Kia Optima Complaints (2014)

622 consumer complaints on file.

#11377056November 30, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ROUGHLY 65 MILES , I HAD LITERALLY JUST GOTTEN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T , THE RPMS AND MPH JUST WENT DOWN AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. I HAD TO PULL OVER. I SHUT CAR OFF, CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START SINCE THAT DAY. THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY LOUD NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENED , THERE WAS NO SMELLS. IT JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING & ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT ALL CAME ON. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FULL OF OIL AND THE FILTER WAS CLEAN. THE CAR HAD COOLANT IN IT, NO LEAKS. I USE THE SAME SHOP FOR ALL MECHANICAL WORK SO HE HAS ALL RECORDS OF MY MAINTENANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376989November 29, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
SHAVINGS FOUND IN OIL CAUSING ENGINE SEIZURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11374978November 17, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR STOPS, LOSING ALL POWER AND FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING IT.AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, BUT MOVING SLOWLY TO A STOP ON A CITY STREET. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART, IT DID AND I BROUGHT IT TO KIA DEALER. I BOUGHT THE USED CAR 60 DAYS AGO. IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT SEEMED FINE. FROM A DEALER. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT ANY MORE, BECAUSE THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL COLLISION. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. OTHER ISSUES THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE THIS HAPPENED: JUST 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, I'D INSERTED A PHONE CHARGER INTO THE USB PORT AND THE RADIO WENT OUT, BUT A MINUTE OR SO LATER, STARTED WORKING AGAIN. IN THE PRIOR TWO WEEK PERIOD, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO STA RTING, NO SOUND, NO ANYTHING. THEN ON THE REPEAT ATTEMPT TO START IT, IT DID. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR NOW, PARTICULARLY SINCE I TYPICALLY HAVE PASSENGERS WHOSE LIVES ARE ALSO RISK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11373615November 7, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-4 DOWNTOWN ORLANDO WHEN MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. I WAS TOLD MY TIMING CHAIN WAS BROKEN. ONLY HAD THIS CAR A YEAR. JUST GOT A OIL CHANGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11366280October 25, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I EXPERIENCE A BMS WARNING LIGHT ON MY HYBRID VEHICLE INDICATING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND DO NOT DRIVE. THIS HAPPEN ON THE FAST LANE OF THE 14 FREEWAY IN ACTON CA. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL KIA I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE HYBRID COOLANT A COMPUTER PROGRAM AND A HYBRID DRIVE BELT REPLACED THE COMPUTER PROGRAM. THE UPDATE OF THE PROGRAM I WOULD OF NOT KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE SINCE ONLY DEALERS ARE AWARE OF IT. I PAID OVER 700.00 WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR FOR THE REPAIRS. DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY I EXPERIENCE LOSS OF POWER AGAIN WHEN I WAS TRYING TO CROSS AN INTERSECTION IN THE CITY OF ACTON. MY CAR ALMOST STOP AND THE HEV WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT RIGHT AWAY. THE SERVICE ADVISOR CALLED ME AFTER A WEEK AND HALF LATER AND TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS THE POWER RELAY ASSEMBLY AND THE HYBRID BATTERY THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. PER REPAIR ADVISER, THIS ISSUE IS A COMMON BUT FOR HIM TO DO THE REPAIRS I WOULD NEED TO PAY 5800.00. HE DID ADVISE TO CALL KIA CORPORATION FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE BUT THEY WERE NO HELP. SINCE I CAN NOT AFFORD THE 5800. I PICKED UP MY CAR AGAIN FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND PAID AN ADDITIONAL 318.00 FOR DIAGNOSE SERVICES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH KIA SINCE THE SERVICE ADVISER TOLD ME HE ONLY HAD A BULLETIN MEMO OF POSSIBLE ISSUES WITH LOSS OF POWER. I ASKED IF THIS WARRANT A RECALL BUT THE ANSWER WAS NO SINCE IT'S ONLY A MEMO AND THE BATTERIES ARE BUILT TO LAST ONLY 150,000 MILES I WAS LUCKY IT LASTED AND ADDITIONAL 18000. MILES. I JUST BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 3 YEARS AGO AND NOW I'M SITTING ON A GIANT PAPER WEIGHT SINCE I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE OR POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11366327October 25, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AT DRIVING SPEED (ABOUT 50 MPH), VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAS BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ERROR. THE VEHICLE HAS LOSS OF POWER AND SAYS THAT IT MUST BE PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF. THIS ERROR HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE DEALER SUPPOSEDLY FIXED IT THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEHICLE - THE ERROR OCCURS OUT OF THE BLUE AND LOSS OF POWER IS VERY DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365332October 20, 2020
