Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11398068February 26, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA PHEV WAS REPAIRED BUT AFTER I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND GOT ON THE FREEWAY THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND LOST ALL POWER. I ALMOST GOT INTO ANOTHER ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WORKED WITH KIA TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO FIX MY CAR BUT APPARENTLY KIA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEIR OWN CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 19K MILES. I'M AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILIES THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11398071February 26, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND SAW METAL PARTS AND OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE THAT THE BEARING ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT THE CALLED THE CABLE DAHMER KIA OF LEE'S SUMMIT (400 NE COLBERN RD, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64086, (816) 207-6200) AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 150,000 MILES. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
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
#11398115February 26, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY WERE INFORMED THAT SHARDS OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE ENGINE CAUSING THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHANGED THE OIL HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THERE WERE THREE RECALLS WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), 20V519000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), AND 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE CONTACT CONTACTED AN UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397773February 24, 2021
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTIPLE RECALLS ON CAR - BEEN HAVING SIGNIFICANT ISSUES FROM ELECTRICAL TO BREAKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397528February 23, 2021
ENGINE, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE LEFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER CONTINUED DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO KIA OF MADISON (5442 WAYNE TERRACE, MADISON, WI 53718, (608) 443-5700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ECU SOFTWARE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN JULY OF 2020. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397536February 23, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
STEELING WHEEL AND COLUMN IS VERY LOOSE. WHENEVER YOU HIT A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD THE STEELING WHEEL LOOSES CONTROL. IT MAKES A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. ALSO, THE RADIO SYSTEM STOP WORKING. I WOULD TURN MY CAR OFF AND THE STEREO SYSTEM WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY AND WOULD NOT CUT OFF EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS TURN OFF. EVEN WITH THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD GET IT TO TURN OFF WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. TOOK CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP THEY STATED THAT THEIR RECALL SYSTEM HAS A NATIONWIDE SHUT DOWN AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPAIR IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397555February 23, 2021
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AN OCCUPANT WAS WEARING THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR SEAT BELT HOWEVER, THE BUCKLE CEASED AND FAILED TO RETRACT OR RELEASE. THE OCCUPANT HAD TO SLIDE OUT THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT CALLED GRAND KIA (1950 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, (720) 943-1144) TO NOTIFY THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSE NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 230,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397572February 23, 2021
ENGINE
JUN 01,2018 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERSC165A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER18V363 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY KIA MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN ALL 2010-2013 MY FORTE AND FORTE KOUP , ALL 2011-2013 MY OPTIMA, ALL 2011-2012 OPTIMA HYBRID, AND ALL 2011-2012 MY SEDONA VEHICLES. THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT ("ACU") DETECTS CRASH SEVERITY AND COMMANDS DEPLOYMENT OF THE ADVANCED AIRBAGS AND SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS WHEN NECESSARY. THE ACU CONTAINS A CERTAIN APPLICATION-SPECIFIC INTEGRATED CIRCUIT ("ASIC") THAT MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ELECTRICAL OVERSTRESS ("EOS") DURING CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASH EVENTS. THE CONDITION IS LIMITED TO FRONTAL AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASH EVENTS. SAFETY RISK IF THE ASIC BECOMES DAMAGED, THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS AND SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CERTAIN FRONTAL CRASHES WHERE DEPLOYMENT MAY BE NECESSARY, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. REMEDY KIA HAS ADVISED ITS AUTHORIZED DEALERS TO INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS KIT BETWEEN THE ACU CONNECTOR AND VEHICLE HARNESS CONNECTOR IN YOUR VEHICLE. THE WORK WILL BE PERFORMED AT KIA'S EXPENSE AT NO COST TO YOU. THE ACTUAL TIME REQUIRED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WILL TAKE APPROXIMATELY ONE (1) HOUR. HOWEVER, YOUR VEHICLE MAY BE NEEDED LONGER; THEREFORE, WE RECOMMEND SCHEDULING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO MINIMIZE ANY INCONVENIENCE. (REFER TO SC165A.) MANUFACTURER'S NOTES SC165A
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397640February 23, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SNOW WHITE PEARL PAINT RAPIDLY CHIPPING OFF OF MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA, NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED TO MAKE THIS PAINT PROBLEM OCCUR. I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY THE PAINT IS CHIPPING OFF SO EASILY. A LOT OF THE PAINT IS CHIPPING AROUND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND HOOD OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397337February 22, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE NEARBY. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397417February 22, 2021
