Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10939181January 3, 2017
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD JOLT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10939306January 3, 2017
ENGINE
LOUD BANGING NOISE FROM THE MOTOR THEN LOUD BAND AND 2 PARTS FLEW OUT THE BOTTOM ANT IT STARTED SPILLING OIL EVERYWHERE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10939307January 3, 2017
SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FELL BACK WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FOUR DIFFERENT DEALERS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10938980January 1, 2017
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY ON RAMP THE FRONT HALF OF THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE SUNROOF AND INTERIOR SCREEN WERE BOTH CLOSED AT THE TIME. THE REMAINING GLASS WAS PUSHED UPWARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10938670December 29, 2016
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
MY STEERING HAS BEEN LOOSE SINCE 65K MILES AND CONTINUED TO DRIFT. HOWEVER THIS BIENG MY 4TH CAR I LET IT SLIDE AND WAS WAITING FOR TIME TO DO A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. HOWEVER AT 73K MILES THE EPS SENSOR WENT OFF AND NOW IS HARD TO DRIVE. THE EPS ON ALL MY VEHICLES NEVER HAD ISSUES UP TILL ITS DEATH WAY OVER 250K MILES. THE EPS SENSOR CAME ON AFTER A STOP SIGN. THEN I HEARD A SNAP THEN THE CAR WENT INTO MANUAL STEERING MODE. NOW THE EPS SENSOR IS OFF AND THE CAR IS WORKING FINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10938345December 28, 2016
STEERING
VEHICLE VEERS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP CORRECTING THE WHEEL. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER AND THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BUT WAS NO BETTER. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT'S ALL THEY CAN DO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937674December 27, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE JUMP STARTED SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN ORDER TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DRAINED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937364December 24, 2016
ENGINE
AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE CAR HAD A HESITATION AND SMOKE CAME OUT THE EXHAUST PIPE. NO ENGINE, OR OIL LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR DROVE AND RAN AS IT ALWAYS HAS. GOT HOME CALL KIA OF DAYTON FOR AN APPOINTMENT. TOOK CAR IN, COUPLE DAYS LATER I WAS CALLED AND TOLD I HAD SLUDGE BUILT UP AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND THEY WILL SUBMIT IT TO KIA FOR APPROVAL. KIA DENIED REPAIRS. I LOOKED UP ONLINE AND READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH SAME YEAR AND AROUND SAME MILEAGE. I EVEN SEEN WHERE A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS FILED OVER IT. KIA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT WONT RECALL NOR FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937252December 23, 2016
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE ENGINE RPMS DRASTICALLY INCREASED TO 6 OR 7. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CVT VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NUMBER 75 ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE REPAIRS AND PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. TWO DAYS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THEY PERFORMED AN INTERIM REPAIR AND THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART FOR A PERMANENT REPAIR. THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10937115December 22, 2016
ENGINE
2011 KIA OPTIMA DRIVING HOME ON EXPRESSWAY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AND SEIZED UP, PRETTY MUCH FROZE THE STEERING AND HAD TO FIGHT TO GET TO SHOULDER. KIA HAS A 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. A LETTER WAS SENT IN MAIL CLAIMING ISSUES WITH BEARINGS CRANKSHAFT PISTONS ON THE 2.0 TURBO AND 2.4 GDI MOTORS , SO KIA BUMPED UP WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS 120,000. I HAVE 120,722 KIA SAYS THEY WONT WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I AM THIS CLOSE. ALSO KIA AND HYUNDAI ARE SISTER COMPANIES AND HYUNDAI PUT THE SAME IN ENGINES IN THERE SONATA A RECALLED 400,000 PLUS ENGINES AND KIA HAS NOT RECALLED ONE. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THERE CLAIMING THERE IS ONE BY EXTENDING WARRANTY SHOULDN'T IT BE FIXED UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TIME. I'VE READ THAT ENGINES TEND TO STALL AT AROUND 100,000 TO 120,00 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10935925December 16, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND MY DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CAME ON. A FEW MONTHS PRIOR, WE HAD TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. NOW ON THE SECOND DAY WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON! IS IT BAD WIRING, WILL MY AIRBAG NOT WORK? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10935427December 15, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELRATE AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10935240December 14, 2016
STEERING
