Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#10466348July 18, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ON. DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOST PUMP LESS THAN 300 MILES EARLIER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465126July 10, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE, ABOUT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN MIRROR SUDDENLY JUST FELL OFF! THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT IT FROM COMPLETELY FALLING OFF WAS THE CABLE RUNNING INTO THE DOOR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID "THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!" IT WILL BE 4 DAYS BEFORE MY MIRROR GETS REPLACED! THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463999July 2, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
06/18/12- WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND VEHICLE RESTARTED. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER WHO HAD NO SOLUTIONS. *JS 06/27/12- WHILE ACCELERATING UP A HILL, 30MPH, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL VEHICLE RESTARTED. TOOK TO DEALER WITH LIGHT ILLUMINATED, NO STORED CODES, AND NO SOLUTIONS. 07/02/12- WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DURING SUDDEN STOP, DUE TO TRAFFIC, ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE, VEHICLE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL LEFT. CALL MADE TO DEALER. WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD RESPOND. NO RESPONSE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463247June 27, 2012
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB, CAUSING THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES TO DEFLATE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ACTUATOR WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 970.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463033June 25, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
I PURCHASED THIS NEW CAR IN JANUARY AND HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME ADAPTING TO THE BLIND SPOTS OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THIS CAR ARE AMAZING EVEN WITH WHAT I BELIEVE IS 1 EXCEPTION. THE REAR HEADRESTS OF THIS CAR WERE DESIGNED TOO LARGE. EVEN IN THE DOWN POSITION THESE HEADRESTS BLOCK NEARLY 2 THIRDS OF THE REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY. SELECTING SAFETY OVER LOOKS I'VE COMPLETELY REMOVED BOTH REAR HEADRESTS (THEY SLIDE RIGHT OUT) AND CARRY THEM IN THE TRUNK IF PASSENGERS SITTING IN THE REAR REQUEST THEM. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT KIA PRODUCE AND RETROFIT LOWER SLEEKER HEADRESTS FOR THE REAR THAT ARE 1/2 AS HIGH AS THE CURRENT. DEALERS COULD PROBABLY SWAP THEM OUT AND KIA COULD REUSE OVERSEAS IF THEY CHOOSE. PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL IF PHOTOS ARE NEEDED BUT FOR THE MOST PART YOUR DEPARTMENT COULD LOOK AT ANY 2012 OPTIMA AND SEE WHAT I SEE. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS AN AMAZING CAR BUT I SEE THIS AS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT / CONCERN. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461910June 15, 2012
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT TO LOCK HER IN, WHICH CAUSED HER TO STRIKE HER HEAD ON THE PILLAR NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10461411June 13, 2012
STEERING, SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL AND STEER STRAIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEVERE PULL TO THE LEFT, THOUGH OCCASIONALLY IT DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. AT CITY SPEEDS, THE STEERING PROBLEM IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT. MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, AND TIRE INFLATION CHANGE, RESULTED IN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE PROBLEM...IT REMAINS SEVERE. IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN THE CAR SWIFTLY MOVE ACROSS TO THE LEFT LANES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460419June 3, 2012
SUSPENSION, STEERING
