Kia Optima Complaints (2015)

1,022 consumer complaints on file.

#11342038July 29, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE OR STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK I COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL BECAUSE I HAD NO BREAKS. THEN I HAD A TOW TRUCK COME AND PULL ME OFF THE FREEWAY TO SEE IF I COULD START MY VEHICLE HOWEVER IT DID NOT START ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASH ON AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND SMELL LIKE FIRE I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE IS FRIED BECAUSE THE OIL PUMP WAS NOT BEING PUMPED INTO THE MOTOR THEREFORE IT LOCKED UP HE SAID I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME REASON I CHECKED THE RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SYSTEM THAT A 2015 KIA OPTIMA IS UP FOR RECALL. I BELIEVE KIA NEEDS TO REFUND THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 88,000 MILES IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED KIA NEEDS TO CALL ME
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341563July 26, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TENNESSEE AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS IN RIGHT LANE AND I PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER. A DOT EMERGENCY REPAIR TRUCK STOPPED AND TRIED TO JUMP MY CAR, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED, NOT EVEN A NOISE OR ANYTHING. CALLED AAA FOR A TOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341225July 24, 2020
ENGINE, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING AND OUT OF NOWHERE THE CAR STARTED TO BOG DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT CONTINUED TO DO IT EVERY FEW SECONDS AND WAS GETTING WORSE THE WHOLE WAY TO THE SHOP, WHICH WAS THE CLOSEST ONE I COULD FIND AS SOON AS IT STARTED DOING IT. THE SHOP RAN THE ERROR CODE AND GOT A KNOCK SENSOR ERROR. I HAD KIA COME PICK IT UP AND TAKE IT TO THE SHOP. THE SHOP PERFORMED A BEARING CLEARANCE CHECK AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT PASS SO THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE AND INTAKE MANIFOLD DUE TO "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE". WHILE REPLACING THE ENGINE THEY FOUND THE TURBO HAD PLAY AND SO THEY INSTALLED A NEW TURBO ASSEMBLY. AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT THEY FOUND THE STARTER SEIZED, THEY REPLACED THE STARTER. AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT THEY PERFORMED THE ECU UPDATE AND RESET ADAPTIVE VALUES, THEN PERFORMED WIRING SIGNAL INTERFERENCE CHECK WHICH STARTED OK. IMMEDIATELY AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE SHOP I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM FRONT DRIVER WHEEL AREA. SHOP ENDED UP REPLACING CALIPER AND WHEEL BEARINGS ALONG WITH NEEDING AN ALIGNMENT. ALL HAPPENED AROUND 58K MILES. LUCKILY STILL UNDER WARRANTY. SHOP SAID IT WAS JUST A BAD ENGINE. NOTHING I COULD OF DONE COULD OF CAUSED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11340711July 21, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR TOLD ME TO PULL OVER AND CHECK THE ENGINE. I PULL OVER, WAIT A LITTLE WHILE, AND TRY TO START IT AGAIN. IT DOESN'T START. THEY HAVE SOMEONE COME OUT TO JUMP IT, AND IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOOD. I START TO DRIVE AWAY AND MERGE BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY I LOOSE POWER--- I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE GAS, THE BRAKES, THE STEERING WHEEL IS STIFFENING UP. I AM SOMEHOW ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, BARELY GET OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, AND THEN USE MY EMERGENCY BRAKES. THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND COULD HAVE EASILY KILLED ME. I JUST HAD IT SERVICED THE DAY BEFORE SO I TOOK IT BACK. IT TURNS OUT THE HYBRID FUSE WENT OUT. I LOOK IT UP ONLINE AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE! I INFORMED ANOTHER KIA DEALER AND THEY WERE ALSO UNAWARE OF THIS. IT'S INCREDIBLY UNSAFE AND MY LIFE WAS ENDANGERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11339920July 17, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO GET AN OIL CHANGE SEVERAL TIMES AND TOLD THEM HOW MY BRAKES MAKE A NOISE JUST WHEN I BACK UP AND THEY KEEP SAYING MY BRAKES ALRIGHT BUT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT TO ME...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11339639July 16, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN I TURNED MY CAR OFF. THIS ENDED UP KILLING MY BATTERY. WHEN I GOT THE BATTERY RECHARGED IT ALLOWED THE CAR TO START WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING PUSHED IN. ALSO I NOTICED THAT THE STOPPER HAD BROKEN. THIS ALLOWED THE COMPUTER TO THINK THAT THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED EVEN THOUGH THE PEDDLE WASN'T PUSHED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11339728July 16, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I PURCHASED A NEW 2015 KIA OPTIMA. COMPLETED REGULAR MAINTANENCE ON IT, AND THE ENGINE FAILED (LOCKED UP) AT 138,000 MILES. LATER, I WAS ADVISED THE 2015 KIA OPTIMA AND OTHER KIA'S WERE FOUND TO HAVE FAULTY ENGINES. KIA DID NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE AT THE TIME, BUT ARE NOW OFFERING ASSISTANCE SINCE I HAVE TRADED THE KIA WITH A LOCKED MOTOR. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND FOR WEEKS AND TODAY A "REGIONAL MANGER" CALLED AND OFFERED ZERO ASSISTANCE AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THE FAULTY MOTOR WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. WHEN THE MOTOR LOCKED UP, I WAS PASSING A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY. THE OPTIMA STALLED WHILE I WAS IN ON-COMING TRAFFIC, AND THEN THE MOTOR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFETLY, AND THE CAR SMELT LIKE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, IT NEVER STARTED AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330795June 25, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY OVER 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER LANGDALE KIA (1508 N ASHLEY ST, VALDOSTA, GA 31602; (229) 242-0715) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED APPROXIMATELY 10 DAYS LATER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 5-8 MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE DRASTICALLY INCREASED, THEN, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,284. *LN*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330679June 24, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CAR SPED IS FASTER THAN WHAT THE SPEEDOMETER DAY. THE CAR JERKS WHEN YOU ARE SITTING IDLE. THE OIL LIGHT KEEP COMING ON WHEN THE OIL STICK SHOW THAT'S ITS OIL IN THERE. CAR DON'T PICK UP SPEED FAST ENOUGH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330210June 22, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WAS TRAVELING AROUND 65 MPH ON DRY STREET IN THE FAR LEFT LANE (FAST LANE), MY CAR STARTED MAKING A SOUND LIKE METAL CLICKING AND THEN CAR STARTED SMOKING. MY HUSBAND GETS OVER TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND THE SMOKE GOES FROM GRAY TO BLACK AND WHEN HE LIFTED THE HOOD UP FLAMES COMING FROM REAR AND PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE! LUCKILY SOMEONE PULLED OVER AND HAD FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT FIRE. FIRE AND POLICE BOTH ARRIVED ON SCENE AND REPORTS MADE. VEHICLE TOWED HOME; WAITING TO TOW TO DEALER TO FIND OUT CAUSE OF FIRE. REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP ON THE VEHICLE AND NO LIGHTS OR WARNINGS JUST FIRE. KIA KNOWS THERE IS MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THESE ENGINES AND CHOOSE TO ONLY RECALL CERTAIN YEARS WHEN THEY BASICALLY KNOW ANY VEHICLE BETWEEN 2011 AND 2018 CAN BE AFFECTED. DON'T KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME WILL BE BUT VERY UPSET THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND KIA STATES SINCE IT'S OVER 100,000 MILES THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11329419June 17, 2020
ENGINE
MY CAR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK CARE TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP KEPT CAR FOR 2 1/2 WEEKS AND ULTIMATELY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS. NO RECALL REPAIRS HAVE EVER BEEN DONE ON MY CAR SINCE I HAVE HAD IT AND I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. RECALL IS FOR HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE AND THE DOCUMENTATION STATES IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11328268June 11, 2020
POWER TRAIN
P1236 KNOCK SENSOR CODE. CAR WENT INTO "LIMP HOME MODE" WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT 55 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11328349June 11, 2020
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MIKE MURPHY KIA (6150 ALTAMA AVE, BRUNSWICK, GA 31525) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ENGINE FAILURE. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR APPROVAL TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT FAILED AND THAT ANOTHER ENGINE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327708June 8, 2020
ENGINE
WE PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND STARTER TWICE DUE TO OIL LEAKING THROUGH EXHAUST. NO OIL LEAKS ON GROUND WERE VISIBLE. NO LIGHTS WARNING LOW OIL. BOTH TIME CAR BROKE DOWN ON ROAD. ABOUT TWO YEARS APART. WE REPLACED PARTS WITH USED MOTORS AS THAT'S WHAT WE COULD AFFORD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327534June 6, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ENGINE LIGHT JUST STARTED FLASHING AND NO ACCELERATION WHATSOEVER. TAKES FOREVER JUST TO GET UP TO 30 MPH. CALLED KIA AND WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A RECALL OR NOT ON THAT YEAR. NOT HELPFUL AT ALL. I'M AFRAID FOR MY DAUGHTER TO EVEN DRIVE IT NOW AND IT'S HER ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327062June 3, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE CAR MADE A NOISE AND THE GAS WOULDN'T GIVE THE CAR POWER. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND WHILE DOING SO THE CAR SHUT OFF. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC THEY SAID IT IS A SEIZED ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND KIA THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327109June 3, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE! HAD PICKED THE KIA OPTIMA UP THE DAY BEFORE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY HAD INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE, BELTS, AND HOSES. HAD DRIVEN 40 MINUTES FOR A DOCTOR APPT. GOT OFF THE FREEWAY. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE LIGHT (ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM FREEWAY), NOTICED GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. WITH A BROKEN LEFT ARM, HAD TO GET OUT AND ACROSS TRAFFIC. SAW THE FLAMES AS I WAS CROSSING THE STREET. IN UNDER A MINUTE, THE FRONT OF CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326534May 29, 2020
ENGINE
MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA SXL TURBO IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN I HIT THE GAS. IT ALSO STALLED ON ME WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. SOLENOID ALSO HAD TRACES OF METAL SHAVINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326108May 27, 2020
ENGINE
MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA SXL TURBO IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN I HIT THE GAS. IT ALSO STALLED ON ME WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326258May 27, 2020
ENGINE
I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE ENGINE HAS A DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING OFF. MAKES A STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING. SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING OIL AFTER DRIVING A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE NEED TO REPLENISH THE ENGINE OIL. OIL IS EXTREMELY DARK. SOMETIMES THERE IS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. HARD TO ACCELERATE ON THE FREEWAY AT TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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