Kia Optima Complaints (2011)

628 consumer complaints on file.

#11016468August 21, 2017
ENGINE
WELL MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT INTO A PARKING LOT TO BE TOWED, COME TO FIND OUT MY ENGINE WENT OUT ON ME. I STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND THEN MY CAR DIED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. COME TO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY USPET TO FIND OUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR OR SO AND HAVE NEVER EVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF IT VIA MAIL OR ANYTHING! I COULD OF KILLED SOMEONE LET ALONE MYSELF OR MY FAMILY! I HAD TO DO REPAIRS O N8/19/17 BECAUSE MY CAR OUT OF NOWHERE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND BATTERY DIED. I HAD TO GET A NEW BATTERY AND THEN HAVE MY CAR CHECKED OUT WHICH ALL COSTED $350 AND STILL DIED ON ME AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON NOW THEN... ONLY TO FIND OUT MY ENGINE WAS BAD. I'M LOOKING INTO LEGAL ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11016224August 18, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HART KIA (LOCATED AT 1361 E MAIN ST SALEM, VA 24163 540-389-2364) WHERE IT WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED DUE TO NO FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 12413664. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11016266August 18, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE A VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS DRAGGING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN KIA DEALER IN IRVINE, CA. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE TORN DOWN TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A ROD BEARING AND THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS FREE OF SLUDGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS THE THIRD OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL TO A PREVIOUS UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, WHICH WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11015777August 16, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AIRPORT KIA NAPLES (3325 WESTVIEW DR, NAPLES, FL 34104) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND A RECALL REPAIR FOR THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE ENGINE WAS OPERABLE AND DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHILE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE. THE CONTACT CALLED AIRPORT KIA NAPLES AT (239) 732-8910 AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK. WHILE DRIVING BACK TO THE DEALER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS READY FOR PICK UP AFTER FOUR DAYS. WHILE LEAVING THE DEALER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED TO BLOW HEAT, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE EXHAUST, AND THE KNOCKING NOISE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED, WHICH CAUSED THE SMOKE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE AIR CONDITIONER AS A COURTESY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, OPENED AN INVESTIGATION, AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12451212. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,958.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11014773August 11, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY DIM TO THE POINT WE HAVE QUESTIONED IF THEY WERE EVEN ON AT TIMES. HAVE REPLACE THE BULBS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THERE IS SOME LIGHT TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT BUT NOTHING STRAIGHT AHEAD INDICATING THE REFLECTORS ARE NO LONGER INTACT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11012689August 3, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IT'S LOUD KNOCKING NOISES INSIDE THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11012450August 2, 2017
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE BAY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HAS BEEN ENTIRELY BURNED OUT IN 5 MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11011985August 1, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOUGHT 2011 KIA OPTIMA NEW. WIFE DRIVEN TO WORK DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. RECENTLY DROVE IT AT NIGHT AND NOTICED DIM LOW BEAMS AS WELL. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR CRANKSHAFT RECALL AND HAD THEM LOOK AT HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS. SURPRISE, WE NEED 2 NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES PLUS INSTALLATION.. ABOUT $1000+. REFLECTIVE MATERIAL MELTED/DETERIORATED. DEALER CLAIMS IGNORANCE AND TRIES TO SAY WE HIT A BUMP CAUSING ISSUE . DENY, DENY, DENY. I WON'T WAIT FOR ANY RECALL OR RESTITUTION, I'M GONNA TRADE THE PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD. BUYER BEWARE !!! BTW , WE HAVE REPLACED INTERIOR LIGHTING SWITCH AT $300+ AND ALSO A/C COMPRESSOR AT $1700. THE CAR HAS 68,000 MI ON IT AND HAS COST US $2000 OUT OF POCKET IN WHAT I CONSIDER PREMATURE FAILURES. NOT TO MENTION THE HEADLIGHT COST. NOT HAPPY WITH KIA ,,!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011711July 31, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11010866July 26, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING LOT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11010292July 24, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS HIGH SPEEDS, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK UPON ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000. UPDATED 09/06/17 *BF *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11006309July 19, 2017
