Kia Optima Complaints (2007)
167 consumer complaints on file.
- #10864273May 10, 2016ENGINE
OIL WAS LOW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON NEED NEW ENGINE SAID IT WAS FROM METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10855364April 13, 2016ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10854496April 8, 2016EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS EXTREMELY DIM, PROBLEM REVIEWED BY DEALER. NO RESOLUTION. SEEMS A ELECTRICAL SITUATION. SAME PROBLEM NOTED BY MANY OTHER 07 OWNERS. PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. ONLY LOW BEAM AFFECTED. REVIEWED BY MANY DEALERS WITH NO SOLUTIONS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS VIRTUALLY NO LOW BEAM LIGHT EMITTED . BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. CIRCUITS CHECKED BY DEALER.... NO CHANGES IN PROBLEM. NEED A SOLUTION... NO LIGHTS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10845629March 8, 2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2007 KIA OPTIMA,CUTS OFF WILL DRIVING STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP, UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE IN ANYWAY, THEN IT TURNS IT SELF BACK ON. THE IGNITION SWITCH JUST SHUTS OFF. VERY DANGERS.THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND HAVE READ SEVERAL REPORTS ON THIS SAME PROBLEM. I DONT WANT TO DIE!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10838698February 26, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSNGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10836972February 18, 2016AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA EX THAT HAD A SIX YEAR, SIXTY THOUSAND MILE FULL WARRANTY AND A TEN YEAR, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. AT SOME POINT AFTER THE SIX YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT PRIOR TO THE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILE WARRANTY EXPIRATION, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO " DETERMINED INTERNAL FAILURE TO PASSENGER SEAT MAT $1875 TO REPAIR..." I DECLINED THE REPAIR DUE TO THE COST AND VALUE OF THE CAR AT THAT TIME. I AND SUGGESTED THAT THE COST OF REPAIR SHOULD BE ABSORBED BY KIA. I CALLED THE KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLAINT WOULD BE REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT AND THEY WOULD CONTACT ME REGARDING THEIR DECISION. I SUBSEQUENTLY HEARD BACK FROM KIA THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE SOME SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. THIS WAS NOT A FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE AT THE TIME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS A MAJOR SAFETY MALFUNCTION, AS INDICATED BY A BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. THIS NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER BUT DEPRECIATES THE VALUE OF THE CAR BY 50%. I REALIZE THAT MANY SYSTEMS ON AN AUTOMOBILE OVER THE YEARS, HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR MALFUNCTION IS UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK THE RECENT RECALL OF MILLIONS OF AUTOMOBILES FOR AIRBAG FAILURE, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR MILEAGE, DEMONSTRATES KIA'S CULPABILITY IN THIS CASE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10825899February 12, 2016VISIBILITY/WIPER
PASSENGER SUN VISOR STOPPED WORKING AND STAYS DOWN AFFECTING VISIBILITY ON RIGHT SIDE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10821275January 20, 2016AIR BAGS
I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON AIRBAG ISSUES PERTAINING TO THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE FILED NUMEROUS TIMES GOES ON DEAF EARS. I WILL BE SPEAKING TO SEN BILL NELSON ON HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUES ESPECIALLY ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE SEEN COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUES PILING UP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10820207January 14, 2016AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10809159December 9, 2015EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE LIGHTS HAD TO BE ON THE HIGH BEAM SETTING IN ORDER TO SEE ANYTHING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,805. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10788891November 6, 2015EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAMS ARE VERY DIM. THE FOG LIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD BETTER THAN THE LOW BEAMS. I REPLACED THE LOWBEAM BULBS WITH SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR ULTRA BULBS WHICH ARE VERY BRIGHT IN MY OTHER CAR, THEY STILL ARE VERY DIM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10786044October 26, 2015STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, VISIBILITY/WIPER
KNAGE123575112607 I TOOK MY CAR IN TODAY BECAUSE OF A LETTER I RECEIVED FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THERE ARE ALL SEVERAL PROBLEMS REGARDING MY BRAKES LOSS OF FLUIDS SEVERE CORROSION FLAKING OR SCALING OF METAL BRAKE PIPES AND I WAS TOLD THE WEATHER HAS CAUSED THAT WHEN I CALLED THE CONSUMER KIA PHONE NUMBER. I HAVE OIL LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND ROGERS VERY VERY RUSTY. BOTH FRONT STRUTS LEAKING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO KIA SUMMIT PLACE IN WATERFORD MICHIGAN. THIS IS WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THAT CORROSION WAS BECAUSE I LIVE IN MICHIGAN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10780819October 8, 2015ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN BEARING IN THE ENGINE FAILED CAUSING ONE OF THE RODS TO FRACTURE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10762587September 9, 2015SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. ..UPDATED 11/05/15*BF
