Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11091624May 3, 2018
ENGINE
MY VEHICLE IS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. I HAVE BASICALLY HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE DRIVING OFF THE LOT. STARTED SMALL AND ENDED UP LIKE MANY OTHERS HERE WHERE AFTER EXPERIENCING VERY LOUD REVVING IN THE ENGINE AS I WAS BRINGING MY CAR TO A STOP THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND A THUD. I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. AFTER TRYING TO DRIVE IT BACK TO A SAFE SPACE THE LOUD REVVING STOPPED AS AN ENGINE ROD WAS THROWN AND MY HYBRID WARNING SIGN APPEARED AND THE ENGINE THEN DIED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME I WAS LEAKING OIL. HE TOWED IT BACK TOT HE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT THE SAME NEWS AS MOST COMPLAINING HERE...OIL SLUDGE AND AN $11,000 FIX. THERE IS A DEFINITE ENGINE DEFECT IN THESE VEHICLES AND KIA NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE ENGINE AND MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHOLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP WAS KNOWINGLY SELLING VEHICLES WITH UNREPAIRED SAFETY RECALLS. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE *JS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091350May 2, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO KIA AUTO TEAM DELAWARE (1603 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (877) 364-9441) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091155May 1, 2018
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TAKATA INFLATORS READ ON WEBISTE;HOWEVER, GOT IN A WRECK ON 4/11/18 CAR TOTALLED GOT HIT IN FRONT END AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE ENTIRE CAR, I HIT STEERING WHEEL AND HAD TO GO TO THE ER. ALSO, IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR THE CAR HAD INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE AND PUT NEW ENGINE IN MY CAR. HAD NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ON THIS CAR. I EMAILED KIA ON THE AIR BAGS AND NO ONE HAS GOT BACK IN TOUCH WITH ME.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11091191May 1, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE NOISE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091198May 1, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091227May 1, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 35MPH AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD EXPLOSION. I LITERALLY THOUGHT A GUN SHOT HAD BEEN FIRED TOWARDS ME AND HIT MY VEHICLE. I TRIED LOOKING AROUND AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE SHATTERED UNTIL I SAW MY ARM BLEEDING SLIGHTLY. AND SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS ON THE SEAT. I PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE SUN ROOF WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. I AM ABLE TO TELL THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT FROM A ROCK OR ANYTHING AS THE GLASS IS BLOWN OUTWARDS AND NOT INWARD. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE GLASS 'BLEW UP' OR SHATTERED IF NOT FROM ANY IMPACT BUT THIS IS VERY CONCERNING AS I DO HAVE SMALL CUTS ON MY ARM FROM THE GLASS COMING THROUGH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11091233May 1, 2018
STEERING
THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER IT IS MOVED, SHAKEN OR TURNED. IT MAKES THE SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS BOTH MOVING AND STATIONARY AND IT OCCURS WHILE ON ALL ROAD TYPES, AT ALL SPEEDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091290May 1, 2018
STEERING
I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING PASS 35 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL GETS KINDA STUCK IN THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. IF I TRY TO STEER EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT IT GETS STUCK LITELY, NOW IT WILL NOT DO IT IF I'M MAKING A COMPLETE TURN! IT'S HARD DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE YOU CAN'T KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT IN THE LANE BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING. JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT IT DOES IT NOT ONLY ON THE HIGHWAY BUT ALSO ON CITY STREETS. IT'S ONLY HAPPENING AFTER I GO OVER APPROXIMATELY AFTER 35 MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091106April 30, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL MOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE CAUSING YOU TO BE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS THE CAR. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11090857April 29, 2018
ENGINE
2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. VEHICLE HAS 69,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 04/26/18. SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE 143 FREEWAY IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. SHE CALLED ME AT HOME AND SAID THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING/CLANGING NOISE. I COULD HEAR THE NOISE ON THE PHONE. I TOLD HER TO PULL OVER. I DROVE TO MEET HER AND INVESTIGATE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED ALL FLUIDS. ALL WERE FULL AND CLEAN. I ASKED HER TO START THE ENGINE. THERE WAS A LOUD CLANGING OR SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD HER TURN THE CAR OFF AND WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAMELBACK KIA IN PHOENIX, AZ. AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS TAKEN OFF THE TOW TRUCK, A SERVICE ADVISER STARTED IT FOR A FEW SECONDS. HE IMMEDIATELY SAID THE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. WELL OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE! HE SAID THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME. THERE IS NO REASON AN ENGINE SHOULD FAIL AT 69,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS PERFECTLY CARED FOR. KIA HAS RECALLED THE OTHER 2012 KIA OPTIMAS. WHERE WAS OUR KIA PRODUCED. MOST LIKELY THE SAME FACTORY. KIA SHOULD RECALL THESE AND REPLACE THE ENGINES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11090449April 27, 2018
ENGINE
DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, BLOWING THE HEAD GASKET, 66,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11090295April 26, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT, AND REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE ELECTRICAL SHORTED OUT AND I WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR, I HAD TO MANUALLY HOLD THE ELECTRIC LOCK TO BE ABLE TO ESCAPE FROM THE CAR. IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11090297April 26, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11090116April 25, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH 46,000 MILES STARTED SMOKING AND RUNNING ROUGHLY; I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN GUNNED THE ENGINE VERY HARD UNTIL THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. LATER THEY TOLD ME THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT FOR 7K AND THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT BECAUSE I DID NOT GET OIL CHANGES WITH THEM. I TOLD THEM I CHANGE MY OWN OIL OR GET IT DONE AT A LOCAL PLACE IN TOWN BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL LIKE WAITING FOR 3-4 HOURS FOR OIL CHANGES AT THE KIA IN GLENDALE CA WHERE BTW THE SERVICE IS TERRIBLE. THIS ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED LIKE THE OTHERS; IT IS NOT A PRODUCTION DEFECT IT IS AN ENGINEERING DEFECT AND THE SOONER KIA RECOGNIZES THAT THE LESS LIABILITY THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. THIS COMPANY IS A REAL DISAPPOINTMENT AND I HOPE THEY WILL MOVE TO A VOLUNTARY RECALL AND NOT PUT ALL THEIR CUSTOMERS THROUGH HELL WAITING FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO FORCE THEM. I SPEAK NOTHING BUT NEGATIVELY ABOUT THESE CARS SO OTHER PEOPLE WON'T BE IN THE POSITION I AM IN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11090147April 25, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS STARTED A WEEK AGO THAT WHEN I WOULD TURN RIGHT, BY DOOR OPEN INDICATOR WOULD COME ON FOR MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON AND OFF, MORE ON THAN OFF. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS INTERSTATE DRIVING OR IN TOWN. AND IF I AM STOPPED IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME ON, THEN UNLOCK MY DOORS BECAUSE OF THEKEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11089870April 24, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (GALPIN KIA, 8425 SEPULVEDA BLVD, NORTH HILLS, CA 91343), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V161000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO WAIT FOR A DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11089567April 23, 2018
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIA ENGINE RECALL ENGINE KNOCKING SOUND FOLLOWED BY FULL LOSS OF POWER ON THE HIGHWAY ( IN MOTION) AND ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIT . WITH MAINLY ENGINE AND OIL LIGHTS LIT FIRST. I COASTED TO A PARKING LOT OFF THE EXIT I WAS ON AND THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING ONCE IN PARK . THE CABIN AND ENGINE SMELLED OF BURNING. ALL OF MY NEWLY CHANGED OIL WAS BURNT UP AS WELL. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER WHEN I PUSHED THE START BUTTON. CAR MAINTENANCE IS KEPT UP TO DATE . A FEW MONTHS PRIOR MY ENGINE MALFUNCTION LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND I HAD IT LOOKED AT TURNER KIA DURING AN OIL CHANGE ON 4/3/17 AND THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS AND CONTINUED TO ALLOW ME TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION WOULD COME ON TIME TO TIME SINCE THAT DATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11089647April 23, 2018
ENGINE
THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR UNTIL SUDDENLY I SAW SMOKE. CHECKED MY OIL & IT WAS LOW. I ADDED OIL. I BEGAN TO HEAR RATTLING IN THE ENGINE AND HUGE WHITE PUFFS OF SMOKE EMIT FROM MY ENGINE, SO BAD THAT CARS BEHIND ME ON THE FREEWAY (ALL 4 LANES) HIT THEIR BRAKES AS THEY CANNOT SEE. THE 101 FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR - THIS IS VERY BAD AND COULD GET SOMEONE KILLED, INCLUDING ME IF MY ENGINE SEIZES AT 75 MPH. I CHECK MY OIL EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO AND SEEMS TO BE LOW ONCE A WEEK. I'VE BEEN WAITING TO DROP MY CAR AT MY MECHANIC. WHEN I GOT THERE HE SAID HE COULD NOT TOUCH MY CAR DUE TO THE SAME EXACT REASON FOR OVER 1.2 MILLION RECALLED ENGINES. I WENT TO BRAKE MASTERS DOWN THE ROAD ASKING IF THEY KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS AND THEY SAID "ABSOLUTELY!" THEY TOLD ME DO NOT DO AN OIL CHANGE AS MANY PEOPLE'S ENGINE SEIZES WITHIN A DAY OR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE. DEALERS CONSISTENTLY TELL PEOPLE THEIR ENGINE HAS "SLUDGE" IN IT. REALLY? I HAVE READ SO MANY REVIEWS OF THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. TELLING PEOPLE IT IS $6,000-$8,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE AT THEIR COST. BOTH MY MECHANIC AND BRAKE MASTERS TOLD ME THAT THEY FEEL THE ONLY REASON MY ENGINE HAS NOT SEIZED ON ME IS BECAUSE I TOOK NOTICE THAT MY ENGINE SOUNDED SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT. NOT ONE TIME HAS A LIGHT GONE OFF ON MY CAR. THERE IS NO REASON WHY A DASH WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF WHILE LOOSING POWER AND BURNING OIL SO BAD THAT PEOPLE CANNOT SEE. SO, WE HAVE TWO ISSUES..... #1 OBVIOUS FAILURE OF DASH WARNING/ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS AND #2 THE BURNING OIL, METAL SHARDS RUINING MY ENGINE. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND DO NOT GET CHILD SUPPORT. I DON'T HAVE A SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND COULD NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE AN ENGINE. I AM VERY GOOD WITH MY VEHICLES AND WHAT I AM READING IS UNACCEPTABLE. SO MANY PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR NEW ENGINES AND I WILL NOT BE ONE OF THEM. PLEASE HELP ME AS THIS ENGINE ISSUE IS NOT A LACK OF CARE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11089293April 22, 2018
ENGINE
THERE IS AN ACTIVE RECALL ON MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 AND I NEVER RECEIEVED ANYTHING IN THE MAIL TO SERVICE IT. THE ENGINE SHAKES A LOT WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS RECALL?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11089040April 19, 2018
AIR BAGS
OUR SON VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON A 1 WAY STREET AND CROSSING THE 4 CORNER INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A 2018 CHEVY TRAX RUNNING A RED LIGHT. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS HIT HARD, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN, 3 TIRES WERE BLOWN, THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN AND THE CAR WAS NOW FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. DURING THIS PROCESS HIS AIR BAGS (FRONT,SIDE) DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY. NOW THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH HIT HIM HAD FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT ONLY HIS SIDE AIRS DEPLOYED. BASED ON THE IMPACT AND BODY DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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