Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11056663December 26, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK EARLY IN THE MORNING, TRAVELING AT ABOUT 55-60 MPH,WITHOUT WARNING A STARTLING SOUND LIKE AN EXPLOSION, ONCE I REALIZED IT WASN'T A TIRE BLOWOUT, I PULLED OVER TO FIND A HOLE IN MY ROOF. THANKFULLY I WAS ALONE AND MY CHILDREN WASN'T WITH ME AND NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON THE ROAD AT THAT TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056286December 24, 2017
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, JERKY, HESITATES, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, THIS HAPPENS ON AND OFF, HAVE TO STOP AND RESTART CAR SOMETIMES, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR YEARS, NO SOLUTIONS SO FAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056254December 23, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UNABLE TO OPEN PASSENGER DOOR DUE TO DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR STOPPED WORKING. UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056174December 23, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS
WAS AT LIGHT THEN PROCEEDED ONCE LIGHT TURNED GREEN TRAVELING ON LEFT LANE ON A 2 LANE CITY ROAD. USED TURNING SIGNAL TO MOVE TO RIGHT LANE WHEN ANOTHER CAR THAT HAD TURNED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT ON TO THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON. I DID NOT SEE THE CAR AFTER TURNING TO LOOK DUE TO THE BLIND SPOT IN REAR OF MY CAR. AT THE TIME I HIT THE OTHER CARS FRONT LEFT FENDER/TIRE AREA CAUSING MINOR DAMAGE TO BOTH CARS. I WAS TICKETED FOR IMPROPER LANE CHANGE EVEN THOUGH I TURNED MY SIGNAL ON & LOOKED. I NOW HAVE TO GO TO TRAFFIC SCHOOL TO KEEP POINTS OFF MY LICENSE & PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW OTHER CLOSE CALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES DUE TO THE BLIND SPOT AREA IN MY CAR.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056023December 22, 2017
ENGINE
I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2013 WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR STARTED USING OIL AND MOTOR HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A TICK SOUND.. CHECKING THE OIL EVERYDAY BECAUSE NONE OF THE LIGHT IN THE CAR CAME ON AND IT BEING NEW I GOT A RECALL SO I MADE APPOINT EVERYTHING THE RECALL LISTED MY CAR WAS DOING.. THEY SAID IT PASSED TEST. BUT ME KNOWING SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT ABOUT IT DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM.. 4 MONTHS LATER I'M GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AND ENGINE JUST QUITS ON ME SO I COAST IN CLOSEST PLACE AND PUT CAR IN PARK.. TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT CRANK AND BRAKES LOCKED. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAS LOOKED AT MY CAR AND ITS THE MOTOR.. BUT KIA IS WANTING ME TO SPEND THE MONEY I DON'T HAVE AND THAT'S THERE FAULT TO FIX MY CAR..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055863December 21, 2017
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM SENSOR MAT FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, AS INDICATED BY A LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. FAILURE OF THIS SENSOR IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN, AS IT MAY CAUSE THE AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN OTHER KIA VEHICLES AROUND THE SAME MODEL YEAR, BUT THERE ISN'T A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055932December 21, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID WITH FAULTY HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT/FAILED OVER 10 TIMES STARTING 3 MOS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. AFTER 1/2 YEARS AND 4 FIXES, INCLUDING COMPLETELY REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT PACKAGE, I FILED THE LEMON LAW PAPERWORK (I PURCHASED IN APRIL 2013.) IN NOV OF 2014. I WAS TOLD THEY GET A FINAL FIX. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AGAIN. THEN, IN DEC 2015, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN & HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AGAIN. KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN RUDE TO ME AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD COMPLETED THE FINAL FIX A YEAR BEFORE. I HAVE PHONE VIDEOS (WITH WITNESSES) FROM YEARS AGO, 11/18/14, 1/25/16, 3/18/17, 3/27/17, 4/8/17 AND 12/10/17. MOST OF THE TIMES I HAVE BEEN OUT AND HAVE HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT HATE THE DANGEROUS ISSUES. KIA HAS MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH I'M NOT IMPORTANT, MY SAFETY IS A NON-ISSUE AND THAT THEY FIX IT EVERY TIME, BUT IT IS NOT TRULY FIXED IF I HAVE HAD 6 MAJOR REPAIRS OVER 4 YEARS. I'VE BEEN AT THE POINT OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OVER THE STRESS AND FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND OF LETTING KIA BULLY & CONVINCE ME I DO NOT QUALIFY TO GET MY CAR REPLACED. I AM PUTTING MY SAFETY FIRST NOT TO MENTION THE EMOTIONAL STRESS, INTERFERENCE WITH MY WORK, PUTTING FAMILY & FRIEND'S SAFETY AT RISK. NEVER KNOWING IF AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN & HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN TOLD TOO MANY TIMES THIS IS THE LAST FIX! I DON'T LIKE CONFLICT AND HAVE PUT MY FAITH IN KIA TOO MANY TIMES AND PUT MY FAITH IN THEM OVER MYSELF. I'M DONE BEING THE NICE PERSON. I HAVE HAD MELTDOWNS OVER THIS, ARGUMENTS WITH MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER OVER THIS, INTERFERENCE WITH MY WORK, BEEN STRANDED OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE OF THIS! KIA TOLD ME TODAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY CAR AT THIS TIME. I CANNOT GO ON LIKE THIS ANY LONGER. I NEED YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055647December 20, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
BREAK LIGHTS STAY ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN PARKED AND EVEN WHEN IN MONTION EVERY TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055671December 20, 2017
ENGINE
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA LX.... RECALL LETTER FROM KIA REGARDING ENGINE REPLACEMENT... DEFECT CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL.... CONTACT FILED COMPLAINT THROUGH KIA... ENGINE OF VEHICLE HAS NOT STALLED YET... CONTACT UPSET WITH KIA SERVICE.... KIA STATED ENGINE NEEDED TO GO THROUGH TESTING BEFORE ENGINE IS REPLACED.... CONTACT HAD STATE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THEN WENT OFF. 1RECALLSASSOCIATED WITH THIS VIN MAR 31,2017 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERSC147 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER17V-224 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARYKIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN TO INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ENGINE LONG BLOCK ASSEMBLY ON THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES: * ALL 2011-2013 MY OPTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4L GDI AND 2.0L TURBO-GDI ENGINES PRODUCED FROM AUGUST 12, 2010 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 27, 2013; * ALL 2014 MY OPTIMA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4L GDI AND 2.0L TURBO-GDI ENGINES PRODUCED AT KMMG FROM AUGUST 28, 2013 THROUGH MAY 15, 2014; * ALL 2012-2014 MY SORENTO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.4L GDI ENGINES PRODUCED FROM APRIL 19, 2011 THROUGH FEBRUARY 10, 2014; * ALL 2011-2013 MY SPORTAGE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L TURBO-GDI ENGINES PRODUCED FROM DECEMBER 30, 2010 THROUGH AUGUST 30, 2013. METAL DEBRIS MAY HAVE BEEN GENERATED FROM FACTORY MACHINING OPERATIONS OF THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT AND MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY REMOVED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT'S OIL PASSAGES DURING THE CLEANING PROCESS. IT WAS ALSO DETERMINED THAT THE ADDITIONAL MACHINING PROCESSES OF THE CRANKPINS SAFETY RISK IF THE WARNINGS ARE IGNORED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN, THE BEARING MAY FAIL AND THE VEHICLE COULD STALL WHILE IN MOTION. AN ENGINE STALL AT HIGHER SPEEDS CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055039December 16, 2017
STEERING
WHEN EVER I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING IT SEEMS LIKE THE STEERING COUPLER ON THIS CARS GO BAD WITHIN TIME. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN MOTION OR NOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11054781December 14, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD PROPERLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (GRIFFIN MOTORS, 11031 PERRY HWY, MEADVILLE, PA 16335). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $300 TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS PERSONAL MECHANIC. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11054812December 14, 2017
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO REDUCE THE SPEED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE DURING THE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS, THE STEERING COLUMN JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11054469December 13, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AUTO LOCK ISSUE. AT 118,000 MILES MY AUTO LOCKS STARTED TO AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN I TRIED TO UNLOCKED THEM, ESSENTIALLY TRAPPING ME IN THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS I CLICK UNLOCK THEY IMMEDIATELY RELOOK. IF THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE IN NEED OF A RECALL I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. I'VE LOOKED INTO THE PROBLEM ON OTHER FORUMS AND IT SEEMS QUITE COMMON. YIKES! PLEASE GET THIS RECALL DONE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11054227December 12, 2017
ENGINE
