Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10907308September 16, 2016
ENGINE
I WAS TOLD BY THE KIA DEALERSHIP THAT MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MIDDLE LANE. I TRIED TO ACCELERATE MY CAR AND MY ENGINE WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE CAR STALLED. I HAD TO CALL A TOW COMPANY TO TOW MY CAR TO KIA. THE NEXT DAY KIA SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND I MUST PROVE THAT I KEPT MAINTENANCE ON MY CAR BY PROVIDING THEM WITH ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. I HAVE NO CAR NOW AND I NEED TO GET TO WORK AND GET MY KIDS TO SCHOOL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10906000September 13, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ON AN INCLINE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,314. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905824September 12, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER MOTORIST NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905914September 12, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
THE ENGNE LOCKED UP AT 87K! I HAD NO OIL IN IT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905736September 12, 2016
ENGINE
FRIDAY SEPT 9TH I HAD MY OIL CHANGED AT WALMART IN JACKSON OHIO, WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES FROM MY HOME, AFTER THE OIL CHANGE I DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE CAR FOR THE EVENING, I'M RETIRED SO I DON'T DRIVE VERY MUCH EVERYDAY, SO SATURDAY I WENT TO LEAVE TO GO TO THE STORE WHICH IS ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY AND WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR LEAVING THE STORE THE CAR STARTED AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL BANGING AROUND, I INSTANTLY THOUGHT THAT WALMART LEFT MY OIL CAP OFF OR SOMETHING SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED, CAP WAS ON AND THE OIL WAS GOOD AND TO THE FULL LINE, I STARTED THE CAR AND DRIVE IT HOME AND THE NOISE GOT TREMENDOUSLY WORSE, THE SPEED LIMIT IS 25 BETWEEN HOME AND THE STORE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO PAST 15 MPH, IT'S SITTING NOW AND IF I TRY TO START IT, IT WILL START BUT THE NOISE IS UNBELIEVABLE, NOT DRIVABLE, I'VE LOOKED UP THIS CAR AND MORE THEN 200 OF THE SAME COMPLAINANTS ARE ON THE VEHICLE FOR THE SAME EXACT THING AND EVERYONE SAYS THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR TO A TUNE OF BETWEEN 5,000-7,000 DOLLARS, WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS? WHY ISN'T KIA FIXING THESE ENGINES? I BOUGHT THE CAR USED AND STILL OWE AT LEAST TWO YEARS ON THE CAR! I HEARD THE HYNDAI HAS THE SAME EXACT MOTOR AND THEY HAVE A RECALL FOR THE MOTOR DOING THIS??? CAR HAS 103,900 MILES AND I'VE ALWAYS KEPT MAINTENANCE UP AND REGULAR OIL CHANGES! TOO MANY OF THESE KIA OPTIMA SHAVE HAD BAD MOTORS AND THE PUBLIC IS SUFF RING AND GETTING PUT INTO UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF IT, WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS TO GET KIA TO FINALLY FIX IT????
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905623September 11, 2016
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
"FIRST" TIME PROBLEM HAPPENED WAS JULY 3, 2016 WITH MY 2006 KIA OPTIMA. I WAS SB ON HWY I25 IN CS, CO. SPEEDOMETER READ 25MPH AS I WAS COMING OFF THE ON-RAMP. I ACCELERATED TO 40MPH INTO FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I FELT A LURCH & THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATED. SPEED WENT FROM 40MPH TO ABOUT 60 MPH WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR. BREAKING DID NOT SLOW IT DOWN. I FELT CAR WAS GOING OUT OF CONTROL. MY PASSENGER REACHED OVER & TURNED IGNITION SWITCH OFF & ON QUICKLY, TO DECELERATE & ACCELERATE. THIS HELPED CAR SLOW DOWN WHEN KEY WAS TURNED OFF TO THE FIRST CLICK & HELPED MAINTAIN AN ADJUSTED SPEED AS TRAFFIC WAS IN-FRONT & IN-BACK. WE KEPT DOING THIS UNTIL CAR SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO PULL OVER TO RIGHT SHOULDER. KEY WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF & CAR WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP. CAR WAS TOWED TO MECHANICS. DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED USING ENGINE ANALYZER. IT WAS ROAD TESTED MULTIPLE TIMES & DIDN'T IT DUPLICATE MY EXPERIENCE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN SEPT.10, 2016 AS I, AGAIN, ENTERED HWY I25 SO.I WAS DRIVING ALONE. MY SPEEDOMETER WAS 40 MPH, IN HEAVY HWY TRAFFIC. I ONCE AGAIN "FELT" LURCH OF CAR. THIS TIME IT "STUCK" AT 40 MPH. IT DIDN'T SLOW DOWN WHEN I BRAKED, IT CONTINUED AT 40 MPH. I CONTINUED TO BRAKE & SPEED DID SLOW A BIT. MY FOOT WAS TOTALLY DOWN ON BREAK WHEN IT WAS STILL AUTO ACCELERATING AT THE HWY EXIT RAMP; NOW SLOWED TO 26 MPH AS I CONTINUED HOLDING BRAKE DOWN. FINALLY SPEED WAS DOWN TO 23MPH AS I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT (NO CARS WERE MOVING IN & OUT AT THE TIME). I TURNED THE KEY OFF COMPLETELY; MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE & THE CAR CAME TO A LURCHING HAUL AT THAT TIME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT. I WAITED ABOUT A MINUTE & THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING SLOT. I STARTED IT & VERY SLOWLY DROVE HOME, BUT NOT ON THE HWY. I MAINTAINED SPEED OF 25-30MPH. IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 1K BETWEEN THE 2 INCIDENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905477September 10, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING
