Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11096903May 20, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY, FOG LIGHTS, HIGH BEAM ALL ARE FINE, TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, TOLD IT NEEDED NEW HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT THE ISSUE, RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR FOR HEADLIGHT ISSUES. PLEASE, HOW DO I GET THI S RESOLVED. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEVER MENTIONED A RECALL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11096650May 18, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, AT NIGHT WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD SON, ON A TWO LANE ROAD MY CAR STARTING MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, I BEGAN TO LOSE POWER QUICKLY. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED FAMILY, WHO SAID TO STAY PUT, THEY BROUGHT A TRAILER TO LOAD MY CAR ON. I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT, I WAS BEING TOLD THE MOTOR HAD THROWN A ROD. SADLY THEY WERE ALL CORRECT. I CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS, THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND THE NAME OF A DEALERSHIP NEAR ME, WHICH IS STILL 60 MILES AWAY, WEST PALM BEACH KIA. I TOWED THE CAR OVER ON APRIL 3, 2018, AFTER THEIR DIAGNOSES I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A MOTOR. I TOO QUESTIONED THE KIA OPTIMA RECALL, I WAS TOLD THE HYBRIDS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL, NEITHER WAS MY VIN. TODAY IS MAY 18, 2018, MY CAR IS STILL AT WEST PALM BEACH KIA AWAITING A MOTOR. SINCE BEING AT WEST PALM BEACH KIA, WHO I REMIND YOU WAS SUGGESTED BY KIA HEADQUARTERS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THREE SERVICE MANAGERS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY $3500 OF THE $8000 BILL, DUE TO KIA GOODWILL." TENTATIVE DATE OF MAY 29, 2018", WHICH IS THE THIRD CHANGE OF DATE ALSO. MY CAR IS STILL THERE WITH A MY CAR HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT. WITH KIA OFFERING TO PAY AT ALL, IT SEEMS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM MOTOR, WITH A SAFETY ISSUE SO WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL?? MY TWO YEAR OLD SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT SERIOUSLY IF A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER OR PICK UP TRUCK HAD BEEN BEHIND ME. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11096681May 18, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THICK, BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HUDSON KIA (36 WATER ST, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,386. *TT CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER ON 5/11/18, SERVICE REPORT STATES ENGINE DEFECT AND EVAP CANISTER RECALL WHICH DOES NOT SHOW UP ANYWHERE. UPDATED 9/21/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11096439May 17, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR LOSSES POWER SUDDENLY AND LURCHES. THIS HAS HAPPEND WHEN CAR IS CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR WHEN STARTED, STATIONARY. ONCE THAT HAPPENS CAR MAY HAVE TO BE RESTARTED TO WORK AGAIN. SOMETIMES THAT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. WHEN IT PERSISTS FOR A WHILE, MAXIMUM SPEED IS ABOUT 5 MPH IF STARTED FROM A STOP. ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CODE P2118 (THROTTLE ACTUATOR MOTOR CURRENT RANGE) IS SHOWN BY AN OBD. THE PROBLEM HAS OCURRED BEFORE. DEALER INITIALLY CHANGED THROTTLE BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. THE ISSUE WAS EVENTUALLY TRACKED TO A FAULTY ENGINE CABLE HARNESS. THE WHOLE ENGINE HARNESS HAD TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, PROBLEM IS OCURRING AGAIN A YEAR LATER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11096495May 17, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDIITON, THE CHECK ENGINE, TIRE PRESSURE, OIL, AND AIR BAG WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PHIL SMITH KIA (4250 N FEDERAL HWY, LIGHTHOUSE POINT, FL 33062, (954) 545-7200) WHERE A GDS TEST WAS DONE, BUT THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,454.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11096524May 17, 2018
ENGINE
ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BLOW UP. VALVES ARE VERY LOUD AND IT LURCHES UNDER ACCELERATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11094133May 16, 2018
ENGINE
DRIVING ON RAMP TO I10 IN CHANDLER AZ , SUDDENLY I'VE LOST POWER ON THE CAR, NO WARNING LIGHTS ON OR ANY SOUND HEARD .I COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LINE AND TRY TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. AAA TOW THE CAR TO KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE IS SEIZED. ONLY 64000 MILES . NO WARNING LIGHTS ON , NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11093855May 15, 2018
ENGINE
THE CAR WILL STALL/LOSE POWER, BLOW WHITE SMOKE OUT THE EXHAUST. THIS HAPPENS ON ACCELERATION OR DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREETS. YESTERDAY ON THE INTERSTATE I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT IS BELIEVED THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS IN CERTAIN ENGINES FAIL AS METAL DEBRIS CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE VIA THE ENGINE OIL. OVER TIME, THE CONTAMINANTS IN THE OILING SYSTEM CAUSE THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS TO FRACTURE AND SPEW LARGE AMOUNTS OF METAL DEBRIS INTO THE ENGINE OIL, WHICH IT CANNOT FILTER OUT TO MAINTAIN NECESSARY OIL PRESSURE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE ISSUE AND THIS SAFETY CONCERN NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11093599May 14, 2018
ENGINE
MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 HAS BEEN HAVING MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS BUT THE DEALERS ARE GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND THEY KEEP ON MAKING THINGS UP THEY SAID THEY DRAIN OIL TO CHECK FOR METAL PARTICLES IN THE OIL.N THEY SAID THEY DID THE SC147 RECALL I WENT TO GO PICK UP MY CAR. I CHECKED THE MOTOR OIL IT WAS DARK N DIRTY MEANING THEY NEVER DRAINED THE OIL AFER THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAD PAST THE TEST .THEY SAID THEY CAN HEAR THE KNOCKING NOISE BUT N ORDER FOR THEM TO ASSIST ME FURTHER I WOULD HAVE TO AUTHORISE FOR THEM TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE.IBUT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF MY POCKET IF ITS NOT THE ENGINE SOMETHING REGARDING THE RECALL ENGINE FAILER PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11093617May 14, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPER DIM. I CAN BARELY SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE BULBS CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 BULBS (2 ON EACH SIDE) WITHIN A 2 YEAR TIME PERIOD. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON WHEN ITS DARK BECAUSE YOU CAN BARELY SEE IF YOU DONT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11093757May 14, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR IS FLOODED DUE TO A CLOGGED PIPE OR DISCONNECTED PIPE. WATER IS POURING OUT INTO MY CAR AND NOT SMALL AMOUNTS BUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ON THE BASE OF MY FLOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11093529May 13, 2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
RADIO PANELING AND CHARGING DO NOT WORK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092621May 9, 2018
STEERING
TAKATA RECALL THERE IS A PLASTIC PART IN THE STEERING ASSIST THAT IS BAD. ITS ALL OVER YOUTUBE INCLUDING MINE. WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION YOU CAN HEAR THE METAL TO METAL CLINKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP IT WANTS TO JERK THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF YOU HANDS. YOU CAN MOVE THE WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND HEAR WHEN IN STATIOARY AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092694May 9, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IT WONT SHIFT AND SOUNDS FORCED. THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A RATTLE SOUND AND I WAS VERY CONCERNED! THE CAR STOPPED IN FULL SPEED AND I WAS SCARED FOR ME LIFE AND MY SONS. HAD A CAR BEEN BEHIND US OR IN THE INTERSECTION IT COULD HAVE BEEN BAD! IT TURNED BACK ON AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN N AND PRESSING THE START BUTTON. BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO SOUND AND FEEL AS THOUGH ITS BEING FORCED TO RUN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092582May 8, 2018
ENGINE
ENGINE TAPS EVEN AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT SAID IT WAS MY ENGINE THE BACK END. SAID THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON MY ENGINE BECAUSE HE HAS HAD TO REPLACE SEVERAL OF THEM ALREADY. LOOKED IT UP AND THERE IS NO RECALL. THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, STATIONARY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092281May 7, 2018
ENGINE, STEERING
FIRST THING IN THE MORING WHEN I START MY CAR UP. YOU DON'T HEAR THE KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE BUT SOON AS THE CAR GET THE ENGINE WARMED UP YOU CAN HEAAR A VERY LOUD TICKING NOISE. EVEN AS YOU DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY YOU CAN STILL HEAR IT. ALSO THE STEERING IS VERY HARD TO OPERATE IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I SAID SOMETHING TO KIA ABOUT IT THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM. IT'S VERY HARD TO BACKED UP AND TRY TURNING THE STEERING WHILE OPERATING THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092053May 5, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2018, WE WERE DRIVING EAST ON I-85 IN GREENSBORO, NC WHEN WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT, AND THEN GLASS WAS RAINING DOWN ON US WHEN THE SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF HAD BEEN OPEN THE ENTIRE DAY. IT WAS OVERCAST AND MID 80'S WITH LOW HUMIDITY. WE HAD THE SUNROOF TILTED OPEN AND THE SUNSHADE PULLED BACK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091937May 4, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE MOTOR KNOCKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091518May 3, 2018
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY(60MPH AND ABOVE) STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO STICK AROUND 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. HAVE HAD THE FLEX COUPLER REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. I STARTED TO NOTICE THIS SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE INCREASING IN FREQUENCY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091531May 3, 2018
STEERING
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2015, THE STEERING BOX ON THIS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2016 UNDER WARRANTY AS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE A HESITATION (FELT LIKE A BRIEF STICKING) REGARDLESS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS BUT MORE DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOW MAY 2018 I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN AS THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AND WANDERS FOR NO REASON, AGAIN, REGARDLESS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS BUT MORE UNPREDICTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF CONCENTRATION TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE. THE VEHICLE IS 36 MONTHS OLD WITH 78000 MILES AND IS HAVING THE 3RD STEERING BOX INSTALLED. THE TECHNICIAN HAS DEEMED MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND STATED THAT THE TECH SUPPORT FROM KIA ACTED AS THOUGH THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR KNOWING THAT THIS MECHANISM IS FAILING AT AN UNSAFE RATE. KIA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY FEELS FINE WITH IT THOUGH THEY DEEM THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A PART THAT THEY KNOWINGLY ARE INSTALLING IN THESE VEHICLES. A BRIEF SEARCH ON THE INTERNET (GOD LOVE THE INTERNET) WILL REVEAL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, THESE VEHICLES ARE UNPREDICTABLE ON THE ROAD AND BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION UNSAFE. MY CASE NUMBER WITH KIA FOR THIS PROBLEM IS 12711641
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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