Kia Optima Complaints (2015)
1,022 consumer complaints on file.
- #11245360August 20, 2019ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
2015 KIA OPTIMA TURBO.. I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IN DOING SO, I REALIZED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING AND WHEN I LOOKED DOWN, ALL OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASHBOARD. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER JUST MAKING IT OUT OF THE LANE OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, I PLACED MY CAR IN PARK TURNED EVERYTHING OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I THEN SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. FRIGTHTENED THAT IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AGAIN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I THEN CALLED FOR A WRECKER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP THAT SAME DAY. DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY WERE WAITING TO SEE IF KIA WAS GOING TO APPROVE REPLACING THE ENGINE. WAS TOLD I SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BY TOMORROW. STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11245030August 19, 2019ENGINE
MY CAR HAS ONKY 64804 MILES AND MY ENGINE IS LOCK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11244770August 18, 2019ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN THE SPEED HIT 60MPH THE CAR STALLED AND ALOT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXAUST. THE CARD BEHIND ME HAD TO SLOW DOWN. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I TURNED IT ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON ANYMORE AND THE CAR MADE SMOKE. I CALLED COMUNITY KIA ON BAYTOWN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BAD PCV VALAVE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I PAID FOR IT AND THEY REPLACED IT AND AS I DROVE OFF HOME THE CAR KEPT DOING THE SAME AND STALLING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE FIRST TEST MY CAR WAS LOW 2 QUARTS AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. "IT LOST 2 QUARTS BUT WE DONT KNOW WHERE ITS GOING" I TOLD HER IT DIDNT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE I DIDNT WANT IT TO CATCH FIRE AND SHE SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. THAN I DROVE IT 600 MILES AND THE CAR THREW A WHOLE LOT MORE SMOKE AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE AND THE SMOKE I CLAIMED WAS COMING OUT WAS NOT. THAT THE TECHNICIANS TURNED IT ON AND DROVE IT DID NOT SEE ANY SMOKE. I SHOWED UP TO THE DEALER AND TURNED IT ON AND SMOKE CAME OUT AND PRESSED ON THE GAS AND A HUGE CLOUD CAME OUT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. SO NOW THEY WANT ME TO GET A NEW ENGINE AND SAY ITS BECAUSE I FAILED TO DO THE OILCHANGE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11242271August 7, 2019FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE BLINKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME DESPITE THE ENGINE STALLING PERSISTENTLY. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO ZONE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED, BUT THEY SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO CRAIN KIA OF SHERWOOD (5830 WARDEN RD, SHERWOOD, AR 72120, 501-436-4852) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE KNOCK SENSOR NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING A LOANER VEHICLE FOR THE PAST MONTH BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11241824August 5, 2019VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL OF THE PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED HAVING WHIPLASH; THE RIGHT ARM, CHEST AREA, AND RIGHT SHOULDER WERE ALL BRUISED BECAUSE OF THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVEN TO THE HOSPITAL, TREATED AND RELEASED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED BUT A SECURITY OFFICER FROM THE PROPERTY TOOK A REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS INFORMED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AS OF YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11240958July 31, 2019STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE LOST 2 OF THE TRIM PANELS ABOVE THE DOORS ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE BRACKETS ARE NOT SECURE ENOUGH AND THE GLUE HOLDING THE BRACKETS ARE NO LONGER STICKING. I CANT DRIVE LONG DISTANCES WITHOUT THE TRIM COMING LOOSE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11235068July 26, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY IN THE THIRD LANE (FAR LEFT), THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND A FIRE STARTED IN FRONT OF THE FIRE WALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN COASTING TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, HE NEARLY CRASHED DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE USING A GALLON OF WATER THAT WAS IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE NOT PRESENT. THE CONTACT AND THE FRONT PASSENGER FID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE BY AAA. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED THEN TO A REPAIR CENTER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A BEARING SHOT THROUGH THE ENGINE AND AS A RESULT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AS OF YET AND THE CONTACT HAD BEEN DRIVING A RENTAL VEHICLE IN THE MEANTIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11234913July 25, 2019ENGINE
