Kia Optima Complaints (2014)

622 consumer complaints on file.

#10823051January 29, 2016
STEERING
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING PANEL. I ASKED WHY I DID NOT GET A NOTICE AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM THAT I WOULD NEED TO CALL KIA MOTORS. I CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THEY DO NOT SEND THEM OUT ALL AT ONCE...CERTAIN TIMES. THIS DID NOT MAKE SENSE I ASKED IF ONE HAD BEEN OUT TO ME AND THEY WERE VERY UNHELPFUL. SHOULDN'T EVERYONE RECIEVE NOTICE WHEN THERE A PROBLEM?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10821044January 19, 2016
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10811938December 23, 2015
ENGINE
CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, DOESN'T MATTER IF GOING 40 MPH OR 80 MPH.......ENGINE TACH DROPS TO "0"........FOOT FEED DOESN'T RESPOND........YOU KEEP TRYING TO GIVE GAS UP AND DOWN.......FINALLY WILL BUCK AS TRYING TO RESPOND ......AS CUTTING IN AND CUTTING OUT.....FINALLY WILL THEN DRIVE AS NORMAL........YOU MAY COAST DOWN TO FROM 80 TO 20 MPH BEFORE IT GOES AGAIN. NO DASH LIGHTS INDICATED, DO NOT HAVE TO TURN KEY TO START, DOES NOT......CAUSE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NO CODES INDICATED...........DAUGHTER ALMOST GOT REAR END ON THE INTERSTATE......SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED!!!! WITHOUT A DOUBT A MAJOR "SAFETY ISSUE"..................READING NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF OTHER KIA MODELS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.................THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, HOW MANY LIVES HAVE BEEN LOST FROM KIA'S CUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING??????
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10809376December 10, 2015
ENGINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES THE SAME ISSUES THAT ARE ALSO HAPPENING ON HYUNDAI SONATAS WITH THEIR ENGINE RECALLS. WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 50-60 MPH AND THEN ACCELERATING, THE ENGINE MAY SOMETIMES JERK/SPUTTER AS IF ABOUT TO STALL. THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENGINES WERE NOT CLEANED PROPERLY WHILE BEING MANUFACTURED, LEAVING MECHANICAL DEBRIS WITHIN, AS STATED BY THE HYUNDAI ENGINE RECALL INVESTIGATION.THIS CAN BECOME A MAJOR CONCERN AS THE CAR COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME UNRESPONSIVE ON THE HIGHWAY OR EVEN SLOW DOWN/ STOP SUDDENLY IN THE CASE THAT THE ENGINE MAY STALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760599August 31, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED A KIA OPTIMA IN DECEMBER OF 2014. AT 8,000 MILES I NOTICED UNUSUAL WEAR ON MY TIRES, I HAD THEM ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 7,500. I RECENTLY WENT TO AMERICA TIRES WITH THE MILEAGE AT 14,50 THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO LESS THAN 50% OF THE TREAD. THEY ROTATED AND BALANCED THEM BUT THE LIFE OF MY TIRES IS SHORT. IT APPEARS THAT THE TIRES ARE INFERIOR. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING MY CAR. I HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL CARS HOWEVER I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACED TIRES THIS SOON ON A VEHICLE. I HAVE ABOUT 5 TO 7 THOUSANDS MILES LEFT BEFORE REPLACEMENT IS NEEDED. THE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE NPRIZAH8. MY FEAR IS THAT SEVERAL UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE ARE DRIVING AROUND ON THESE UNSAFE TIRES WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE REGULAR SERVICE ON THEIR TIRES. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE HAS THERE BEEN ANY ISSUES WITH THESE TIRES?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758899August 24, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS TRYING TO BACK IN BETWEEN2 VEHICLES IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. AND WHILE DOING SO, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNCHED BACKWARDS WITH A JERKING MOTION, LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO DO 2 DIFFERENT THINGS ATONE TIME, AT FULL RATE OF SPEED AND DOING SO, IT BACKED INTO THE VEHICLE TO MY LEFT, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SIGHT, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS HAPPENING ON THE NEWS. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF AND I WENT ONLINE TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. I WAS NOT HURT AND IF MY COUSIN WASN'T IN THE CAR, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD'VE BELIEVED ME. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I'M REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746724August 6, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG IS CRACKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745882August 3, 2015
