Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11235201July 26, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT OR DURING THE DAY AT RANDOM TIMES THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF AND SOMETIMES COME BACK ON WITHOUT ANY CHANGES FROM DRIVER. THE SETTING FOR MY HEADLIGHTS ARE SET TO AUTO. IN ORDER FOR LIGHT TO COME ON AT NIGHT ONCE THEY HAVE AUTOMATICALLY TURNED THEMSELVES OFF I HAVE TO SWITCH THE CONTROL TO ON. THIS IS CONTINUING TO HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11234913July 25, 2019
ENGINE
ON JUNE 26 2019 I CONTACTED MONROEVILLE KIA DUE TO MY CAR SMOKING WHEN ACCELERATING, I ADVISED THEM IT FELT AS IF WE'RE TRYING TO STALL. THEY SCHEDULED ME AN APPT JULY 9,2019. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AND A FEW HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS AND THE DID SOME SORT OF ENGINE SOFTWARE UPGRADE BUT FOUND NO ISSUES. I DROVE OFF THE LOT AND STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ONLY NOW I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE SHAKING. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM WHICH WAS CENTURY 3 KIA. THE SCHEDULED ME FOR JULY 23, I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AND SEVERAL HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY DENIED THE CLAIM SAYING IT WAD DUE TO MAINTENANCE HOWEVER I PRODUCED OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE THAT THEY DID IS SOFTWARE TO DETECT THE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY ARE AWARE IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE BUT ARE NOT RECALLING THEIR VEHICLES AND ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBLY FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT COULD CATCH FIRE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11234670July 24, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE KIA OPTIMAS FOR THE TOD BEARINGS IN THE ENGINE. I HAD THE RECALL DONE ON APRIL 8 2019. AS OF 7/22/19 THE SAME CODE P1326 AND SYMPTOMS ARW ARE HAPPENING AGAIN WHICH ARE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING THE CAR IS IN LIMP MODE THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND IT CAN'T GO OVER A CERTAIN SPEED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11234032July 23, 2019
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, SEAT BELTS
I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON 10/05/2018 FOR CHANGE OIL, FRONT BRAKES AND RECALL CAMPAIGN. BUT IT LOOKS IT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS PANEL LIGHT IS ON AND THE BRAKES NEVER FEEL THIGHS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB DONE. I LET THE DEALER KNOW ABOUT IT BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME JUST TO CHECK AND FIX. WHEN BEFORE IT WASN'T LIKE THAT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11234109July 23, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THIS CONCERNS KIA RECALL SC147. I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX THAT I PURCHASED USED WITH 98,000 MILES ON IT IN FEBRUARY 2019. THE CAR DROVE PERFECT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I RECENTLY HAD THE OIL CHANGED IN JUNE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR STARTED KNOCKING SLIGHTLY FOR NO REASON AFTER A RECENT TRIP TO MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. THE ENGINE STALLED IN TRAFFIC SO I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND I WAS ABLE TO CRANK IT BACK UP. THE NEXT MORNING IT WAS REALLY KNOCKING LOUDLY SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ENGINE WAS TRYING TO THROW A ROD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233869July 22, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER AND I WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OUR CAR BEGAN SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THEN SMOKE BEGAN COMING THROUGH THE AIR VENTS INSIDE THE CAR; WITHIN SECONDS WE SEEN FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED THE VEHICLE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER. WITHIN MINUTES THE ENTIRE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO WARNING, OUR CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS OR OTHERS DISPLAYING ON THE DASH, NO LEAKS OR OVERHEATING TO CAUSE THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233596July 20, 2019
ENGINE
MY ENGINE STARTING BURNING OIL AND SMOKING. I LITERALLY HAD TO GET THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 2-3 DAYS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA, THEY INFORMED ME THAT SOME ENGINES HAD BEEN RECALLED BUT MINE WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR A NEW ENGINE WHICH I EVENTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE ON MY OWN BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I LATER LEARNED SEVERAL COLLEAGUES HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR ENGINES AND GOT IT REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233391July 19, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH 55K MILES ON IT. WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING TO WORK I SLOWED DOWN TO ENTER THE GATE AND HEARD MY BRAKES GRIND METAL ON METAL. I THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR A SQUEAL WHEN MY BRAKE PADS STARTED WEARING OUT WAY BEFORE I HEARD METAL ON METAL. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY SQUEAL BARS ON EACH BRAKE WERE BENT BACK TO WHERE THEY DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE PAD. HE STATED THAT SOMETIMES A STICK OR SOMETHING COULD GET UP IN THE WHEEL AND POSSIBLY BEND ONE A LITTLE BIT BUT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN ON BOTH FRONT BRAKES. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT MY CAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY THAT WAY BUT I HAVE NO PROOF. EVEN IF I WAS HARD ON MY BRAKES AND THE PADS WERE WORN I SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE SQUEAL AS A WARNING TO REPLACE THE PADS BEFORE I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ON THE SAME DAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233434July 19, 2019
