Kia Optima Complaints (2018)

244 consumer complaints on file.

#11441188November 21, 2021
STEERING
Turned on my car and steering wheel was stuck , it didn’t turn, turn the engine off and back on and it went back to normal.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11439651November 7, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
while driving, all lights (headlights, instrument, etc) would randomly go dark. Lighting usually restored after toggling the instrument control arm from on-to-off-on. Obviously super dangerous as driver can't see roadway and other drivers can't see the car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11433400September 17, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:COIL:SPARK PLUGS
Vehicle is making a noise when trying to accelerate. Have replaced all spark plugs and coil #4. It is making noise still and shaking. Coil has been switched and issues are reading fuel injector or air intake or electrical. Previous reading was head gasket... Only on spark plug 4 coil is it reporting an issue...All dealerships locally are booked to even get a diagnostic test.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431769September 5, 2021
SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
While driving, car in motion, Front Passenger Seat belt Audio Warning Periodically goes off without reason. Indicating seat is occupied & seat belt needs putting on. When seat has been unoccupied / clear from any type of weight on seat to trigger sensor. Audio warning will continue until seat belt is latched over the empty seat. Local KIA Service Dept was informed & could neither confirm or deny its faulty behavior for it did not present itself during time of service. They said, wiring looked fine but did no further testing. To be honest they showed no interest into seeing any real importance for my concern for them to feel any further investigation was warranted. Its happened again twice since that service visit be it last incident Aug 7th. My concern is.... if there is faulty wiring or sensor signals being crossed somewhere, whats to say there is a passenger or no passenger in that seat, to ensure the correct signal is getting to the passenger side air bags of when to correctly deploy if an accident should happen with passenger in seat? This situ is only recent starting about a year a go. So something has changed from being fine for 2 yrs up to the last year that's now showing some kind of seat belt / sensor failure. I'm unfamiliar with how that wiring system works & linked within it for me know what other things I might need to pay more attn to, looking for other signs that could be saying is direct cause to the prob. Unsure if this a simple solution or is something that others are experiencing with this year & model car & poss be a Manufacturer Part Default
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430848August 28, 2021
ENGINE
ENGINE LOSES COMPRESSION AND CAR DIES WHILE IN MOTION. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD! THIS CAR IS BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY WITH ONLY 104,000 MILES! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11428618August 11, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving at highway speed my children (11, 7, & 5) and I were almost rear-ended when my Kia Optima 2018 (79k) without ANY warning loses power, jerks and then regains power. A number of vehicles behind us had slam on their brakes to avoid a pileup. My Optima almost resembled the feeling when a vehicle runs out of gas but much more abrupt. The drink my son was holding was thrown out of hand due the vehicle jerking to an almost stop and jerking back to power. No warning light, battery & alternator both test good and tank was half full. Two days pass and the same system fail while driving with the same similarities (no warning lights). My Optima is no longer under warranty and I have no financial resources for repairs.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11427323August 1, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Driving at night, was getting onto the freeway. Entrance to the freeway was on a curved street, as I was taking the turn leading into the freeway the lights turned off, Then suddenly turned back on and then off again all while I was merging onto the freeway. I quickly took the light out of “AUTO” setting. Very scary as I almost got hit by the truckers already on the freeway. I’ve had issues with the blind spot warning as well. It fails all the time so of course I never put my trust on that. The lighting situation is very scary, as it was happening you could see the dashboard setting itself to AUTO and randomly going up and down the list of options as if it was being controlled by someone else. I could’ve caused an accident. Please check this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11424542July 13, 2021
ENGINE
Back in September of 2020, my car randomly went to limp mode while driving at highway speeds. Had the car towed to the dealer. Dealer advised of apparent “software issue” to correct the problem. Well this happened two more times after that twice the software was updated which didn’t work. The third time the replaced the knock sensor and so far I haven’t went to limp mode, however, the car has not drove the same and seems to get worse each passing day. Rough shifting, engine vibrates more than usual. Car struggles at times to go up hills, when giving gas a though way speed the car has a few second delay. Sometimes it feels as if the transmission is skipping. The car is up to date on all recommended services, I.e transmission flush and fill etc. There are also times when the vehicle is started but struggles. Almost as if it want to loose power but it doesn’t. Has happened numerous times however recently it actually didn’t start. Struggle to turn over a couple time but then finally did. A check engine light came on but then went away the next day after driving. I have an appointment with the dealer this week to look at this and other issues, again, hoping for some progress at that point.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11419744June 5, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Problems: lights switch is in auto position and I have locked the vehicle. I noticed at least twice the exterior lights come on and stays on until I unlock start the vehicle and turn engine off. Additionally on June 3 2021 light switch in automatic position coming home at night the head lights turned themselves off the dashboard lights remained on. I was a half mile from home and able to get the vehicle home safely. Turned the headlights switch to manual to turn lights back on.No warning lights came on. Mechanic will look at vehicle later this week. I have no confidence the mechanic will be a to replicate the problem. That's their if can't be reproduced or the computer did notice, it didn't happen .The vehicle is available for inspection
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11416530May 14, 2021
