Kia Optima Complaints (2015)

1,022 consumer complaints on file.

#11114419July 29, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY KIA OPTIMA WITH ONLY 14K MILES ON IT PRE-OWN FROM THE DEALER... THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (PARKING BRAKE) HAS BEEN LOOSE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY. WHEN I PARK MY VEHICLE ON A DOWNHILL AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE WITH THE NEUTRAL MODE POSITION JUST TO SEE IT'S WORKING, THE VEHICLE SLOWLY MOVES DOWNHILL EVEN IF THE ROAD IS NOT THAT STEEP. IT WORRIES ME THAT IF I EVER LOSE THE BREAKS THE EMERGENCY BREAKS WON'T STOP THE CAR. FIXING THIS PROBLEM ON MY OWN WILL COST ME LOTS OF MONEY BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAME OUT OF THE FACTORY LIKE THAT. I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113309July 24, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIA OPTIMA 2015 WITH 20K MILES CAUGHT FIRE. ENGINE STOPPED WHILE AT RED LIGHT, IN DRIVE. STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. CALLED 911. VEHICLE BEHIND ME CALLED REPORTING SEEING FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. KIA REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112366July 19, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ISSUE I AM HAVING, IS MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE FORTH TIME SINCE LEASING THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2015. AFTER THE FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES WHICH TOOK PLACE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I TOOK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHT IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT RUNS FINE OTHERWISE. I AM ALWAYS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE RIGHT BACK UP. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2011 - 2014 OPTIMA ENGINE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. I AM TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THIS AFTERNOON. I AM DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112059July 17, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STOPPED. TRIED RESTARTING IT BUT IT WOULD SHUT DOWN AGAIN WITH A CLUNKING SOUND LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL AS I HAD RECENTLY CHANGED THE OIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. I TRIED RESTARTING IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES BUT IT JUST SHUTS DOWN AND THE ENGINE REALLY SOUNDED BAD WITH A SCREECHING SOUND. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR A MONTH NOW SINCE I DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDS TO GET IT FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112052July 17, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SHARK FIN ANTENNA COVER FELL OFF. THIS IS REPORTED TO HAPPEN TO MANY 2015 KIA OPTIMAS. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FIN AND TO FIX THE ISSUE A WHOLE ANTENNA KIT HAS TO BE INSTALLED. APPARENTLY THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE ANTENNA FIN DOWN RUST OVERTIME AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE FIN TO POP OFF. THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110417July 10, 2018
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
BOUGHT A BRAND-NEW 2015 KIA OPTIMA IN FEBRUARY 2016 - 2.5 YEARS AND 34,000 MILES IN, IT DIED ON ME WHILE GOING 70MPH ON I85N IN ATLANTA IN MORNING RUSH HOUR. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND NO WARNING SIGNS WHATSOEVER - I WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATE AROUND A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH LIT UP - THE ENGINE WAS DEAD AND I WAS COASTING. COULD NOT GET OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO TRAFFIC, SO HAD TO PUT IT AS FAR TO THE LEFT AS I COULD, WHICH ENDED UP HALFWAY IN THE HOV LANE - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WOULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY ALL OF MY SERVICES AND OIL CHANGES HAD BEEN DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (RICK CASE KIA IN GWINNETT, GA). SO THEY HAD NO WAY TO TRY TO WIGGLE AROUND THE WARRANTY. I AM SEEING THIS EXACT ISSUE BEING DESCRIBED AT THE EXACT MILEAGE RANGE FOR DOZENS AND DOZENS OF 2015 KIA OPTIMAS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. IT APPEARS THAT KIA AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE GETTING AROUND PAYING FOR WHAT OBVIOUSLY IS AN ENGINE DEFECT BY ASKING THAT THE DRIVERS PROVE THEY HAD THE OIL CHANGED BY PRODUCING RECEIPTS FOR EVERY SERVICE. WHEN/IF THEY CAN'T, KIA IS NEGATING THE WARRANTY AND ASKING THE DRIVER'S TO PAY $7K-8K FOR A NEW ENGINE. IT'S DESPICABLE. MY DEALERSHIP COULDN'T GET AROUND THE WARRANTY SINCE I HAD DONE EVERY RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS AM THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WILL BE REPLACED (NOT BEFORE TRYING TO MILK MONEY OUT OF ME BY TRYING TO BLAME THE ISSUE ON A FAULTY BATTERY FIRST, WHICH WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY). KIA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ON THEIR 2011-2014 AND 2016 OPTIMAS, AND EXCLUDED THE 2015 MODELS. IT'S PAINFULLY OBVIOUS THAT THE 2015 OPTIMAS ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE, AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11102308June 18, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER (KIA OF DAYTON, 8560 TROY PIKE, HUBER HEIGHTS, OH 45424, (888) 461-2115) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11101670June 13, 2018