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10761995September 7, 2015AIR BAGS
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT REMAINS LIT WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FROM THE TIME WE PURCHASED THE CAR TO THE PRESENT. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT, SO THERE IS NO TRUST THAT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS PROTECTED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON, WHICH WE DID. DEALER QUESTIONED THE WEIGHT OF PASSENGER (NOT THE ISSUE), THEN REPLACED THE BLADDER IN THE SEAT AND SUGGESTED TO FRONT SEAT PASSENGER TO "SIT SQUARELY & PROPERLY" IN THE SEAT. THEN TOLD US WHEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, TO EXECUTE THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE: STOP & TURN OFF CAR, UNDO SEAT BELT, GET OUT, GET BACK IN, CLOSE DOOR, BUCKLE UP AND RESTART CAR, "AND SEE IF THE LIGHT STAYS OFF". TOTALLY UNREALISTIC ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES WE HAVE DONE THE RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE 4-5 TIMES BEFORE THE LIGHT STAYS OFF. INDICATOR MAY START OFF DARK AND THEN LIGHT UP AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, A HALF HOUR OR SEVERAL HOURS OF CONTINUOUS DRIVING. WE HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG BUT NOTHING FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE INTERNET HAS PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. KIA TURNS A DEAF EAR OR THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS. 8 YEARS OF THE SAME PROBLEM IS TOO LONG AND THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD A NEW CAR. SOMEBODY PLEASE PUSH THEM TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND FIND A SOLUTION BEFORE SOMEONE DIES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10734994July 19, 2015VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BOUGJT THIS CAR IN 2014. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS, TWICE, A BRAKE LIGHT, BOTH REAR BLINKERS, A FRONT BLINKER, AS WELL AS BOTH HIGHBEAMS. I HAVE NEVER REPLACED EVEN HALF THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS IN THE ENTIRE LIFETIME OF OWNERSHIP OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS RECALL ISSUE BASED ON SAFETY AS WELL AS QUALITY IF KIA CARED. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH-BEAMS ON AND I NEVER GET FLASHED OR PULLED OVER. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE VS. ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE CAR AND HAVE SHARED THE STORY. AND EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING, ITS LIKE THE BRIGHTS IN THIS CAR IS EVERYONE ELSE'S REGULAR LIGHTS. IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE SAY THE HIGH-BEAMS ARE NOT AS BRIGHT AS MOST VEHICLES LOW-BEAMS. IT IS RIDICULOUS AND UNFAIR THAT US OWNERS HAVE TO SPEND $10-$35 ON A BULB OR TWO AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 5-8 WEEKS. CRAZY....KIA STEP UP AND FIX THIS QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. GOV'T I GUESS WONT STEP IN WITHOUT SOMEONE DYING FIRST AND IT MAKING THE NEWS BECAUSE I SEE I AM NOT THE FIRST BY ANY MEANS, AND WONT BE THE LAST!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10726830June 23, 2015POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10726369June 20, 2015AIR BAGS
I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO NOTIFIED NHTSA A WHILE BACK AND NO FOLLOW UP NOR ANY RECALLS. AFFECTED AREA IS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WHICH AFFECTED AND SHOWS AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN SOME IS SITTING ON THE SEAT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10717303May 19, 2015AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
WHILE DRIVING ON HYWY 80 WEST, HIT BLACK ICE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SPUN AND THEN FLIPPED END OVER END CAUSING EXTENSIVE IMPACT TO FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 6 AIR BAGS. NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED!!!! BY THE GRACE OF GOD NO ONE WAS KILLED. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND HAD TO HAVE MEDICAL TREATMENT.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10704811April 9, 2015AIR BAGS
I JUST HAD THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL FIXED, AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE OCS SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WILL COST ME $1600. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN THE SAME YEAR RANGES ON THE RIO. I WOULD BET THEY USED THE SAME BRAND AND SENSOR IN PROBABLY ALL THE CARS IN THESE YEARS, SO WHY ONLY RECALL ONE MODEL ? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS DUE TO THEM HAVING ONE RECALL OUT ALREADY. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED WHEN RIO OWNERS DON'T FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THIS SENSOR TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE WHILE DRIVING. THEY DESIGNED THIS FAULTY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND DON'T HAVE AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO FIX IT. OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE MY CAR IN GREAT SHAPE. HOPING YOU WILL ADVOCATE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0