Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11403625March 18, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE ANTENNA COVER ON MY CAR FLEW OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE NOTICED AS I WASH(HANDWASH ONLY) WHEN I WIPE AROUND THE ANTENNA IT MOVES. THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD, BUT ASSUMED IT WAS NORMAL. I WAS DRIVING BACK TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY(03/17/21) THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT(65MPH)WHEN A TRACTOR-TRAILER PASSED ME CAUSING A WIND GUSH. I HEARD SOMETHING HIT THE HOOD OF MY CAR. WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK, I SAW THAT THE ANTENNA COVER WAS COMPLETELY GONE. NOTICED THE PLASTIC AROUND THE MOUNTING SCREWS WERE ALL BROKEN OFF PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO FIND A REPLACEMENT ANTENNA. I FOUND A GROUP CHAT WITH MANY KIA OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE EXACT ISSUE. ONE OWNER POSTED A TSB(SA272) FOR 2016 KIA OPTIMA BEING RECALLED FOR DEFECTS IN THE ANTENNA FIN ASSEMBLY FOR SCREWS LOOSENING OR BREAKING. THE BULLETIN STATED THAT OWNERS OF SAID KIA OPTIMA COULD BRING THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALERSHIP AND THE ANTENNA WOULD BE REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE BY KIA MOTORS FOR PARTS AND LABOR. I CALLED TWO KIA DEALERSHIP AND LATER KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE CSR SAID THAT SHE DID NOT PULL UP A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I GAVE HER THE TSB NUMBER. A POSTER SAID HIS KIA DEALERSHIP REPLACED HIS 2016 KIA OPTIMA BROKEN ANTENNA WITHOUT CHARGE. THE CSR SAID THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION WOULD HAVE TO INITIATE/ORDER THE RECALL AND LIST MY MODEL OF THE 2016 KIA OPTIMA IN ORDER FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ANTENNA AT NO COST. I HAVE THE EXPENSIVE MODEL, THE 2016 KIA OPTIMA(SXL TURBO) W/TECHNOLGY PACKAGE WHY WASN'T MY 2016 MODEL NOT LISTED WITH THE OTHER 2016 KIA OPTIMA? THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT COSTS OVER $500 TO REPLACE THE ANTENNA. SAID THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED. A CHEAP PLASTIC ANTENNA COVER FOR $600? YOUR QUICK REPLY AND SOLUTION TO RESOLVE THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITH KIA ANTENNA WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU [XXX] CELL : [XXX] WORK: [XXX](MON-THU) EMAIL : [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
#11403684March 18, 2021
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD FROM 2ND TO 1ST. DEALER RESET MODULE 10 MONTHS AGO. SOLVED PROBLEM. PROBLEM RECURRED. DEALER RESET MODULE BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. CHECKED INTERNET, PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403463March 17, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THREE OF THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME AND THE FORTH TWO WEEKS LATER. I HAD THEM REPAIRED FOR A ALMOST $ 2000 SINCE THE THE VEHICLE HAS 62K MILES AND THE WARRANTY WAS GOOD TILL 60K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403594March 17, 2021
ENGINE
VEHICLE STARTED BURNING OIL, COMPLETED OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT I HAVE TO GET A NEW ENGINE DUE TO COMBUSTION RINGS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403352March 16, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE ENGINE SEIZED. IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS RECALL. KIA HAS HAD TIS VEHICLE FOR A MONTH AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET THE APPROVAL FOR THE CURRENT RECALL. IT WAS IN MOTION DRIVING AT 30 MILES PER HOUR SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE AND NEVER TURNED ON AGAIN.IT WAS 300 DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY. A CITY STREET. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE DEALERSHIP SEIZED THE ENGINE AND QUOTED US 6500.00 TO FIX THE ENTIRE CAR. REPLACE THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403364March 16, 2021
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE BLEW DOING 40-45 ON A COUNTY ROAD 1,000 RPM 5TH GEAR, IN AUTOMATIC. 2ND TO 1ST, SOFT TO HARD KICK. VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR MUST BE FAULTY I HAVE TO PUMP BRAKE MORE TO SLOW THE ENGINE SPEED IT LIKES TO BOG TRYING TO SPEED UP IN AUTOMATIC MODE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11402962March 15, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
ON 3-14-2021 ABOUT 225PM I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE I10 FREEWAY IN ONTARIO CALIFORNIA, WHILE MERGING ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIT UP AND THE CAR PROCEEDED TO SHUT OFF AND MY SPEED WAS GOING DOWN . I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY, ONCE I WAS STOPPED I TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR THAN WAS ENGULFED WITH SMOKE AND FLAMES I JUMPED OUT THE CAR AND THE CAR LIT UP IN FLAMES. I CALLED ONTARIO POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11402832March 14, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID ON THE FARTHEST LEFT LANE OF THE FREEWAY, A WARNING MESSAGE POPPED UP ON MY DASH BOARD THAT WAS SOMETHING SIMILAR TO "SAFTLEY PULL OVER AND DO NOT DRIVE VEHICLE." I BEGAN TO CHANGE LANES TO BE ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND AS I WAS APPROACHING THE EDITS STOP LIGHT THE MOVING HEHICLE SEEMED TO LACK MUCH POWER. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE CAR ROLL FAR ENOUGH ON MOMENTUM TO GET ME OUT OF THE WAY OF A VERY BUSY ROAD. IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT THE CAR ROLLED TO THE SPOT IT DID BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED TO BE THE ONLY PLACE THE SHOULDER COULD FIT MY CAR. I HAD IT SENT TO KIA DEALERSHIP AND IT TOOK THEM ALMOST AN ENTIRE WEEK TO FINALLY HAVE AN IDEA OF WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. ENGINE SEIZED AS THE MAJOR PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO REPLACE IT FOR ABOVE $8000! THE CAR ISN'T EVEN WORTH THAT MUCH! COME TO REALIZE THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY ENGINE SO I AM NOW WAITING UNTIL KIA TECH SUPPORT REACHES OUT TO MY MECHANIC FOR THE APPROVAL OR DENIAL. I BOUGHT THIS USED CAR ABOUT 30 DAYS FROM TODAY'S DATE WITH 80K MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11402932March 14, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE SHARK FIN ANTENNA COVER COMES OFF DURING HIGH SPEED AND MY IMPACT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11402768March 13, 2021