ENGINE
MY CAR MILEAGE IS AT 65000 I HAD THE CAR LAST YEAR MARCH I DO REGULAR OIL CHANGES A MONTH AND HALF AGO I DID ANOTHER OIL CHANGE AND WHEN IT WAS TIME TO GET ANOTHER OIL CHANGE THERE IS A TICKING SOUND IN ENGINE BROUGHT IT TO PEP BOYS AND MECHANICS AND THEY ARE SAYING ITS A OIL DEFECT AND ROD BEARING TICKING WHENEVER I ACCELERATE CAR WON'T MOVE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11101574June 13, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I MAKE SURE TO GET REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND I AM NOT A HARSH DRIVER. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH ON A 2 LANE ROAD. THE LIGHT AHEAD TURNED YELLOW AND I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP. ONCE MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT THE RED LIGHT, IT MADE A WEIRD NOISE LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF BUT DIDN'T. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO PRESS THE GAS AND IT SEEMED AS IF IT WAS STALLING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT POPPED ON SO I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, TURNED MY CAR OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I CRANK THE CAR BACK UP AND THE ONLY LIGHT REMAINING ON WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE EVERY TIME I PRESSED THE GAS. I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME AND DECIDED SINCE IT WAS A HOLIDAY I WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. I WENT TO CRANK MY CAR UP THE NEXT MORNING AND THE KNOCKING NOISE HAD GOTTEN LOUDER. I STARTED DRIVING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME BUT IT TURNED OFF AT A RIGHT LIGHT. I WAS TOO AFRAID TO TRY AGAIN SO I CALLED AAA AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. SINCE I WAS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE ENGINE WAS APPROVED TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WAS VERY SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED BEING THAT I HAVE HAD ZERO OTHER PROBLEMS NOR DID ANY HAZARD LIGHTS APPEAR ON MY DASH BEFOREHAND. MY VIN WAS CHECKED FOR ENGINE RECALLS AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ON THE LIST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11100630June 8, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING HOME MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS NO NOTHING. I HAD A TOW COMPANY TRY TO JUMP START THE CAR. NOTHING. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL SHOP. CHECKED STARTER, FINE. MECHANIC TOLD ME MY ENGINE WAS MAKING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE, NEVER HEARD BEFORE. HE STRONGLY SUGGESTED I DO NOT DRIVE THE CAR. HAD ALL OIL CHANGES DONE AT DEALERSHIP. WARRANTY EXPIRED. NO HELP FROM DEALERSHIP OR KIA. I DO NOT HAVE $5200 TO REPLACE AN ENGINE. NO CAR FOR 3 MONTHS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11100396June 7, 2018
ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY- CAR DIED- ALL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON- STARTED BACK UP-- HAD A KNOCKING NOISE- DROVE IT OUT OF TRAFFIC AND PARKED IT. TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP- ENGINE IS GONE. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE REGULARLY- THE CHECK OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON - STILL ISNT ON- NO OIL IN THE ENGINE- CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONLY AFTER THE CAR DIED.. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS- THE CARS DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11100062June 5, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND WITH NO WARNING MY CAR STALLED AND SHUT OFF. I TURNED MY CAR BACK ON AND IT WAS OKAY, NO LIGHTS OR NOISES. THE NEXT DAY I WAS GOING TO DRIVE MY CAR I HEARD A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE, BUT CAR STILL WAS FUNCTIONAL. A FEW HOURS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE NOISE IS STILL THERE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11099834June 4, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE MESSAGE "HYBRID BATTERY ISSUE, PLEASE SHUT CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY" DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DCH KIA OF TEMECULA (26799 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 268-9198) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRA REPLAY BATTERY AND THE SAFETY PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11098769May 30, 2018
ENGINE
