Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11220508June 17, 2019STEERING
WHILE PARKING MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE I NOTICE AS I WAS TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. I ALSO NOTICE IT WHILE I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE STATIONARY I WILL STILL HEAR THE NOISE ON THE RIGHT.. I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS NOISE UNTIL TODAY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11220771June 17, 2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHT ARE DIM AND HAVE NO VISABILTY
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11220785June 17, 2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE I WAS DRIVING PROBABLY ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR OR SO MY CAR STARTED TO SHAKE REALLY HARD THEN IT SHUT OFF. ONCE IT SHUT OFF THE LOW OIL LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE LOW BATTERY LIGHT AS WELL. AFTER THAT THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND THEN TIREDNESS IT BACK ON WITH WITH NO PROBLEM. FOR MY CAR TO SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR STREET CAUSES MAJOR CONCERNS. ONE WHAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND I GET IN AN ACCIDENT OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11220342June 15, 2019ENGINE
ENGINE IS MAKING KNOCKING SOUND. SOUNDS LIKE PISTON. IT'S A 2012 AND KEEPING UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND TENDER LOVING CARE. IT'S 7 YEARS OLD THERE'S NO REASON THE ENGINE SHOULD BE KNOCKING AND TURNING OFF IN THE HIGH WAY AT SPEED 65 MPH WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT. I AM VERY MAD THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE FOR FREE (XXXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11220381June 15, 2019ENGINE
MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX-TGI IS IN 'LIMP HOME MODE' DUE TO A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE THAT DETECTS SOME SORT OF ENGINE PROBLEM. BUT IT'S NOT SPECIFIC ON WHAT IT IS. NOW MY WIFE CANNOT IS HER CAR THAT SHE HAS HAD ONLY FOR A FEW YEARS. IT HAS ALREADY HAD TWO MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIRS AND NOW I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANOTHER DEFECT THAT IS EXPLAINED IN A FEW ARTICLES ONLINE WHERE THE ENGINES HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. AND THIS 'LIMP HOME MODE' ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DRIVE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AT LOW SPEEDS TO KEEP FROM FURTHER DAMAGE. THESE ENGINES WERE REPLACED ON KIA'S LIKE MINE THAT WERE MANUFACTURED WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME. PLEASE BE AWARE IT'S A VERY SCARY MATTER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219928June 14, 2019ENGINE
SEE SERVICE REPORT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11220026June 14, 2019SUSPENSION
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN TO 3 DIFFERENT SHOPS BECAUSE I HAVE A MAJOR BOUNCING IN MY FRONT END. EVERYONE IS SAYING NOTING IS WRONG BUT I CAN ONLY GO SO FAST. I HAVE MY TIRES AND STUFF ROTATED ALL THEM TIME HOPING IT HELPS. SOMETIMES IT MAKES IT WORSE. THE DEALER IN ST GEORGE SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG. I DRIVE THE HIGHWAY BUT CAN ONLY DO 65 MPH. WHEN THE BOUNCING HAPPENS THE STEERING WHEEL IS BOUNCING TOO. I HAVE HAD THE BOUNCING FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH 79,000 MILES ON IT. THE USED CAR DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT KIA SAID SINCE I WAS THE SECOND OWNER THERE WAS NO WARRANTY. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD BOY THAT RIDES IN HERE AND I DON'T WANT TO WRECK WITH HIM IN IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11220163June 14, 2019VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A LOUD EXPLOSION WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE GLASS SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000. *BF *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219845June 13, 2019SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA PHEV. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE "CHECK BRAKES" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT TRAVELED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. WHEN THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING ON AN INCLINE, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK AND THEN TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO GERALD KIA OF NORTH AURORA (201 HANSEN BLVD, NORTH AURORA, IL 60542) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219665June 13, 2019ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON WESTBOUND 696 AT APPROX 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKING. ENGINE MILEAGE 120,794 RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED AT KIA DEALER AT 116,214 MILES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219683June 13, 2019SUSPENSION
CAR DRIVES WITH LOOSE STEERING AND CLUNKING NOISE THAT FAIRFAX KIA REFUSES TO TEST DRIVE IT LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR. JERKS LEFT SUSPENSION ON ROUGH PAVEMENT ON LEFT SIDE ONLY. THERE ARE LOTS OF BIG BOLTS ON THE LEFT STRUT AND I BELIEVE THESE BOLTS ARE EITHER DANGEROUSLY LOOSE OR THE STRUT ITSELF IS BROKEN. NOISE IS SUTTLE. HAVE COMPLAINED 3 TIMES TO DEALER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219692June 13, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUSSMAN KIA (1940 JENKINTOWN RD, JENKINTOWN, PA 19046) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGES). THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE WAS ALRIGHT IN JANUARY OF 2018. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219779June 13, 2019ENGINE
THE COOLANT SENSOR IN MY CAR IS READING THAT MY COOLANT IS -38 DEGREES. MY TRANSMISSION ALSO SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD TO WHERE YOU ARE JERKED EITHER FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN SHIFTING TO AND FROM PARK AND WHILE DRIVING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219554June 12, 2019ENGINE
