Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10723224June 3, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE DOORS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ONCE OPENED WITH THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722928June 2, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN AND CLOSE. AS THE FAILURE PROGRESSED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 7/16/15*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722507May 31, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
AT 20000 MILES MY FOG LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK , THE WEIRD PUT THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL TO TURN RIGHT THEY WOULD COME ON FOR A SHORT TIME, REPLACED BULBS NOTHING THEY DON'T WORK. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AND THE TIRES, TIRE BRAND ARE JUNK, POORLY MADE THEY WERE BEYOND THE LIMIT FOR SAFTY, THEN AT 40000 MILES BOTH FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS HAD TO BE REPLACED, NOW AT 78000 MILES THE STRUTS ARE MAKING A HORRIBLE CLANKING AND THE AC IS BLOWING HOT AIR EVEN AFTER 2 CANS OF THE STUFF THE MECHANIC SAID TO ADD. I TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY TO WORK 36 MILES ONE WAY DAILY HENSE THE MILAGE BUT THE HIGH WAY IS SMOOTH AS WELL. VERY DISAPPOINTED KIA OWNER, WHEN CALLED TO ASK ABOUT THE FOG LIGHTS WAS TOLD YOUR PROBLEM SO IM SURE THE STRUTS WILL BE AND THE AC WILL ALSO BE MY PROBLEM . SADLY THOUGHT THEY WOULD BACK UP THERE PRODUCT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722963May 30, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING
MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE COMPLETELY DIM. I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 4 FT IN FRONT OF MY CAR SO NO LONGER DRIVE AT NIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP HERE IN ORLANDO AND THEY STATED THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE HEAT OF THE BULB CAUSE THE PAINT IN THE UNIT TO PEEL AWAY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS YET, BUT HAVE HAD A FEW OCCASIONS WHERE A CAR CUT ME OFF AND ANOTHER ALMOST RAN ME OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY LIGHT TO NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY IT WOULD COST ME $1200 TO FIX. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND SOME FORUMS WHERE OTHER DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AND RATTLING WHEN I DRIVE AND HIT A SMALL BUMP. I WAS TOLD BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST $400 TO FIX THAT $3.00 PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THAT TOGETHER. IF IT NOT FIXED IN TIME THAT THE STEERING WOULD BE GONE COMPLETELY. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURER TAKING SHORT CUTS AND USING CHEAP PRODUCTS THAT COST US TONS OF MONEY TO FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722186May 29, 2015
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, 2.4 LITER ENGINE. ALWAYS KEEP UP ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES, CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE. I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES, WARNINGS, NO CHECK ENGINE/OIL LIGHTS, NO NOISES, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THEN LAST NIGHT MY CAR JUST SPUTTERED AND CUT OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN. APPARENTLY WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OFF, SO DOES THE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUSH THE BRAKES, SO I HAD TO TRY TO SAFELY COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH NO BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. I FINALLY PULLED OVER, TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND THERE WAS SUCH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, AND SOME SQUEALING NOISES AS WELL. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER START EITHER. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT TODAY AND SAYS THE ENGINE IS "JUST GONE." NO EXPLANATIONS AT ALL. I VERIFIED THAT THE KIA OPTIMA AND THE HYUNDAI SONATA ARE THE SAME MANUFACTURER AND USE THE SAME ENGINES. I SEE THERE ARE WAY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I WILL TRY TO NOTIFY KIA AND SEE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS EVEN WITH THE WARRANTY EXPIRING 7,000 MILES AGO, SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING FOR BOTH THE 2011 OPTIMAS AND SONATAS. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO WARNINGS, AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC, WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE BRAKES AND STEERING TO GO OUT. NOT SAFE AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722310May 29, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 11/04/15*LJ UPDATED 2/1/2016*JS UPDATED 04/05/16.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722346May 29, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE GEARS FAILED TO SHIFT AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,678.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722363May 29, 2015
STEERING
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING MY BRAND NEW 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX I NOTICED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING ON ANY TYPE OF HIGHWAY THE CAR WONDERS ONCE I REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS (USUALLY 65MPH OR MORE). THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS IT WAS A WINDY DAY AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS... BUT, I'VE NOTICED THIS SAME ISSUE EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS LITTLE TO NO WIND. THE CAR REFUSES TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE, CONSTANTLY VEERING LEFT AND RIGHT (EVEN ON A FLAT SURFACE). THE STEERING WHEEL BARELY MOVES, BUT THE CAR ITSELF WILL WONDER BACK AND FORTH, REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION BY THE DRIVER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATEDLY SAID ITS THE SLOPE IN THE ROAD, EVEN THOUGH I'VE TOLD THEM I'VE EXPERIENCED IT ON MULTIPLE HIGHWAYS. NOW I AM NOTICING THE SAME PROBLEM AT REGULAR SPEEDS OF 35MPH AND MORE. THE STEERING WONDERS AND MY SUSPENSION SEEMS NONEXISTENT. SIMPLE TAR LINES IN THE PAVEMENT FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING OVER POTHOLES. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO FEEL A BIT OF A ROUGH RIDE, BUT SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THESE ISSUES COMBINED MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE AND AT TIMES, SCARY. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE SOON ABOUT THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OWNERS HAVE SUBMITTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I LOVE THE CAR, OTHER THAN THE STEERING ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721330May 25, 2015
STEERING
I WAS TRAVELING ON 85 NORTH AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 70 MPH WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME REALLY STIFF AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO MOVE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT! FINALLY IT RELEASED AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE IT AGAIN. I DIDN'T REALLY THINK THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE ISSUE BUT MY FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT I SEARCH THE INTERNET FOR ANY RECALLS REGARDING STEERING. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET I FOUND 100+ COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE FOR 2012-2013 MODEL KIA OPTIMAS. THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT CAN RESULT IN INJURY IF THE STEERING REMAINS LOCKED WHILE DRIVING! PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10720961May 22, 2015
