Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11400023March 9, 2021TIRES
TIRE WENT FLAT THEN BLEW OUT AFTER BEING RE-INFLATED BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11400031March 9, 2021STRUCTURE:BODY
I OWN A 2013 KIA OPTIMA WITH THE SNOW-WHITE PEARL PAINT AND IT IS DEFINITELY PEELING AT A RAPID RATE. IT IS PEELING OFF ON THE SIDES OF MY TRUNK, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, ON THE HOOD, AND ALSO ON THE EDGES OF THE DOORS. I BOUGHT IT USED, BUT HAVE ONLY OWNED IT FOR 3 YEARS AND THE PAINT WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO MAKE THE PAINT CHIP OR PEEL. IT LOOKS HORRIBLE!! KIA NEEDS TO FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY. WE PAY A LOT OF MONEY FOR NEW CARS AND SHOULD EXPECT THAT THEY HOLD UP. MY PARENTS OWN CARS THAT ARE 20+ YEARS OLD AND THEIR PAINT IS STILL IN GOOD SHAPE! KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REMEDY THIS!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399847March 8, 2021ENGINE
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
- #11399657March 7, 2021ENGINE
I HAVE A 3 MONTHS OLD AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT OUR SAFETY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY RUNS OUT OF OIL AND IT START SMELLING LIKE BURNED AND IT STARTS TO SMOKE A LOT OF WHITE SMOKE. WHEN I CHECK THE OIL COMPARTMENT IT SEEMS LIKE THE OIL EVAPORATES OR GET CONSUMED BUT IT DOESN'T LEAK. THIS HAS HAPPENED FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A CITY STREET.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399491March 6, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT A GROCERY AND FOLDED MY SIDE VIEW MIRRORS UP AND BACK DOWN AND NOW THE MOTOR IN THE PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR WILL NOT STOP RUNNING. THE MOTOR RUNS DAY AND NIGHT AND THE MIRROR NO LONGER FOLDS LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. I SEE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS HAD THE ISSUE WITH THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399534March 6, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
I WAS HEADED TO KY DECEMBER 2020 TO VISIT MY FATHER. THE CAR STARTED MAKING RATTLING NOISE. AS I HIT THE GAS PETAL, THE CAR WAS STOPPING IN ON COMING 1-65 TRAFFIC HEADING NORTH. I PULLED OVER AND HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO TOW TO THE NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP. I WAS NEARLY 50 MILES FROM BOWLING GREEN KENTUCKY (12-23-20). I CALLED MY INSURANCE AND WE SET UP ARRANGEMENTS FOR TOWING TO PICK UP THE NEXT MORNING (LESS THAN 24 HOURS- CHRISTMAS EVE). WITHIN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, THE CAR WAS IMPOUNDED BY KENTUCKY POLICE NEAR GLASGOW, KY. AFTER PAYING TOWING FEES AND TICKETS, I FINALLY GOT MY CAR TO AUTO COMPANY TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS REPORT. AFTER COMPLETION, I FOUND OUT THE ENGINE FAILED ALONG WITH MORE STUFF. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE CAR (KIA-HUNTSVILLE, AL) TO ASK FOR ADVICE ON NEXT STEPS. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE NEAREST KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEAR WHERE THE CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TO GET IT FIXED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE CAR WAS FINALLY TOWED TO MARTIN KIA (BOWLING GREEN KENTUCKY). THEY PUT ME IN LINE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE PROPERLY AND COMPLETELY FIXED. ON JANUARY 4, 2021 THE VEHICLE WAS IN KIA POSSESSION TO FIX RECALL REPAIRS. MARCH 6, 2021 I WAS SCHEDULED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS PROMISED THAT THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETED. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR, I HAD TO WAIT 45MINUTES BECAUSE MY CAR WAS LOCKED AND TIRE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS PULLED TO SIDE AND TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED BY BRAND NEW EMPLOYEE AND TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE A ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON BECAUSE IF SO, IT'S PROBABLY THE NEW HIRE FAULT FOR IT MESSING UP. AFTER ALL OF THAT, I WAS HEADED HOME AND THE CAR STOPPED A SECOND TIME! AFTER CONTACTING LOCAL POLICE, I WAS TOLD TO GO BACK TO KIA TO RETURN THE KEYS AND MAKE THEM TOW THE VEHICLE TO GET IT OFF OF THE INTERSTATE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399315March 