ON JUNE 26 2019 I CONTACTED MONROEVILLE KIA DUE TO MY CAR SMOKING WHEN ACCELERATING, I ADVISED THEM IT FELT AS IF WE'RE TRYING TO STALL. THEY SCHEDULED ME AN APPT JULY 9,2019. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF AND A FEW HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS AND THE DID SOME SORT OF ENGINE SOFTWARE UPGRADE BUT FOUND NO ISSUES. I DROVE OFF THE LOT AND STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE ONLY NOW I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE SHAKING. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM WHICH WAS CENTURY 3 KIA. THE SCHEDULED ME FOR JULY 23, I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AND SEVERAL HOURS LATER THEY CALLED AND SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THEY DENIED THE CLAIM SAYING IT WAD DUE TO MAINTENANCE HOWEVER I PRODUCED OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. THE SOFTWARE UPGRADE THAT THEY DID IS SOFTWARE TO DETECT THE ENGINE FAILURE. THEY ARE AWARE IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE BUT ARE NOT RECALLING THEIR VEHICLES AND ARE REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBLY FOR A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT THAT COULD CATCH FIRE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11233596July 20, 2019ENGINE
MY ENGINE STARTING BURNING OIL AND SMOKING. I LITERALLY HAD TO GET THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 2-3 DAYS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA, THEY INFORMED ME THAT SOME ENGINES HAD BEEN RECALLED BUT MINE WAS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME FOR A NEW ENGINE WHICH I EVENTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE ON MY OWN BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. I LATER LEARNED SEVERAL COLLEAGUES HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR ENGINES AND GOT IT REPLACED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11233391July 19, 2019SERVICE BRAKES
I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH 55K MILES ON IT. WITHOUT WARNING DRIVING TO WORK I SLOWED DOWN TO ENTER THE GATE AND HEARD MY BRAKES GRIND METAL ON METAL. I THOUGHT I WOULD HEAR A SQUEAL WHEN MY BRAKE PADS STARTED WEARING OUT WAY BEFORE I HEARD METAL ON METAL. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT MY SQUEAL BARS ON EACH BRAKE WERE BENT BACK TO WHERE THEY DID NOT COME IN CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE PAD. HE STATED THAT SOMETIMES A STICK OR SOMETHING COULD GET UP IN THE WHEEL AND POSSIBLY BEND ONE A LITTLE BIT BUT SEEMS UNLIKELY THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN ON BOTH FRONT BRAKES. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT MY CAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY THAT WAY BUT I HAVE NO PROOF. EVEN IF I WAS HARD ON MY BRAKES AND THE PADS WERE WORN I SHOULD HAVE HEARD THE SQUEAL AS A WARNING TO REPLACE THE PADS BEFORE I HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE ORIGINAL FRONT PADS AND ROTORS ON THE SAME DAY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11233174July 18, 2019ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL IN 03/2019 I WENT TO MERGE ON INTERSTATE IN TRAFFIC AND I COULD NOT GET ENOUGH SPEED TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC, THE CAR WAS MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. WE TOOK STRAIGHT TO DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD ME MY TURBO HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS "SLUDGE IN THE OIL" THEY ASSURED ME THIS WOULD BE COVERED BY KIA WARRANTY, MY CAR ONLY HAD 70,000 MILES AND I SSUMED THIS WOULD BE THE CASE WITH THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY KIA OFFERS. THE DEALERSHIP SUBMITTED MY CLAIM SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WAS DENIED, SO WE PAID THE 3000$ TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THEY ASSURED US EVERYTHING WAS GOOD TO GO. 1 MONTH LATER WE TOOK A 5 HOUR TRIP AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP ON US AS SOON AS WE GOT THERE, WE CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND KIA WOULD NOT TOW IT, SO WE ARRANGED FOR IT TO BE TOWED BACK HOME AND TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US THEY HAVE SO MANY KIA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THEY COULD NOT EVEN LOOK AT MY CAR FOR ATLEAST 7DAYS. I STILL HAVENT HEARD FROM THEM ABOUT A CLAIM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11232251July 16, 2019ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FOLLOWING HAPPENS ANYTIME WHILE DRIVING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT AND SOFTWARE, SENSORS, ACTUATORS, WARNING LIGHTS, FAULT CODES, AND PERFORMANCE RELATED CONCERNS OF THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. MY PASSENGER WINDOW WON'T GO UP ONCE YOU PUT IT DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT. I BEEN TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES AND IT'S NOT FIXED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11232248July 16, 2019SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS FIRST THE ENGINE WENT UP JUST LOCKED UP. THE BRAKES PULSATE WON'T STOP AND I HAVE CHANGED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES 3 TIMES. THE DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. SUSPENSIONS CAR ROCKS AND BOUNCES . NOW THE RADIO IS OUT. AND MY WINDOW WON'T GO UP IF PUT DOWN. THE WAS IN MOTION FOR ALL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11231508July 12, 2019AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON IT. WITH TAKATA AIRBAGS ON MY VEHICLE 2015 KIA OPTIMA LX SEDAN 4 DOOR. AND THE DEALER SHIP DOESN'T WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11229016July 2, 2019ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA ATLANTA SOUTH (770-968-3400, LOCATED AT 7310 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11228801July 1, 2019ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM LAKE HAVASU TO SEAL BEACH(OVER 308 MILES AWAY); 100 MILES IN TOWARDS DESTINATION, MY CAR SUDDENLY WAS STALLED; LOOSING COMPLETE POWER OF EVEN PRESSING THE SIGNAL LIGHT OR EMERGENCY LIGHT. I STILL HAD 206 MILES LEFT TO DESTINATION. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, NO AIR, NO POWER TO LOWER THE WINDOWS AND HEAT QUICKLY RISING TO 100 DEGREES AND TRYING TO GET BACK PHONE RECEPTION TO CALL IN FOR TOWING SERVICE. I WAS THEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO AAA. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS OVER 60 MILES FROM NEEDLES AND 78 MILES AWAY FROM BARSTOW AND AAA COULD NOT FIND A TOW TRUCK THAT COULD BE THERE LESS THAN 2 HOURS FROM THE TIME I CALLED, (TOTAL WAIT WAS 2 1/2 HRS) AFTER GOING THROUGH 2 TOW TRUCKS AND GETTING TO KIA MOTORS IN CERRITOS; I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING DAY THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED WHETHER THEY HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND SERVICE TECH DID NOT WANT TO ADMIT THEY HAD ONE. I STATED TO HIM THAT I WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC AND CONFIRMING THROUGH YOUR WEB SITE THAT THEY DID HAVE A RECALL SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. SERVICE REP THEN CONFESSED THEY DID. KIA IS WAITING 2-4 WEEKS FOR MOTOR TO ARRIVE. I CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A RENTAL, WHICH KIA NOW HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY IN PAYING FOR IT. I WILL INFORM EVERYONE ON HOW THIS CLAIM GOES, ONCE THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11228268June 28, 2019ENGINE
DRIVING TO WORK AND ACCELERATED TO 60 AND THEN SUDDENLY ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THEN IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, EVEN IF I PRESSED ON THE GAS. PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON AFTER A MINUTE AND WAS UNABLE TOO. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW DO THE BEARINGS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11222854June 27, 2019ENGINE
ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. STARTED TO KNOCK, ON MY WAY HOME, JUST DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE SHOP IT WAS BARELY DRIVEABLE. TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. THERE IS A RECALL ON 2011 TO2014 OPTIMA'S. MECHANIC SAYS THIS ENGINE SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11222656June 26, 2019ENGINE
THE KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION SYSTEM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11222038June 24, 2019EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEADLIGHT KEEP GOING OUT AND I HAVE KEEP REPLACING BULBS. I BE DRIVING AND LIGHTS WILL BLINK THEN JUST GO OUT , I KEEP HAVE BUY LIGHT BULB EVERY TIME.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0