Kia Optima Complaints (2002)

107 consumer complaints on file.

#10130843August 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: 2002 KIA OPTIMA LX. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHTS WILL START TO FLICKER, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 80-90 DEGREES AND AT LONG DISTANCES THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BATTERY TWICE, THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS, AND THE MAIN COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE POWER WENTOUT ON 7-14-05. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO RUN A STOP SIGN , AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING BOTH VEHICLES TO BE TOTALED. THE BRAKES WENT OUT AS A RESULT OF THE POWER OUTAGE, AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS NO STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL FAILED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED BOTH BATTERIES TO PREVENT FIRE FROM HAPPENING. WHEN THEY DID THIS IT DELETED ALL THE CODES THAT WOULD HAVE TOLD DEALER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE COMPUTER, THEY STILL WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE PURCHASE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE KIA MANUFACTURER AT LEAST TEN TIMES, COMPLAINT NUMBERS FOR THE FIRST WAS 24306, ON 7-18-03, AND THE LAST WAS ON 9-13-04, COMPLAINT . 56482. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THEY SAID THEY WANTED A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10124269June 6, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN HE LOCKS THE DOORS ON VEHICLE IT WILL NOT UNLOCK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10113241April 28, 2005
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING AN ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AFTER HITTING A POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONTAL/SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER HAD A DIABETIC EMERGENCY AND COLLAPSED AT THE WEHEL. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117343March 30, 2005
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2002 KIA OPTIMA EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND TIMING BELT.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED THE VEHICLE STILL MAKES A NOISE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115994March 29, 2005
PARKING BRAKE
RECENT CATROSTROPIC FAILURE OF THE EMERNGENCY BRAKE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112561March 5, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I ALWAYS HAD MY OIL CHANGED IN THIS CAR AND THIS PAST THURSDAY I WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND WAS IN THERE FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND WENT TO LEAVE AND MY CAR WOULD NOT START. MY MOTOR IS LOCKED UP. I ALSO HAVE HAD A POPPING NOISE IN MY GAS PEDAL WHEN IT IS FIRST DROVE IN THE COLD. I ALSO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES LIKE JUMPING WHEN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN WHEN GOING FAST SAY 50 MPH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109091January 27, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105909January 7, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA, MY STEREO,HEADLIGHTS,DASHLIGHTS WOULD CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP, THE INSTRUCTED ME TO GET A NEW BATTERY. I DID, AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 1RST,2005 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY DOING ABOUT 60 MPH, MY CAR LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I COULD NOT WARN OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME BECAUSE MY HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN ON, I HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER TO MY CAR. IT ALMOST CAUSED PEOPLE BEHIND ME TO SLAM INTO ME. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED ON SUNDAY, I TOOK THE RISK OF GOING TO THE STORE, AND ONCE AGAIN I LOST ALL POWER TO MY CAR HITTING A NEAR BY GARBAGE CAN AND DENTING THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF MY CAR. I TOOK IT INTO KIA OF TACOMA, THEY TOLD ME TO GET A TUNE UP. NOT LIKING THAT ANSWER, I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA OF PUYALLUP..THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND WANT ME TO COME PICK THE CAR UP AND DRIVE IT AROUND AGAIN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TOO, AND THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN A RECAL ON THIS CAR. THIS CAR IS A DANGER TO MY LIFE, AND OTHERS AROUND ME. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS RIGHT AWAY BEFORE IT COSTS SOMEBODY THEIR LIFE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103914December 16, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091556October 19, 2004
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT, PARKING BRAKE
CONSUMER STATED THE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED . AS A RESULT, A CHILD WAS TRAPPED INSIDE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOORS LOCKED.*AK VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND STARTING TO SLIP OUT OF PARK AN ROLL WHILE CHILD WAS TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090517September 6, 2004
AIR BAGS
MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30TH 2004. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND, A SCHOOL BUS DRIVING EAST BOUND MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER. SHE HIT THE BUS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. IT WAS A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. THANK GOD FOR SEAT BELTS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10089331August 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING SMELL WAS DETECTED, THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PULLING INTO A SERVICE STATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ALTERNATOR, COMPUTER AND AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083065July 31, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS WARPED, NOT WORN OUT, WARPED COMPLETELY AROUND 55,000 MILES. CAR HAS A 60,000 MILEAGE/5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND KIA WILL NOT HONOR IT. CONTACTED LANGHORNE KIA SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THEY LASTED SO LONG. I WAS INFORMED THAT KIA CHANGED THE WAY THEY MAKE THE ROTORS AND THAT THE NEW ROTORS HEAT QUICKLY CAUSING THEM TO WARP WHEN THE MILAGE IS USUALLY UNDER 30,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080067June 28, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDS TO DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONSUMER INDICATES THAT SHE HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED DUE TO STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079670June 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON 7 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT THAT CONTAINED THE SIDE AIR BAG BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY, AND INSTALLED A NEW AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. ALSO, THEY REPROGRAMMED THE AIR BAG SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN 2 FRONTAL COLLISIONS IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075894June 8, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR SEAT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISES TO CHEST/BREAST BONE/LUNGS/HEART/LOWER ABDOMINAL, AND LEFT LEG. *AK *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10074935June 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I BOUGHT A USED KIA OPTIMA 2002 IN JANUARY OF 2003. IT HAD ABOUT 23000 MILES ON IT. WE TOOK A TRIP TO LAKE TAHOE IN FEB.2003 AND ON THE RIDE HOME EVERY TIME I BRAKED COMMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THE CAR WOULD JERK AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. WHEN WE GOT HOME I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED IT FOR ME AFTER I PLEADED AND ARGUED WITH THEM. LESS THAN 8 MONTHS LATER THE SAME POBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN SO I TOOK MY IN AND THEY AUTOMATICALY PLACED THE BLAME ON ME. THEY TOLD ME THAT I MUST BE DRIVING MY CAR WAY TO HARD AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY APPLY THE BRAKES. THAT CAME FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THAY ARE NOT REASPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRES THAT ARE CAUSED BY BAD DRIVING. WE'LL HERE IT IS LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS LATER AND I'M ABOUT TO PAY ANOTHER $700 FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT MY FAULT AND MY BRAKES ARE THE WORST YET. OH AND BY THE WAY THE LAST TIME THAT I HAD MY CAR FIXED THEY REFUSED TO SHOW ME THE PARTS THAT THEY TOOK OFF MY CAR. SAID THAT IT IS UNUSUAL TO SHOW THE PARTS TO THE OWNER. I FIND THAT STRANGE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO REFRESH THEM ON THE LAWS. WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR I ALSO PURCHASED A 5 YR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRENTY WHICH IS GOOD UNTIL 82000 MILES AND MY CAR KNOW HAS 47000 AND ABOUT TO GO THROUGH ITS THIRD COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074605June 1, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCKS DON'T LOCK CONSISTENTLY. THE MASTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066981April 12, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CONSUMER STATED WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDOWS ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062726March 21, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BOTH FRONT WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. YOU CAN HERE THE MOTOR BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima