Kia Optima Complaints (2015)

1,022 consumer complaints on file.

#11555709November 17, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
2015 KIA OPTIMA WHITE PEAR PAINT JOB DELAMINATION ON HOOD, TRUNK SIDE PANELS BY WINDOWS AND FRONT AND BACK WINDSHIELDS. AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, HAS BEEN INSPECTED. NATIONAL PROBLEM, INSPECTED BY KIA DEALER REFERRED BODY SHOP. FIRST TIME APPEARED VERY VISIBLE 1 YEAR 1/2 AGO. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO KIA, FILED CLAIM, CASE #[XXX] ON 10/11/2023, TODAY, 11/17/2023 RECEIVED E-MAIL "VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY". MY VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN GEORGIA WITHIN THE SAME TIME(S) OF THE CLASS ACTION RECALL FOR 2013 AND 2014 MODELS. I REQUEST MY CASE BE RECONSIDERED FOR THE PAINT REQUEST. 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
#11555425November 16, 2023
ENGINE
While driving on Hwy 19 the vehicle shut down. The motor turned off and I was able to slowly roll to the side of the road. The car did not start again.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555172November 14, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
When driving down the highway car will beep a message on dashboad to pull the car over and turn engine off. the HEV light will be flashing. you can turn engine off and re start in a minute or so. the check engine light stays on and tells me to check hybrid system this willl ocur at random once a week or two times in a month. Kia dealership has not fixed the issue. I dont trust driving the car or safe when pulling off a busy highway. ON hand held obd did get a trouble code P0A37 Generator Temperature Sensor Hi Range .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554959November 13, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Something is so wrong with my car, I can not see through the UVO screen no sound at all, can not detect my car key unless I put my key on dashboard. UVO works and dies instantly. Something in computer part of my KIA is BAD not operating normal. I take my car to KIA in Lithonia GA still NO HELP!! NO KIA DEALER WILL HELP ME UNLESS I PAY A HIGH DOLLAR! My 2015 Kia Optima EX needs help.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554504November 10, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The paint on my Kia is abnormally bubbling and flaking off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554433November 9, 2023
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
The contact leased a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the front passenger's side window, the rearview camera, and the brake lights were intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. The contact shifted into neutral(N) and was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of several bystanders. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was leased, and it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the battery warning light and the steering warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and drove to the residence, where the vehicle remained parked. The vehicle was not repaired. The Kia dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11554030November 7, 2023
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Engine failure & fuel leak. Also oil was burning extremely fast . I had taking it to the dealership while back ago for a recall and said it was fixed. Few months later gas started running out fast. A check light engine came on saying there was an evaporation leak. I did call the dealership to see what exactly they fixed, emailed them. They kept telling me they would call me back and never did. Wouldn’t get any emails back. I took it upon headquarters to let them know about the oil burning fast and emailed. And called them. Apparently there was nothing they can do and told me I have to call the dealership. I took the car to my mechanic because I trust him more than the actual dealership at this point. And I brought up concerns about my safety being in that car. No one heard me out or seemed to care. And now forward months later after check light engines on and the pcv valve getting changed, purge valve. The light stopped coming on after changing the purge valve got change which linked to the code that showed up. I started seeing online that Kia optima’s have so many engine problems , misfires etc. and now my Kia has an engine failure. I tried to contact Kia again by entering the info for a settlement and I was told there is nothing they can do about it. So now I’m left with $5,500 to finish paying off my loan for the car and can’t even drive the car anymore. I havnt felt safe In my car for months and no one would hear me out.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553632November 5, 2023
ENGINE
I was driving when the vehicle began to shake and then the check engine light came on. I stopped at a red light and when the light turned green and I processed to go the car shut off while in traffic. I then waited to see if the car would turn back on and it did just long enough for me to get out of the roadway. I had the car towed back to the dealer from whom I purchased the car from. He had his mechanic check the vehicle out and informed me that the engine seized. He then had it towed to a repair shop and they also confirmed the engine seized. When I purchased the vehicle 9 months ago it came with a warranty. The warranty company is now saying that I am responsible for the cost of the diagnostic testing which is $2,500.00 before they will replace the engine. I reached out to Kia and they are also saying that I am responsible for the diagnostic testing and that the warranty company can choose a new or used engine replacement. I asked Kia if the engine was ever replaced during the first engine recall but representative refused to say if it was or wasn't. My car is still at the repair shop. These matter needs to be addressed as there may be others going through the same issue. This is the second time this has happened to me. I previously had a 2011 Kia Sportage that did the same exact thing. I returned it to the dealer whom I purchased it from and that vehicle was added to my credit report as a repo and resold at an auction. I hope and pray the issue was repaired before it was sold.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553545November 4, 2023
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Unknown
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553075November 1, 2023