5, 2021STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PAINT IS CHIPPING ON THE CARS HOOD, ROOF RAILS AND TRUNK LID TO NO FAULT OF MINE. PAINT IS ALSO BUBBLING ON THE DOORS AND IS STARTING TO CHIP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399073March 4, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED IN MY 2017 KIA OPTIMA IN 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES. KIA REPLACED MY ENGINE JANUARY 2020 BECAUSE IT WAS CONSUMING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK IN JANUARY 28, 2021 WITH A SUPPOSEDLY NEW ENGINE. ON MARCH 3, 2021, MY CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PULLING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD ACTUALLY DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD THE OF THE CAR. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR BURNED. THANKFULLY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THE FIRE OUT AND NO ONE WAS INJURED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399099March 4, 2021ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE OIL PAN WOULD LEAK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOU FUSZ KIA (1025 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63132) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE OIL PAN NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE RECALL DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF NOT BEING REIMBURSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FORCE THE DEALER TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399153March 4, 2021EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF NO MATTER IF THE SWITCH IS ON AUTO OR NORMAL ON. THE LIGHTS CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING, IT HAPPENS ON THE STREET, HIGHWAY, AND EVEN IF THE CAR ISN'T MOVING. IT STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO. THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY DAMAGE OR WRECKS TO MY CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11399173March 4, 2021ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ENGINE OIL. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OURISMAN CHANTILLY KIA (4105 AUTO PARK CIR, CHANTILLY, VA 20151, (703) 263-2500) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND TOLD THE CONTACT THAT SHE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR ANY REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.*DT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398991March 3, 2021SERVICE BRAKES
THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. THE ROAD WAS DRY. SPEED WAS 30 MPH OR LESS WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THERE WERE NO CARS AHEAD OF ME, AND I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND ROOM FOR A REGULAR STEADY DECELERATION. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. JUST BEFORE I CROSSED INTO THE CROSSWALK THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FORCIBLY KICKED BACK EXACTLY FOUR TIMES, AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED ON A STATE HIGHWAY THAT ALSO SERVES AS A MAIN STREET RUNNING THROUGH DOWNTOWN. I WAS TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, PURCHASED NEW, FOR 19 MONTHS. MILEAGE IS 17,325. THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SAYS THE COMPUTER DIDN'T REGISTER THE EVENT. WE ASSUME THE BRAKES FAILED AND ANTILOCK BRAKES ENGAGED IN AN EXTRORDINARY MANNER. I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION AS THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP 37 ODD DAYS LATER. THEY STILL SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MALFUNCTIONED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398642March 2, 2021ENGINE
I ORIGINALLY LEASED MY 2018 OPTIMA WITH 98 MILES ON IT AND BOUGHT IT OUT AT THE END OF MY LEASE THIS WAS MY SECOND OPTIMA, I ALSO HAD 2 HYUNDAI SONATAS. SINCE I'M IN SALES I HAD THE ADDED MILEAGE ON IT. AT 98,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED TICKING. I ORIGINALLY HAD A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA THAT WHEN IT HIT 105,000 STARTED TICKING ONLY TO FIND THAT IT WAS BURNING OIL (1.5 QUARTS A WEEK) SO I WAS HESITANT ABOUT ANOTHER KIA BUT THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT KIA HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD FIXED IT. GUESS WHAT?! IT HASN'T. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN EVERY 1,000 MILES FOR OIL CHANGE AND HAVE THE DOCUMENTS SHOWING HOW MUCH OIL WAS BEING BURNED OFF. ACCORDING TO KIA CORPORATE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE REQUIRES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES AND WAS UNDER OWNERS WARRANTY. NEVER AGAIN. PEOPLE WATCH YOUR VEHICLES. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH KIA AND HYUNDAI AND THEY DO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTIES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398715March 2, 2021POWER TRAIN