DIFFICULT TO KEEP CAR CENTERED WHILE DRIVING. STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS BECOME JERRY WITH SMALL MOVEMENTS. TENDENCY TO PULL HARD TO THE LEFT OR RIGHTS. STEERING WHEEL JENKS WHEN TRAVELING ON ERROR ANY SIZE BUMP IN ROAD. BACK UP CAMERA CUTS IN AND OUT. NEVER OBTAIN EPAULETS FUEL MILAGE ESTIMATES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905115September 9, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK PORCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905149September 9, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASHBOARD IS LITE, FOR NO REASON! THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 48K MILES , NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT NOR HIT ANYTHING . I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE NOR HAVE ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME BECAUSE , IT'S WITHOUT AN AIRBAG THERE IS NO PROTECTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10905150September 9, 2016
ENGINE
MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA HAS 23000 MILES.. I COULDN'T REMEMBER WHEN I HAD THE OIL CHANGED,BUT I WAS DRIVING ON 75 COMING FROM FLA. THE AC STOP WORKING AND THEN SHORTLY AFTER THAT THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. IT FINALLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, WHEN I GOT IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED .BECAUSE THE SAID I COULD NOT PROVE THAT THE OIL HAD BEEN CHANGED,THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. ONLY HAD IT 15 MONTHS. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE .KIA WILL NOT FIX IT, THEY WANT ALMOST 8.000 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904615September 8, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2016, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON. I COULD HEAR THE ENGINE REV SLIGHTLY WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. IT WAS 7:30AM WHEN THIS OCCURRED SO LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT MANY CARS ON THE ROAD YET. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR OVER, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS OFF, THE BREAKS WOULD NOT WORK WELL. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP BY CONTINUING TO HIT THE BREAKS AND APPLYING THE EMERGENCY BREAK AS WELL. KIA RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES EVERY 7,500 MILES, HOWEVER, I USUALLY HAVE MINE DONE EVERY 5,000. I HAD ZERO WARNING SIGNS THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE LAST OIL CHANGE WAS PERFORMED ON AUGUST 31, 2016, AND THE MECHANIC THAT PERFORMED THE CHANGE SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED FINE. THERE WAS ZERO SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OR EXHAUST AND NO "KNOCKING" SOUND IN THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. ONCE THERE, WE TESTED THE BATTERY AND IT SEEMED A LITTLE LOW. MIND YOU THIS IS A NEW BATTERY PURCHASED FROM COSTCO ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. WE TRIED JUMPING THE CAR AND AFTER TRYING TO START THE CAR A 3RD TIME, THE ENGINE STARTED SHOOTING OUT BLACK SMOKE AND HAD A FOUL SMELL TO IT. SEVERAL HOURS LATER, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER AUTHORIZING $280 TO OPEN THE TOP OF THE ENGINE SO THEY COULD TAKE PICTURES AND SEND IT TO KIA. . I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER 2011 KIA OWNERS EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR ISSUE AND WAS JUST TOLD BY A FRIEND THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER 2011 OPTIMA AS WELL. LOOKS LIKE HYUNDAI HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND IT IS THE SAME ENGINE AS THE KIA AND HAD A RECALL. MY CAR HAD 101,500 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES) AND THE ONLY ISSUE I EVER HAD WAS TO REPLACE A CLOCKSPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN ABOUT 6-MONTHS AGO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904735September 8, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MOVED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000. UPDATED 10/18/16*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904330September 7, 2016
ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 OPTIMA TO THE STORE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED MY CAR AND HEARD A RATTLING OR TICKING SOUND, THIS WAS ON LABOR DAY, SO I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. DUE TO HOLIDAY THE SERVICE DEPT WAS NOT OPEN. I CALLED THEM AGAIN ON TUESDAY SEPT 6TH AND WAS ADVISED THEY WOULD HAVE IT TOWED. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL ON TUESDAY EVENING STATING MY MOTOR HAS SLUDGE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904387September 7, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FREQUENT LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT FAILURES OVER LAST 4 YEARS..LAST MONTH I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY..MY LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS CURRENTLY OUT ON THE LOW SETTINGS..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904421September 7, 2016
ENGINE
CAR HAS BEEN MAINTAINED WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES EVERY 3 TO 5000 MILES. CAR WAS NOT GIVING ANY ISSUES UNTIL TWO DAYS AGO WHEN THE ENGIN SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. WE RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY, SPUTTERING AND SQUEALING. WE TOWED IT TO A KIA DEALER THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND SAID THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND FULL OF SLUDGE. THEY WON'T HONOR THE WARRANTY SINCE WE CAN'T PROVIDE EVERY SINGLE OIL CHANGE RECEIPT SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED THE CAR. WE DID PROVIDE WHAT WE COULD AS WE LIVED IN A FEW STATES WITH THE CAR AND DIDN'T ALWAYS USE THE SAME SHOP. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE VEHICLE JUST COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT AND WARNING LIGHTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10903804September 6, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CARE STALED AT LOW SPEED PULLED OVER SIDE OF ROAD AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM ENGINE, OPENED THE HOOD AND FIRE HAD STARTED AT FRONT TOP OF ENGINE UNDER THE AIR CLEANER, SOME WARE, HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED WHAT CAUSED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10904201September 6, 2016
ENGINE
2015 KIA OPTIMA, ONLY 47K MILES....ENGINE FAILURE...THE DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS SLUDGE... AND I HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS. IT STARTED WITH WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE AND LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATED, THEN THIS PAST SATURDAY, IT STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON . I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THIS IS KIA'S FAULT!!! NOT MINE. I'VE DONE THE SAME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MY TOYOTA AND HONDA WHICH HAD OVER 100K MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS! I AM BEING TOLD BY KIA THAT IT WON'T BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10903342September 2, 2016
ENGINE
AFTER ~20K MILES, I NOTICED A SLIGHT TAPPING/KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND ASKED ABOUT THE NOISE. THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. OVER TIME, IT GOT A BIT LOUDER BUT NOT MUCH AND EACH TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY WOULD SAY THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AT ~80K MILES, MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING HOME ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE (SOUNDED LIKE A ROD WAS ABOUT TO COME THROUGH THE ENGINE), LOST POWER, AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS CAME ON, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED HER TO WRECK, AS SHE WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. SHE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT AND THAT I'D HAVE TO PAY 7K TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. I ENDED UP BUYING AN ENGINE FROM A WRECKED 2014 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. SO MUCH FOR A WARRANTY. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUES I'VE EXPERIENCED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10903189September 1, 2016
AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SEAT BELTS
MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON THERE'S NO WIRES DISCONNECTED UNDER THE SEAT AND MY SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT WELL ALSO MY DOOR LOCKS ARE GETTING STUCK IN LOCK MODE AND MY ENGINE COMES ON AND THEN GOES OFF.AFTER AWHILE.WHEN IN PARK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10899360August 29, 2016
STRUCTURE, STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM, TIE ROD, AND CV AXLE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM, TIE ROD, AND CV AXLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 133,313.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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