STEERING
I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 17996 MILES. AFTER A FEW MILES DRIVING ON THE I-95 I NOTICED THAT THE 2013 OPTIMA HAS A VERY WEIRD STEERING PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING OVER 50MPH. IT'S VERY HARD TO KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT PATH. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO KEEP ON THE CORRECT LANE. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER A COUPLE DAYS LATER AND TOLD THEM THAT I'VE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINS OF THIS KNOWN ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I'VE ALSO TOLD THEM THAT THERE IS A PATCH THAT WAS RELEASED ON APRIL 2015 BUT THEY SAID IT WOULDN'T APPLY FOR MY CAR. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. KIA NEEDS TO GIVE SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE AND TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION AS IT'S VERY UNSAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10720975May 22, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE FOR THE REAR DOOR WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721032May 22, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MODERATELY STEEP SLOPE AND WHEN I APPLIED THE BREAKS TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN I COULD FEEL A SHAKING ON THE BREAK PETAL ABOUT A 20 SECOND DURATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. BOTH WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY WIFE WAS DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717578May 21, 2015
AIR BAGS
WIFE WAS COMING BACK FROM WALKING THE DOGS IN THE PARK, AT THE PARK SHE WAS FEELING DIZZY, WHEN SHE SAT DOWN IN THE CAR SHE WAS FEELING BETTER. AS SHE WAS DRIVING HOME, SHE PASSED A SCHOOL AND SAW THE SIGN TO SLOW DOWN. AFTER THAT, SHE BLACKED OUT AND SHE WOKE UP AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IN A DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. SHE HAD HIT A FENCE THEN HEAD-ON INTO A TREE. THE WHOLE TIME ALL THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IS THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT UPDATED 05-27-15 *BF.....UPDATED 06-12-15 *BF UPDATED 06/23/15*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10717675May 21, 2015
STEERING
MY WIFE'S 2013 OPTIMA HAS VERY STIFF STEERING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE OR LONG STRETCH ROAD. IT'S VERY HARD TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING LOCKS WHEN GOING STRAIGH AND IT FEELS LIKE IT CATCHES WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. I IGNORED IT FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THINKING MAYBE A "BREAK IN" STAGE. STILL AT 40K MILES IT'S THE EXACT SAME WAY. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. I NOTICED I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE KIA FIXES THIS PROBLEM. MAY BE MY LAST KIA CAR!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717793May 21, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECELERATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY OTHER DRIVERS ON THE SCENE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717303May 19, 2015
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ON HYWY 80 WEST, HIT BLACK ICE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SPUN AND THEN FLIPPED END OVER END CAUSING EXTENSIVE IMPACT TO FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 6 AIR BAGS. NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED!!!! BY THE GRACE OF GOD NO ONE WAS KILLED. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND HAD TO HAVE MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10717052May 18, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
PURCHASED THE CAR USED AT 25000 MILES FROM A DEALERSHIP. CAR WAS FINE, SMOOTH FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS. DID OIL CHANGES AS USUAL. NOTICED SOME JERKING RECENTLY WHEN I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BUT DIDN'T REALLY BOTHER ME AT FIRST. THEN I NOTICED IT WAS HAVING TROUBLE ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT WOULD SOMETIMES TAKE 3+ SECONDS FOR IT TO RESPOND AND START MOVING. THE MORE I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP (BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC) IT WOULD TAKE LONGER TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATE. COUPLE DAYS AGO, I DID THE MAINTENANCE 30K SERVICE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT IT STILL DID ITS THING. I HAD THE "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING! SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE" MESSAGE HAPPEN TWICE..ONCE AFTER THE MAINTENANCE. I TOOK IT BACK TO KIA AND FORTUNATELY THE GUY DID A TEST DRIVE AND REPLICATED THE ISSUE WITH THE LAG. HE ALSO REPLICATED THE HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE AS WELL. I NOW HAVE A LOANER. NOT SURE HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE BUT FROM THE SOUNDS OF IT FROM THIS FORUM, THEY DONT KNOW WHATS WRONG. HOPEFULLY I DONT HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR =/ ANYONE WITH QUESTIONS, EMAIL ME AT [XXX]@SBCGLOBAL.NET VIN UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717174May 18, 2015
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG, ABS, AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716746May 15, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DOWN A HILL, I HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY SO I DID NOT NEED TO ENGAGE MY BRAKES AT A STOP LIGHT AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL. THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN HIT BECAUSE OF THIS MALFUNCTION. I HAD TO PULL OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND BEFORE I COULD PARK THE CAR, IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AS PULLED IN. I WAS FORCED TO STOP IN THIS MIDDLE OF A NARROW PARKING LOT BLOCKING CARS FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT THEIR SPOTS. I CALLED KIA ROADAIDE ASSISTANCE, WHO INSTEAD OF GETTING ME HELP, TRANSFERED ME TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY HELP. NOT ONLY DID MY CAR FAIL ME, KIA CUSOTMER SERVICE DID AS WELL. .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716349May 13, 2015
STEERING
VEHICLE HAS TROUBLE MAINTAINING PROPER STEERING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING NEEDS TO ALMOST CONSTANTLY BE TURNED RIGHT TO LEFT TO TRY TO MAINTAIN STRAIGHT DRIVING. THE STEERING WILL ALSO OCCASIONAL LOCK WHEN TURNING AND YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN THE WHEEL BACK STRAIGHT. THE CONSTANT NEED TO OVER CORRECT THE STEERING MAKES THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I COULD SEE IT EASILY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN THE CORRECT CONDITIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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