Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11222854June 27, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. STARTED TO KNOCK, ON MY WAY HOME, JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE SHOP IT WAS BARELY DRIVEABLE. TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2011 TO2014 OPTIMA'S. MECHANIC SAYS THIS ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223008June 27, 2019
STEERING
THERE IS A SMALL RUBBER-LIKE COUPLING IN THE STEERING MECHANISM. IT FAILED AND PRODUCED ABOUT A QUARTER TURN OF SLACK IN THE STEERING WHEEL. IN READING TO ONLINE POSTS IT APPEARS THAT FAILURE IS COMMON. THE PARTS TECHNICIAN AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP DIDN'T NEED TO LOOK UP THE PART NUMBER...HE JUST REACHED IN A DRAWER NEARBY AND PULLED A NEW ONE OUT. THE PROBLEM CHANGED FROM A OCCASIONAL CLICK TO VERY SLOPPY STEERING WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 MILE STRETCH OF RUTTED ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH.. I HAVE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF THE FAILED PART AND ONE OF THE NEW PART.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222656June 26, 2019
ENGINE
THE KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222725June 26, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE RUMBLES LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO DIE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE AND BEFORE I PRESS THE GAS AFTER BEING STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ON CITY STREETS. I OFTEN HAVE TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL HALF WAY DOWN TO GET IT TO GAIN SPEED ON CITY STREETS, IT FEELS SLUGGISH, AND SHIFTING DOES NOT FEEL VERY SMOOTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222512June 25, 2019
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND LUCKILY I DIDNT GET INTO ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO PARK NEARBY TO WAIT FOR A TOWED TRUCK. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. NOT SURE WHAT TO DO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222589June 25, 2019
ENGINE
MY KIA OPTIMA 2016 HAS AN ISSUE ON 03/31/2019: CHECK ENGINE BLINKING,LACKS POWER(NO MORE THAN 50 MPH). TOOK IT TO DEALER TOWBIN KIA, THEY FOUND A KNOCK SOUND IN ENGINE, SO THEY SAID THEY WITH NO RISK TO REPAIR AND THEY WOULD CHANGE ENGINE. AFTER 17 DAYS CAR DOWN IN DEALER, GOT A PHONE CALL TO PICK UO THE CAR BUT NO ENGINE CHANGED, INSTEAD KIA MOTORS (KMA)ORDER CHANGE WIRING HARNES.CAR WORKED GOOD FOR 10 DAYS. ON SATURDAY 04/27/2019 SAME ISSUE, DROPPED THE CAR 04/29/2019 TO DEALER, MORE TESTS AND KMA ORDERED TO HOOK A FLYING RECORD TO RECORD ERROR CODES WHEN ISSUE SHOWS UP. DEALER STAFF DROVE CAR FOR 300 MILES WITH DEVICE HOOKED UP, NO ISSUES. I WAS CALLED TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO DRIVE THE CAR MYSELF WITH DEVICE CONNECTED. I DROVE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS AND NO ISSUES. ON 06/04/2019 DEALER DISCONNECTS DEVICE AND 06/07/2019 DRIVING TO WORK SAME ISSUE CAMES BACK. 3RD TIME DROPPED CAR TO DEALER, ON 06/14/2019 CALLED TO PICK CAR UP, KMA ORDERED TO CHANGE SENSORS. ON 06/21/2019 SAME ISSUE CAME BACK, CAR DROPPED TO DEALER SAME DAY. ON 04/01/2019 DEALER TOLD ME THAT KMA ISSUE A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON ENGINES OF KIA OPTIMA DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS. THAT IS WHY DEALER WANTED TO CHANGE ENGINE. ON 06/24/2019 DEALER TOLD ME THAT KMA IS WORKING IN AN UPDATED REFLASH WHICH MEANS REPROGRAMING SOFTWARE TO CAR. I CAN SEE THAT KMA DOES NOT WANTS TO HONOR LIFETIME WARRANTY TO CHANGE ENGINE. I AM WATCHING AN ATTORNEY TOGET ADVICE FOR LEGAL ACTIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222038June 24, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHT KEEP GOING OUT AND I HAVE KEEP REPLACING BULBS. I BE DRIVING AND LIGHTS WILL BLINK THEN JUST GO OUT , I KEEP HAVE BUY LIGHT BULB EVERY TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222260June 24, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
IT SEEMS THAT MY LIGHTS ALWAYS GO OUT! I'VE REPLACED THE FRONT LIGHT 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. AND THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS AS WELL. I AM ALWAYS GETTING PULLED OVER BECAUSE OF MY LIGHT GOING OUT! THE TRIM SEEMS TO FALL OFF AS WELL ON BACK DOORS ABOVE WINDOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222309June 24, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN HE SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE ON THE OIL CAP. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED HE SAW A GASOLINE LEAK ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED GRAND KIA LOCATED AT 1950 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, (720) 943-1144, WERE NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221954June 23, 2019
SUSPENSION
MAKING A NOCKING NOISE ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221929June 22, 2019
ENGINE
MY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHILE IN THE TURNING LANE MY CAR SHUTS OFF. CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON AND IT WOULD NOT TAKE A JUMP. THE LOCATION WAS A BUSY STREET IN MEMPHIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221440June 20, 2019
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WITHIN FIVE MINUTES OF ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT'S LIPS AND EYES STARTED TO BURN AND THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE CABIN. THE FAILURES OCCURRED AFTER THE CONTACT FILLED THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD NOT BREATHE INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND THE AIR MADE HER SICK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT AT CROWN KIA (5500 34TH ST N, ST. PETERSBURG, FL 33714, (844) 921-3247). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,439.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221472June 20, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY KIA WOULD JUST CUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC IF I IDLING AT A LIGHT OR AT A STOP SIGN. I EVEN NOTICED WHEN I WHEN TO PUT FUEL IN THE TANK THE CAR HAD A HARD TIME TURNING BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221568June 20, 2019
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH, GOT IN LANE 4 TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE JUST TURNED OFF. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM THE ENGINE. TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME WITH ANY UPDATES (THIS WAS AFTER TELLING ME THAT IT WOULD COST $165 TO DIAGNOSE). JUST GOT THE ECU UPDATED APPROX. 6 MONTHS AGO. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING POPPED UP ON THE DASH, JUST GOT THE OIL CHANGED 06/15/2019. THERE ARE APPROX. 118K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221314June 19, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE LINE HAS AIR IN IT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN A MATTER OF A FEW MONTHS, FIRST TIME IT TOOK KIA DEALERSHIP 4 DAYS TO REPAIR. THIS CURRENT TIME IT SHOULD TAKE 2 DAYS. WHEN BRAKING HARD AT A SLOW OR HIGH SPEED, THERE IS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM BRAKE AREA. S
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220939June 18, 2019
ENGINE
I PURCHASED MY KIA OPTIMA 2014 BRAND NEW OFF OF A DEALERSHIP LOT. A FEW YEARS LATER I WAS DRIVING TO CALIFORNIA AND MY ENGINE COMPLETELY WENT OUT, I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR KIA THEY TOWED MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. KIA HAD FAILED TO INFORM ME THAT THERE WAS A CAMPAIGN FOR A RECALL FOR MY ENGINE HOWEVER THEY DID REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE EXACT SAME DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM. AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED OUR STARTED TO SMELLING GASOLINE AROMA ALONG WITH LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH MY CAR. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THAT THAT WAS NORMAL AND THOSE THINGS WOULD SOON SUBSIDE. A FEW MONTHS LATER AS I WAS BACKING INTO MY GARAGE MY NEIGHBOR FRANTICALLY WAVE ME DOWN STATING THAT THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE CAR I LOOKED OVER TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND I DID SEE SMOKE AND I LOOKED OVER TO THE DRIVER SIDE AND I SAW A RED FIRE AND SMOKE I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SOON CAME WITHIN 6 MINUTES MY CAR WAS HALFWAY IGNITED INTO FLAMES. HE HAS STATED THEY WOULD SEND OUT A FORENSIC FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND I SHOULD HIRE MY OWN FIRE INVESTIGATOR. I DID SO HE HAS YET TO DISCLOSE THEIR FINDING ON CAUSE OF FIRE. HOWEVER SHORTLY THEREAFTER MY FORENSIC FIRE INVESTIGATORS HIT ME OVER INFORMATION STATING THAT KIA FAILED TO REPLACE THE CLIP THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY MANDATORY FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE ENGINE. THIS POSES A BIG ISSUE FOR CONSUMERS CAN POTENTIALLY PUT THEIR LIVES IN DANGER. UNFORTUNATELY I'M A VICTIM OF THIS AND I FEEL KIA SHOULD BE OBLIGATED TO WRITE THEY'RE WRONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220958June 18, 2019
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 50 TO 60 MPH . THIS IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT OR WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE . I HAD A KIA SERVICE PERSON THAT WORKS IN ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING DEALT WITH BY KIA .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220953June 18, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE DASHBOARD READ 'HEV SYSTEM WARNING. PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF VEHICLE.' ENGINE THEN SHUT OFF. AFTER NEARLY BEING HIT BY A SEMI-TRUCK, I COASTED FROM THE CARPOOL TO THE OFF RAMP EXIT. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 5-15MPH AND MADE IT HOME SAFELY. I TOWED MY VEHICLE TO THE CITRUS VALLEY MOTORS IN THE CITY OF ONTARIO. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS STATING IT WAS A FUSE IN THE ENGINE AND IT WILL COST ME $686.97. KIA RELEASED INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC STATING THEY KNOW THE 125 FUSE AMP FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEMS WAS THE WRONG SIZE WHICH CAN CAUSE A 'BLOW OUT' TURNING THE ENGINE OFF WHILE DRIVING. KIA STAYED THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT WITH THE 150 AMP FUSE IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THE POWER TO THE ENGINE. I CALLED KIA EXPRESSING MY CONCERN UNDER THE FEDERAL POLICY 'LEMON LAW.' KIA TOLD ME 'YOUR WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BY 3 WEEKS. WE CAN NOT GIVE YOU ASSISTANCE.' MY VEHICLE SITS IN THE SHOP WITH A WRONG SIZE FUSE AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE CORRECT SIZE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THEIR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221025June 18, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
TAKARA RECALL: MY ENGINE HAD BEEN KNOCKING/SHAKING FOR A GOOD MINUTE NOW. WHEN I HAVE IT RUNNING AND HOOD OPEN IT'S JUST VIBRATING EXTREMELY HARD AND CONSTANTLY.I'VE NOTICED IT WANTS TO STALL OR NO SHIFT CORRECTLY AFTER A DEAD STOP AND SOMETHING GOING INTO 3RD GEAR. EVEN WHILE JUST IDLING I CAN FEEL THE ENGINE SHAKING THE WHOLE CAR FROM INSIDE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220808June 18, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY CAR WILL NOT TURN COMPLETELY OFF! I WAS DRIVING IF THE FREEWAY AND HIT AN OBJECT, NOT SURE WHAT. WHEN I GOT HOME I COULDN'T TURN MY CAR OFF COMPLETELY. THE CAR THINK THAT IT'S OFF BUT THE ENGINE STILL REVS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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