Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10502394March 11, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FOR SOME TIME NOW WE HAVE HAD TO VERY SLOWLY PUMP GAS IN TO TANK, IT KEEPS SPLASHING BACK AND SHUTTING OFF THE GAS PUMP. IT IS AT THE REPAIR SHOP NOW BEING REPAIRED AT QUITE AN EXPENSE, WHICH THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502049March 8, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, FUEL SPILLED OUT OF THE FUEL FILLER NECK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V180000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10502154March 8, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT OPEN EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE DOOR REMAINS LOCKED AS THE BUTTON AND KEY DO NOT FULLY UNLOCK IT. USING BOTH BUTTON AND KEY AT THE SAME TIME, I WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND OPEN IT. DISSASSEMBLY OF THE DOOR AND LATCH LOCATED THE PROBLEM TO BE THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM. THE DOOR LATCH IS DESIGNED TO FAIL AS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS LISTING THIS PART. THE LEVER THAT IS MOVED INTO PLACE WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED IS BLOCKED BY THE CAM THAT IT INTERFACES WITH BECAUSE THE CAM HAS ROTATED BEYOND THE POINT THAT IT SHOULD. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRAP SOMEONE IN THE CAR IF IT SHOULD FAIL AT THE WRONG TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501919March 7, 2013
STEERING
I AM A NEW OWNER OF A 2012 LX KIA OPTIMA WITH 27K MILES. MY CONCERN IS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GREATER THAN 65 MPH YOU HAVE TO USE TWO HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT AND FROM PULLING LEFT OR RIGHT. IT FEEL AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL SLIPS AND IS QUITE ALARMING. I HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO KEEP IT IN THE LANES MAKING ME MORE TIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501992March 7, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
WHEN BRAKING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF LESS THEN 20MPH THE CAR LURCHES OR JERKS LIKE THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE ENGAGING OR THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTING HARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501159March 4, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD ROTATE THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10501247March 4, 2013
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
CAR WAS MAKING STRANGE NOISE. TOOK TO MECHANIC TO HAVE CHECK. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE AT FRAME MOUNTS AND ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH ON DRIVERS SIDE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF PROBLEM VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT ALLOW BACK ON ROAD UNTIL NECESSARY REPAIRS ARE MADE. I CONTACTED KIA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS PARTICULAR YEAR VEHICLE WAS IN A RECALL DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED IN THE STATE OF WEST VA, AS STATED IN THE RECALL. VEHICLE IS STILL PARKED AT MECHANICS GARAGE AND I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE COMMUNICATION REGARDING THIS MATTER. I WAS TOLD BY KIA REPRESENTATIVE THAT I WOULD NEED TO CONTACT YOUR ORGANIZATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500529February 26, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT FIND CORROSION OF THE FRAME AT THAT TIME AND DID NOT PERFORM ANY REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE SIDES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DESTROYING THE AXEL AND TIE RODS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10500055February 25, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND REFUSES TO UNLOCK IF THE DOOR IS COMPLETELY CLOSED. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AS I'VE BEEN FORCED TO CRAWL OUT THE PASSENGERS SIDE MULTIPLE TIMES DAILY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499847February 24, 2013
ENGINE
MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA WHEN SHE NOTICED A LOUD CLATTERING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. SHE PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION. A GENTLEMAN THERE CHECKED THE OIL AND SAID THAT IT WAS LOW, HE ADDED 2 QUARTS, I CHANGE THE OIL IN THIS VEHICLE PERSONALLY AND KNOW THAT IT DOESN'T USE ANY OIL. SHE DROVE HOME 3 MILES WITH THE ENGINE STILL CLATTERING. I CHECKED THE OIL AND THE STICK SHOWED 1 QUART LOW. I IMMEDIATELY DRAINED THE OIL AND PUT ON A NEW FILTER AND POURED 4.5 QUARTS IN THE ENGINE. I STARTED UP THE CAR, IT CLATTERED AND RAN IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 10 MINUTES AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THE KIA ROADSIDE PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOWED IT TO THE DEALER. HE INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS 2 QUARTS LOW ON OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL LEAKING FROM THE CAR, WHERE DID THE OIL GO??? THE DEALER SAYS THAT I NEED TO COME UP WITH RECEIPTS BEFORE THEY WILL HONOR THE WARRANTY. IF MY DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WHEN THE MOTOR LOCKED UP, SHE WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CONTROL IT WITH ALL POWER GONE. I HAVE READ MANY CASES JUST LIKE THIS ONE. SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THIS KIND OF ENGINE FAILURE. WILL KIA STEP UP AND RECOGNIZE THAT MAYBE THE OIL CONTROL VALVE IS THE WEAK LINK. MY DEALER SAID THAT WAS WHAT SENT THE CODE TO THE COMPUTER AND OVER-RETARDED THE TIMING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10499505February 21, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN THE PAST MONTH I HAVE NOTICED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND APPLYING THE BRAKES ON MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA THAT THE CAR JERKS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO STOP. I HAVE HAD MY BRAKE PADS CHECKED AND THEY ARE FINE. I HAVE HOWEVER NOTICED THAT WHEN I'M COMING TO A STOP AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL I STOP FINE WITH NO JERKING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT THEIR IS NO PROBLEMS THERE AND HAVE ALSO CALLED THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM LOOKED AT BUT THEY STATED THAT IF ITS SOMETHING NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE TO PAY $100 JUST FOR THEM LOOKING AT THE VEHICLE REGARDLESS IF THEY FIND THE PROBLEM OR NOT. I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND HAVE SEEN SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR BUT NO INFORMATION ON WHAT IS CAUSING THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498327February 16, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO DAYS I NOTICED A SLIGHT DRIFTING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 40 MPH, BUT DISMISSED IT AS BEING CAUSED BY THE HIGH WINDS THAT WERE OCCURRING DURING THAT TIME. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THESE DRIFTING EXPERIENCES LINGERED. THE WORST EXPERIENCE OCCURRED 02/14/13, BETWEEN 5:30PM AND 6:15PM, A HIGH TRAFFIC PERIOD, ON A FREEWAY WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT ONTO THE FREEWAY, I PROCEEDED INTO THE LEFT LANE. WITHIN A FEW FEET, OR ACCELERATION TO 50 MPH OR SO, THE FRONT WHEELS, BEGAN TO PULL TOWARD THE RIGHT. BOTH OF MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT I HAD TO STEER SLIGHTLY LEFT TO CORRECT TO AVOID GOING INTO THE RIGHT LANE. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED AS ABOVE. I NEXT CHANGED TO THE RIGHT LANE AS MY EXIT WAS NEARING. WITHIN 3/4 MILE THERE IS A SLIGHT CURVE LEFT, WHICH THE CAR HAD ISSUES CORNERING AND AGAIN LED TO MY HAVING TO STEER TO CORRECT. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN, A SERIOUS ONE. THIS IS NOT A RANDOM, EVERY SO OFTEN OCCURRENCE. IT IS DAILY, FREQUENT, IF I TRAVEL ON A FREEWAY OR ANYTIME SPEED LIMITS ARE ABOVE 35 MPH. THERE ARE OTHER INSTANCES OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE CORNERING ISSUES. LEFT TURNS ARE AWKWARD IF YOU FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TURNING INTO THE LANE CLOSEST TO YOU. MOST TURNS END UP WIDE, AS IF YOU'RE DRIVING A WIDER CHASSIS VEHICLE, I.E. A PICK-UP OR SUV. THE STEERING DEFECT EVEN APPEARS NOTICEABLE UPON PARKING, AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALWAYS A HAIR OFF CENTER WHEN YOU PARK STRAIGHT IN A STALL OR SPACE. IN THE CITY I RESIDE IN THE STATE OF NEVADA, CONSTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION, LANES THAT CHANGE FROM HORIZONTAL TO ZIG-ZAG EVERY FEW FEET, THE LAST THING NEEDED IS A CAR THAT HAS ANY HINT OF A FAULT WITH STEERING OR SUSPENSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498354February 16, 2013
SUSPENSION, STEERING
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT CONSTANTLY AND YOU HAVE TO USE TWO HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT AND FROM PULLING LEFT OR RIGHT. LESS NOTICEABLE IN CITY DRIVING BUT STILL DRIFTS. BROUGHT IT TWICE TO THE DEALER AND TECH DROVE IT AND TOLD ME ALIGNMENT IS WITHIN SPECS AND IT WAS FINE I JUST NEED TO GET USED TO IT. THIS IS VERY UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. HOPE THE LEMON LAW WILL HELP ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498151February 14, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
