Kia Optima Complaints (2006)

155 consumer complaints on file.

#10588564May 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE BOUGHT OUR KIA WITH LESS THEN 10 MILES ON IT, RIGHT OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMPS (TOTAL TO DATE 5/15/2015) 15 TIMES, BOTH REAR TURN SIGNALS BULBS AND REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN EVER THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD BE MOVED AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLICKERED DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT AND REMANDS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575909March 31, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WAS COMING ON AND OFF FROM THE FIRST MONTH OF TAKING NEW CAR DELIVERY. I IMMEDITELY REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY ACTION, SINCE IT WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY.A RECALL WAS DONE ON THE 2006.5 OPTIMA IN 2012.THE CHECK AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS DASH THAT COMES ON IGNITION FAIL TO GO OFF FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 03/30/2014.I TOOK IT MY ORIGINAL DEALER, WHO SAID THE WHOLE SYSTEM WOULD NO LONGER WORK, BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG WAS NOT WORKING.THE WANTS ME TO PAY $1750 TO REPAIR THE WHOLE AIR BAG SYSTEM, THAT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FIST MONTH OF TAKING DELIVERY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10564803February 18, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IT IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMA CARS THAT THE DOOR LATCH IS FAULTY, AND AFTER VARIOUS LENGTHS OF TIME, IT WILL STOP UNLOCKING. BY NO LONGER UNLOCKING, I MEAN UNDER ANY CONDITION. USING A REMOTE, USING THE KEY, EVEN SITTING IN THE VEHICLE PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR OR MANUALLY MOVING THE INDICATOR BY THE HANDLE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. IN THE EVENT OF A WRECK OR OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR ON MY KIA OPTIMA. NO MATTER WHAT YOU ATTEMPT, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. WHEN YOU UNLOCK IT USING ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED METHODS, THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY RE-LOCK THE DOOR AS SOON AS YOU TOUCH THE HANDLE, EITHER INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR. WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR EATING AWAY AT THE COMPONENT, THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THE CAR TO DEFAULT TO THE LOCK POSITION IN THE CASE OF SUCH WEAR AND TEAR. A SIMPLE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO HAVE THE LATCH DEFAULT TO THE OPEN POSITION, WHICH WILL ALLOW PERSONS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. IF THIS HAS NOT ALREADY COST INDIVIDUALS THEIR LIFE, I AM SURE IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY, BEFORE IT COSTS ME MY FAMILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562313January 31, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V153000 POWER TRAIN RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS OR PLACE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556193December 16, 2013
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
KEYLESS ENTRY ON DRIVERSIDE ONLY LOCKED ME IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. LOCK WILL ONLY OPEN 1/2 OF THE WAY. AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I CAN NOT GET AN INSPECTION. THEY SAY THE SYSTEM IS UNSTABLE. TRANSMISSION HAS SLIPPED A COUPLE OF TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554287December 1, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543162September 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE ELECTRICAL BUTTON OR MANUALLY. THE LOCK ONLY OPENS HALF WAY - PULL HANDLE TO OPEN - DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS. CAN'T OPEN DOOR WITH KEY FROM OUTSIDE. MUST ENTER IN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CLIMB OVER. BIG DANGER AS DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525228July 16, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524147July 10, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK WHENEVER ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE POWER LOCKS NEITHER WOULD RELEASE OPEN WITH THE USE OF THE KEY FOB NOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE LOCKS MANUALLY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521182June 22, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AND THE CAR ACTS LIKE IM NOT GIVING IT HAS I HAVE TO PULL OFF ROAD AND CUT OFF CAR AND WAIT TO RESTART SOMETIME IT CLEARS UP AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. SOMETIMES IT WILL DO OK AFTER RESTART AND OTHER TO TIMES IT MAY GO COUPLE MILES AND DO IT AGAIN. ALSO MY TRUNK LATCH DOESN'T WORK EVEN WHEN YOU TRY TO PULL THE EMERGENCY OPEN IN TRUNK. MY SISTER HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH HER 07 OPTIMA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10520936June 20, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509328April 23, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FUELING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507381April 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. YOU MUST USE KEY AND TOGGLE LOCK WHILE HOLDING DOOR NOB OUT IN ORDER TO UNLOCK DOOR, IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO UNLOCK DOOR WHILE DOING THIS. I HAVE READ MANY RESPONSES TO OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND THE DOOR IS LOCKED, TRAPPING THE DRIVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505479April 3, 2013
AIR BAGS
