Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11154496November 28, 2018
ENGINE
IT STARTED AS A METAL TO METAL CLICKING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME SAFELY. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE CAR RATTLED AND SHUT OFF ON IT'S OWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11154184November 27, 2018
ENGINE
THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A NON-COLLISION/SPONTANEOUS FIRE. THERE WHERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF CAR DEFECTS. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON A CITY ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEKALB COUNTY GA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND TOOK A REPORT. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT MOTOR INSTALLED BY KIA WITH A WARRANTY. THE NEW MOTOR HAD APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11154347November 27, 2018
ENGINE
ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE EXPLODED, CAR WAS IN GULFED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT AS FAST AS I COULD. TOTAL BURN DOWN AND TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. I HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11153762November 26, 2018
STEERING
MY 2012 OPTIMA POPS AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND IS HARDER TO TURN THEM NORMAL AND RATTLES OVER BUMPS. BASED OFF MY RESEARCH ONLINE IT'S A BAD CHEAP PLASTIC STEERING COUPLER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE AS WELL AS YOUTUBE VIDEOS ADDRESSING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE SOUL GOT RECALLED FOR. HERE IS JUST ONE LINK OF MANY VIDEOS I FOUND ON GOOGLE. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/BMMVJLF2ZRO PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE $600 THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES TO REPLACE IT WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A WEAR AND TEAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. I HOPE KIA CAN FIX THIS IN THE FUTURE AND FIX THE CARS OUT THERE THAT HAVE FAULTY STEERING WITH A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC, IT'S TO DANGEROUS TO CUT CORNERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE STEERING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IT'S A BIG PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THERE PRODUCTS. PLEASE RECALL SO THEY CAN CORRECT THIS TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS AND MAYBE SO THEY CHANGE THIS FOR THERE FUTURE VEHICLES. IT CLICKS WHILE MOVING AND STATIONARY AND SOMETIMES IS HARDER TO TURN THEN OTHERS WHICH IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW HARD YOU HAVE TO JERK THE WHEEL OR NOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11153415November 23, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS JUST SHUT OFF. THIS IS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, AND WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. STILL HAVE NO LUCK GETTING IT RESTARTED AFTER BEING TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11153194November 22, 2018
ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE JUST LOCKED UP. HAD MY CAR PICKED UP BY A TOW TRUCK AND FOUND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR, AND THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR WAS COATED IN OIL. HAD NO INDICATIONS THERE WAS ANY TROUBLE BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED. IMAGE ATTACHED SHOWS UNDERCARRIAGE COVERED IN OIL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11153087November 21, 2018
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES
TAKATA RECALL. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY, SLID ON WATER AND CRASHED INTO A STEEL POLE. THE BREAKS DID NOT WORK AT ALL AND WHEN I GOT OUT TO LOOK AT THE DAMAGE THE BREAK PADS WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET LIKE THEY HAD JUST FALL OFF. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND MY FRIEND'S HEAD CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. CAR WAS TOTALED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11152905November 20, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING TO DROP OFF A FRIEND AND JUMPED ON THE HIGHWAY. EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL I STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT COMING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. I NEVER GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING STILL TO THIS DAY. I HAD IT TAKEN TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID 3 CONNECTING RODS ARE OUT AND IT HAS A CRACKED BLOCK. THEY QUOTED ME $7600 TO FIX IT. ITS BEEN 6 MONTHS AND I HAVENT BEEN ABLE TO DO ANYTHING WITH WITH. MY INSURANCE SAID THEY CANT DO ANYTHING AND I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT I WENT OVER THE MILEAGE. I HAVE GAP INSURANCE BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I KNOW THE OTHER OPTIMAS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES BUT KIA HASBT RELEASED A RECALL FOR THE HYBRIDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11152920November 20, 2018
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT PUSHED THE BUTTON BEHIND THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT TO RELEASE THE SEATS, THE HEADREST DETACHED AND STRUCK THE CONTACT ON THE LEFT EYE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN EYE INJURY, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 53,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11152557November 19, 2018
ENGINE
SXT MODEL 82K MILES. WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ACCELERATING TO MOVE INTO RIGHT LANE WHEN THE ENGINE CUTOFF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER LUCKILY WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THE CAR WOULD POWER ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT WERE LIT UP. CALLED FOR TOW. THE NEXT MORNING KIA EVALUATED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD ME IT WAS AFFECTED BY THE ENGINE AND COOLING RECALL 17V224000. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN MONTHS PRIOR FOR THE SAME RECALL BUT WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NOT AFFECTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN TO DRIVERS ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING TOLD YOU ARE NOT AFFECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151911November 16, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DRIVER DOOR BECOME JAMMED AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT OPEN. YOU HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY/EXCESSIVELY JERK ON IT. DUE TO NOT OPENING, I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IN ORDER TO GAIN ENTRANCE INTO THE VEHICLE. NOT ONLY THAT, AFTER FINALLY GETTING THE DRIVER DOOR TO OPEN, I HAVE TO LEAVE IT CRACK TO AVOID THIS STRUGGLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151671November 15, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN MOTION AROUND 25 MPH. I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST STALLED ON ME WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO PULL OVER ,CUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A MIN. AFTER 5 MINS, IT STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT THERE WAS STILL LACK OF ACCELERATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151729November 15, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED MY CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES A LOT WHEN IT IS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT OR WHEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IDLING IT USED TO BE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE CAR WAS RUNNING IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151743November 15, 2018
ENGINE
DRIVING AND THE DASHBOARD SAID TURN CAR OFF. HAD TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID $8500 FOR A NEW ENGINE...SAID THE OIL DRAIN BOLT WAS LAYING OF TOP OF THE SPLASH SHIELD AND NO OIL LEFT IN THE ENGINE, THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF SOMEONE WAS AFTER US...WHAT THE HECK. FOUGHT WITH THEM FOR 2 MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151802November 15, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE ROAD SHOULDER, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED DUTCH MILLER KIA OF CHARLESTON (335 MACCORKLE AVE SW, SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV 25303, (855) 739-5369) AND WAS INFORMED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE VIN SINCE THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND ENGINE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151813November 15, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, SMOKE ASCENDED FROM THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED BOB UTTER KIA (2433 TEXOMA PKWY, SHERMAN, TX 75090, (903) 892-3555) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151879November 15, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT A 2015 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN OCTOBER 2014. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR MODULES. THE FIRST ONE THAT BROKE (PASSENGER) IN MARCH 2016 AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE WINDOW SHATTERED ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TO REPLACE THE MODULE AND WINDOW IT WAS $700. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT BAD IN JULY 2017. THAT WAS $250 TO REPLACE SINCE THE WINDOW STAYED IN TACT. HERE WE ARE NOVEMBER 2018 AND FOR THE SECOND TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE REGULATOR HAS GONE BAD. THAT'S 3 TIMES I HAVE REPLACED THE SAME PART WITH KIA GENUINE PARTS (PURCHASED FROM KIA) IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE SAME THING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151352November 13, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2018, THE ENGINE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AND TURNED OFF. NO ONE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, MELTED THE TIRES AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WITH SMOKE. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE IT SPREAD TO THE GAS TANK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151036November 12, 2018
ENGINE
VEHICLE SMOKING FROM EXHAUST AND STALLING, (26,630 MILES ) TAKEN TO DEALER ( RUSTY WALLACE KIA ) ON 05/15/18. CLEANED OIL FROM INTAKE. VEHICLE SMOKING AND STALLING,TAKEN BACK TO DEALER ON 05/28/18. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR 30 DAYS. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEMS FOUND. VEHICLE STILL SMOKING AND NOW VERY LOW ON OIL,VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/12/18.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11150784November 11, 2018
ENGINE
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE ON THE CITY STREETS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima