Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11011362July 28, 2017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. THE ABS, AIR BAG, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (MENTOR KIA IN MENTOR, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT KEPT THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11011366July 28, 2017ENGINE
YOUR SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE CAR JUST STALLS/TURNS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHAT SO EVER. THIS ACTUALLY JUST STARTED TODAY. AFTER LOOKING IT UP, IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING QUITE A BIT & NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY KIA. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, NOT TO MENTION SCARY! IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11011110July 27, 2017SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE IN MOTION TO PARK IN A PARKING SPACE. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE FROM A VERY SLOW SPEED OF 5-10 MPH APPROXIMATELY. HAS DONE THIS ON OCCASION AT HIGHWAY SPEED A SUDDEN SURGE SO A BRAKING WOULD RELIEVE PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11010666July 26, 2017ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO SHOP WHERE THEY SAID MY ENGINE HAS ENTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEMS. MY CAR NEVER SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF NEEDING AN OIL CHANGE I RECENTLY CHANGED IT. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS FALLS UNDER THE RECALL . THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION AS IT WAS ME AND MY INFANT DAUGHTER IN THE CAR WE ALMOST GOT HIT FROM BEHIND AND HAD TO WAIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 1 HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER NOT A PROUD KIA OWNER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11010824July 26, 2017ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO SAMES KIA LOCATED AT 6621 SAN DARIO AVE, LAREDO, TX 78041, WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SERVICE THE VEHICLE AS THERE WERE MANY VEHICLES WAITING TO BE SERVICED FOR THE SAME RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11010850July 26, 2017POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WENT IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND FINALLY LOST ALL ACCELERATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK AND BACK HOME WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: K32Q8186. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,900.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11010866July 26, 2017ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING LOT AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11010881July 26, 2017SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY KIA OPTIMA ABS SYSTEM WILL RANDOMLY MAKE A CRUNCH SOUND WHEN I STEP ON THE BRAKES, AND I LOSE SOME ENGINE POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER TO THE POINT THAT MY CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON BUSY HIGHWAYS WHERE I HAVE TO FEAR CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. KIA DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE, THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A DAY AND REPAIRED THE STEERING COLUMN AND SENT ME HOME, ONLY FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR AGAIN THE FOLLOWING WEEK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11010292July 24, 2017SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS HIGH SPEEDS, THE BRAKES MALFUNCTIONED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP COMPLETELY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK UPON ATTEMPTING TO STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EVENTUALLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000. UPDATED 09/06/17 *BF *CN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006745July 21, 2017ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE ALLENTOWN KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE EVAP LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL CAP WAS NOT ENGAGING CORRECTLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS NEEDED AT THE TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 12422016. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE DEALER AND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,637.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006732July 21, 2017UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AIR CONDITIONING QUITS WORKING WHILE SITTING STILL. DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN AND OTHERS. QUITS IMMEDIATELY AT RED LIGHT OR IN PARK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006507July 20, 2017ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY WITH MY 4 YR OLD AND 7 YR OLD. LITERALLY AS I PULLED OFF ONTO THE OFF RAMP, MY DASH LIT UP STATING "HYBRID SYSTEM NOT CHARGED. PULL OFF AND TURN OFF ENGINE" I DID NOT EVEN HAVE TIME TO DO THIS WHEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PLACE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. AFTER HOURS SPENT HAVING TO CONVINCE THE DEALERSHIP TO TOW THE VEHICLE AND PROVIDE A RIDE FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN, WE FINALLY WERE ABLE TO GET A RENTAL. KIA SAID THE HYBRID BATTERY DIED BUT IT IS ON BACK ORDER AND NOT AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES UNTIL OCTOBER (3 MONTHS FROM NOW). HMMMM SOMETHING SOUNDS FISHY TO ME. I WILL NEVER DRIVE A KIA AGAIN. THE WHOLE ORDEAL WAS TRAUMATIZING TO MY CHILDREN AND WE WERE MADE TO FEEL LIKE WE WERE THE ONES AT FAULT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006660July 20, 2017ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
I WAS SITTING IN THE YARD AT MY AUNTS YARD AND THE RPM'S DROPPED WHILE IN PARK. I SAT THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES TO SEE IF IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN, IT DIDN'T, SO I LEFT AND HEADED HOME AND GOT 5-7 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED AND SHUT DOWN, WHILE I WAS GOING ABOUT 45-50 MPH, AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR. THE BRAKES GOT HARD, THE STEERING WAS HARD, AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD WITH VEHICLES BEHIND ME. IT WOULDN'T CRANK BACK UP. I SAT THERE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO COME TO ME TO CHECK IT OUT, AND I TRIED TO START IT BACK UP AND IT DID, SO I WENT ON HOME. I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID BRING IT IN, I PAID $100 TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP IN LAKE CITY, FL. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID IT WAS NOTHING WRONG GN WITH IT. BUT I RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT A RECALL ON THE MOTOR STATING IT WOULD DO WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. ALSO, I CHECKED ONLINE AND TYPED MY VIN NUMBER IN AND THERE WAS IN FACT AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE MOTOR I HAVE FOR THE ISSUE I HAD. THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE RECALL. ADVISED ME TO WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I ASKED THEM, SO YOU ARE TELLING ME TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS ISSUE AND WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN AND RISK GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT THE ANSWER I GOT WAS BASICALLY YES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006309July 19, 2017ENGINE
FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT UP UNTIL NOW I LOVED MY KIA!!!! UNFORTUNATELY BEGINNING JUST BEFORE THE CAR HAD 100,000 MILES ON IT, THE CAR BEGAN TO BURN OIL. IT IS BURNING APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER FOR THE LATEST ENGINE RECALL AND WHILE THERE I COMMUNICATED WITH THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN BURNING OIL AT THE RATE OF A QUART EVERY 1000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED MY OIL WHEN CHECKING IT FOR THE ENGINE RECALL, AFTERWARDS THEY DIRECTED ME TO BRING IT BACK IN AT 1000 MILES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP NOW FOR THIS CHECK. THE CAR IS AT 900 MILES AND A QUART LOW. I HOPE KIA WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THIS. I HAVE READ OTHER PEOPLES EXPERIENCES WITH THE ENGINE FAILURE AND ONE OF THE COMMON SYMPTOMS SEEMS TO BE THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGINNING TO BURN OIL. I DO NOT WANT TO BE ON THE INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY HAVE ENGINE FAILURE IN AND NOT BE ABLE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF THE LINE OF TRAFFIC.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006459July 19, 2017ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GALEANA CHRYSLER JEEP KIA (180 GREYSTONE BLVD, COLUMBIA, SC 29210, (803) 779-7300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROD BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT UNAVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER TO CALL BACK DURING BUSINESS HOURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,606.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11006137July 18, 2017POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER AILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V153000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HER LOCAL KIA DEALER TO HAVE HER VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11005850July 17, 2017ENGINE
MY ENGINE DID EXACTLY AS THE RECALL ON THE NON-HYBRID ENGINES. LOST OIL PRESSURE, OIL INDICATOR CAME ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS ENGINE SEIZED ON HIGHWAY DURING DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REFUSING TO INCLUDE MY CAR ENGINE IN RECALL BECAUSE OF HYBRID -EVEN THOUGH IT HAS A GAS ENGINE. KIA CORPORATE CONTACTED AND STATED THEY WERE WILLING TO "WORK SOMETHING OUT" WITH IT IF DEALERSHIP WILL CONTACT THEM. I CANNOT GET DEALERSHIP TO DO THIS YET. LIKELY LEGAL COUNSEL WILL HAVE TO BE CONTACTED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER ALSO COMMENTED DEFECTIVE PART LIKELY CAUSE. GOOD THING I DID NO HAVE CARDIAC ISSUE -HAD TO WAIT IN HEAT ON HIGHWAY DURING SUMMER MORNING FOR TOW TRUCK AFTER SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE IN TRAFFIC WHILE EXITING ON TO THE HIGHWAY. ALSO FORTUNATE THE CARS BEHIND ME DID NOT HIT ME CAUSING MORE DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY. STILL TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11005872July 17, 2017ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE A STRANGE CLINKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ALSO HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN TO DRIVE ON RESIDENTIAL ROADS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. AS A RESULT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE ROOF, PASSENGER SIDE, REAR, AND FRONT ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE LUX AUTO BODY SHOP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED BRUISING TO THE KNEE, SHOULDERS, AND HANDS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED CASE NUMBER: 1241495. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11005936July 17, 2017ENGINE
MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP HERE IN KEY WEST, FL DUE TO THE ENGINE SEIZING JUST LIKE THE RECALL STATES. IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 2 WEEKS AND STILL NO WORD FROM KIA IF THEY ARE GONNA FIX IT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR THAT PERIOD AND AM BEING TOLD THERE IS NO TIMETABLE ON THIS AS WELL. SO AFTER TWO WEEKS I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF IT WILL BE FIXED OR ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE SEIZED UP WHILE DRIVING IT, WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO PULL TO A SIDE PARKING LOT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11005961July 17, 2017ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER (JIM BONE KIA, 1255 SANTA ROSA AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95404, (707) 545-7050) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE HYBRID MODEL EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. ... .UPDATED 11/16/17 *BF *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0