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PARKING INTO A PARKING SPACE THAT FACES A SUPERMARKET BUILDING, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENDLY ACCELERATES AT AN UNKOWN SPEED , WHILE I AM STEPPING HARDER ON THE BRAKE , AND THE CAR IS NOT RESPONDING CRASHING INTO A PARKING BARRIER POLE FINALLY MAKING THE CAR STOP INCHES FROM THE WALL WHERE PEOPLE GO IN AND OUT OF THE SUPERMARKET, I WAS SCREAMING THE WHOLE TIME WHILE BEING PUSHED RAPIDLY AT AN UNKOWN SPEED FEELING HELPLESS AND SCARED, THE CAR SIDE ARIBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAKING THE VEHICLE ALL FULL OF SMOKE INSIDE. THIS IS A COMPLAINT OF A CONCERNED VICTIM FOR A FAULT THAT THE KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAS, SO IT CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE PEOPLE ARE HURT, OR KILLED OUT THERE NEEDLESLY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731581July 1, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR LAST FRIDAY AND THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AND THEN SLOWING DOWN. I TRIED TO SPEED UP WHEN IT SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD HIT ME SO IT WOULD SPEED UP AND THEN SLOW DOWN. IT SCARED ME SO I PULLED OVER ON A SIDE STREET SO NO ONE WOULD HIT ME BEING THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVING ERRATIC. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF THEN RESTARTED IT . ONCE I DID THAT , SAME THING AGAIN SO I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AFTER I PULLED OVER THE SECOND TIME. THE 3RD TIME , IT STARTED DRIVING NORMAL BUT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER , I COULD NOT START IT. I HAD TO HAVE TOWED 3 DAYS IN A ROW TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED SOMETHING EACH DAY BUT THE NEXT DAY , THE CAR WOULD NOT START . I AM AFRAID TO GET STRANDED AGAIN AND THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR !!! ITS A 2014. I WAS INITIALLY REAL EXCITED WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE BUT I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731310June 30, 2015
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED AND A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND WAS HEARD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714182May 2, 2015
STEERING
THIS IS THE WORST DRIVING NEW CAR I'VE EVER HAD. ABOVE 60 IT REQUIRES CONSTANT ADJUSTING TO KEEP IT IN THE LANE. STEERING IS SUPER SENSITIVE, IT WILL BEGIN TO WANDER, WHEN YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT, IT WILL OVER COMPENSATE AND YOU GO TOO FAR THE OTHER WAY. TRYING TO GET IT STABILIZED IN A STRAIGHT LINE IS VERY DIFFICULT. WIND AFFECTS IT TREMENDOUSLY, A DANGER TO DRIVE IN HIGH WINDS. AND A DANGER AT SPEEDS OVER 60. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10706237April 17, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAD TAKEN OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A REGULAR OIL CHANGE. THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND FIXED WHATEVER THE PROBLEM WAS. WE FOUND THE FUSE COVER ON THE DASHBOARD. 1 DAY LATER, THE SYMBOLS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN TO LIGHT UP AND THE CAR FROZE, LOCKED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. THIS CAR HAS 7800 MILES ON IT AND IS A YEAR OLD. IT WAS FORTUNATE I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY. THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I COULDN'T EVEN GET MY FLASHERS ON BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I ASKED WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND IF IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND WAS GIVEN NO CONCRETE ANSWER. I LOVED DRIVING THIS CAR, BUT MY CONFIDENCE IN THIS VEHICLE IS NOW LOST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703965April 6, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PROBLEM IS SPORADIC BUT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IF I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO INCREASE MY SPEED, WHETHER FROM A STOPPED POSITION, OR TO PULL INTO A BUSY ROADWAY, OR TO INCREASE MY SPEED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CAR WILL START TO GO THEN CHOKE, SO THAT NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE RPM STAY THE SAME AND THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND WILL NOT SPEED UP. IF KIA DOESN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THIS - BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN OTHER PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT OPTIMA VEHICLE YEARS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS - SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO SEE MANY PEOPLE SAYING KIA IS TELLING THEM THIS IS THE WAY THE VEHICLE IS SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE - REALLY??? MY CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER TO HOPEFULLY HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR, WHICH IS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA, AND GUESS WHAT? PULLING OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IN THE LOANER I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE LOANER ALSO HAS THIS PROBLEM, BUT 10 TIMES WORSE THAN MY CAR. IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 30 TIMES BETWEEN THE DEALER AND WHERE I WORK - ABOUT A 30 MINUTE DRIVE. ALWAYS WHEN SPEED NEEDS TO BE INCREASED BY WAY OF THE GEARS NEEDING TO UPSHIFT. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE SOMEONE PAY ATTENTION TO THIS - I HOPE KIA ISN'T WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY LOOK INTO THIS FAILURE THAT IS HAPPENING THAT THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE WRITING OFF AS NORMAL FUNCTION! JUST AS I WAS READY TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT, MY DEALERSHIP CALLED ME BACK AND SURPRISE: "WE ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM" AND "NO PROBLEM CODES WERE DETECTED." PLEASE KIA, TAKE NOTICE OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703270April 2, 2015
STEERING
THIS IS MY SECOND KIA OPTIMA, THE FIRST ONE WAS AN OPTIMA EX FULLY EQUIPPED. I NEVER DROVE OVER 60 MPH, SO NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY WRONGS WITH MY STEERING, I WAS TRULY HAPPY WITH IT. WHEN I GOT MY SECOND KIA JUST A FEW MONTHS BACK, I DECIDED TO GET THE SX TURBO, AGAIN FULLY EQUIPPED. IT WAS DEFINITELY NOT A WISE DECISION, THIS CAR HAS MANY ISSUES BUT I WILL CONCENTRATE ON "STEERING AT HIGH SPEEDS". WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OVER 65 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR TRIED TO STEER TO THE LEFT SO A 4 HOUR DRIVE BETWEEN MIAMI EN ORLANDO BECAME A WORKOUT, TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. WHILE SWITCHING LANES, THE CAR WAS ALL OVER THE ROAD MOVING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. I THOUGH MAYBE THE TIRES AIR PRESSURE IS HIGH, SO I STOPPED TO CALIBRATE THEM, BUT NO THEY WERE OKAY. LONG STORY SHORT I DID SLOW DOWN TO BELOW 60MPH, BUT MY QUESTION REMAINS, WHY A TURBO IF YOU CANT DRIVE IT AT HIGH SPEEDS (OVER 70), I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND GUESS WHAT I GOT BACK HOME CAUSE THEY DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM THE DRIVER, I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS WRONG, I EXPLAINED THE ISSUE WITH DETAILS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THEM TO FIND THE ISSUE AND SOLVED IT. KIA IF THIS WAS A SURVEY. 1 START OUT OF 5 I AM UNHAPPY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10693891March 12, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PROVIDE ENOUGH LIGHTING ON THE HIGHEST SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VOLTAGE ON THE BULB WAS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED WITH NEW BULBS HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,722.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10683947February 17, 2015
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I WAS IN A PARKING STRUCTURE, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. I CONTINUED A FEW FEET TO MY DESIGNATED PARKING STALL AND WHEN I TURNED THE WHEEL THE CAR ACCELERATED AT WHAT FELT AND SOUNDED LIKE FULL THROTTLE ON IT'S OWN. THE SURGE OF THE VEHICLE FORCED THE CAR TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND BODILY INJURY TO MYSELF. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD. THIS CAR HAS SOME VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES. SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. NOW I AM TERRIFIED TO EVER DRIVE IT AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10683533February 15, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION
ORIGINALLY THE NOISE STARTED ABOUT A WEEK AGO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY DID VERIFY MY COMPLAINT AND THEY FIXED IT THEN ON 2/14/2015 STARTED TO DO THE SAME THING THE REPAIR INVOICE STATES THEY PERFORMED BRAKE FLUID BLEEDING AND CALIBRATION OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679365January 28, 2015
STEERING
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR STRAIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING STICKS AND IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SMALLEST CORRECTION, YOU HAVE TO OVER-CORRECT. THIS RESULTS IN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN AN S PATTERN. IT IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS. I JUST TOOK A 3 HOUR TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY AND BY THE TIME I FINISHED I WAS EXHAUSTED FROM THE AMOUNT OF CONCENTRATION REQUIRED TO SIMPLY DRIVE THE CAR IN MY LANE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672714January 15, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,050.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671498January 9, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SUSPENSION
HI MY NAME IS [XXX]I HAVE 2014 KIA OPTIMA LX. I HAVE THE CAR SINCE IT HAD 2 MILES AND NOW HAS 14700. WHAT IS RIDICULOUS IS THE STRUTS MAKE CLUNKING NOISE OVER SPEED BUMPS. THE CAR CHANGES LANE BY ITS SELF. YOU CAN HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER AND THE CAR GOES TO THE LEFT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL. LIES ALL LIES . PLEASE TELL ME HOW MY STRUTS HAVE A SMALL LEAK BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT I THOUGHT IT WAS A NEW CAR. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR WAS MADE POORLY AND RUSHED. I ALSO FEEL AS IF KIA IS LYING ABOUT GAS MILEAGE AGAIN. THE STEERING FEELS TERRIBLE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY. THEY ARE A SAD EXCUSE FOR A CAR COMPANY AND AM COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEM. THE REFUSE TO HELP TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE OPTIMA STEERING I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WITH A 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX WITH THE SAME STEERING ISSUE. SO TELL ME HOW DO THEY HAVE THE SAME STEERING ISSUE IF THE 2014 WAS REDESIGNED. THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT LEAKS AIR INTO THE CABIN THEY SAY OTHER WISE. I'M NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER AND WON'T BE TILL THEY PUT A RECALL FOR MPG. SUSPENSION. STEERING AND BRAKES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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