WHILE I DID EXPERIENCE THE SAME LOCK PROBLEMS AS A LOT OF 2005 OPTIMA OWNERS... MY DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE LOCK MECHANISM. IN MY CASE, THE LOCK WOULD ACT FINE ONE MOMENT AND NOT WORK THE NEXT. FOR THOSE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I WOULD SUGGEST GETTING THE DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO REPLACING THE ENTIRE LOCK MECHANISM. I HAVE HAD NO TROUBLE SINCE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10497669February 10, 2013
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 1 CAR ACCIDENT WHERE IT WENT OFF THE ROAD, INTO THE DITCH AND ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES. THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BROKEN DURING THE ACCIDENT AND WAS ALL THE WAY RECLINED RENDERING THE SEAT BELT INEFFECTIVE. THE INJURIES COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE GIVEN THE FACT THAT NO BAGS DEPLOYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS OF LITTLE HELP WHEN CONTACTED AND DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE THAT THEIR PRODUCT COULD BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10496947February 9, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN BY ACTIVATING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE INSIDE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER OR THE REMOTE KEY FOB. WHEN I USED THE DOOR HANDLE NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN I PRESSED THE INSIDE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER I COULD HEAR THE POWER UNLOCK MECHANISM ACTIVATE BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. NOR WOULD THE DOOR OPEN WHEN THE REMOTE KEY FOB UNLOCK WAS PRESSED EVEN THOUGH I COULD HEAR THE UNLOCK MECHANISM ACTIVATE. THE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. I HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE FRONT CONSOLE TO EXIT THE CAR THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR. DUE TO THE SMALL SIZE OF THE CAR THIS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITH AN INJURY OR FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON. IN CASE OF A FIRE WHERE THE ONLY EXIT WAS THRU THE DRIVERS DOOR THIS WOULD BE A FATAL COMPONENT FAILURE. AFTER EXITING THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY BUT THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE DOOR. I TRIED PRESSING AND RELEASING THE REMOTE UNLOCK WITH AND WITHOUT THE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES USING MULTIPLE COMBINATIONS OF THE DOOR HANDLE, DOOR UNLOCK LEVER AND REMOTE KEY FOB, NOTHING WORKED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DOOR HANDLE AND DOOR KEY SHOULD ALWAYS FUNCTION TO ALLOW EXIT FROM THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496775February 7, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN IT. WHETHER IN OR OUT, IT WON'T OPEN. SOMETIMES IT WILL OPEN WITH A KEY OUT OF THE CAR, BUT WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496212February 2, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND DOESN'T REMAIN IN A LOCKED POSITION. WHEN I TRY TO MOVE IT TO THE LOCKED POSITION AGAINST THE CEILING, IT FALLS DOWN INTO CLEAR SIGHT. THIS IS GREAT WHEN THE SUN IS IN YOUR EYES, BUT NOT DURING ALL OTHER TIMES. IT SEVERELY DECREASES VISION WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND KIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED NO RESOLUTION OR RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE SUN VISOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496036February 1, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT IN A JERKING MOTION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE WAS POSITIONED OUTWARDLY. ALSO, BOTH FRONT TIRES HAD PREMATURELY WORN DUE TO THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496079February 1, 2013
STEERING
2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATING A VERY NERVOUS STEERING (LEFT AND RIGHT PULLING), MORE MARKEDLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN SINCE BRAND NEW, BUT INCIDENT DATE REPORTED WAS THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM WAS EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE. INCIDENT EVENT REPORTED WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, BUT CLOSE ONE. EVEN AFTER INSTALLATION OF NEW TIRES, BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT, STEERING KEEPS RESPONDING NERVOUSLY, CAUSING DRIVER FATIGUE AND NOT IMPARTING TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE TO THE DRIVER AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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