ERROR MESSAGE "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. TURN OFF ENGINE" WITH YELLOW CAUTION TRIAGLE SHOWING EXCLAIMATION POINT AND HEV" CAME ON, AT HIGHWAY SPEED VEHICLE DROPPED TO FROM 65 MPH TO 40 MPH SUDDENLY, EXITED FREEWAY, TURNED CAR OFF AND RESTARTED...VEHICLE HAD LOSS OF PROPULSION, WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH. STOP, AT STOP SIGN, AND WHEN I APPLIED GAS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 10 MPH...ONCE SAFELY OFF THE ROAD, I TURNED ENGINE OFF, TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. 1 DAY AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE FROM DEALER, SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION...TWO WEEKS AT THE DEALER AND THEY SAY ITS A WATER PUMP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219237June 11, 2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAD JUST REACHED MY DESTINATION. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 - 45 MINUTES WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK UP TO LEAVE. I PUT IT IN THE DRIVE GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD WHEN PUT IN THE REVERSE GEAR; THEN I HAD IT TOWED. THEN WHEN ATTEMPTED TO CRANK IT; IT CAUGHT A FIRE AND DESTROYED ALL OF THE MOTOR, AND MOST OF THE CAR BEFORE THE FIRE COULD BE EXTINGUISHED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219262June 11, 2019ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BOUGHT THE CAR JANUARY OF 2018.28 DAYS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE AND I GOT A FLAT TIRE AND COME TO FIND OUT MY STRUT WAS NEVER PROPERLY INSTALLED AND THATS WHAT POPPED MY TIRE.DAN OBRIEN TRIED TO DENY HAVING A WARRANTY TO FIX THE CAR SAYING IT WAS MY FAULT.IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD TO BUY THE NEW TIRE. WHEN THE RECALL FOR THE ENGINE CAME OUT,I TOOK MY CAR RIGHT IN. THEY PASSED IT. IN SEPTEMBER WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MY DAUGHTERS 2 MONTH APPOINTMENT THE CAR JUST LOST ALL POWER AND MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & CAR WOULD NOT START DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT.ENGINE HAD LOCKED UP THEY REPLACED THE LONG BLOCK UNDER THE SC147 RECALL 11/30/18 RECALL SC165, ECU UPGRADE. ON 2/11/19 I HAD THE INSPECTION FOR RECALL SC172 CAR PASSED.3/21/19 NO WARNING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED.P1326 ENGINE CODE CAR WENT INTO LIMP HOME MODE,DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT. ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED,GOT TOWED.3/26/19 KIA TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO THE PREVIOUS RECALL,IT WAS MY KNOCK SENSOR. THEY REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY.5/22/19 FRONT RIGHT SIDE WHEEL BEARING WENT BAD,KIA WOULDNT COVER,SAME SIDE STRUT ISSUE OCCURED ON.6/6/19 I WENT TO ACCELERATE ON BYPASS AND LOST ALL ENGINE CONTROL,I WAS ABLE TO COAST. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.PUT IN PARK, OIL LIGHT,BATTERY & EPS CAME ON & OFF. TURNED CAR OFF & ON.CAR WOULD DRIVE BUT WITH HESITATION AND LITTLE POWER.6/8/19 I WENT TO ACCELERATE ON BYPASS AND CAR LOST POWER. 6+ CARS BEHIND ME ,MY CAR BLOCKED THE ROAD.RESTARTED CAR,WENT TO TAKE OFF AND THE CAR BEGAN TO VIBRATE JOLT AND I COULDNT GET OUT OF THE WAY,I HAD TO GO INTO THE OTHER LANE BECAUSE I WAS BLOCKED.STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, BRAKES LOST POWER & I ALMOST HIT THE GUARD RAIL.DAUGHTER WAS PRESENT. 6/10/19 KIA TOLD ME IT WAS MY THROTTLE BODY SENSOR NOT COVERED. BOUGHT CAR WITH OVER 79K,NOW AROUND 101K.IM SCARED FOR MY DAUGHTERS LIFE & MINE IT WILL CATCH ON FIRE AT ANYTIME WITH ALL THE SYMPTOMS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219311June 11, 2019ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE RECALL. DEALERSHIP FIRST RECEIVED VEHICLE REPAIR MARCH 4, 2019 FOR COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO RECALL AND CAR BECOME COMPLETELY IMMOBILE WHILE ON FREEWAYS. AND TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME FIRST ENGINE FAILED AND REORDERED A NEW ENGINE. RECEIVED VEHICLE BACK FROM 2ND ATTEMPT OF ENGINE REPAIR MAY 16, 2019. VEHICLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED MAY 31,2019. RETURNED VHEICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. REPAIR TO HARNESS AND NOC SENSOR. RECEIVED VEHICLE BACK FOR REPAIR JUNE 8TH. ON JUNE 10TH VEHICLE BECAME IMMOBILE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WAITING ON DEALERSHIP FOR DETAILS OF CAR PROBLEMS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219372June 11, 2019ENGINE
OUR CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH. IT RESTARTED BUT NOW FAST FORWARD TO A FEW DAYS AND IT HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AGAIN AND REQUIRES A TOW TO A DEALER. WE TRIED TO EXPLAIN LAST YEAR THAT THIS CAR WAS HAVING ENGINE TROUBLE THAT INCLUDED REVVING WITHOUT BEING ON GAS AND BOGGING DOWN. DEALER KEPT TELLING US THERE IS N O RELATION TO THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. STRANGELY ENOUGH THE CAR JUST PASSED OUT OF WARRANTY BY 6000 MILES AND HERE WE ARE WITH NO CAR. KIA SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL EVERY 2014 OPTIMA. WE VERY NEARLY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND THE DEALER IS NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. COLLUSION?
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11219373June 11, 2019ENGINE
ON MARCH 21, 2019, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE MY OWN PERSONAL MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENGINE WAS BURNING TOO MUCH OIL. KIA DEALERSHIP DID AN OIL TEST AND SAID THAT THEY NEED TO FIX MY ENGINE DUE TO A RECALL. IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVE MY CAR YET. MADE MULTIPLE CALLS TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND KIA CORPORATE AND NOTHING WAS RESOLVED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11218849June 10, 2019HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND "CHECK HYBRID BATTERY AND DO NOT RUN" WAS DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ROMEO KIA OF KINGSTON (111 SCHENK DR, KINGSTON, NY), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0