Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11232598July 16, 2019
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. AT TIMES ENGINE LIGHT MAY FLICKER. SOMETIMES ON START UP ENGINE WILL PUTTER LIKES ITS NOT FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS. AFTER RETSTART SEVERAL TIMES THE RPM GAGE WILL NOT MOVE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER DROVE VEHICLE BUT COULD NOT FUND ANY CODES APPEARING AND PROBLEM DID NOT OCCUR WHILE IN SHOP. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS OFF AND ON. ON ONE OCCASION I WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED ON THE FREEWAY WHEN VEHICLE STALLED OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232248July 16, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS FIRST THE ENGINE WENT UP JUST LOCKED UP. THE BRAKES PULSATE WON'T STOP AND I HAVE CHANGED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES 3 TIMES. THE DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. SUSPENSIONS CAR ROCKS AND BOUNCES . NOW THE RADIO IS OUT. AND MY WINDOW WON'T GO UP IF PUT DOWN. THE WAS IN MOTION FOR ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232147July 15, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY LOSING ACCELERATION.; A RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD THERE IS CONSISTENT BEEPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY. A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS CHECK BRAKE APPEARS IN THE DRIVERS DISPLAY; ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE INCREASES THE RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW RAPIDLY. NOT IDLE AS IF IT WERE NOT IN GEAR, BUT JUST AS IF THE DRIVER WAS BREAKING SUDDENLY. THE ONLY KNOWN METHOD OF CORRECTING THIS IS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT. HOWEVER, THIS STOPS WORKING AS A SOLUTION AFTER A FEW DAYS AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN THE VEHICLE RESTARTS YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY AT LEAST 20 TIMES IN THE PAST BEFORE UNTIL EVENTUALLY IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN AT ALL. AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 MPH ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO 70 MPH ON BUSY FREEWAYS. I SINCERELY FEAR THAT IF NOT CORRECTED IT WILL LEAD TO A (POTENTIALLY FATAL) VEHICLE COLLISION. I ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEAR-BY KIA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN CA. AFTER MONTHS THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND IT CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE WITHIN A DAYS. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE MALFUNCTION AS ALSO. I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS AS WELL. THIS NEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY BE CORRECTED AND THE TECHNICIANS NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW TO FIX IT RATHER THAN EXPERIMENTING ON OWNERS VEHICLES FOR MONTHS OR WEEKS TO THEN RETURN IT WITHOUT RESOLUTION. WHY SHOULD I OR ANY OTHER KIA OWNER BEAR THE BURDEN OF THESE UNNECESSARY COSTS, INCONVENIENCE, AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS. KIA NEEDS TO RESPOND I AM SURE OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME ISSUE AND SHOULD COME FORWARD IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF ALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231696July 14, 2019
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY MY KIA SUDDENLY STALLED CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO STEER THE CAR OFF THE FREEWAY BARELY AVOIDING GETTING STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WASN'T BAD BUT I DID HAVE TO AVOID GETTING HIT BY ONCOMING CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231594July 13, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE EVERYTHING TURNED ON IN THE CAR EXCEPT THE CAR ITSELF. BRAKE PEDAL WAS STIFF AND NOTHING WOULD TURN THE ENGINE ON. IT TOOK OVER 10 MINUTES AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO FIRE. HAS HAPPENED TWICE TODAY 7/13/19. THE VEHICLE IS A PUSH BUTTON START WITH BATTERY CHARGE OF 95% AND NEW BATTERIES IN THE FOB.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231282July 12, 2019
ENGINE
I BOUGHT A 2016 KIA OPTIMA FROM AIRPORT KIA IN 12/16. BEGINNING ON 5/24/19, WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE ON A BUSY ROAD THE SPEED FELL FROM 45 TO 35 IN LESS THAN A MINUTE AND BEGAN TO JERK. I HAD IT TOWED TO GALEANA KIA (G.A.) SERVICE DEPT, DUE TO PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH AIRPORT KIA'S NEGLIGENCE AND REFUSAL TO FIX DEFOGGING ISSUES I HAD ON A PREVIOUS 2014 KIA OPTIMA THAT ALSO HAD SAFETY ISSUES. G.A. MADE REPAIRS TO MY VEHICLE FOR THAT VISIT. ON 6/24/19, IT WAS TOWED AGAIN TO G.A. FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE MILES DROPPED FROM 45 TO 35 WHILE DRIVING AND BEGAN TO JERK FORCEFULLY AGAIN. BOTH TIMES ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS TIME G.A.'S DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE DIDN'T PULL UP ANY ISSUES WITH MY 2016 OPTIMA. THEY OPENED UP A CASE WITH THE KIA CONSUMER TECHNICAL DEPT. WHEN I CALLED G.A. A FEW DAYS LATER, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS SUGGESTED THEY CHANGE OUT THE KNOCK SENSOR. ON 6/28/19, THE REGIONAL ANALYST CONTACTED ME. I VOICED MY CONCERNS OF THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND THAT AIRPORT KIA GAVE ME ANOTHER DEFECTIVE CAR THAT PUTS MINE, MY CHILD'S LIFE AND THOSE AROUND ME IN JEOPARDY. I STRESSED HOW THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE ISN'T EVEN PICKING UP THE ISSUE OF MY VEHICLE SO BASICALLY THE ENGINEERS ARE GOING BASED ON HYPOTHETICAL'S AND CAN'T GUARANTEE SAFETY OF THE CAR. HER RESPONSE WAS THAT SHE'S 100% CONFIDENT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM AND TO BUILD TRUST IN MY CAR. ON 7/9/19 THE REGIONAL ANALYST FROM KIA CONSUMER E-MAILED ME NOW CHANGING THE SERVICE TO BE DONE TO MY CAR STATING THAT THEY HAVE THE ENGINE ORDERED FOR MY VEHICLE AND THE HARNESS. WHEN I ASKED FOR INFORMATION AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE CHANGE SHE DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION ANSWERING MY QUESTION. G.A. WAS HONEST IN LETTING ME KNOW THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED AT ALL IN REGARDS ANY ENGINE OR HARNESS REPLACEMENTS AND THE LAST THEY HEARD FROM THEM ONLY INVOLVED CHANGING THE KNOCK SENSOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231342July 12, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AT A LARGE INTERSECTION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MY ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC SHOP WHOM I HAD USED BEFORE. THE LEAD TECHNICIAN SAID THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID IS FULL OF METAL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MOTOR IS FROZE UP. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231407July 12, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231506July 12, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY BAKE TAIL LIGHT KEEP MOISTURE AND HOLDS WATER WHEN IT RAINS, WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO REPLACE BAKE LIGHT OFTEN. THE SEALS ON THE LIGHTS AREN'T AIR TIGHT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231508July 12, 2019
AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON IT. WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS ON MY VEHICLE 2015 KIA OPTIMA LX SEDAN 4 DOOR. AND THE DEALER SHIP DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231138July 11, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. ONCE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK WITH THE DEALER, BUT HAD COMMUNICATION ISSUES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230811July 10, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. MYRTLE BEACH KIA (4811 US-501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29579, 843-444-8000) DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230854July 10, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE NOISE, SOUND LIKE SOMETHING LOSE INSIDE. WHILE RUNNING STATIONARY AND MOVING, HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE NOISE STARTED 3 MONTHS AGO. NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. READ ABOUT RECALL JUST LAST WEEK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230331July 9, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230528July 9, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE WIRING IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY.THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE ACROSS DEALERS AND AFTERMARKET SHOPS. HEADLIGHTS APPEAR VERY DIM AND GIVE OUT LOW OR NO LIGHT. IT'S NOT THE BULBS. THE WHOLE HEADLAMP NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR WIRING ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230536July 9, 2019
ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND CARMAX SAID IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230174July 8, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SOMETIME TOWARD THE END OF 2017, I NOTICED THAT MY DOME LIGHT NO LONGER ILLUMINATED WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED. I CAN STILL USE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS MANUALLY, THOUGH THIS USUALLY LEADS TO FORGETTING AND LEAVING THEM ON. I LIVE IN WA, IT IS OFTEN DARK AROUND 4 PM AND GREY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS I CANNOT SEE WHO IS IN MY CAR BEFORE ENTERING WHEN IN A PARKING LOT. ALSO, MY 5-YEAR-OLD HAS A HARD TIME BUCKLING HER OWN CAR SEAT BELT SINCE SHE CANNOT SEE THE BUCKLE. THIS IS AN INCONVENIENCE AND WITH CRIME RATES RISING, IT MAKES ME FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE GOING OUT ALONE, KNOWING THAT NOBODY CAN SEE WHAT IS GOING ON WHILE I AM BUCKLING HER IN. THE CHANCES OF BEING MUGGED OR WORSE GO UP, MY SAFETY IS WORTH THE $400, HOWEVER, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE FIXED. THE REASON I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL IS BECAUSE OF THE 3 KIA'S WE OWN, 2 OF THEM HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ONLY WORKING MANUALLY AND NOT ACTIVATED WITH OPENING THE DOOR. MY WIFE'S 2014 KIA SORENTO DOME LIGHT STOPPED WORKING WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED AROUND DECEMBER OF 2018. BOTH OF US HAVE OVER 60,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE MALFUNCTION. I WAS QUOTED OVER $400 TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED. WHEN LOOKING AT FORUMS, IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT IS A CONNECTION THAT WIGGLES LOOSE. I AM SURE THAT IF 2 OF OUR KIA'S HAVE THIS ISSUE, IT IS HIGHLY LIKELY MANY MORE KIA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX THIS SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230295July 8, 2019
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
CAR STOPPED WORKING MOTOR MAKING LOUD POPPING SOUNDS AND STOPPED ON ME..THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR WARNINGS..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229990July 8, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 80MPH. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASHBOARD. CAR LOST POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR RIGHT AFTER HEARD CLICKING NOISES LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 20MINS I TRIED RESTARTING AGAIN ITS STARTED WITHOUT ISSUE. AND I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. THE NEXT DAY DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AGAIN I TRIED ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 60MPH AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND I HEARD KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM IT IMMEDIATELY. PULLED OVER AND GOT IT TOWED FROM THERE. PRIOR TO THIS I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY ENGINE ISSUES AND NEVER HAD THE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. CAR ONLY HAS 44K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229862July 7, 2019
STEERING
MULTIABLE OCCASIONS OF POWER STEERING LOSS AT LOW SPEEDS (15MPH OR LESS). THE POWER STEERING UNIT APPEARS TO STOP WORKING WHICH RESULTS IN THE INABILITY TO TURN THE WHEEL. I HAVE DRIVEN CARS WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND THIS CONDITION WITH THE KIA OPTIMA RESULTS IN A NEAR COMPLETE LACK OF STEERING, NOT JUST DIFFICULTY TURNING. THE CONDITION APPEARS TO BE PRECEDED WITH A STICKING OR CLICKING CONDITION THAT INCREASES IN FREQUENCY UNTIL THE SYSTEM FAILS. TURNING OFF THE CAR THEN RESTARTING IT APPEARS TO CLEAR THE ISSUE AND STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL FOR A DECREASING PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN EACH EPISODE. THE CAR HAS SPENT OVER TWO WEEKS AT THE LOCAL KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT THEM BEING ABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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