AT FIRST I THOUGHT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF HOWEVER AFTER HAVING MY CAR ALIGNED THE STEERING IS STILL LOSE AND AT ANY GIVEN SPEED THE CAR DRIFTS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT VERY EASILY. IT'S DANGEROUS!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10935263December 14, 2016
ENGINE
I BOUGHT MY 2013 OPTIMA SXL WITH 26K MILES. I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND MY CAR NOW HAS UNDER 32K MILES ON IT, AND STARTED SHAKING WITH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD AND IT TURNED OFF. TRIED TO TURN IT BACK ON BUT IT WAS DEAD I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO GET IT TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. NEXT DAY I GET A CALL FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WONT COVER IT DUE TO SLUDGE FOUND ON THE ENGINE WTF!! IT'S A NEW CAR! SO TO GET IT FIXED THEY ARE CHARGING ME $9,400.00 DOLLARS THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY. AND I KEEP CALLING THEM ASKING WHY THE WARRANTY DOESN'T WANT TO COVER THE CHARGES AND THEY SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE FOUND DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE WHICH IS NOTHING BUT BS. I DON'T EVEN HAVE A YR WITH THIS CAR AND NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND THE SAD THING IS THAT I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF REVIEWS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND KIA IS NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I WILL HAVE TO GET A REPO BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP PAYING FOR A JUNK CAR. I WILL NEVER BUY FROM KIA EVER IN MY LIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10935330December 14, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
VEHICLE: KIA OPTIMA 2013 ISSUE DESCRIPTION: IF LOOSING SLIGHTLY TRACTION (KIA OPTIMA IT IS VERY SENSITIVE, ALL IT TAKES IS SOME DIRT ON THE GROUND, A LITTLE RAIN, MOISTURE ON THE PAVEMENT, OR BUMPY ROAD) THE SYSTEM WILL KILL ALL THE ENGINE POWER BETWEEN 1 TO 2 SECONDS WHEN YOU START FROM A STAND STILL (BRINGS THE CAR TO A STOP). THIS MAKES THE CAR NOT MOVE AND GET INTO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSECTIONS BECAUSE CARS APPROACHING MIGHT HIT THE CAR. THE SITUATION CAN BE REPEATED ONCE THE SYSTEM RELEASES THE POWER, LOSING TRACTION AGAIN, EXTENDING ADDITIONALLY 1 TO 2 SECONDS TO THIS SITUATION. LOOSING TRACTION IS EVEN EASIER WHEN THE WHEELS ARE TURNED. I OPENED A TICKET ON KIA CUSTOMER AFFAIRS (K3229681) ONCE THE DEALER DID NOT EVEN TESTED THE CAR WITH ME, AND I GOT THE TYPICAL ANSWER IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL ON THIS SUBJECT (IT IS THE WAY IT WORKS) AFTER MANY CALLS AND VISITS, I WAS ABLE TO GET FROM THE MANUFACTURE'S KIA CUSTOMER AFFAIRS VERBALLY CONFIRM IT IS THE WAY SHOULD WORK, IMMOBILIZING THE CAR FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS. THE ONLY SOLUTION PROVIDED IS TO DISABLE THE TCS WHICH BASED ON THE MANUAL DISABLES ALSO THE ESP. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS, AND NO OTHER CAR I DROVE WORKS IN THAT WAY, NOT EVEN MY HYUNDAI SONATA 2013 WHICH IS THE SAME CAR BUT WITH DIFFERENT BODY. MODE INFORMATION ON THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934927December 13, 2016
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FROM ANY SPEEDS THE CAR WILL DRIFT. WANDERING NOT STABLE GOES IN TO OTHER LANES WITHOUT YOU DOING IT. HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS CONSTANTLY RESTEERING BACK AN FORTH WITHOUT TRYING NOT TO OVER STEER BY STAYING IN YOUR LANE AN NOT STEERING IN TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. . NOT A SAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. VERY UNSTABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934582December 12, 2016
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
AIR BAG LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF DEALER RESET BUT CAME BACK ON SOON AFTERWARDS. ANOTHER DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND PART WAS OVER $1000. MULTIPLE DEAD CAR BATTERIES DUE TO RUNNING LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF AFTER YOU PARK THE CAR. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING GOOD IN THIS WORLD JUST RECALL AND FIX ALREADY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934627December 12, 2016
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN ACCESS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10934066December 9, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUIDE WIRE AND A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE LEFT ARM AND LOWER BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10934080December 9, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN ACCELERATING OR SLOWING DOWN MY VEHICLE JERK EVEN WHEN I'M ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL SET IT WILL DO THE SAME THING. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I NEED TO DO OR IF THERE IS ANY KIND OF RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE IT AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND WITH ALL OF THE REPORT I DON'T SEE HOW KIA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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