STEERING
NOISE IN THE STEEING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL IN MOTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233435July 19, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND DEPRESSED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RATTLE, THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FLICKERED, AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTA WEST KIA (LOCATED AT 1301 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRING, GA 30122, (678) 715-5399) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233174July 18, 2019
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL IN 03/2019 I WENT TO MERGE ON INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC AND I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC, THE CAR WAS MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. WE TOOK STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME MY TURBO HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS "SLUDGE IN THE OIL" THEY ASSURED ME THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY KIA WARRANTY, MY CAR ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES AND I SSUMED THIS WOULD BE THE CASE WITH THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY KIA OFFERS. THE DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED MY CLAIM SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WAS DENIED, SO WE PAID THE 3000$ TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY ASSURED US EVERYTHING WAS GOOD TO GO. 1 MONTH LATER WE TOOK A 5 HOUR TRIP AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP ON US AS SOON AS WE GOT THERE, WE CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND KIA WOULD NOT TOW IT, SO WE ARRANGED FOR IT TO BE TOWED BACK HOME AND TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US THEY HAVE SO MANY KIA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THEY COULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR FOR ATLEAST 7DAYS. I STILL HAVENT HEARD FROM THEM ABOUT A CLAIM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233205July 18, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT CONTINUED TO MOVE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SONS KIA (100 SONS DR, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253, (678) 619-1393) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CLAIMING THAT THE SHIFTER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232699July 17, 2019
ENGINE
THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE THEN SLOWED DOWN AND WHEN I PULLED OVER I HAD A "HYBRID BATTERY LOW" LIGHT COME ON SO I HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND REPLACE THE BATTERY, STILL NOT WORKING. NOW THE BATTERY LIGHT IS OFF BUT NOW THERE'S 2 OTHER LIGHTS THAT COME ON. 1 SAID "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING DO NOT DRIVE" AND THE OTHER SAYS "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" SO I HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY CALLED ME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME THAT IT APPEARED THAT MY MOTOR SEIZED. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME HOW OR WHY.. MY CAR ONLY HAD 75,045 MILES ON IT. SO I CONTACT CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALLS. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS MIMICKING EXACTLY WHAT THE OPTIMA RECALLS WERE DOING. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MINE WAS A HYBRID IT DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY UNFAIR. STILL NOTHING THEY CAN DO, THEY WANT $6,200 FOR A USED MOTOR. MIND YOU I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 3 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH OILS CHANGES ETC. NEXT I FOUND OUT THAT I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY... BUT OF COURSE IT EXPIRED 45 MILES AGO. AGAIN, NOT FAIR. NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE OR WANT TO HELP ME. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT. NOW I'M WITHOUT A CAR THAT I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I FEEL AS THOUGH IF MY CAR WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALLS WERE DOING WITH THE SAME SIZE MOTOR THEN HOW COME THEY WON'T COVER MINE TO BE REPLACED? I ALMOST WANT TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. I STILL WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR! NOBODY HAS ANSWERS....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232743July 17, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN PARK THE CAR ISN'T RECOGNIZING THAT THE CAR IS PARKED CAUSING IT TO CONTINUE TO ROLL. ONCE THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART AND THE GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232851July 17, 2019
