Kia Optima Complaints (2011)

628 consumer complaints on file.

#10893370August 5, 2016
STEERING, WHEELS
MY TIRES HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH EXTREMELY QUICK WARE ON THE OUTSIDE TREAD SINCE ABOUT A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN 2011. I HAVE BEEN TOLD MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IT WAS JUST TIME TO CHANGE THE TIRES OR HAVE THEM ROTATES/BALANCED. THE DEALERSHIP WANTED ME TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND I TOOK IT SOMEWHERE ELSE FOR A 2ND OPINION - GOT AN ALIGNMENT DONE (WHICH HELPED FOR ABOUT A MONTH) TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, HAD IT RESET TO FACTORY SETTINGS - AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.. I HAVE GONE THROUGH SO MANY TIRES... IN ADDITION, I NOW RECENTLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH A VERY LOUD CLANKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN, VERY INTENSE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION IN ADDITION TO A CLICK NOISE WHEN I TURN HARD RIGHT OR LEFT, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE SOMEWHERE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10893083August 4, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SOUND BECAME LOUDER WHILE ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF, BUT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. ...UPDATED 10/11/16 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888354July 26, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY ISSUES AT NIGHT. CONSUMER USES HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AT NIGHT. *SMD THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, THE CONSUMER PROVIDED IS INVALID. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888077July 25, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY; AN AUDIBLE RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY; A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS 'CHECK BRAKE' APPEARS IN THE DRIVER'S DIGITAL 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. WHEN THE VEHICLE RESTARTS YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY AT LEAST TEN TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, 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 TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEAR-BY KIA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 21 JULY 2016 BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE MALFUNCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888132July 25, 2016
STEERING
MY STEERING STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AT 62,000 MILES IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT THAT TIME WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I NOW HAVE 83,000 MILES AND IT IS A CONSTANT CLUNKING SOUND WHENEVER THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO ANY POSITION WHEN DRIVING THE CARE AND ALSO STATIONARY AND WHILE THE CARE IS IN PARK. IT ALSO CLUNKS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885592July 18, 2016
ENGINE
MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HAS GONE THROUGH 2 ENGINES WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. BOTH TIME I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STOPPED. I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. NO LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED, THAT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WILL BE SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT TO THE KIA ORGANIZATION SHORTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10884066July 11, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882817July 5, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
MARCH 2016 WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND PASSING A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE CAR LOST POWER, BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER AND UNRESPONSIVE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE WERE RIGHT BY REST AREA AND COASTED SAFELY. INSPECTED THE VEHICLE WHILE AND NOTICED A SMELL REMINDING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT/FIRE. CAR WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALER AND DIAGNOSED TO BE ENGINE FAILURE. THE ENGINE WAS INSPECTED AND PER DEALER IT WAS PRISTINE, KIA DECIDED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY @ APPROX 98K MILES. DEALER STATED THAT PER KIA IT WAS DUE POSSIBLY TO NON OEM OIL FILTER (NICE). WHEN WE GOT THE CAR BACK IT DID NOT WANT TO START OCCASIONALLY, WHERE IT HESITATED ESPECIALLY AS TEMPERATURES INCREASED. NOTICED DEALER, DEALER TOOK IT IN VERIFIED BATTERY AND STARTER WERE TO SPEC. IN JUNE ON A HOT DAY CAR ALMOST DID NOT START, SET AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER FOR LATER IN THE WEEK. NEXT DAY CAR DID NOT START, WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND DIAGNOSED TO WEEK STARTER. STARTER WAS REPLACED AND CAR STARTED ON FOR ONE DAY, THE SECOND DAY TEMPERATURES INCREASED AND CAR WAS DEAD WITH SIMILAR ELECTRICAL MELTDOWN, ALSO NOTICED FOG LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AFTER BULB REPLACEMENT. DEALER DIAGNOSED WITH KIA TO BAD ENGINE AGAIN DUE TO TOLERANCES CAUSING FRICTION AND MORE HEAT. SPOKE TO KIA AND STARTED A CASE BUT THEY JUST WANT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN AND NOT DISCUSS POTENTIAL ISSUES WITH ELECTRICAL HARNESS COMPROMISE AND ONGOING ISSUE WITH ENGINE FAILING FOR NO REASON. THIS CAR IS SCARRY AND HOPE IT DOES NOT START ON FIRE WHEN THE THIRD ENGINE FAILS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10876842June 27, 2016
STEERING
CLICKING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH VIBRATION. THE ONLY TIME IT DOESN'T CLICK IS WHEN GOING COMPLETELY STRAIGHT. IT OCCURS THE WHOLE TIME I'M DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10876323June 24, 2016
AIR BAGS
WHILE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 - 55 MPH ON A HIGHWAY A DEER HAD RAN ACROSS THE ROAD, IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION HEAD ON WITH THE DEER I TOOK AN EVASIVE MANEUVER AND UNFORTUNATELY COLLIDED WITH THE GUARDRAIL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 - 50 MPH. IMPACTING THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OCCURRED WITH SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND VEHICLE IS NOW CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES DUE TO DAMAGE AND AS WELL AS A POSSIBLE AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IN THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10875726June 21, 2016
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN ACCELERATED FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO A HOUSE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10874173June 14, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,479.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10874268June 14, 2016
ENGINE
VEHICLE SHOT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING PEDAL DIDN'T RESPOND. WE HAD RESTART VEHICLE SOME DAY 3 OR 4 TIMES AND AFTER THAT WAS WORKING FOR THE WEEK OR TWO WITH NO PROBLEM .WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA AND TOLD THEM THAT ENGINE HAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE WHILE DRIVING SHOT DOWN. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. KIA FAILED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND SAID THAT IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE.KIA SAID THAT VEHICLE IS FINE WITH NO PROBLEM . AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED ENGINE BLOW OUT AND KIA REPLACED THE ENGINE. THEY ASKED $ 5900FOR REPLACE THE ENGINE. WE REFUSED TO PAY SO MUCH MONEY BECAUSE WE FEEL THAT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE THE WARRANTY . THEY OFFERED US THE ENGINE FOR FREE AND WE PAID $ 1875 FOR LABOR. WE MADE A CLAIM THROUGH KIA HEADQUARTER BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOTHING HELPS.WE HAVE TO PAY BECAUSE KIA ENGINES ARE NOT GOOD AND IT HAS TO BE A RECALL THE LONG TIME AGO. WHEN ENGINE FINALLY BLOWS OUT IT WAS THE SAME SCENARIO AS ALWAYS BEFORE ...RESTART ENGINE , ENGINE SHOT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, RESTART AGAIN, DRIVING, RESTART UNTIL WE HEARD LOUD KNOCK NOISE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10873337June 8, 2016
ENGINE
IN MARCH 2016, OUR KIA OPTIMA SEIZED ON THE ONRAMP TO THE I-10 SPEED GOING AT 45 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNING. WHEN IT STALLED THE CAR IN BACK OF US NEARLY HIT US. THERE WAS NO WARNING THE ENGINE WAS FAILING AS IN SIGNS OR WARNING LIGHT. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, THE INSPECTION FOUND THAT ONLY 1 CUP OF OIL WAS FOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAD NO SIGNS OF ENGINE PROBLEMS OR OIL LEAK. MAINT. PER OWNER'S MANUAL WAS DONE SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2011. WE WERE VERY LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT SERIOUSLY AND WAS GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER. KIA DID NOT ASSIST IN ANYWAY AS GOODWILL DUE TO FACT WE WERE JUST OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH KIA ENGINES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10871949June 1, 2016
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HOME FROM MY COLLEGE GRADUATION. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, THE OIL WAS FINE, NOTHING TO INDICATE ANY PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED. THE CAR HAD 76,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS ALWAYS BROUGHT IN FOR ITS REGULAR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE ONLY OPTION WAS TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A NEW MOTOR, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NEVER HAD PREVIOUS ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT IT IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL" FOR AN ENGINE TO SEIZE AT 76,000 MILES. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THIS INCIDENT OCCUR IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY BEEN VERY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS IF IT HAD HAPPENED ON A ROADWAY. STILL IN CONTACT WITH KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT HAVE NOT MADE IT VERY FAR AT THIS POINT. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE 2011 OPTIMA, I EXPECTED IT TO LAST ME MORE THEN A YEAR AND A HALF, AND THE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10870289May 23, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CAR WAS RUNNING AND SAT AT A RED LIGHT. WENT TO GO... MY RPMS SHOT DOWN TO 0, BATTERY AND OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. EVERYTHING IN THE CAR WORKED. LIGHTS, WINDOWS, WIPERS..... THE CAR STILL WOULDNT TURN. THINK ITS THE ALTERNATOR. I THINK YOU SHOULD RECALL THEM AND GET THEM FIXED. THERES ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT FAULTY ALTERNATORS ON THESE OPTIMAS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10870457May 23, 2016
ENGINE
LIGHT TAPPING SOUND WAS HEARD FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS. ON THE FOURTH DAY, WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY, THE CAR SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND SMOKE CAME FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH SEIZED ENGINE. COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE WAS ONLY RECOURSE. THE CAR WAS REGULARLY SERVICED WITH OIL CHANGES AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10870024May 20, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN WHEN CHANGING LANES. IN ADDITION, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE DISRUPTED THE CONTACT'S STEERING CAPABILITY. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN COUPLER IN THE STEERING LINKAGE MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10865488May 17, 2016
STEERING
THE STEERING MAKING KNOCKING SOUND WHILE STILL AND DRIVING AND WHILE BRAKING THE STEERING STARTS SHAKING AND MAKES THE KNOCKING SOUND. MOST PEOPLE SAID ITS A PLASTIC COUPLING THAT GETS REPLACED FOR $400 AND I CAN'T KEEP PAYING THAT MUCH MONEY EACH TIME IT GETS MESSED UP THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE GOTTEN FIX THREE MONTHS THE NOISE CAME BACK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10863331May 5, 2016
STEERING
A FLEXIBLE COUPLING HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE COST OF THE PART WAS $1.35. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE COUPLING WAS $250.00. I PAID A TOTAL OF $287.17 TO REPLACE A PART THAT COST $1.35. THE STEERING WAS LOOSE CAUSING THE ISSUE TO BE IMPERATIVE TO REPLACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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