Kia Optima Complaints (2009)

116 consumer complaints on file.

#10538464September 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS BACKING UP TO PART MY VEHICLE AND PULLED FORWARD TO STRAIGHTEN OUT THE CAR. WHILE PULLING FORWARD I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED - I THEN SLAMMED MY BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND PARKED. TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND CAREFULLY MOVED FORWARD INCIDENT DID NOT REPEAT. TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AT BURDICK DRIVERS VILLAGE IN CICERO, NY AND DIAGNOSTICS RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR HYUNDAI ELANTRA FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM AND I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE FAULTY PART NUMBERS. I HAVE MY OLD BRAKE SWITCH AND IF IT MATCHES THE RECALLED ONES I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. MY SON ALSO HAS A 2009 OPTIMA AND IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534083August 7, 2013
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THE ESC LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS. TOOK CAR IN TO COWBOY KIA AND WAS TOLD CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND THERE WILL BE A $90.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532072July 26, 2013
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT A SEAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1500. THIS IS ON TOP OF A RECENT $2700 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON THE SAME VEHICLE ONE MONTH PRIOR. SINCE WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR, WE CHOSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHICH WE REALIZE IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER EXPENSIVE KIA REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531703July 24, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1ST ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON, PRESSING ESC BUTTON DID NOTHING. CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. BLINKERS WORK, BUT NO BRAKE LIGHTS. FUSES & BULBS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND NONE ARE BLOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525436July 17, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
SECOND FAILURE OF BRAKE SWITCH. ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. UNSURE IF BRAKE LIGHTS ARE WORKING, IF THE ESC IS WORKING, OR IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT OFF DURING THESE EPISODES. THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS AND YEARS OF KIA AUTOMOBILES BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL. IT SEEMS IT MAY HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521988June 26, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE HAD THREE EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS IN RAPID SUCCESSION. THE FIRST WAS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STARTED A SEVERELY HARD DOWNSHIFT ON BRAKING FROM ABOUT 25 MPH. THE WHOLE CAR SHUDDERED AND FELT AS IF WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR A SECOND. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING, KIA TOLD US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $2700 WITH NO HELP FROM KIA. AFTER THIS REPAIR, NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSIS FROM KIA, DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND A $1500 REPLACEMENT ESTIMATE. WE DECIDED NOT TO FIX THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO TRADE THE CAR IN ON ANOTHER MAKE AND CUT OUR LOSSES. THE THIRD PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED ONE WEEK LATER WAS A FAILURE TO START AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOR AN HOUR AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE, STRANDING MY WIFE IN 95 DEGREE HEAT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NON-KIA REPAIR SHOP AS I NO LONGER WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH KIA WHO WILL DENY ANY CLAIM AGAINST THEIR SO-CALLED QUALITY PRODUCTS AND WILL BE DISPOSING OF THE CAR AS SOON AS IT IS RUNNING AGAIN SINCE KIA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. AFTER THREE MAJOR FAILURES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE FEEL THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10516046June 10, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SECURE INTO PARK OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507521April 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE LURCHES WHEN SLOWING DOWN BETWEEN 2ND GEAR AND 1ST GEAR. THE LURCH IS STRONG ENOUGH TO JERK PASSENGERS FORWARD IN THEIR SEATS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN STAMFORD, CT ON APRIL 27, 2012. THEY REPLACED THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. THE FIX LASTED UNTIL 63,000 MILES, ALMOST 9 MONTHS LATER. IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN PLANO, TX. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER UPGRADE ISSUE. THE UPGRADE DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. KIA IS NOW TELLING ME THERE IS NO REFUND, NO FIX, AND THAT I'M NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THIS SAME PART ON LATER YEAR MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505197April 1, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 5/9/13 *CN
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
#10495243January 30, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA .THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED AND ONCE THE SPEED FELL BELOW 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE COMPUTER AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10495300January 30, 2013