I GOT A LETTER BACK IN 2012 ABOUT A RECALL ON MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON COVINGTON PIKE IN MEMPHIS TENN. AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE PART BUT MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS BACK ON AS OF 04/03/2013 BEING BACK ON FOR 5 OR 6 MONTHS. I DO NOT THINK THEY REPLACED WITH A NEW PART BECAUSE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR LESS THEY WAS FINISH WITH ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505266April 1, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BROUGHT TWO NEW 2006.5 KIA OPTIMAS (A RED ONE AND A BLACK ONE) FROM OUR LOCAL DEALER. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CARS, BOTH OF THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH STARTED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE. THE TAIL LAMPS ONLY LAST ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS BEFORE I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS. FIRST ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER WILL BLOW OUT, AND THEN WITHIN WEEKS, THE OTHER SIDE WILL GO TOO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH BOTH CARS EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CARS. WHEN I CALL THE DEALER AND ASK ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST TELL ME I'VE BEEN BUYING CHEAP BULBS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS ON BOTH VEHICLES AT THE RATE OF ABOUT ONE EVERY SIX-MONTHS ON BOTH VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE WHAT THEY CALLED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ON BOTH VEHICLES. NOW THERE IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THEM. ABOUT 52,000 MILES, I STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE PARKING LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON WHEN CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO, THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM GOING DEAD WAS TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE TOOK THE CARS TO OUR LOCAL KIA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHEN WE DROPPED THEM OFF FOR THE SERVICE, I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE ([XXX]), TO ALSO LOOK INTO THE PARKING LIGHT ISSUE AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM I HAD BEEN HAVING. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, [XXX] SAID THEY FORGOT TO LOOK AT THE PARKING LIGHT ISSUE, ADDING SHE WOULD CONTACT KIA DIRECTLY TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN SHE HAS AN ANSWER, IT HAS BEEN A MONTH . TODAY SHE TOLD ME IT WILL COST $400 TO FIX THE LIGHTS PROBLEM. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IT IS NOT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMERS WHO INVEST MONEY INTO PURCHASING A NEW CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS A MATTER OF CONSUMER RIGHTS AND PROTECTION AGAINST MANUFACTURES KNOWN DEFECTS. 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
#10504407March 25, 2013
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
CALLED BOTH SERVICE DEALERSHIPS AND MAIN KIA OFFICES ABOUT RECALLS TO MY CAR CONCERNING AIRBAGS AND TRANSMISSION LINKAGE. NO HELP GIVEN ON RECALLS TO VEHICLE. DENIED SUCH A RECALL EXISTED AND MY CAR WASN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL. I'M LOCATED IN FREDERICK MD. [XXX] 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
#10502303March 11, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE ELECTRICAL BUTTON OR MANUALLY. MANUALLY OPENED, THE LOCK ONLY OPENS HALF WAY - PULL HANDLE TO OPEN - DOOR AUTOMATICALLY LOCKS. CAN'T OPEN DOOR WITH KEY FROM OUTSIDE. MUST ENTER IN PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND CLIMB OVER. BIG DANGER AS DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496947February 9, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE CAR WHEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN BY ACTIVATING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, THE INSIDE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER OR THE REMOTE KEY FOB. WHEN I USED THE DOOR HANDLE NOTHING HAPPENED. WHEN I PRESSED THE INSIDE DOOR UNLOCK LEVER I COULD HEAR THE POWER UNLOCK MECHANISM ACTIVATE BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. NOR WOULD THE DOOR OPEN WHEN THE REMOTE KEY FOB UNLOCK WAS PRESSED EVEN THOUGH I COULD HEAR THE UNLOCK MECHANISM ACTIVATE. THE DOOR LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE AND ALLOW THE DOOR TO OPEN. I HAD TO CRAWL ACROSS THE FRONT CONSOLE TO EXIT THE CAR THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR. DUE TO THE SMALL SIZE OF THE CAR THIS COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE WITH AN INJURY OR FOR AN ELDERLY PERSON. IN CASE OF A FIRE WHERE THE ONLY EXIT WAS THRU THE DRIVERS DOOR THIS WOULD BE A FATAL COMPONENT FAILURE. AFTER EXITING THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR I TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR WITH THE KEY BUT THE LATCH WOULD NOT RELEASE THE DOOR. I TRIED PRESSING AND RELEASING THE REMOTE UNLOCK WITH AND WITHOUT THE KEY MULTIPLE TIMES USING MULTIPLE COMBINATIONS OF THE DOOR HANDLE, DOOR UNLOCK LEVER AND REMOTE KEY FOB, NOTHING WORKED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DOOR HANDLE AND DOOR KEY SHOULD ALWAYS FUNCTION TO ALLOW EXIT FROM THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10489126December 18, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE OR MANUALLY WHEN USING THE KEY. THE CONTACT HAD TO EXIT THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE SMALL PLASTIC DOOR CHECKER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 01/29/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS BEFORE FINALLY GETTING THE DOOR TO OPEN WITH A COAT HANGER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPDATED 1/31/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488221December 4, 2012
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
2006 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICE AND REPAIRS CONCERNING AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS CHARGED A $113.00 FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE RECALL LETTER, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY, KIA WAS TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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