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES IT HAS A BURNING SMELL/GAS SMELL. IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES OIL.OIL AT LOW LEVEL BEFORE DUE. THIS MAKE AND MODEL IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. IT HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. WHY WERE CONSUMERS ALLOWED TO BUY THIS CAR. PROBLEMS ARE ACTIVE AND ONGOING. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR OR CLOSE TO A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. IT IS A LEMON . THE DEALER WANTS TO DIAGNOSE THE ENGINE, BUT THEY ALREADY KNOW THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11413054April 20, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 60MPH AND SUDDENLY THE FRONT PART OF MY PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED THIS. WE WEREN'T HIT BY ANY ROAD DEBRIS OR ANYTHING IT JUST EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11408382April 16, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE UNTO THE ROAD SHOULDER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO ANCIRA KIA (6139 BANDERA ROAD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78238, (210)684-4000) DUE TO THE HESITATION AND STALLING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND CHANGED THE OIL HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11398642March 2, 2021
ENGINE
I ORIGINALLY LEASED MY 2018 OPTIMA WITH 98 MILES ON IT AND BOUGHT IT OUT AT THE END OF MY LEASE THIS WAS MY SECOND OPTIMA, I ALSO HAD 2 HYUNDAI SONATAS. SINCE I'M IN SALES I HAD THE ADDED MILEAGE ON IT. AT 98,000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED TICKING. I ORIGINALLY HAD A 2013 HYUNDAI SONATA THAT WHEN IT HIT 105,000 STARTED TICKING ONLY TO FIND THAT IT WAS BURNING OIL (1.5 QUARTS A WEEK) SO I WAS HESITANT ABOUT ANOTHER KIA BUT THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT KIA HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD FIXED IT. GUESS WHAT?! IT HASN'T. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN EVERY 1,000 MILES FOR OIL CHANGE AND HAVE THE DOCUMENTS SHOWING HOW MUCH OIL WAS BEING BURNED OFF. ACCORDING TO KIA CORPORATE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG EVEN THOUGH MY VEHICLE REQUIRES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES AND WAS UNDER OWNERS WARRANTY. NEVER AGAIN. PEOPLE WATCH YOUR VEHICLES. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH KIA AND HYUNDAI AND THEY DO NOT HONOR THEIR WARRANTIES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11398552March 1, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BOTH OF MY BACK DOOR SENSATORS ARE SAYING THE BACK DOORS ARE OPEN BUT THEY'RE LOCKED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11398068February 26, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA PHEV WAS REPAIRED BUT AFTER I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND GOT ON THE FREEWAY THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND LOST ALL POWER. I ALMOST GOT INTO ANOTHER ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WORKED WITH KIA TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO FIX MY CAR BUT APPARENTLY KIA DOESN'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THEIR OWN CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 19K MILES. I'M AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILIES THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11396321February 15, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON 2/14/2011 A "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM" WARNING CAME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRIANGLE HEV LIGHT, A RED BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR LOST ENGINE POWER. AFTER MY VEHICLE SLOWED TRAFFIC DOWN DUE TO NOT HAVING POWER I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY COASTING THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHAT SO EVER NOT EVEN WITH JUST THE ENGINE POWER. WHEN I PULLED OVER THE BIG CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING DISSAPEARED AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND TRIANGLE HEV LIGHT STAYED ON. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO MY HOME AND AFTER I CONNECTED IT TO THE WALL PLUG FOR AN HOUR THE LIGHTS DISSAPEARED. I'M AFRAID THAT IF I TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY WONT BE ABLE TO REPLICATE THIS ISSUE SINCE THE WARNING LIGHTS ARE NO LONGER ON AND THEY TELL ME THEY CANT FIND THE ISSUE AND THIS HAPPENS AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE FROM 2014 HYBRID MODELS AND UP AND HAS HAPPENED TO THEM NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE DEALERSHIP TELLS THEM THEY CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11390809January 30, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
LOUD RATTELING WHEN CRANKING, CONTINUOUS RATTELING WHEN ACCELERATING UNDER DRIVERSIDE FLOOR BOARD MADE A CLUNK SOUND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND NOW ITS LIKE A SLIDING SOUND BEFORE IT CATCHES BRAKE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387770January 12, 2021
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING LOCKED IN MID TURN WITH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT CALLED PERRIS VALLEY KIA (707 E 4TH ST, PERRIS, CA 92570) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO REPAIR THE DEFECT WAS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE OFFER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11384136December 18, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I LEASED A NEW #KIA #OPTIMA #PHEV FROM YOU IN JULY OF 2018. IN JULY OF 2020, THE CHARGING CABLE LODGED IN THE CAR AND IT TOOK 4 HOURS FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO REMOVE IT. ON DECEMBER 2, 2020, I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE, BUT BEFORE I COULD BRING IT ON DEC 3, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECAME A TURN ENGINE OFF NOW LIGHT, AND THE CAR STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH A WISP OF SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA OF DELRAY. IT'S STILL THERE, THEY HAVEN'T TOLD ME WHAT'S WRONG. IT IS 2.5 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 18K MILES ON IT. I LEASED THE CAR WHEN I LIVED IN CA, AND NOW LIVE IN FL, WHICH IS ALSO A PROBLEM, AS THE DEALERSHIP HERE JUST DOESN'T SEEM EQUIPPED TO SERVICE A PHEV. THE LEASE IS SCHEDULED TO END IN JULY 2021 BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ME AN OPTION TO RETURN THE CAR EARLY, YET IT FEELS UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT (AND IT'S NOT OPERATIONAL RIGHT NOW).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11383186December 12, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I HAVE 63,826 MILES ON MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA S AND I DROVE IT TO THE STORE AND ALL MY LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHEN I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND MY POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT AND ABOUT CAUSE ME TO WRECK. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR BUT AFTER GETTING A NEW ALTERNATOR I THEN DROVE IT TO GET DINNER A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AND MY POWER STEERING KEPT GOING OUT AGAIN. I HAVE TWO NEWBORN BABIES, A 5 YEAR OLD AND A 10 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND HAD I WRECKED WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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