I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS CAR. IT IS AN LX WITH THE 2.4L ENGINE GDI. IT'S THE STANDARD ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED "OFF" AFTER A FIRMWARE UPDATE. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CAR REALLY PERFORMED AND ROLLED NICELY. BY THAT I MEAN, THERE WAS NO DETECTABLE DRAY WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. IN DRIVING THE CAR NOW, THE CAR JUST SEEMS TO LUG, AS IT TAKES MORE ACCELERATION TO GET THE CAR MOVING. THE TRANSMISSION "HANGS UP" AT AROUND 40MPH, WITH NO LOAD ON THE ENGINE. THE TACH AT 40MPH OR THEREABOUTS, READS AROUND 1900-2200RPMS. THIS IS FAR TOO HIGH IN MY OPINION, BEFORE I GO A LITTLE FASTER, AND THE TRANS FINALLY SHIFTS TO THE NEXT GEAR, LOWERING THE RPMS TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AT 40 MPH. GAS MILEAGE IS DOWN APPROX. 20% TO WHAT I ENJOYED BEFORE THIS STARTED. I DID HAVE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER, FRED BEANS IN LANGHORNE PA, FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND MENTIONED IT TO THE SERVICE WRITER. OF COURSE (AND I MEAN THIS WITH ALL DUE RESPECT), THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE EXPERIENCE. WHAT THE DID DO WAS WIPE THE TRANSMISSION MEMORY CLEAN AND WE STARTED FRESH. THE IDEA BEING THE TRANSMISSION WOULD RELEARN MY DRIVING HABITS. I DON'T PROFESS TO KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT A TRANS LEARNING HABITS, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE TRANS SHOULD NOT HANG UP BETWEEN GEARS FOR ANY REASON. DUE TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REGULAR SERVICE. WILL MENTION IT AGAIN. OUT OF REGULAR WARRANTY BUT I DID PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398744March 2, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
I WAS IN THE PARENT PICK UP LINE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AND I PLACED MY SHIFT IN PARK HOWEVER MY CAR CONTINUED TO DRIVE FORWARD AND SHIFT GEAR WAS STUCK. STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND I KEPT FOOT ON BRAKE TO SLOWING MANEUVER CAR TO A PARKING SPOT. ONCE IN PARKING SPOT CAR WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND EVEN THOUGH CAR WAS IN PARK ON THE SHIFT GEAR THE DRIVE MODE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CAR FINALLY TURNED OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THAN RESTARTED BY ITSELF AND REPEATED TO DO SO. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE GEAR SHIFT AFTER ACCESSING THE SHIFT GEAR RELEASE LOCK HOWEVER THE SHIFT GEAR REMAINED IN DRIVE MODE. THEN ENGINE JUST COMPLETELY STOPPED TURNING ON. CAR WOULD NOT TURN, NOT DRIVABLE AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED FOR REPAIR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398788March 2, 2021STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT IS PEELING. IT'S NOT CAUSED BY ANY FRICTION. IT'S DE-LAMINATING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398552March 1, 2021UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BOTH OF MY BACK DOOR SENSATORS ARE SAYING THE BACK DOORS ARE OPEN BUT THEY'RE LOCKED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398150February 27, 2021ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
CAR WILL NOT GET OUT OF IMMOBILIZATION PHASE, WITH EITHER KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK TO USE PUSH TO START. ISSUE IS WASTE GATE ACTIVATOR FAILURE OR NEEDS ADJUSTMENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398012February 26, 2021WHEELS
2 FLAT TIRES GETTING OFF WORK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11398025February 26, 2021ENGINE
DRIVING AT 70 MPH THE ENGINE JUST DIED, NO WARNINGS LIGHTS, STARTER AND BATTERY ARE FINE. PER MECHANIC THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY FAILED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0