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY CAR IS STALLING WHEN I ACCELERATE AND WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON TO START IT UP IT SMELLS LIKE GAS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11402555March 12, 2021
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND SHE HAD RUN A RED LIGHT, SHE T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED PARTIALLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED 2 BROKEN RIGHT RIBS, LEFT COLLAR BONE WAS SPRAINED, THE RIGHT KNEE AND RIGHT FOOT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF ANYONE WAS INJURED IN THE OTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE INSURANCE DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO IMPOUND LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER MIKE MILLER AUTO PARK (2007 W PIONEER PKWY, PEORIA, IL 61615: (309) 693-1222) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11402583March 12, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS EXTREMELY LOW COMPLETELY UNUSABLE AT NIGHT TRIED REPLACING HEADLIGHT BULB SAME ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11402692March 12, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH THE CHECK ENGINE, OIL LIGHT, AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER CALAVAN KIA WEST (1301 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRINGS, GA 30122, (678) 715-5399) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) FOR WHICH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN IN FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11402694March 12, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PAINT (PEARL WHITE) BEGAN PEELING OFF IN JUNE 2019 ON THE FRONT T AND BACK OF THE ROOF TRIM. ON MARCH 12, 2021 THE PAINT HAS NOW STARTED PEELING FROM THE PASSENGER LEFT SIDE DOOR. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAS MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS- THE POWER WINDOWS ( ALL BUT THE DRIVER'S WINDOW) QUIT OPERATING ON JANUARY 27, 2021. THE VEHICLE IS A 2013 WITH ONLY 43K MILES ON IT. UNACCEPTABLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400300March 11, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING OFF AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. DUE THE FAILURE, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REQUIRING A JUMP START TO BE ABLE TO START-UP AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO VISION KIA OF EAST ROCHESTER (201 E LINDEN AVE, EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE EXTERIOR WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400426March 11, 2021
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY, CAME TO A STOPLIGHT, AND AS CONTINUING WITH DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE, AS IF IT WAS SLIPPING. CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER AROUND 30 MPH UNTIL FEELING THE CAR NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. I USED A CODE READER AND GOT CODE P1326, WHICH I HAD LOOKED UP AND SAYS IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH A KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM. HAD BRING MY CAR IN TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD MY CAR HAD LOW OIL, ABOUT 2 QUARTZ. I DO REGULAR OIL CHANGES THOUGH AND HAD DONE AN OIL CHANGE A FEW WEEKS PRIOR. THE SHOP I WENT TO TOLD ME THERE MAY BE A SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE CAR. WAS TOLD SPECIFIC YEARS HAVE HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH OIL, LOSING OIL ALTHOUGH NO LEAKS OR SIGNS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400105March 10, 2021
ENGINE
I DID A OIL CHANGE ON THE CAR AFTER THAT THE OIL JUST KEPT LEAKING. I HAD TO PUT 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL IN EVERY WEEK. THEN ON MY WAY HOME FROM TAKING MY DAUGHTER TO HER APPOINTMENT THE CAR SHUT DOWN ON ME ON THE HIGHWAY WITH A SEMI BEHIND ME WHICH ALMOST HIT ME. I DON'T DIVE IT ANYMORE I GOT ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE OF IT.
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
#11400114March 10, 2021
ENGINE
CODE SHOWING IS P1326 - KSDS - ROD BEARING WEAR. ENGINE LIGHT IS FLASHING AND VEHICLE HAS WENT INTO LIMP MODE/LOSS OF POWER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400004March 9, 2021
ENGINE
CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED APPROPRIATELY, CAR SUDDENLY STARTED TURNING OFF ON US WHILE IN DRIVE. WE HAD IT CHECKED ACCORDING TO THE SCANNER, IT SAYS IT IS THE SAME KNOCKING SENSOR THAT KIA HAS REPORTED. WHEN I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY RUN MY VIN AND SAY I HAVE NO RECALLS SO THEY CANNOT HELP ME. MY CAR IS A 2012 WHICH FALLS WITHIN THE YEARS KIA HAS REPORTED YET THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. AS OF NOW I HAVE NO RUNNING VEHICLE BECAUSE IT IS TOO UNSAFE TO CHANCE DRIVING IT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THE CAR HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHILE IN MOTION 4 TIMES NOW, TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY, TWICE ON A 2 LANE ONLY CANYON. (ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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