Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11022912September 12, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PULLED OVER TO A FUEL STATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (KIA OF GREER IN GREER, SC, 864-879-3800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED FOR FREE. SIX MONTHS LATER, ON AUGUST 14, 2017 AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE SAME KIA DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A GOOD WILL OFFER, BUT THE CONTACT PROTESTED THE OFFER. THE ISSUE WAS NOT SETTLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ..UPDATED 10/11/17 *BF UPDATED 10/13/2017*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022903September 12, 2017
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED BLACK SMOKE AND VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OPERATED INDEPENDENTLY. ALSO, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CARMAX AND THEN TOWED TO KIA SOUTHSIDE (9401 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ASKED WHY A NOTIFICATION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12476138 AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NHTSA WAS SUPPOSED TO NOTIFY THE CONTACT OF THE DEFECTS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11021948September 11, 2017
ENGINE
2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT INFORMATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE 17-V224 AND REQUESTED TO BE ADVISED IF THIS REPAIR WAS ALREADY COMPLETED. UPDATED 09/11/2017*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022522September 10, 2017
ENGINE
THERE IS A SAFERY RECALL FOR THIS CAR AMD INSPECTION HAVE BEING CONDUCTED I JUS RECEIVE THE NOTICE ABOUT 6 MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022075September 7, 2017
POWER TRAIN
MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA SXL ONLY SIX MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING. I AM 2,000 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY AS I AM THE SECOND OWNER. AFTER RESEARCHING WARRANTY HISTORY, I HAVE FOUND THIS CAR HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TWICE ALREADY, AND DRAFT SHAFT REPLACED TWICE. ISSUES APPEAR TO OCCUR EVERY SIX MONTHS OR SO PER THE WARRANTY HISTORY. I HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS OF MY ONGOING SAFETY IN THIS CAR, GIVEN THE REOCCURRING TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I BELIEVE I AM BEING TREATED INHUMANELY. KIA IS NOT WORKING WITH ME TO REACH AN AMICABLE SOLUTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022101September 7, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS BECAME EXTREMELY DIM, FORCING THE CONTACT TO TURN ON THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO SEE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11021824September 6, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY FIANCE WAS DRIVINGDRIVING 55 DOWN THE I77 HIGHWAY NORTH GETTING READY TO TURN OFF THE EXIT AND SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG. NEXT THING SHE KNEW SHE HAD GLASS ALL OVER HER.THE POWERED SUNROOF EXPLODED!!!!THE GLASS CUT HER HAND IN A FEW SPOT BUT THANKFULLY SHE IS OK AND DIDNT WRECK THE VEHICLE AND THAT OUR KIDS WEREN'T IN THE CAR. MY FIANCE CALLED THE POLICE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND MY INSURANCE HAS A 1000$$$ DEDUCTIBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11022030September 6, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO DIM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11021424September 5, 2017
ENGINE
TURBO OIL SUPPLY LINE LEEKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11021617September 5, 2017
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WESELOH KIA CARLSBAD (LOCATED AT 5331 PASEO DEL NORTE, CARLSBAD, CA 92008 AT (760) 496-3131) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE LIGHT TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED. THE VOLTAGE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO WESELOH KIA CARLSBAD, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11021285September 3, 2017
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN YOU TURN TO EITHER SIDE HAS A LOT OF PLAY BEFORE RESPONDING TO TURN THE WHEELS AND HAS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND LIKE IT'S EITHER ENGAGING OR SLIPPING, AND IT GETS WORSE EACH TIME I DRIVE IT, AFTER TALKING WITH A FEW DIFFERENT MECHANICS AND LOOKING UP SIMILAR ISSUES THE KIDS OPTIMA HAS A PLASTIC STEERING GEAR INSIDE OF THE STEERING POWER BOX THAT IS WEARING OUT AND GETS WORSE AND WORSE OF COURSE UNTIL YOU HAVE NO STEERING, I'VE FOUND WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUES AND THE HIS CAN NOT BE IGNORED, A MAJOR ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR!!! I HAVE WENT AHEAD AND BOUGHT NEW TIRES, NEW BRAKES NEW FRONT ROTORS NEW FLOAT PINS FOR THE CALIPERS AND THE CAR ALIGNED ALL FOUR TIRES AND NOTHING HELPS LIKE I SAID IT'S THE PLASTIC GEAR IN THE STEERING POWER BOX, IT HAS VIDEOS ON LINE OF THIS AND WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN FIXED??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020596August 30, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IGNITION SWITCH NOT WORKING AT TIMES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020424August 29, 2017
STEERING
LOUD CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH WAYS MAKING STEERING AND DRIVING VERY UNSTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11020452August 29, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY PASSENGER FRONT DOOR KEEPS GOING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I HAVE HAD IT RE-ALIGNED MANY TIMES. MY BODY SHOP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THE HINGES NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE , IF THE DOOR IS NOT ALIGNED IT MAY OPEN AT ANYTIME. I HAVE INFORMED KIA , THEY HAVE REFUSED TO ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE. PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11019489August 25, 2017
AIR BAGS
"AIR BAG" LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURN ON. DEALER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL. CODE B1481.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11019598August 25, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT RENTED A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED OVER A POCKET OF WATER. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT, AND WAS LATER TOWED TO ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,202. *LN *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11019438August 24, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF WYLER KIA (LOCATED AT 5815 DIXIE HWY, FAIRFIELD, OH 45014) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK WITH THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,700.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11019133August 23, 2017
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DURING EACH ATTEMPT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAR LOCK KIA (LOCATED AT 4301 GREENSBORO AVE, TUSCALOOSA, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BATTERY, AND STARTER WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPON DOING RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11018966August 22, 2017
ENGINE
PROBLEMS STARTING A FEW YEARS AGO. HEARD KNOCKING, BROUGHT IT IN FOR RECALL, AND IT WASN'T DOING IT ANYMORE. HAD PROBLEM WITH EMISSIONS. RECALL WAS DONE AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM LED TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. NOW ENGINE IS BURNING THROUGH OIL, AND LOCAL TRUSTED MECHANIC SAYS IT IS GOING TO NEED A NEW ENGINE BY WINTER. IN RESEARCH HAVE SEEN OTHERS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11016468August 21, 2017
ENGINE
WELL MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT INTO A PARKING LOT TO BE TOWED, COME TO FIND OUT MY ENGINE WENT OUT ON ME. I STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE THAT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE AND THEN MY CAR DIED AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. COME TO FIND OUT THAT I HAVE A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM VERY USPET TO FIND OUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR OR SO AND HAVE NEVER EVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF IT VIA MAIL OR ANYTHING! I COULD OF KILLED SOMEONE LET ALONE MYSELF OR MY FAMILY! I HAD TO DO REPAIRS O N8/19/17 BECAUSE MY CAR OUT OF NOWHERE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND BATTERY DIED. I HAD TO GET A NEW BATTERY AND THEN HAVE MY CAR CHECKED OUT WHICH ALL COSTED $350 AND STILL DIED ON ME AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON NOW THEN... ONLY TO FIND OUT MY ENGINE WAS BAD. I'M LOOKING INTO LEGAL ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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