Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11415918May 10, 2021
ENGINE
EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA FROM THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WOODSTOCK GA I HAVE NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL LIKE BURNING OIL IN THE ENGINE I COULD SMELL IT INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AS WELL .ALSO THE ENGINE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE RUNNING HOT AND CERTAIN DAYS IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRYS TO MAKE THE CAR START .ALSO MY LIGHTS WOULD CONSTANTLY FLICKER INSIDE THE VECHILE .I HAVE PAYED OFF MY KIA AND SOLD IT NOW BUT I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING I WOULD BE BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOMEKIND OF COMPENSATION EVEN AFTER IT WAS SOLD I'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS I LOST THE FIRST LETTER I WAS SENT SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW ALL MY OPTIONS HERE THANK U AND GOD BLESS MY MY CAR WAS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA I BEGAN FINANCING THE VECHILE THROUGH ALLY ON 12/04/2018 IT WAS PAID OFF 10/31/2019 ALSO I KEPT HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND THE WHOLE TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE COMEING FROM MY ENGINE AS WELL AS A BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11416013May 10, 2021
ENGINE
MY ENGINE SEIZED, I HAD IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID KIA WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF RECALLS NOT DONE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THERE IS CURRENTLY A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT FOR THIS ENGINE, BUT I HAVE TO PAY OVER 8,000 FOR AN ENGINE TO BE PAID BACK, I STILL OWE 10,000 ON THIS CAR. I CALLED KIA AND ASKED HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT RECALLS MADE BEFORE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, THEY SAID I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR BUYING A USED CAR. I'VE HAD MY CAR IN AT A KIA DEALERSHIP A WEEK BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE WITH 20 POINT INSPECTION AND NOTHING SAID ABOUT RECALLS. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE QUIT, LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO DRIFT ACROSS 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET MY CAR TO AN EXIT, AND COAST DOWN THE OFF RAMP. PIPED THE HOOD AND SMELLED SOMETHING MELTING, MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. THIS IS DANGEROUS, NOW I'M LEFT FINANCIALLY DEVASTATED AND WITHOUT A CAR BECAUSE KIA CAN'T FIX THEIR WRONGS. EVERY ENGINE THAT HAD THE RECALLS DONE HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH OR WITHOUT THE UPDATE. THE ENGINES ARE BAD. IVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR A YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415708May 9, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I'VE HAD THIS CAR GOING ON THREE YEARS SOMETIMES NOT ALL THE TIME I WILL GO TO START IT AND IT WILL BARELY START SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES WHEN I GOT MY OIL CHANGE AND THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY BUT THEY'RE SAYING THE BATTERY IS GOOD AND THE STARTING SYSTEM THE CAR WILL JUST BE SITTING IN MY GARAGE AND I TRY TO START IT IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE IT'S BARELY STARTING AND THEN THE NEXT TIME I STARTED IT'S FINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415737May 9, 2021
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE CONSUMES OIL AT HIGH RATE. APPROXIMATELY 5 QTS PER 3000 MILES DRIVEN SOMETIMES MORE OFTEN. AFTER NEW OIL IS ADDED, ACCELERATION WILL DELAY AT TIMES, USUALLY WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGINS MOVING FORWARD A CLOUD OF BLUISH/WHITE EXHAUST WILL BE CREATED. THE CLOUDS OF EXHAUST OCCURS MORE OFTEN JUST AFTER AN OIL CHANGE OR OIL IS ADDED. WILL CONTINUE FOR THE FIRST 1000 MILES THEN WILL BECOME LESS FREQUENT AS MORE OIL IS CONSUMED AND THE AMOUNT REMAINING IN THE OIL PAN IS LESSENED. HAS OCCURRED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415743May 9, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PAINT ON MY 2013 OPTIMA HAS BUBBLES IN IT THAT ARE CRACKING OPEN WITH PAINT PEELING AWAY. THERE IS ONE SECTION ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WITH ONE PATCH THAT IS AT LEAST 3" LONG AND 2" WIDE WHERE THE PAINT FLACKED OFF. THE PAINT AROUND THE WINDSHIELD HAS ALSO FLAKED OFF IN PLACES THAT ARE NOW CAUSING RUST SPOTS. THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO CAUSE THE ISSUE WITH THE PAINT. THE CAR HAS THE ORIGINAL PEARL WHITE PAINT. THIS STARTED WITH MINOR SPOTS AND HAS GRADUALLY INCREASED TO MORE PLACES ON THE CAR WITH PAINT MISSING. THIS HAS BEEN BEEN AN ON-GOING ISSUE THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415662May 8, 2021