BRAND NEW VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT AND ALSO DRIFTED LEFT TO RIGHT AT 8 MILES ON HIGHWAY WITH A SPEED OF 55. I THOUGH ALL THAT IT NEEDED WAS A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AT JUST UNDER 3000 MILES AND THE TECH DROVE IT AND TOLD ME IT WAS FINE I JUST NEED TO GET USED TO IT. THIS CAR DID NOT DRIVE LIKE THE 2 THAT I HAD DRIVEN BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. THE TECH DID AN ALIGNMENT AND SAID THE REAR WHEEL WAS OFF FROM THE FACTORY . THE CAR STILL DID THE SAME THING IT FELT LOOSE AND DRIFTED ON HIGHWAY AND STRAITWAYS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER THAT DAY AND THE TECH DROVE IT FOR 30 SECONDS AND NOTICED THE STEERING IS WAS NOT RIGHT.HE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME PERFORMING AN ALIGNMENT AND ONCE I DROVE IT WAS FINE. THERE WAS A SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT BUT MOST CARS DO HAVE THAT. THE TECH GAVE ME A PRINT OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT AND THE FRONT CAMBER WAS NOT TO FACTORY SETTINGS HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT ADJUST IT. AFTER DRIVING 700 MILES LATER THE LOOSE FEELING AND THE DRIFTING RETURNED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE ORIGINAL DEALER AGAIN AND I AM HOPING FOR A RESOLUTION SOON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460002May 30, 2012
STEERING
BRAND NEW KIA OPTIMA HAS STEERING DRIFT (DIFFUCULTY DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE). DEALER INDICATED TYPICAL OF ELECTRONIC STEERING AND DID NOTHING BUT CHECK ALIGNMENT. VERY UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. CONDITION STILL EXISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460082May 30, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE STEERING SEEMS TIGHT WHICH IS FINE, BUT WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 30-45 MPH THE VEHICLE VEERS OFF TO THE LEFT. I AM READING THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS AN ISSUE AND I BELIEVE NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460080May 30, 2012
SEATS
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS AS LOW AS IT CAN GO AND THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT TO HEIGHTEN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE IS NOT CHEAP AND YOU WOULD THINK THAT THE PASSENGER WOULD BE ABLE TO ADJUST THE HEIGHT OF THE SEAT. PASSENGERS CAN SLIDE DOWN EASILY WITH THIS FEATURE/OPTION GONE. NOT ALL PASSENGERS ARE UNDER 5'10 AND THIS IS NOT GOOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459793May 27, 2012
STEERING
CONSTANT CORRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. I HAVE BEEN ON LINE AND HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. WILL BE GOING BACK TO DEALER BUT BASED ON EVERYTHING I HAVE READ I DON'T EXPECT THIS TO BE RESOLVED. I AM SURE THIS AN ELECTRONIC STEERING ISSUE AND I BELIEVE A RECALL IS WARRANTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458817May 17, 2012
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BOUGHT KIA OPTIMA 2012 IN MONTH OF JANUARY 2012. SINCE I OWN VEHICLE I NOTICE THAT CAR IS STEERING TO IT'S LEFT SIDE. I CALLED DEALER AND REPORTED THIS ISSUE. DEALER SUGGESTS ISSUE IS BECAUSE OF ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM. I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM SINCE I OWN AND DEALER ADVISE THAT IT SHOULD GO AWAY AFTER FEW THOUSAND MILES. IN MY OPINION THIS IS DANGEROUS AND MUST BE ADVERSELY EFFECTING TO TIRES AND OTHER STEERING MECHANISM COMPONENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458281May 14, 2012
WHEELS
MY WIFE HAD A FLAT TIRE WHEN SHE HAD HELP TO GET IT CHANGED THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE SO THE PERSON LEFT BECAUSE HE COULD NOT DO ANY THING. THAT LEFT MY WIFE AND MY LITTLE GIRL ALONE ON A ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE FOR 4 HOURS UNTIL I COULD GET THERE AND PICK THEM UP . I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THEY DONT PUT SPARE TIRES IN THERE CARS ANY MORE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE THEM PUT THEM IN BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE TO BE STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF NO WHERE . WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NO BODY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SPARE IN THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA. IF I KNEW I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458069May 10, 2012
STEERING
IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE WE NOTICED AN OBVIOUS ISSUE WITH STEERING - NOT ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR, VEERING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, TAXING AND EXHAUSTING EFFORT TO JUST DRIVE THE CAR. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOMETHING WE'D HAVE TO GET USED TO DUE TO THE NEW ELECTRONIC STEERING. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, WE WERE TEMPTED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK DUE TO BEING "TIRED" FROM DRIVING HOME EACH DAY! AFTER TALKING WITH A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS THE SAME CAR, HE SAID HE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. HE SAID THEY DID SOME TYPE OF SPECIAL WHEEL BALANCING AND IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK FOR A CHECK. ASKED ABOUT TIRE ROTATION OR ALIGNMENT CHECK. SERVICE CROSS-ROTATED THE TIRES AND IT DRIVES BETTER, BUT IS STILL A VERY DIFFERENT DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456774April 28, 2012
STEERING
I JUST PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 OPTIMA FROM A DEALER IN CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. OTHER THAN ONE IMPORTANT PROBLEM, I LOVE THIS CAR. HERE IS THE IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE: WHEN YOU GET OVER 40MPH, THE CAR WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT- IT CONTINUES TO MOVE OUT OF THE LANE YOU ARE DRIVING IN. NO MATTER HOW SMALL OF A STEERING CORRECTION YOU MAKE- WHEN YOU HOLD THE STEERING "COMPLETELY STILL"- THE CAR STILL MOVES TO THE LEFT, THEN TO THE RIGHT WHEN YOU INCH IT BACK- THE CAR STEERING MECHANISM SEEMS TO NOT LET THE CAR TRAVEL STRAIGHT AHEAD. THE STEERING WILL NOT KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT, SO THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR KEEPS AUTOMATICALLY TAKING YOU OUT OF YOUR LANE!!! WHEN I WAS ON THE FLA TURNPIKE HEADING HOME FROM THE DEALER TODAY, THIS SITUATION MUST HAVE OCCURRED A HUNDRED TIMES. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN 50 CARS OVER THE YEARS, OF ALL MAKES AND SIZES- AND THIS ISSUE HAS NEVER OCCURRED BEFORE. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP GET THIS "SAFETY ISSUE" RESOLVED ASAP. I WILL GO BACK TO THE DEALER TOMORROW TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456531April 26, 2012
STEERING
THE ELECTRIC ASSIST POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING MULTIPLE TIMES LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH REDUCED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE EXTREME EFFORT REQUIRED TO STEER THE VEHICLE. INDICATOR LIGHTS INCLUDE TRACTION CONTROL, EPS AND TCO. POWER STEERING CAN BE RESTORED BY SHUTTING DOWN THE CAR AND RESTARTING. DEALER'S FIRST ATTEMPT TO CORRECT AFTER THREE INSTANCES OF FAILURE AND RESET INVOLVED CALIBRATION OF THE STEERING INDICATOR. THIS LASTED APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES. SUBSEQUENT FAILURE REPORTED TO DEALER AND THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY THERE BEING DIAGNOSED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456256April 23, 2012
STEERING
CAR IS VERY HARD TO KEEP CONTROL ON THE ROAD. KIA DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS THE WAY THE NEW ELECTRONIC CONTROL WORKS. ON ACCELERATION , CAR STEERS TO LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND IT TAKES MUCH EFFORT TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT ON ROAD. *TR ON THE HIGHWAY IT FEELS AS IF THE WIND IS BLOWING IT AROUND ON THE ROAD. IT ALSO MAKES A PULL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT ON ITS OWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456002April 21, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
WHILE DRIVING, THE BACKUP CAMERA CAME ON. ALL THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEREO WERE NOT WORKING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME WHERE THE STEREO MALFUNCTION. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL. WHEN ASKED IF I WOULD BE NOTIFIED, I WAS TOLD NO. TO FIND OUT ABOUT HE RECALL, I HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. I CHECK ALL THE ONLINE DATABASES, THERE WERE NO DOCUMENTATION OR ANY INFORMATION ABOUT A RECALL. I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR. WHAT IF THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CAUSED OTHER ISSUES? ALSO, WHAT BREAKING SLIGHTLY ON A DOWNHILL, THE ABS LOCKED UP ON ME FOR A SECOND CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO CARS BEHIND ME. LIKE I SAID, IT WAS ONLY FOR A SEC BUT IT WAS STILL NOT NORMAL. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454357April 6, 2012
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR PUMP AND A CAN OF FIX A FLAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THAT A SPARE TIRE DID NOT COME WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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