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER RETURNING FROM WORK AND PARKING MY VEHICLE AT HOME, THE CAR SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY IN 40 DEGREE WEATHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 12 HRS. I WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING AND FOUND MY CAR ON FIRE AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED AND DISPATCHED TO MY HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND DETERMINED IT WAS PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THERE IS NO REMOTE STARTER INSTALLED OR ANY OTHER ACCESSORIES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE AFTER PURCHASE. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND STARTED SPONTANEOUSLY, PERHAPS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I WAS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM LEAVING WITH THIS CAR TO RETURN TO MY OFFICE AND I AM CONCERNED IT COULD OF STARTED WHILE I WAS IN IT, PERHAPS CAUSING INJURIES OR DEATH. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF THIS COULD HAPPEN TO ME, THAT THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IT COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. I BELIEVE KIA HAS A HIDDEN MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS WAS DESCRIBED IN MY INCIDENT, AND ITS VERY POSSIBLE IT EXISTS ON OTHER KIA VEHICLES. PLEASE TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AND I THINK KIA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER ASAP. ALTHOUGH THE CAR IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, I WELCOME AND ENCOURAGE KIA TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO ASSURE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN TO ANYONE ELSE. *TR UPDATED 03/12/13
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10494597January 24, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE DOWN SHIFT WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER AND THE GEAR SHIFT FAILURE WAS CORRECTED; HOWEVER, THE COMPUTER REPROGRAMMING AFFECTED THE VEHICLES ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND THE ENGINE BECAME IDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE THE FAILURE WAS DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE CORRECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,553 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,240. UPDATED 3/25/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED IT TOOK MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. KIA DENIED THERE WAS EVEN A PROBLEM. IT WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED, WHEN THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE TRANSMISSION FOR A HARD SHIFT, THEY INADVERTENTLY CREATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE CONTROLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489059December 17, 2012
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON IN OCT 2012. DEALER STATED THE BATTERY WAS BAD. BATTERY WAS REPLACED. AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT RETURNED NOV. 2012 DEALER NOW STATES AIR BAG FAULTY BUT NOT COVERED BY KIA RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483964November 11, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
THE FRONT PASSAGER DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED IN HALF. ONE WEEK LATER THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE BEING OPENED. THERE WAS NO EXTRA FORCE OR PRESSURE ON THE HANDLES THEY JUST BROKE IN YOUR HANDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10482678October 30, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN BRAKING AT 25 MILES PER HOUR OR LESS THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY HARD JERKING MOTION. THE WAY YOUR VEHICLE JERKS CAN MAKE YOU OVERREACT AND IT CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE ROAD. NOTICED THAT I WAS NOT THE ONLY 1 HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. WENT TO 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION PLACES . THEY ALL SAID THE SAME THING THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SOME TRANSMISSION WORK . THEN I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL OTHERS WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THE VEHICLE JUST NEEDED TO BE RELEARNED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. KIA SAID THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE CALLING THEM ABOUT THIS ISSUE THEREFORE IT IS NOT A KNOWN ISSUE YET I SEE OVER 20 TO 30 OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458183May 12, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE FIRST SIGNS OF ANY TROUBLE WITH THE VEHICLE STARTED IN FEBRUARY/MARCH OF 2011 WHEN THE SHIFTING ON THE VEHICLE WAS ERRATIC ON TAKEOFF AND ESPECIALLY BAD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWING DOWN, ROUGHLY SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF GEAR. IT TOOK TWO OCCASIONS TO "FIX" THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SHIFTING APPEARED TO SUBSIDE IT STILL HAD THE OCCASIONAL ISSUE ON TAKE-OFF. THE ISSUE PROGRESSIVELY GOT TO THE POINT WHEN I LOST TOTAL ENGINE POWER WHILE CROSSING LANES OF TRAFFIC, ALMOST GETTING HIT. I STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR BUT NO MATTER WHAT I DID I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLES RPM??S ABOVE 1500 (ABOUT 5MPH). TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY STATED THEY "FIXED THE PROBLEM". RETURNED TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL MY WIFE HAD THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN TO HER ABOUT 9 DAYS LATER COMING WITHIN INCHES OF GETTING HIT WHILE TURNING INTO A BUSINESS. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS "FIXED" TWO DAYS LATER. STARTED IT UP THE DAY AFTER IT WAS RETURNED AND HAD THE LOSS OF POWER ISSUE AGAIN. BESIDE THE POWER LOSS EVEN THE SHIFTING CONTINUED TO BE ROUGH AND ERRATIC. RETURNED IT YET AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FIXED. CUSTOMER SERVICE DID NOT TAKE MY SAFETY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY. I AM STILL UNSURE OF THE STATUS OF THE VEHICLE AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. I WILL FIND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION UNTIL THIS VEHICLE IS RETURNED. BEWARE THAT THE POWER LOSS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME CREATING VERY SERIOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452054March 17, 2012
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
ESC STARTS BLINKING WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH AND THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE GOES DOWN ALL OF A SUDDEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443514January 11, 2012
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN I BRAKE TO 20 MPH MY CAR JERKS FORWARD. I CALLED THE KIA CONSUMER LINE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM HADN'T BEEN HEARD OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440377December 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD WITH EXTREME FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPUTER WOULD NEED TO HAVE A RE-LEARN PROCEDURE PERFORMED. AFTER THE PROCEDURE, THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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