ENGINE
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT UP UNTIL NOW I LOVED MY KIA!!!! UNFORTUNATELY BEGINNING JUST BEFORE THE CAR HAD 100,000 MILES ON IT, THE CAR BEGAN TO BURN OIL. IT IS BURNING APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE LATEST ENGINE RECALL AND WHILE THERE I COMMUNICATED WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING OIL AT THE RATE OF A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED MY OIL WHEN CHECKING IT FOR THE ENGINE RECALL, AFTERWARDS THEY DIRECTED ME TO BRING IT BACK IN AT 1000 MILES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW FOR THIS CHECK. THE CAR IS AT 900 MILES AND A QUART LOW. I HOPE KIA WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS. I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCES WITH THE ENGINE FAILURE AND ONE OF THE COMMON SYMPTOMS SEEMS TO BE THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGINNING TO BURN OIL. I DO NOT WANT TO BE ON THE INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY HAVE ENGINE FAILURE IN AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF THE LINE OF TRAFFIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11006459July 19, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GALEANA CHRYSLER JEEP KIA (180 GREYSTONE BLVD, COLUMBIA, SC 29210, (803) 779-7300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROD BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER TO CALL BACK DURING BUSINESS HOURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,606.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11005850July 17, 2017
ENGINE
MY ENGINE DID EXACTLY AS THE RECALL ON THE NON-HYBRID ENGINES. LOST OIL PRESSURE, OIL INDICATOR CAME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS ENGINE SEIZED ON HIGHWAY DURING DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO INCLUDE MY CAR ENGINE IN RECALL BECAUSE OF HYBRID -EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A GAS ENGINE. KIA CORPORATE CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WERE WILLING TO "WORK SOMETHING OUT" WITH IT IF DEALERSHIP WILL CONTACT THEM. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO DO THIS YET. LIKELY LEGAL COUNSEL WILL HAVE TO BE CONTACTED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALSO COMMENTED DEFECTIVE PART LIKELY CAUSE. GOOD THING I DID NO HAVE CARDIAC ISSUE -HAD TO WAIT IN HEAT ON HIGHWAY DURING SUMMER MORNING FOR TOW TRUCK AFTER SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE IN TRAFFIC WHILE EXITING ON TO THE HIGHWAY. ALSO FORTUNATE THE CARS BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME CAUSING MORE DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY. STILL TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11005463July 15, 2017
AIR BAGS
CLOCK SPRING PROBLEM. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IF IT WAS A SORENTO IT WOULD BE COVERED, BUT SINCE IT IS AN OPTIMA IT IS NOT COVERED AND WOULD COST $390.00 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING, AS THIS IS THE DIAGNOSED PROBLEM. RESEARCH ONLINE REVEALS A RECALL IN 2012 OF PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR OPTIMAS FOR THE CLOCK SPRING. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IF THE REPAIR IS NOT DONE POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11002529June 30, 2017
ENGINE
THIS IS NOT A COMPLAINT. I SIMPLY WANT TO INFORM YOU THE RECALL NOTICE YOU SENT ME REGARDING THE METAL DEBRIS IN MY ENGINE WAS FIXED OCTOBER 2015.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11001902June 28, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BEGAN TO SKID OFF THE ROAD. ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE CONTACT LIFTED THE HOOD, HE FOUND THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE STARTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11001331June 26, 2017
ENGINE
01/19/2017 KIA OPTIMA SX 2011, ENGINE KNOCKING, LOSS OF POWER. TOWED TO ORLANDO KIA WEST (OKW). 03/03/2017, OKW COMPLETED REBUILD OF 2.0T THETA II ENGINE WITH $4000.00 SHORT BLOCK ASSEMBLY PROVIDED BY KIA MOTORS AMERICA. DIAGNOSIS WAS, DEFECTIVE CONNECTING ROD #3 BEARING. 05/26/2017, ENGINE LOST POWER/FUNCTION. OKW DIAGNOSED AS CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE. 06/01/2017, REPLACED #3 FUEL INJECTOR, $600.00. OKW STATED ENGINE STILL NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED. DIAGNOSED TURBOCHARGER SEAL FAILURE. REPLACED TURBOCHARGER $2810.00. ENGINE STILL NOT OPERATING AS DESIGNED. OKW DIAGNOSED CYLINDER #3 NOT HOLDING COMPRESSION. REASON UNKNOWN. 06/12/2017, OKW OFFERED RENTAL, BUT ONLY IF I PAID IN ADVANCE $2810.00 OPEN TICKET FOR TURBOCHARGER. I REFUSED. KIA MOTORS AMERICA PERSUADED OKW OTHERWISE. 06/26/2017, CURRENTLY IN RENTAL CAR WAITING FOR INFORMATION. NHTSA RECALL 17V224
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11001242June 25, 2017
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WE WERE DRIVING ON A SLIGHTLY CURVY AND HILLY ROAD WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT WAS AROUND 45 AND THE CAR LOST ALL RPM AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING, THERE WAS A NOTABLE ENGINE KNOCKING HEARD DURING THIS TIME. WE PULLED OVER AT THAT TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11000592June 22, 2017
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WAS WAITING FOR RED LIGHT AND CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING IT STARTED BUT SOUNDED TERRIBLE. PARKED FOR AWHILE AND HAS BEEN FINE SINCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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