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the engine was previously replaced due to abnormal knocking sound. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 60-65 MPH, there was a strong gasoline odor coming through the A/C vents. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the low-pressure fuel hose was leaking and needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V093000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552924October 31, 2023
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road however, the vehicle was not able to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was caused by the engine seizing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552500October 29, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint on my vehicle has been bubbling and chipping off for years. I did buy my vehicle used and was a certified pre owned. It was in great condition at the time of purchase. The paint became a problem soon after owning the vehicle. I didn’t think much of it till it continued to peel off more and rust in certain areas. I noticed more vehicles like mine had the same problem. I began looking into it and seen that others were complaining of the same issue as mine online. I did contact Kias main corporate office and they wanted estimates and pictures. I did not go thru with this because they said it was a process to even get approved and if they approved it they would only paint certain parts, and not the whole car. I figured why paint parts if the same paint was used originally to paint the entire car then chips could happen anywhere else. And if paint was approved on certain areas I could only file once and to me that didn’t seem worth it at the time so I decided to see if this would become a recall and have been waiting patiently. Im very unhappy with KIA regarding this issue. It’s clearly a problem amongst multiple customers. I have this nice car and it’s embarrassing to drive like this. I hope this message reaches someone who will do something about this. Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552409October 28, 2023
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Engine lost power and when restart was attempted, it could torn turn over. Tried restarting 3 times with no success. After this, smoke started coming from the hood. I opened the hood and noticed a small flame at the driver side bottom of the engine compartment. Flame intensified and grew and eventually I extinguished with a fire extinguisher. I had just replaced the starter that same week and replaced some wiring at a local car repair facility.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552319October 27, 2023
ENGINE
Bought car February 22 less than 5200 miles. Died on hwy October 6. Kia denied claim. Had no ideal of a software update. Never heard of that in my life. Almost lost my life with this car
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552081October 26, 2023
ENGINE
Kia has a Nation Wide Campaign for faulty engines, that will display a code (consistent in the campaign), my daughter purchased a 2015 Kia Optima, 76,000 miles, that was a rebuilt title, however the damage was on the back passenger door, body damage only. Was surprised it was even totaled out from the insurance, however due to the high theft issues with Kia's insurance companies are paying them out to avoid the theft as well as the engine issues. Currently, Kia is telling us that they will not replace the engine (even though this is the campaign they are advertising) due to the rebuilt title, even though the defective engine is from the manufacture and nothing to do with the body damage to the back passenger door. This car was repaired in full and cleared to be re-titled as a rebuilt title. These engine issues can cause the vehicle to seize while driving, it goes into Limp mode (safety mode) which reduces the speed and power to the engine and there are reports that the engine can catch fire. Kia is doing these engine replacements under the MFG warranty and have stated they are lifetime replacements, due to the continued problems and yet they want to not replace hers when a insurance company decided to total the car our for damage that could have been repaired.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550856October 19, 2023
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 58 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the rear center passenger side of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle rolled. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injury to the lower back, head, and neck that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11550879October 19, 2023
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle slowed down and then became inoperable. The battery and check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle had been diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty engine block. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550688October 18, 2023
ENGINE
My engine locked while driving on the highway, I have got the car inspected twice since I purchased it and only had it for a year and it passed, everything worked fine and no hazard lights were on dashboard until it stopped then the battery and engine light showed when stopping! I had no problems with the car prior to it, just stopping on me I had my kids with me and we were going to another state so that’s dangerous! I had to get it towed to a Kia dealership and was told they had 4 recalls on my car and the problem was the engine locked but I was told they would not do it free of charge or under warranty because the car has a salvage title overall the car was still drive able and in good condition up until that point.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11550399October 17, 2023
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
My car started smoking while parked at work for no reason and I had to call the fire department. It stop smoking by the time the fire department came. I had it towed to the Dealer. My brakes are a mess but especially on a wet road you have to pump them to try to stop. I have taken it to the Dealer and of course they find nothing wrong. I told them to test drive it on a wet raining day and try to stop hard. Supposedly they could not but I have almost been it several accidents and had to run through a red light because I could not stop. So, I try to drive this car on a rainy day or drive slowly. This car has been trouble since I got it and the dealer will not listen.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11549901October 14, 2023
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Motor failed and Kia replaced the motor. Now my dim lights and fog lights will not work. All fuse, relay, etc.. has been tested along with bulb replacement…
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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