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE IGNITION SWITCH WON'T TURN, CAR SEEMS TO BE ON EVEN THOUGH LETS AREN'T IN IGNITIINNSWITCH, RADIO COMES ON BUT CAR LET STICK IN ON POSITION AND WON'T TURN..DOORS WON'T LOCK UNLESS KEY IS USED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232849July 17, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILED DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND MOMENTS LATER SMOKE AND FLAMES WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232943July 17, 2019
ENGINE
THE MOTOR IN MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA SPUN A ROD BEARING ON THE WAY TO A OUT OF TOWN SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT FOR MY DAUGHTER THE WEEKEND OF JUNE 28TH THRU JUNE 30 2019. MY FAMILY AND I WERE ABOUT 40 MILES AWAY FROM HOME ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. WE STOPPED TO CHECK THE CAR TO SEE WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM AND THAT'S WHEN I HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE MOTOR. AT THAT POINT I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC SHOP IN ANOTHER CITY AND STAR WHERE THE CAR STILL IS TODAY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN STARTED SPENCE THE DAY OF BREAK DOWN.(JUNE 28TH 2019)THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED ME TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WITH YOUR VIN LOOKUP TOOL I WAS ABLE TO FIND OUT THAT THE MOTOR DOES HAVE A RECALL ON IT FOR THIS VERY REASON. (OIL PASSAGES MAY BE BLOCK DUE TO DEBRIS FROM MANUFACTURER CLEANING DEFECT. CAUSING PREMATURE ROD BEARING WEAR FROM NOT CLEANING ENGINE PROPERLY BEFORE ENGINE ASSEMBLY).. I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE IN THE MAIL ABOUT A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE NOR DO I HAVE RECALL NUMBER. THE MECHANIC IS WILLING TO FIX THE ENTIRE PROBLEM FOR US BUT I NEED TO KNOW IF I SHOULD ALLOW HIM AND WILL RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT AFTER PAID REPAIRS OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A KIA AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232251July 16, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FOLLOWING HAPPENS ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND SOFTWARE, SENSORS, ACTUATORS, WARNING LIGHTS, FAULT CODES, AND PERFORMANCE RELATED CONCERNS OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. MY PASSENGER WINDOW WON'T GO UP ONCE YOU PUT IT DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT. I BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND IT'S NOT FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232374July 16, 2019
POWER TRAIN
IM DRIVING IN THE CITY STREETS THE CAR HAS HAD A CODE THAT CAME UP 1 MONTH AFTER THE IT IS A CORE TO REPLACE TUBE TO THE SXL TURBO THIS WORK WAS PERFORMED AT THE TIME OF THE SECOND ENGINE REPAIR DUE TO RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED KIA AND TOLD THEM OF THE ISSUE NOW CURRENTLY AS I WAIT FOR MY APPOINTMENT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS SO BACKED UP I NOW HAVE A ISSUE WHERE I CAN NOT REVERSE THE CAR WANTS TO SHUT OFF AS I ACCELERATE AND IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A PARKING BRAKE ON I TOLD KIA THE CAR JERKS GOING INTO 1ST GEAR AND THEN ACCELERATES WITH A JERKING MOTION TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC VERIFIED ONLY CODE THAT SHOWS UP IS FOR THE TURBO IT HAS A FLUTTER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED OR LINE REPLACEMENT BUT I HAVE PROOF THAT THAT WORK WAS ALREADY DONE I DO NOT KNOW IF THE CAR WILL MAKE THE APPOINTMENT TIME NOW THAT IT IS 5 DAYS OUT VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO CAR IS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AT A SAFE SPEED GOING INTO ANY INTERSECTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232459July 16, 2019
ENGINE
I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY, ACCELERATING TO GET UP TO THE SPEED OF THE TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. I NOTICED THE CAR WASN'T ACCELERATING LIKE NORMAL AND A SHORT DISTANCE AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, MY ENGINE FAILED. THE BATTERY AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TRIED STARTING MY CAR. IT WOULD START, BUT WOULD DIE AGAIN EVERY TIME I GOT TO ABOUT 20 MPH. I GOT IT INTO A GARAGE, WHERE THEY LOOKED AT IT THE NEXT DAY AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT BUT THE NEXT DAY, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES AS I WAS DRIVING. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS NEARLY EMPTY. I LOOKED TO SEE HOW MANY MILES IT HAD BEEN SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND IT WAS ABOUT 1,500 MILES. IN ALL THE TIMES I'VE HAD MY OIL CHANGED, NO ONE HAS EVER TOLD ME THE OIL WAS LOW. THERE WERE NO OIL DRIPS ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. IT SEEMS TO BE BURNING THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. WHEN I ADDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL, STEAM WAS COMING OUT OF THE OPENING EVEN THOUGH I ONLY DROVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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