ENGINE
STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND WENT INSIDE TO USE BATHROOM CAME OUT TO START MY CAR ALL THE LIGHTS FLASHED BUT CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR STARTED SMOKING AND THEN WHEN HOOD WAS OPENED THERE WAS ACTUAL FLAMES COMING OUT OF HOOD OF MY CAR AND IT PROCEEDED TO BURN UNTIL FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365207October 19, 2020
STEERING
A COUPLER ON THE STEERING COLUMN IS DEFECTIVE. IT IS CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE EVERY TIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED. IF IT IS NOW REPLACED IT CAN CAUSE THE STEERING TO MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364123October 13, 2020
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, AN ABNORMAL ODOR APPEARED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE FORWARD, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO WAS MAKING A U-TURN. THE CONTACT TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AS THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT GOT OUT RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE HIS FIANC WAS UNCONSCIOUS. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO CUT THE SEATBELT IN ORDER TO RELEASE AND DRAG HER OUT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO RETRIEVE ITEMS BUT THE VEHICLE THEN ENGULFED IN FLAMES CAUSING AN EXPLOSION. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE CONTACT FRACTURED HIS RIGHT WRIST, RIGHT ANKLE AND SUSTAINED SEVERE BURN TO HIS BODY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACTS FIANC WHO WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER LEFT LEGS, WRISTS, RIGHT FOOT AND ANKLE FRACTURED, FIRE BURNED THROUGH OUT HER BODY CAUSING HER TO LOSE HER LOWER INTESTINE. THE CONTACTS FIANC WAS IN A COMA AND IN THE HOSPITAL FOR OVER 90 DAYS. THERE WAS A VEHICLE WHO MADE A U-TURN IN FRONT PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE AND IT WAS INFORMED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE DRIVER OF THAT VEHICLE DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD A RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED ON HIS VEHICLE 4 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) APRIL 13, 2020 WHICH THE CONTACT BELIEVES CAUSED THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.*DT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
1
#11355087September 15, 2020
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING AT 60MPH MY STEERING WHEEL SHACKS AND IT DOES THE SAME EXACT THING WHEN I RIDE OVER A SPEED BUMP OR JUST HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND I CAN HEAR A CLACKING AND CLICKING NOISE WHEN JUST TURNING THE WHEEL. ALSO I'M CONCERN ABOUT MY AIR BAGS COME OUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHACKING AND CLICKING THAT'S COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355120September 15, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE TAIL LIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACE MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IT GOES OUT ALMOST AS SOON AS I REPLACE IT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WATER IS IN THE LIGHT CAUSING IT TO SHORT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2014 WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353894September 9, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEV LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD STATING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. STOP VEHICLE AND TURN OFF ENGINE". VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN CITY ON TRAFFIC LIGHT AND SUDDENLY GOT THAT AND CAR STOPPED IN 15 SEC AND COULD NOT MOVE ANYMORE. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY CAUSE 15 SEC IS NOT ENOUGH FOR SAFELY STOPPING! WITNESSES HELPED TO PUSH THE CARD TO THE SHOULDER APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEM WAS LOCKED AS WELL CAUSE OF HEV SYSTEM STOPPED SUPPLING THE POWER. KIA CONCORD REPLACED THE SAFETY PLUG ASSY-MALE 125 AMPS TO 150 AMPS (PART # K 37586 4R002). CAR HAD ONLY 82K. AS FAR I SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IF MANUFACTURER IN ALL CASES UPGRADES IT TO HIGHER FUSE, THEN THIS IS A REASON FOR RECALL. NOW I WARRY ABOUT NEXT ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE THAT FUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353940September 9, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE, VIBRATE AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NATIONWIDE KIA SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 20 WEST TIMONIUM RD, TOWSON, MD 21093, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353769September 8, 2020
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STALLED DURING A DRIVE AND WAS UNABLE TO START. INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD TURNED ON ALONG WITH RADIO AND WINDOWS BUT BATTERY WAS DAMAGED. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FROM AN AUTO SHOP, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS ENGINE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT FROM A MAIN STREET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11352714September 2, 2020
ENGINE
CLICKING OF THE ENGINE , CAR WON'T GO FASTER THEN 35 MILES AN HOUR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351729August 28, 2020
ENGINE
AFTER RECEIVING AN REGULAR MAINTENANCE OIL CHANGE ON 8/25/20 @3:42PM MY VEHICLE STARTED TO TURN OFF AND ON AND LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE SO I IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND WENT BACK TO JIFFY LUBE WHERE I RECEIVED THE OIL CHANGE AND THEY PERFORMED A SECOND OIL CHANGE BAFFLED AS TO WHY MY VEHICLE WAS MAKING THE NOISE AFTER THE OIL CHANGE AFTER THE 2 CONSECUTIVE OIL CHANGE THE KNOCKING WAS WORSE AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP ASAP....AS I WAS GOING TO THE CLOSEST DEALERSHIP MY VEHICLE STOPPED REPEATEDLY ON THE HIGHWAY MY 5 YEAR OLD GRAND DAUGHTER AND I WAS TERRIBLY AFRAID PEOPLE WERE HONKING THEIR HORNS SPEEDING PAST AND MY CAR STOPPED UNDER A BRIDGE TURN ABOUT STOPPING TRAFFIC AND IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AND FRUSTRATING WHEN I MADE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE MAN TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY @ $140 TO HAVE THE TECHNICIAN LOOK AT IT AND THAT THEY WERE CLOSING AT 5 SO I CALLED AAA TO TOW MY VEHICLE HOME AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED WHEN I KEEP THE MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR...PLEASE HELP, THANK YOU THAT WAS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND MY GRAND DAUGHTER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11350813August 23, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL, WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS WORK IN DELAY MODE, THE PARK LIGHTS CAN BE TURNED ON AND OFF, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY. TURN SIGNALS WORK. THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS WORK WHILE DRIVING. I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE TO 3 MECHANIC SHOPS THEY ALL AGREE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BY KIA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11350616August 21, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING 65MPH WARNING COMES ON 'HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE PULL OVER AND TURN OFF' SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN IT WOULDN'T START.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11350233August 19, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WE WERE GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY HEADED HOME THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AS WE WERE APPROACHING THE LIGHT ONE I'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT SO AS WE PULLED OFF FROM THE LIGHT GOT DOWN THE STREET THE CAR JUST LOCKED UP AND SHUT OFF LIKE THERE WAS A FLASH OF LIGHT OR SOMETHING COMING FROM THE HOOD AND IT DIDN'T WANT TO STOP SCARED ME AND MY KIDS SO AFTER I MADE SURE EVERYTHING WAS OKAY I WAITED TIL WE STOPPED PUT IT BACK IN PARK AND TURNED MY KEY BACK OVER TO PULL OVER OUT THE STREET FULLY SO I CAN CHECK IT THERE IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR BRACKET BROKE WITHOUT A CLUE WHY NO PHYSICAL CONTACT OR ANYTHING WHATSOEVER ALTERNATOR IS NOT DAMAGED NEITHER WAS THE BELT ON IT BAD I KNOW THAT WHEN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING NO ONE NOWHERE COULD GIVE ME AND ANSWER FOR IT SO IT'S LIKE IT OVERHEATED IT OFF AND BROKE THE ENGINE PIECE MY ONLY THEORY NOTHING ELSE IS DAMAGED AROUND IT OR ANYTHING SO THAT'S WEIRD FOR A PIECE TO JUST BREAK SO I DID RESEARCH ON THE KIA OPTIMA AND STUMBLED ACROSS THE OVERHEATION AND THE FUELING PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11348621August 11, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE TAIL LIGHT'S ON MY VEHICLE CONTINUE TO COLLECT CONDENSATION CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE FOR A REPAIR. ISSUE CONTINUES TO OCCUR, AND I'M AFRAID THAT THE LIGHTS WILL STOP WORKING CAUSING FOR MY VEHICLE TO BE HIT FROM THE REAR IF THE TAIL LIGHTS ARE WET AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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