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THA CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WOULD NOT START ALL LIGHTS CAME ON AND COULD NOT STEER GAVE THE CAR GAS ON GAS PEDAL NOR COULD I BRAKE TO GET OUT OF THE ROAD. HAS BEEN TOWED TO DEMONTROND KIA TO SEE IF UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS ALMOST LOST MY LIFE ON HIGHWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415491May 7, 2021
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRANK SHAFT BEARING WENT BAD CAUSING ENGINE TO FAIL IN VEHICLE AND ALMOST GET HIT BY TRAFFIC CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON EVERY MODEL OF MY CAR EXCEPT MINE BECAUSE IT WAS THE GAS HYBRID WHICH STILL HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND PROBLEM AS THE ONES IN RECALL J BOUGHT THE CAR FOR AROUND 13K AND ONLY HAD IT FOR BOUT 3 MONTHS BEFORE THIS HAPPEN DEALER WON'T REPAIR WORK UNDER RECALL BECAUSE IT DOES FALL UNDER THE RECALL FOR MILLIONS OF OTHER BECAUSE IT IS HYBRID AS WELL AS GAS ? DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE AND I GOT SCREWED OUTTA 13K AND COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED AS WELL AS MY 2 KIDS THAT WHERE IN THE CAR WITH ME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415214May 5, 2021
STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A CLICKING NOISE IN THE FRONT END STARTED WHEN THE WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THIS WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A JOINT AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE NOISE STARTED AGAIN, BECAME WORSE AND THE STEERING FELT LOOSER. THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL ALSO FELT LOOSE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THEY REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND SOME OTHER RELATED PARTS. THIS TIME THE STEERING WAS LOOSER, THEY HAD TO REPLACE A BOLT AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. AS SOON AS I LEFT THE LOT I HEARD THE SAME NOISE BUT VERY FAINT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WASN'T AN ISSUE BUT IT GOT WORSE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE RIGHT WHEEL HAD THE LOOSE FEELING WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AGAIN. BY THIS TIME THE NOISE HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE SAME PARTS AS BEFORE AGAIN. THAT SAME DAY I COULD HEAR THE FAINT NOISE AGAIN, DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS FINE AGAIN. THE CLICKING NOISE BECAME WORSE JUST AS BEFORE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT THEY OBVIOUSLY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE THEIR LAST ATTEMPT AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. WHEN GOING OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP THE FRONT WHEELS HAVE A LOOSE FEELING WHICH IS ALSO GETTING WORSE. THIS LOOSE FEELING IN THE FRONT WHEELS HAPPENS WHEN TURNING AND GOING STRAIGHT. SPEED DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A FACTOR IN ANY OF THE PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415139May 4, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED WITH THE BATTERY AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO HER DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO QUALITY KIA OF GREENWOOD (1706 MONTAGUE AVE EXT, GREENWOOD, SC 29649, (864) 223-2542) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415185May 4, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 75 MPH, WHEN SHE SLOWED DOWN TO 50 MPH TO SWITCH LANE THEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 2 MORE MILES BEFORE IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THEN CONTACTED A KIA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO PARKWAY FAMILY KIA (22555 US-59, KINGWOOD, TX 77339) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER THEN SENT THE DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR APPROVAL HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE DEALER THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT HAD NOT DONE THE MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT UPGRADE: VPI1802 (ENGINE) THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE HONORED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT UPGRADE BECAUSE IT WAS SENT TO AN OLD ADDRESS THAT SHE NO LONGER LIVED AT. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER UNREPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414888May 3, 2021
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND SUDDENLY IT'S STOPPED I TRIED TO TURNING IT BACK ON BUT IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY AUTO SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEY COULDN'T TOUCH IT. HE ALSO SAID IT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BLOW UP IT SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. THE NEXT DAY I HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. THEIR MECHANIC AND CUSTOMER REP ARE TELLING ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO THE RECALL ON TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT BE COVERED AND I HAD TO PAY $7008.00 OUT OF POCKET EVEN THOUGH I NEVER GOT A NOTICE FOR A RECALL. IN THEIR SYSTEM THEY HAD A DIFFERENT ADDRESS, AND WERE ABLE TO UPDATED MY ADDRESS AND STILL TOLD ME I WAS LIABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE WAYS OF CHECKING FOR RECALLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414987May 3, 2021
ENGINE
ON JANUARY 4TH 2021 MY CAR STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE AUTO REPAIR IN MY CITY AND THEY INFORMED ME MY ENGINE HAD A RECALL ON IT. THE AUTO SHOP THEN INFORMS ME THEY DON'T WORK ON ENGINES SEND IT TO A KIA DEALERSHIP SHIP I DID THAT. NOW THE KIA DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THERE WAS NO RECALL DIDN'T EXPLAIN MUCH SAY YOU JUST NEEDED AN BATTERY AND THE FRONT O2 SEN-OR REPLACED I PAID THE $450 THE CAR WAS UP AND RUNNING I DIDN'T THINK NOTHING ELSE WOULD GO WRONG. MARCH 19 2021 MY CAR STOPS AGAIN WHILE DRIVING GET IT TOWED TO THE REPAIR IN MY CITY THEY SAY I HAVE A BAD ENGINE THAT WAS ALL THE HELP THEY COULD GIVE ME. NOW MAY 3 2021 MY CAR IS CURRENTLY DOWN IT'S NOT IN THE AUTO SHOP AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE THE ONLY THING THE AUTO REPAIR SHOPS WAS SAYING IS THIS WOULD COST ME $4500.IN JANUARY I WAS INFORMED I HAD A RECALL ON MY ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414709May 1, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE HYBRID VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A 3-LANE STATE HIGHWAY AND CAME TO REST IN THE MIDDLE LANE BEHIND 4 VEHICLES WHEN THE DTC P1B25/P1B77 ' 125 AMP HV FUSE WAS BLOWN. THIS CAUSED A SAFETY HAZARD TO MANY ONCOMING VEHICLES AND THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP. OTHER REPORTS FOUND ONLINE SEEM CONSISTENT WITH PS515 (REV 2, 02/28/2019) AND HAVE REPORTED TO STOP AND BECOME UNRESPONSIVE WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414760May 1, 2021
ENGINE
MY CAR IS RAPID LOSING OIL IN BETWEEN REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUT OIL IN WEEKLY AND THERE NOT HAS THERE EVER BEEN ANY LEAKS. THE OILD IS BURNING OFF WAY FASTER THEN IT SHOULD BURN. SO ON TOP OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I HAVE TO PURCHASE OIL ON TOP OF IT. THE TIMING CHAIN IS SUFFERING DUE TO THE ENGINE GOING DRY WAY TOO FAST. THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE UNAWARE OF THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. THE OIL TURNS BLACK QUICKER THEN IT SHOULD AS WELL. MY MECHANIC SAID YOU ALL NEED TO REPLACE THESE RIGHT AWAY OR SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAS TAKEN A YEAR FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REPORT THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414676April 30, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR TOO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414678April 30, 2021
ENGINE
MY ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414558April 30, 2021
ENGINE
BURNS OIL AND ENGINE REVS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414461April 29, 2021
ENGINE, STEERING
WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND LOCKED UP. LUCKILY HE WASNT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH LOTS OF VEHICLES. HE WAS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD BUT HAD TROUBLE PULLING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED UP. THIS IS A KNOWN RECALL ON KIA VEHICLES AND THE DEALERSHIP IS DENYING TO FIX IT. THERE IS AN OPEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST KIA FOR ENGINE FAILURE THAT WE WILL BE SIGNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414501April 29, 2021
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ENCOUNTERED ENGINE FAILURE AND MY CAR COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED 97 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414291April 28, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CARS USB PORT ALWAYS DISCONNECTS FROM THE CELL PHONE CORD. IT CUTS OFF MY SIRISXM AND MAPS. I HAVE TO RE-PLUG IN THE CELL CORD TO HAVE THE THINGS COME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING BOTH ON CITY AND HIGHWAY. WHEN I WAS AT A KIA DEALERSHIP THERE WAS SOMEONE ELSE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CELL PHONE STORE SAID THEY RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT FROM THEIR OTHER CUSTOMERS. NOT SURE WHEN IT STARTED. IT SEEMS LIKE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THERE ARE OVER 120,000 MILES ON MY CAR. OVER THE SMALLEST BUMP THIS CAN HAPPEN. IF I PUT MY CELL ON MY CAR WINDOW HOLDER IT HAPPENS LESS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE BOUGHT NEW CORDS AND A NEW CELL AND IT STILL HAPPENS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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