ENGINE LOCKED UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD NO PRIOR ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11098299May 28, 2018
STEERING
AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE CAR SEEMS TO WANDER BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE STEERING WHEEL WILL "STICK" AND REQUIRES ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF EFFORT TO GET IT TO RESPOND TO DRIVER INPUT. ONCE IT RESPONDS IT OVER CORRECTS SLIGHTLY WHICH CAUSES TO CAR TO WEAVE (WITHIN IT'S LANE). THE CAR NOW REQUIRES CONSTANT DRIVER INPUT TO KEEP THE CAR WITHIN IT'S LANE. WE BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN LATE 2016 AND DON'T DRIVE IT A LOT AS IT NOW HAS ONLY 11,000 MILES AND THIS PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SINCE ABOUT 5,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11097777May 24, 2018
ENGINE
2015 KIA OPTIMA WAS GOING THROUGH 2 QUARTS OF OIL AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE. HAD ENGINE REPLACED UNDER 100K WARRANTY AT 98,844K. AT 110,474 MILES ENGINE BROKE DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. MANAGED TO GET CAR TO SHOULDER AND WOULD ONLY DRIVE 5 MILES AN HOUR. KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED NEEDS NEW ENGINE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. STATES NOT IN WARRANTY. KIA CORPORATE ADVISED WE HAVE 12 MONTH/12K WARRANTY ON NEW ENGINE MEANING THERE IS APPROX 1100 MILES REMAINING UNDER WARRANTY. KIA DEALERSHIP NOW SAYS THAT THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY FOR THE CAR OF 100K IS WHAT WAS COVERED FOR THE NEW ENGINE AS WELL, MEANING THE WARRANTY FOR THE NEW ENGINE LASTED APPROX 1100. THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE RENTAL CAR THEY PROVIDED AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR THAT THEN THE ENGINE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11096903May 20, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING, BOTH HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING THEN WENT OUT COMPLETELY, FOG LIGHTS, HIGH BEAM ALL ARE FINE, TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, TOLD IT NEEDED NEW HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT THE ISSUE, RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SEEN THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY YEAR FOR HEADLIGHT ISSUES. PLEASE, HOW DO I GET THI S RESOLVED. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEVER MENTIONED A RECALL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11096681May 18, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLANKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THICK, BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO HUDSON KIA (36 WATER ST, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,386. *TT CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER ON 5/11/18, SERVICE REPORT STATES ENGINE DEFECT AND EVAP CANISTER RECALL WHICH DOES NOT SHOW UP ANYWHERE. UPDATED 9/21/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091531May 3, 2018
STEERING
THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2015, THE STEERING BOX ON THIS VEHICLE WAS REPLACED IN NOVEMBER 2016 UNDER WARRANTY AS THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD HAVE A HESITATION (FELT LIKE A BRIEF STICKING) REGARDLESS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS BUT MORE DANGEROUS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. NOW MAY 2018 I AM HAVING TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN AS THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AND WANDERS FOR NO REASON, AGAIN, REGARDLESS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS BUT MORE UNPREDICTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND REQUIRES A GREAT DEAL OF CONCENTRATION TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE. THE VEHICLE IS 36 MONTHS OLD WITH 78000 MILES AND IS HAVING THE 3RD STEERING BOX INSTALLED. THE TECHNICIAN HAS DEEMED MY VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND STATED THAT THE TECH SUPPORT FROM KIA ACTED AS THOUGH THEY WEREN'T SURPRISED. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS CAR KNOWING THAT THIS MECHANISM IS FAILING AT AN UNSAFE RATE. KIA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY FEELS FINE WITH IT THOUGH THEY DEEM THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO A PART THAT THEY KNOWINGLY ARE INSTALLING IN THESE VEHICLES. A BRIEF SEARCH ON THE INTERNET (GOD LOVE THE INTERNET) WILL REVEAL THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, THESE VEHICLES ARE UNPREDICTABLE ON THE ROAD AND BY THEIR OWN ADMISSION UNSAFE. MY CASE NUMBER WITH KIA FOR THIS PROBLEM IS 12711641
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091350May 2, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART, BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO KIA AUTO TEAM DELAWARE (1603 PENNSYLVANIA AVE, WILMINGTON, DE 19806, (877) 364-9441) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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