Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11105204July 2, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HORNE KIA (1465 E MOTORPLEX LOOP, GILBERT, AZ 85297, (480) 725-5220), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 12749792. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11105076July 2, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF. TO PREVENT THIS, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,863.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11105079July 2, 2018EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED VERY LITTLE LIGHTING. THE CONTACT CALLED JEFF WYLER FAIRFIELD CADILLAC KIA NISSAN AT 513-682-2500 (LOCATED AT 5815 DIXIE HWY, FAIRFIELD, OH 45014) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104942July 1, 2018STEERING
THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE ABOUT KNOCKING AND BANGING NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I NOW HAVE THIS IN MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 WITH 48K MILES. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL? IT SEEM TO ME ITS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE SO OFF THE THE DEALER I GO TO EMPTY OUT MY WALLET.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104951July 1, 2018ENGINE
ENGINE SEIZED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104828June 30, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE ELECTRIC MOTOR HYDRAULIC PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED I WAS TOLD IT WASNT A RECALL HOWEVER IM SEEING SEVERAL OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MESSAGE APPEARED TELLING ME TO STOP DO NOT DRIVE CANT DRIVE SAFELY. NOW MY VEHICLE IS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE I HAVE NO ACCELERATION POWER AND I HAVE NO OIL LEAKS BUT MY CAR IS BURNING UP OIL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104852June 30, 2018ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104883June 30, 2018ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR. THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104892June 30, 2018POWER TRAIN
CAR LURCHES AT 20 MPH WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENS AFTER JUST STARTING THE CAR, ONCE DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY IT DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT LURCHING FORWARD. THIS HAPPENED YEARS AGO AROUND 70,000 DEALER FLUSHED TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS OK UNTIL NOW AT 120,000. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON REOCCURRING PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104730June 29, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MOTOR IS LOCKED UP,SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104798June 29, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAUGHT ON FIRE, NON COLLISION, PLEASE SEE LINK TO MY FEATURED NEWS STORY HTTP://WWW.EMAILTHIS.CLICKABILITY.COM/ET/EMAILTHIS?CLICKMAP=VIEWTHIS&ETMAILTOID=1865502621
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104567June 28, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE, FLAMES IGNITED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104241June 27, 2018ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
STARING OUT AT LOW SPEED, MODERATE ACCELERATION, DRY PAVEMENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING, VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER. TRACTION CONTROL KICKS ON, EVEN WITH NEW TIRES. LEAVES VEHICLE VULNERABLE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS SAID THIS IS NORMAL SEVERAL TIMES. THIS HAPPENS WHEN ENTERING OR CROSSING INTERSECTIONS AT NORMAL SPEED, NOT OVER ACCELERATING, ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ON TO FREEWAYS WITH SHORT ON RAMPS, OR JUST MAKING A TURN AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11104046June 26, 2018ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO CHANGE LANES, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE EZ CAR CONNECTION LLC DEALER (459 VERSAILLES RD, FRANKFORT, KY 40601, 502-444-0012) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 106,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11103720June 25, 2018POWER TRAIN
MY HUSBAND WENT TO WALMART TO DROP OFF A MOVIE. WHEN HE CAME OUT HE SAW ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES HOLDING THE CAR FROM BEHIND BECAUSE IT WAS ROLLING BACK. MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF AND THE CAR STILL ROLLED BACK. WHEN HE GOT IN THE CAR AND TURNED IT ON THE HEAD BOARD SHOWED IT WAS ON 'N'. NO CHECK ENGIN LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE SHIFT GEAR WAS STUCK ON N. AND IF MANUAL BRAKE IS NOT ON THEN THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK. YOU CAN MOVE THE GEAR STICK IN CAR TO PARK OR DRIVE BUT THE ACTUAL CAR IS STUCK ON N. SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT CHANGE FROM N. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE WALMART EMPLOYEE STOPPING OUR CAR THAN IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALOT WORSE BY CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS BEHIND IT OR EVEN RUNNING OVER SOMEBODY CAUSING A FATALITY!!! CALLED KIA COMPANY TO REPORT IT BUT THEY DENIED IT BEING RELATED TO THE RECALL THAT SHOWS ONLINE ON KIA OPTIMAS 2006-2008. THEY TOLD ME ONLY SPECIFIC OPTIMAS HAVE THAT RECALL. WE HAVEN'T EVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH OUR CAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2008. WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT AND TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. THIS IS A FIRST FOR OUR CAR AND THIS INCIDENT WE HAD WITH OUR CAR IS THE SAME DESCRIPTION AS THE RECALL. WE FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD COVER THIS COST DUE TO IT BEING A MANUFACTUER ERROR. THE RECALL STATES ' INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CABLES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO COME LOOSE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, DISABLING THE SHIFTER. IF THE CABLE COMES LOOSE, A CAR IN PARK WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR WHILE A VEHICLE ALREADY IN GEAR WOULDN'T SHIFT TO REVERSE, NEUTRAL OR PARK. IF A CAR WAS PARKED AND ACCIDENTALLY LEFT IN GEAR, AND IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED, THE CAR COULD POTENTIALLY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY.' KIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STOP SAYING ONLY SPECIFIC VEHICLES HAVE THE RECALL. WELL MY CAR DID!! ITS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA AND HAD THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN THATS ON RECALL. HELP!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11103336June 22, 2018AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND WON'T TURN OFF ... OTHER PROBLEM IS BOTH VISORS WON'T SPRING UP FLOPPED DOWN ... THE INTERNET IS BUZZING ABOUT KIA'S LACK OF CONCERN!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11103004June 21, 2018AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT CALLED CERAME KIA (11655 NEW HALLS FERRY RD, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63033) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11102909June 20, 2018ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IT PULLS EXTREMELY BAD ALMOST CAN'T CONTROL IT , ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S ANY WIND BLOWING . VERY HARD TO DRIVE IT FOR A LONG TIME ON THE INTERSTATE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11102543June 19, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11102712June 19, 2018EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM TO SEE AT NIGHT. ONLINE REPORTS MENTION THE CHROME REFLECTOR INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS FAILS PREMATURELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT NOT THE HIGH BEAMS. YOU CAN SEE THE REFLECTORS ARE WHITE PLASTIC WITH NO MORE CHROME COATING. WE RARELY USED THE HIGH BEAMS SINCE WE LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY, AND THE HIGH BEAM REFLECTORS STILL HAVE A CHROME REFLECTIVE COATING. THE LIGHT BULBS ARE VERY HOT AND MOST LIKELY BURNED OFF THE CHROME REFLECTIVE COATING. WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS TO SEE AT NIGHT, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SO THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CAN BE USED TO DRIVE SAFELY AGAIN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0