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON FEBRUARY 19, 2021 AT AROUND 12:50 A.M., A FRIEND AND I WERE DRIVING HOME IN MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID EX ON A CITY STREET AND WE WERE A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF-WAY HOME WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CAME ON. I STARTED LOOKING FOR AN OPEN GAS STATION SO I COULD STOP AND CHECK IF THERE WAS ANYTHING VISIBLY WRONG WITH MY CAR. BEFORE I COULD REACH A GAS STATION, I HEARD A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND UPON LOOKING IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR I SAW SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE BACK OF THE CAR AND SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE THE CABIN ALSO. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. THE CAR THEN COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SMOKE, SO MY FRIEND AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY. THE ENGINE AREA BURST INTO FLAMES. I CALLED 911 AND REPORTED IT TO THE POLICE AND WAITED FOR THEM TO COME. THE CAR EXPLODED A COUPLE OF TIMES BEFORE THEY GOT TO ME AND THE FIRE QUICKLY ENGULFED THE CAR REACHING INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE STREET HAD TO BE COMPLETELY BLOCKED OFF FROM ALL TRAFFIC. IT WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE AS WE BARELY MADE IT OUT OF THE CAR BEFORE IT BURST INTO FLAMES AND HOW RISKY IT WAS BEING IN THE CAR BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. AS FAST AS EVERYTHING HAPPENED WE FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. IT TOOK THE FIRE CREW ABOUT AN HOUR TO PUT THE CAR OUT. EVERYTHING INSIDE THE CABIN WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. AFTER GETTING A RIDE HOME FROM THE POLICE I STARTED RESEARCHING ONLINE THE ISSUE I HAD JUST GONE THROUGH AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS MANUFACTURER RECALL #SC200TE, NHTSA RECALL #20V750 FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH SEEMED TO FIT THE EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11397243February 21, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ON THE FN INTERSTATE AND THE CAR STALLED!! I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS UNTIL SOMEONE THAT ASSISTED HER TOLD HER THIS! I AM DURING YOU! SHE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT! THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396969February 19, 2021
AIR BAGS
MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, WHICH I WAS TOLD IT IS CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG PROBLEM. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CODE AND THE CODE SAID IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS FOR THE KIA OPTIMA BUT NOT FOR MY 2012 EX. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME AS DESCRIBED FOR THE RECALLED KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TRIED TO SEE IF IT WAS A SIMPLE CABLE CONNECTION ISSUE UNDER THE SEAT BUT THAT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO PAY $$$$ TO GET THE AIRBAG FIXED WHEN THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS. BUT I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK AND KIA WON'T FIX IT UNDER A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396979February 19, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY ROLLED DOWN WHILE DRIVING. CHECKS REVEAL THAT THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE UPWARD/DOWNWARD MOVEMENT WAS INOPERABLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRM THE MOTOR NEEDED CHANGING. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I AM THE ONLY USER OF THE CAR AND THE BACK SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED, THEY STILL CHARGED $650 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE REAR LEFT WINDOW. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO PAY ANOTHER $650, SO I TRIED TO PLACE PAPER IN THE SPACE TO HOLD THE GLASS IN PLACE. NOW TODAY THE RIGHT FRONT GLASS JUST ROLLED DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I SPOKE WITH A KIA DRIVER I SAW IN THE PARKING LOT AT WALMART AND HE STATED THAT HE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396654February 17, 2021
ENGINE
PER NHTSA RECALL 20V750, A KIA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME TODAY (2/17/2021) THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO SERVICE THIS RECALL DUE TO A 'NATIONWIDE COMPUTER OUTAGE'. HOW CAN THEY BE ALLOWED TO ISSUE A MAJOR RECALL AND THEN NOT BE PREPARED TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS TO SERVICE THE VEHICLES?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396714February 17, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
CAR ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. ROAD RANGER ATTEMPTED TO JUMP CAR OFF BUT SPARKS CAME AND MULTIPLE CABLES WERE BURNT OUT.. CAR WOULD NOT START. TOOK IT TO MULTIPLE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP AND WAS ADVISE TO CONTACT KIA FOR RECALL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396484February 16, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER KIA OF VACAVILLE LOCATED AT 651 ORANGE DR, VACAVILLE, CA 95687 WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SOFTWARE NEEDED WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396321February 15, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 2/14/2011 A "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" WARNING CAME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRIANGLE HEV LIGHT, A RED BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR LOST ENGINE POWER. AFTER MY VEHICLE SLOWED TRAFFIC DOWN DUE TO NOT HAVING POWER I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY COASTING THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHAT SO EVER NOT EVEN WITH JUST THE ENGINE POWER. WHEN I PULLED OVER THE BIG CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING DISSAPEARED AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRIANGLE HEV LIGHT STAYED ON. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO MY HOME AND AFTER I CONNECTED IT TO THE WALL PLUG FOR AN HOUR THE LIGHTS DISSAPEARED. I'M AFRAID THAT IF I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WONT BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THIS ISSUE SINCE THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ON AND THEY TELL ME THEY CANT FIND THE ISSUE AND THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE FROM 2014 HYBRID MODELS AND UP AND HAS HAPPENED TO THEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS THEM THEY CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396380February 15, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN I GO TO FILL UP WITH FUEL IT WON'T ALLOW ME TO PUMP BUT VERY LITTLE FUEL BEFORE IT SPILLS OUT. I HAVE TO PUT VERY LITTLE IN AT A TIME BEFORE THE PUMP CLICKS OFF. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COMPLETELY FILL UP MY TANK SINCE MAY WITHOUT IT TAKING 45 MINS OR SO AND IT SPILLING OUT. I WAS PARKED AT THE GAS STATION WHEN THIS HAPPENED, WITH THE CAR OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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