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA..... MARCH 31, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 BEARING WEAR MAY RESULT IN ENGINE SEIZURE BEARING WEAR MAY RESULT IN THE ENGINE SEIZING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 MANUFACTURER KIA MOTORS AMERICA COMPONENTS ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED 618,160 SUMMARY KIA MOTOR COMPANY (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2011-2014 OPTIMA, 2012-2014 SORENTO AND 2011-2013 SPORTAGE VEHICLES. MACHINING ERRORS DURING THE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PROCESS MAY CAUSE PREMATURE BEARING WEAR WITHIN THE ENGINE. REMEDY KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, AND REPLACE THE ENGINE IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 20, 2017. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542. KIA'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS SC147. CONTACT ADVISED TO CONTACT KIA AT 800-333-4542
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11053419December 8, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON 11/29/17 AT AROUND 1:30PM WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY ON INTERSTATE 80 WEST BOUND I HEARD A LOUD BANG THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT CAME FROM ABOVE. THE BANG WAS SO LOUD THAT IT STARTLED ME. I THEN FELT AIR RUSHING IN FROM ABOVE MY HEAD. IT WAS THEN THAT I KNEW THE SOUND WAS THE EXPLOSION OF MY SUNROOF. I THEN EXITED THE FREEWAY AND TOOK PHOTOS OF MY CAR. MY SUNROOF WAS CLOSED WHEN IT EXPLODED, SO FORTUNATELY THE BROKEN GLASS DID NOT FALL INTO THE CAR. THE GLASS BROKE DIRECTLY ABOVE MY HEAD. WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT WAS AT SPEED LIMIT (65MPH) IN THE CITY OF PINOLE, CA BETWEEN EXITS APPIAN WAY AND RICHMOND PARKWAY. AT THE TIME OF THE SUNROOF EXPLOSION, I WAS NOT UNDER AN UNDERPASS, THE FREEWAY WAS NOT UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND I WAS NOT BY TRUCKS. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED ON A CLEAR SKY DAY AND IT THE WEATHER TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE 60S. MY CAR HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES AND WAS LEASED FROM THE KIA OAKLAND LOCATION. TODAY IS 12/8/17 AND IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER A WEEK, AND KIA STILL HAS YET TO ASSIGN SOMEONE TO LOOK AT MY CAR AFTER SAYING THEY ARE GOING TO INVESTIGATE THE CLAIM. MY CAR HAS STILL NOT FIXED AS OF TODAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052937December 7, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE WAS SUDDENLY PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE DISCOVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (DIFEO KIA IN LAKEWOOD, NJ) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052755December 6, 2017
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
"TAKATA RECALL" MY ENGINE STARTED SHAKING AND THE CAR STOPPED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052599December 5, 2017
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (1945 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. ADDITIONALLY, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO KIA DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT SOME WIRING INSIDE THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO POTENTIALLY REPLACE THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051892December 2, 2017
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE ALREADY MOVING, IN ORDER TO PASS OR GET ON THE A HIGHWAY THE ENGINE WILL REV UP VERY HIGH BUT THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I FIRST REPORTED IT TO THE DEAL IN 2014. THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT GET IT TO DO IT AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CODE TO GO BY, CAN DO NOTHING. NOW THE CARE HAS ONLY 500 MILES LEFT ON THE WARRANTY. I RECENTLY REALIZED THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION AS I WAS ENTERING THE TURNPIKE WHERE CONSTRUCTION WAS TAKING PLACE. THERE WAS LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR AND LITTLE TIME TO SEE WHO WAS COMING. I SAW A SEMI COMING BUT KNEW IF I ACCELERATED I COULD GET ON IN TIME. I PUSHED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THIS HAPPENED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF AND PUT IT BACK ON AND FORTUNATELY IT KICKED IN. NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS A DEFECT OF THE CAR IF I WAS HIT BY THE SEMI. I AM HEARING FROM OTHERS THAT THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD WARN OTHERS NOT TO TRUST THIS MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051644December 1, 2017
ENGINE
THE ENGINE REVS WHILE IDLE PERIODICALLY AND THE ENGINE REVS STILL WHEN U LET GO OF THE GAS. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS AFFECTED BY KIAS LATEST RECALL... AND CAUSES ISSUES WITH ME BEING ABLE TO BRAKE AND SUCH CUZ THE CAR ENGINE REVS WHEN THE GAS ISNT BEIN TOUCHED. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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