Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11047352November 19, 2017
STEERING
VEHICLE STEERING HAS BECOME FAULTY. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING, IT STICKS THEN MOVES FREELY WITHOUT THE WHEELS TURNING. THIS STICKING IS ACCOMPANIED BY A KNOCKING/CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS MOST OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM IT'S CENTER POSITION. I'M UNSURE OF THE CAUSE. THIS STARTED APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO (30OCT17) AND HAS PERSISTED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO ESCALATE INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN YOU PLEASE ASSIST?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046897November 17, 2017
ENGINE, STEERING
I AM CURRENTLY STATIONED IN RAMSTEIN GERMANY WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE. I CONTACTED KIA TO HAVE THE RECALL CHECKED AND THE WORK COMPLETED. THEY ARE REFUSING SAYING THAT SINCE I AM IN GERMANY THE RECALL DOESN'T AFFECT THEM. THEY ARE ALSO REFUSING TO HONOR MY WARRANTY. EMAIL IS THE BEST TO CONTACT ME OR VIA CELL [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
#11047022November 17, 2017
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE QUIT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT OTHER WARNING ON A TOLL ROAD, APPROX SPEED OF 70 MPH AT NIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO GET TO THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED DUE TO THE LATE NIGHT, I HAVE TOWED LATER, ORIGINALLY THINKING IT WAS A BAD BATTERY, THAT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE, SO WE REPLACED THAT BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE AND IT INSTANTLY SMOKED THE STARTER, REQUIRING A NEW ONE, WHICH IT DESTROYED, AT THAT TIME FURTHER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. I NOTICED LATER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL FROM KIA HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE FIRE I NOTE IS THE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM REPLACING THE BATTERY WITH A FRESH BATTERY, AND SINCE THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED, THE STARTER LOCKED AND CAUGHT FIRE, REQUIRING A NEW STARTER, OBVIOUSLY AFTER THE MOTOR IS FULLY REPAIRED, BUT I OWE APPROX $350 FOR THE STARTER AND $400 APPROX FOR THE ELECTRICAL FIRE, I AM UNCERTAIN OF OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BE THE ENGINE SEIZING AT SUCH SPEEDS/
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046507November 16, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH AT AROUND 7 PM, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS DRIVING ON 118 FREEWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH BOARD, AND THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF. SHORTLY, AFTER WE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY, WE TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN. WE TOOK OUR CAR TO GALPIN KIA ON MONDAY IN PANORAMA CITY, CA.. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR 3 DAYS TO CHECKED OUT THE ENGINE AND DROVE CAR 6 MILES AND DETERMINE THE CAR WAS OK. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OVCURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046510November 16, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TAKATA RECALL: CAR AT 35K MILEAGE AND DISPLAYS 'HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING, SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE'. HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIPS WHO STILL CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS. ALSO, SEEMS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DISCHARGING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE!! ISSUES HAVE YET BEEN FIXED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046873November 16, 2017
ENGINE
I STARTED MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING BACK HOME AND AS I GOT ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE TURNED, I COULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE THAT WOULD MATCH THE RPM OF THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE ENGINE WAS LOUD AND SQUEALING. I TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, WHERE THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO A"BEARING/ CONNECTING ROD ISSUE". WHICH IS A REASON THERE IS A RECALL ON SELECT OPTIMA MODELS. BUT THE HYBRID MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED FOR SOME REASON. I SUSPECT THE FAILURE RATE ON THE HYBRIDS TO BE ABNORMALLY HIGH AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046243November 15, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AFTER LOSING FUNCTIONALITY OF VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY HI KIA (14673 CIVIC DR, VICTORVILLE, CA), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED UNTIL THE SECOND TIME IT WAS BROUGHT IN FOR DRIVING ABNORMALLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, MOTOR MOUNT, AND TRANSMISSION WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER BANNED THE CONTACT FROM RETURNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF ORANGE (210 W KATELLA AVE, ORANGE, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE. THE RECALL WAS REMEDIED, BUT NO OTHER REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED LOWER BACK, HIP, AND HEAD INJURIES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11045959November 14, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TIRE SENSOR KEEPS GOING OFF. NO DAMAGES TO TIRE OR NO LOSS OF AIR. WHEN I PUT AIR IN IT GOES OFF. A FEW DAYS LATER SENSOR GOES ON AGAIN. IT'S BEEN ABOUT A MONTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11045464November 12, 2017
