUT TO BLOW UP, ENGINE IS KNOCKING VERY LOUD, LOUD VALVES, AND LACK ON POWER WHEN YOU TRY ACCELERATE, HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY AND THEY NEED TO TOW CAR HOME, IT WAS MY 3 KIDS IN THE CAR, AND IT WAS THE MOST HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396011February 12, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, STEERING
I LEFT THE DEALER LOT AT CLOSING TIME 2/5/2021 THE TRACTION LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHTS WARNINGS WERE ON THE ABS LIGHT THE CAR BRAKES SKIDDED UPON APPLYING BRAKES DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED THE CAR SHOOK WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE ENTIRE MOTOR WAS GOING TO FALL OUT . LATER MY 17 YEAR OLD WHOM HAS DRIVEN FOR 2 YEARS WAS DRIVING A FEW MILES FROM HOME SHE SAID THE STEERING WENT OUT THE BRAKES WENT OUT SHE SKID ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD DID NOT HIT ANYTHING YET THE ENTIRE ENGINE AND ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR CAME APART THE FRAME AND ALL . SHE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN KILLED I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED THOROUGHLY. I TOLD HER TO DRIVE SLOW AND SHE WAS ONLY GOING AROUND THE CORNER I HAD PLANNED TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING MONDAY BJUT WAS TOTALLED BEFORE I DID. SHE REPORTED GOING 45 MPH ON A ROAD WHEN I HAD THE ISSUES I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 TO 45 ON A REGULAR ROAD DID NOT DRIVE IT ON AN INTERSTATE YET DUE TO THE UNEASY WAYS IT WAS HANDELING AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A WRECK IN ALL MY YEARS OF DRIVING AND 1 AND A HALF HOUR DRIVE EACH WAY TO WORK FOR 40 YEARS . THE CAR ALSO FELT AS THOUGH IT WAS ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN ALSO'
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11390128January 27, 2021
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WEEK. HAD APPT TO GO IN 2/2/21 WITH KIA BUT DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE STARTED HEARING A LIGHT TICKING SOUND. WHEN I ACCELERATED ON THE GAS IT DIDNT DO ANYTHING. IT WAS BOGGED DOWN. IT STAYED AT 60 MPH SO I DID IT AGAIN AND STILL THE SAME THING. MY HUSBAND ASLO SAID THAT IT'S BEEN SUCKING OIL DOWN FOR NO REASON. IT HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND HAVE IT TOWED TO KIA. I'M STILL CURRENTLY WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY ARE GONNA DO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11389698January 24, 2021
ENGINE
ENGINE PREMATURELY USES OIL AND HAD NO INDICATION OF NO OIL. ENGINE HAS KNOCKING AND IS IN LIMP MODE BUT IS NOT UNDER RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH SAME YEAR AND MODEL, HOWEVER HAS SAME SYMPTOMS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11388631January 18, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I CURRENTLY OWN 2014 KIA OPTIMA JUST HIT 104600 MILES.I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE EXCEPT MY BRAKE LIGHTS REPEATLY BURNING OUT. I RECENTLY CHECKED MY OIL WHICH WAS A LITTLE LOW I BOUGHT 2 QUARTS AND PUT THEM IN MY CAR. A FEW WEEKS LATER MY OIL LIGHT FLASHED THAN WENT OFF I CHECKED MY OIL AGAIN AND THERE WAS NOTHING ON MY DIPSTICK. FROM THERE I I DROVE 2 BLOCKS TO MY THE OIL CHANGE PLACE DOWN THE STREET FROM MY HOME. THE MECHANIC NOTIFIED ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS BURNING TO HOT , AND I HAD LESS THAN A QUART OF OIL LEFT IN MY CAR. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS STRANGE SINCE IVE NEVER HAD ANY LEAKS.HE NOTIFIED ME THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR AND TO TAKE IT STRAIGHT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE ENGINE IS FAILING . FROM THERE I DID AN OIL CHANGE AND DROVE TO KIA. I DROPPED IT THERE TO BE CHECK AND WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE COULDNT SEE AN ISSUE TO DRIVE IT 1000 MILE AND BRING IT BACK. I PICKED IT UP AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT 10-14 DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING AND ACCELERATED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR BLEW A BUNCH OF WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND LOST POWER FOR A MOMENT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED MY OIL AND IT WAS VERY LOW AGAIN . I CALLED KIA BACK AND HAD MY CAR TOWED BACK TO KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER THEY LOOKED OVER THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT MY OIL VALVES INSIDE THE ENGINE WERE BAD AND THAT IT WAS BURNING THE OIL HO. THEY SAID WOULD CONTACT KMA TO SEE IF IT WOULD FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I WAS LATER NOTIFIED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR IT MYSELF AS THERE IS NO KNOCK CODE - OR COMPLETE ENGINE SEIZING, IM CURRENLY UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR / AND OWE THOUSANDS ON THE CAR STILL. THIS IS JUST UNFAIR FOR CONSUMERS WHO BUY THERE PRODUCTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387482January 11, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
SMELL OF FUEL CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE, GOT DIAGNOSED READ CODE P0456 EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11385410December 29, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT ANOTHER MILE, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER - LEV KIA OF FRAMINGHAM (510 COCHITUATE RD, FRAMINGHAM, MA 01701, (508) 879-5555) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE MECHANIC FOUND NO ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11384641December 23, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY KIA OPTIMA KILLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD CAUSING ME TO SCRAPE THE SIDE OF MY CAR AND IT STARTED SMOKING FINDING LEAKING OIL AS WELL OVER A YEAR AGO AND MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP STORAGE BECAUSE THEY TOLD ME THERE WASN'T A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR AN ENGINE . I HAVE COME OUT OF POCKET FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR MONTHS AND HAVE HAD TO PAY A STORAGE FEE NOT KNOWING THEY WERE CHARGING ME UNTIL HEARING FROM KIA CONSUMERS . NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN A RECALL IS POPPING UP WHEN I LOOK UP MY VIN AND EVEN MY INSURANCE COMPANY ALERTED ME THAT THERE ARE IN FACT 3 RECALLS ON MY CAR. I AM OUT OF A JOB BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING TRANSPORTATION AFTER COMING OUT OF POCKET OVER 3,000 FOR A RENTAL I COULDN'T SPEND ANOTHER DIME OF MY SAVINGS FOR MY FAMILY'S HOLIDAYS AND EMERGENCY STASH. I'M NEVER LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING BUSINESS WITH KIA AGAIN. I'VE BEEN SO STRESSED MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY AND I'M STILL PAYING A CAR NOTE FOR A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11383573December 15, 2020
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING
RECALL ON ENGINE WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO FOR HAVING METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE SECOND MOTOR HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT'S BURNING OIL AND SMOKING TO WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. I WAS GETTING ON I 65 GOING NORTH AND SMOKE CAME OUT. IT HESITATES TO GO. CAN'T DRIVE IT OVER 45-50. STEERING HAS A RECALL FOR A PLASTIC CUFFLING BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO RIVERCHASE KIA IN PELHAM ALABAMA. IT IS NOW MAKING A POPPING NOISE AGAIN. CONDENSATION IS GETTING IN TAIL LIGHTS CAUSING THE BULBS TO BLOW. THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN ON DIM YOU CAN BARELY SEE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378662December 9, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHICH RESULTED IN HER VEHICLE ROLLING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND LANDED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WAS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND CHEST; AS WELL AS LACERATIONS TO HER RIGHT LOWER ARM AND LOWER ABDOMINAL AREA. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNCERTAIN OF ITS CURRENT WHEREABOUTS. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:17V224000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, SHE HAD NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11377728December 3, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377308December 1, 2020
ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WHEN TRYING TO EXCELLERATE ON THE GAS TO ENTER ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED BOGGING DOWN AND NOT PICKING UP SPEED. TOOK IT TO O'REILLY AUTOPARTS TO GET THE ENGINE CODE AND IT CAME BACK AS A FAULTY BOOST CONTROL POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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