Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11113500July 25, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS HEADING NORTH BOUND, CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 55 WHEN MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA THERA II MOTOR STARTED MAKING A GRINDING SOUNDS, LOST COMPLETE POWER AND STALLED OUT. CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON ANYMORE, A TEXAS STATE TROOPER AND SMALL TOWN COP HELPED ME PUSHED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE BAY. LUCKILY NO ONE GOT HURT BUT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSE AND I HAVE A FEELING KIA IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND. THE THETA II DOES HAVE AN OPEN RECALL. THE MOTOR WAS CHECKED TWICE AND PASSED BOTH TIMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112693July 25, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2008 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE CRASH. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113309July 24, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIA OPTIMA 2015 WITH 20K MILES CAUGHT FIRE. ENGINE STOPPED WHILE AT RED LIGHT, IN DRIVE. STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. CALLED 911. VEHICLE BEHIND ME CALLED REPORTING SEEING FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. KIA REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113426July 24, 2018
STEERING
I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS (PURCHASED OCT. 2017). A FEW WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED MORE AND MORE THAT THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY ABOVE 55 OR 60 MPH. ( WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR STARTS TO DRIFT SLOWLY, I TRY TO RE-ADJUST THE STEERING AND WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, NOTHING HAPPENS. I TURN A LITTLE MORE AND IT OVER-REACTS MAKING ME DRIFT WAY INTO THE OTHER DIRECTION. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE ON THE FREEWAY IN THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY AROUND BIGGER VEHICLES) I TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE FIRST SUGGESTED THAT IT NEEDS A 'STEERING WHEEL UPDATE' SINCE IT HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING. THAT DID NOT SOLVE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO TWO OTHER DEALERS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THIS UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM AND SO THEY CANT FIX ANYTHING ON IT. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY NEED TO DRIVE IT FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES OR SO, ON THE FREEWAY AND ABOVE 55/60 MPH. THEY SAID THAT THEY STILL CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. - - AFTER CALLING KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS MULTIPLE TIMES AND FLING A REPORT, THEY TELL ME TO TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERS BUT STILL NO SOLUTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113473July 24, 2018
STEERING
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON IN APRIL 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. HAD TO PULL OVER TURN CAR ON AND OFF. LIGHT TURNED OFF AND CAR WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN. LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF BUT RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. TOOK IT TO KIA AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (SEE PAPERWORK). IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112989July 23, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED UNDER THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED OF FLAMES BY OTHER MOTORISTS. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CONTACT CALLED EARNHARDT KIA DEALER AT (602) 346-5400 (LOCATED AT 2121 E BELL RD, PHOENIX, AZ 85022), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112924July 22, 2018
ENGINE
APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR IN WHICH I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF. TODAY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, AND STOPPED RUNNING. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND TH ECAR IS BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112578July 20, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL- WHEN BRAKING PR PUMPING THE BRAKES THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE, THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL ON FLAT ROADS OR HILLS. THERE IS A CREAKING NOISE WHEN RELEASING THE BRAKE AFTER PUTTING CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112581July 20, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC OR SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON STATING HYBRID ENGINE MALFUNCTION TURN OFF IMMEDIATELY. IF I DON'T GET TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY, I LOSE POWER UNTIL I DO. WHEN I HAVE MY PHONE ATTACHED TO THE CARPORT PROGRAM, IT REGISTERS THAT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WILL BEEP UNTIL I PUT THE SEAT BELT IN THE RECEPTACLE AS IF SOMEONE WAS THERE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT AND I HAVE ABOUT 5,000. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY CLAIM THAT THEY CAN'T REPLICATE EITHER ISSUE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A TREND. THEY ARE NOW SENDING OUT AN "EXPERT" TO FIX THE PROBLEM. OTHERWISE I'M LEMON LAWING IT. I HAVE PHOTOS AND VIDEO OF THE DEFECT SO THEY CAN'T EVEN TRY AND SAY I'M MAKING IT UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112486July 19, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 W. CAR SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE OCTOBER 20, 2017. PASSENGER SAW SMOKE FROM FRONT SEAT. DRIVER PULLED-OVER. WE GOT OUT OF CAR. SAW FIRE UNDERNEATH. MOVED AWAY, CAR GRADUALLY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FILED REPORT IN CONNECTICUT. INCIDENT NUMBER 17-0000359 SANDY HOOK FD FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED. 61,852 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112366July 19, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ISSUE I AM HAVING, IS MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE FORTH TIME SINCE LEASING THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2015. AFTER THE FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES WHICH TOOK PLACE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I TOOK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHT IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT RUNS FINE OTHERWISE. I AM ALWAYS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE RIGHT BACK UP. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2011 - 2014 OPTIMA ENGINE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. I AM TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THIS AFTERNOON. I AM DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112374July 19, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS SHINE ONLY ON THE ROAD STRAIGHT AHEAD.SIDE LIGHTING IS SO BAD YOU CAN'T READ THE ROAD SIGNS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR AT NIGHT ON COUNTRY ROADS. THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT FAN OUT ON THE ROAD AHEAD AT ALL. VISABILITY IS VERY POOR AND THIS IS UNSAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112204July 18, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND LEFT LEG INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TT *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11112227July 18, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,018.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111819July 17, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PUSH TO START BUTTONS ON KIA OPTIMA'S ARE NOT TURNING ON THE CARS ENGINES. I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE AMONG KIA OPTIMA OWNERS. THE CAR WILL BE TURNED OFF AND PARKED, YOU WILL GO TO PUSH THE BRAKE AND START THE CAR AND YOU WILL GET NOTHING FROM THE ENGINE. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL WORK BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN ON. PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED "HACKS" TO FIX THE ISSUE SUCH AS WAITING IT OUT OR A CLEVER ONE IS TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK 2 TIMES AND THEN PUSH THE START BUTTON AND THE CAR HOPEFULLY WILL START. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GETS WORSE OVER TIME. I WAS IN THE WAITING IT OUT STAGE NOW I AM IN THE GEAR SHIFTING STAGE. ALL JOKES ASIDE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR A CAR THAT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR 4 YEARS. SIMPLY GOOGLE "KIA OPTIMA WON'T START," TO SEE MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS MYSELF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112018July 17, 2018
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SRS LIGHT CAME ON WHILE STATIONARY AND CONTINUED WHILE VEHICLE IS RUNNING..NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY RESET IT COMES BACK NEXT DAY AND STAYS ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112059July 17, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STOPPED. TRIED RESTARTING IT BUT IT WOULD SHUT DOWN AGAIN WITH A CLUNKING SOUND LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL AS I HAD RECENTLY CHANGED THE OIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. I TRIED RESTARTING IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES BUT IT JUST SHUTS DOWN AND THE ENGINE REALLY SOUNDED BAD WITH A SCREECHING SOUND. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR A MONTH NOW SINCE I DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDS TO GET IT FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112052July 17, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SHARK FIN ANTENNA COVER FELL OFF. THIS IS REPORTED TO HAPPEN TO MANY 2015 KIA OPTIMAS. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FIN AND TO FIX THE ISSUE A WHOLE ANTENNA KIT HAS TO BE INSTALLED. APPARENTLY THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE ANTENNA FIN DOWN RUST OVERTIME AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE FIN TO POP OFF. THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112053July 17, 2018
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK (12 MILES), PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (VEHICLE TURNED OFF, NOT RUNNING) AND WALKED INSIDE. I SAT DOWN AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES I HEARD A LOUD POP, I LOOKED OUTSIDE TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE CAR HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND AND HAD MELTED ALL OF THE SIDING OFF OF THE FRONT OF MY GARAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111499July 16, 2018
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING ON MANY CITY STREETS 0-45MPH AND INTERSTATE 0-70MPH SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF PERIODICALLY. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON, CAR SHAKES AND SPUTTERS AS TRANSMISSION GEARS SHIFT (NOT ENGNE). APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CAUGHT THE LIGHT ON AND READ CODE P0711. ACCORDING TO TSB 043 [REV ] /2/2013 THIS IS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM AND MUST BE CORRECTED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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