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN IN PARK OR WHEN A BUMP IS HIT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11045297November 11, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE AND ROLLS AWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11045387November 11, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 2013 OPTIMA SXL. WHEN I AM PULLING OFF FAST OR PUNCHING IT AROUND 20MPH THE CAR DIES. LIKE I LOSE POWER, BUT THE RPMS ARE UP. FEELS LIKE I JAMMED THE BRAKES BUT I DON'T EVEN GET A ABS FEEL. I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THEN SLOWLY HIT THE GAS. TIRE PRESSURE IS WHERE IT SUPPOSE TO BE. WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING IS TURNING OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL SO I FEEL SAFE HITTING THE GAS. IT'S REALLY BAD IN THE RAIN. IF I GO TO ACCELERATE AND NOT FAST IN THE RAIN IT DOES IT. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TODAY AND OF COURSE THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL. I DID SOME SEARCH ONLINE AND I FOUND A FORUM WHERE MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. ONE OWNER HAD THE HYDRAULIC ABS ASSIST MODULE REPLACED AND ECU REPROGRAMMED UNDER WARRANTY. WHILE MOST CUSTOMERS LIKE MY SELF HAVE BROUGH THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP JUST FOR THEM TO CLIAM THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. THE PART IS 1600.00 PLUS 900.00 IN LABOR. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT BECAME A REAL DANGER SPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. AS THE DIES UNDER ACCELERATION WHILE OVERTAKING. PART NUMBER 58920-2T550
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11043485November 5, 2017
AIR BAGS
HAVEN'T ANYTHING HAPPENED JUST YET, BUT I HAVE RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11043168November 4, 2017
STEERING
CLICKING IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING TURNS.GETTING WORSE EACH TIME. WHEN IN MOTION OR NOT.CLICKING IS ALWAYS THERE. STARTED A WEEK AGO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11042007November 1, 2017
STEERING
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SLIGHTLY AND GOING EITHER WAY IT MAKES THIS SMALL SLIPPING OR CLUNKING NOISE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF THE STEERING. HAPPENS IN MOTION WHEN TURNING EVEN SLIGHTLY AND EITHER DIRECTION AND WHEN IT IS STATIONARY. CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, FREEWAY, BACKING UP, GOING FORWARD AND TURNING. AND IT HAS HAPPENED NOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 - 3 MONTHS. I AM TOLD BY INTERNET THAT IT MAY BE FLEX COUPLING IN STEERING. I AM NOT MECHANIC. STILL HAPPENING. ON-GOING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11041843October 31, 2017
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA SINCE I PURCHASED IT ON SEPTEMBER, 5TH 2016. A SHORT TIME AFTER OWNING MY NEW VEHICLE, FIRST THE CAR STARTED TO HESITATE WHEN STARTING AS IF IT WAS STRUGGLING TO START, THE PUSH BUTTON WOULD TURN RED AND THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP ON THE DASHBOARD AS IF THE KEY WAS NOT RECOGNIZED IN THE CAR. THE CAR WOULD ALSO SELF ACCELERATE. ON OR AROUND AUGUST 16TH OR 17TH THE CAR STALLED OUT WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN,WE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR AND IT TURNED ON LIKE NORMAL SO THE TOW WAS CANCELED. , THE SERVICE WRITER & KIA ALL HAVE COPIES OF THE VIDEOS THE MECHANIC HAS ALSO TOLD ME HE WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, THE SOLUTION WAS TO CHANGE THE FUEL PUMP AND SERVICE THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. UPON THE SERVICES BEING COMPLETED WE WERE CONTACTED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, AND KIA THAT THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP ON SEPTEMBER 6TH 2017. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HOME WE NOTICED SOME HESITATION WHILE IDLE, ALSO SOME STRONG ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING OFF FROM RED-LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. WHILE PARKED WE NOTICED SOME STRONG VIBRATION FROM THE MOTOR WHICH THE CAR HAD NOT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEFORE SERVICE. ALSO AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF STARTING THE CAR, THE CAR WOULD EITHER START ROUGH, AND ALSO STILL HAD THE SAME ORIGINAL OCCURRENCE AS BEFORE WITH THE KEY NOT BEING RECOGNIZED IN THE CAR. WITH THE CAR NOT FULLY STARTING AND THE PUSH BUTTON TURNING RED WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING UP WITH THE KEY NOT IN CAR LIGHT ALONG WITH SOME OTHERS. ON THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2017 AT ABOUT 4:30PM I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET TO 80 MPH, THE CAR HESITATED A COUPLE TIMES, THEN SELF DECELERATED TO 73 MPH, REACCELERATED TO 82 MPH THEN SELF ADJUSTED TO 80 MPH, I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT AFTER THE OCCURRENCE I WAS TOLD I HAD TO WAIT TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN THEY HAD NO LOANER VEHICLES, NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11041370October 30, 2017
ENGINE
THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, THEN STALLED. UPON INSPECTION AT AUTO SHOP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND WAS A COMPLETE FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT AROUND 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR HAS HAD ALL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AND I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION AS TO THAT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11040514October 27, 2017
WHEELS
THE CHROME ON THE WHEELS IS SEPARATING FROM THE WHEEL/RIM. ALL AROUND THE LUG NUTS AREA THE CHROME IS PEALING OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11040562October 27, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS ALS RESULTED IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE DEFROSTERS AND RADIO TO MALFUNCTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11040608October 27, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS FAILED AND ARE FLOPPING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE VISOR IS OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW, AND HITTING MY HEAD. I CAN'T SEE. THE FAULTY PART HAS BEEN RE-DESIGNED....WHY NO RECALL??? I HAVE INSTRUCTED MY FAMILY THAT IF I AM INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT TO SUE KIA SINCE THEY HAVE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS!!! PASSEGER SIDE 2010, DRIVER'S SIDE 10/2017. I AM HOLDING THE VISORS UP WITH BUNGEE CORDS!!!! THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH THESE KIAS!!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11040653October 27, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR BROKE.... PASSENGER SIDE PREVIOUSLY BROKEN I FILED A COMPLAINT YEARS AGO....NO CONTACT FROM KIA. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!! IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM! KIA REDESIGNED THE SPRING....WHY ISN'T THIS BEING RECALLED?! I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHEN IT BROKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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