Kia Optima Complaints (2008)

144 consumer complaints on file.

#10860301April 19, 2016
SEATS, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT TRACK FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10836493February 16, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT FOR FRONT PASSENGER WAS ILLUMINATED. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTIC UNIT FOR $95 & GOT LIGHT TO GO OFF FOR NOW BUT STATED THAT THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR IT AT A COST OF $1700.00. APPARENTLY THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. OWNER HAS THE BILL FOR THIS DIANOSTIC SERVICE & ESTIMATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838313February 1, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DESJARLAIS RE THE WINCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH AN ISSUE INVOLVING THE DOT. THE OPERATOR OF THE IMPACTING VEHICLE STATED HER 2008 KIA OPTIMA ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. *SMD PLEASE MARK THIS DOCUMENT FOR DELETION. IT IS BEING REPLACED WITH DOCUMENT NUMBER 10838296. *CW THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED A MINIVAN AND WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION, INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE KIA OPTIMA, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 93 MPH AND THE RMP'S WERE STUCK AT 4500. THE IGNITION WAS STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
3
#10838296January 19, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
POLICE REQUEST FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION OF 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE DETECTIVE OF WINCHESTER POLICE DEPARTMENT IN WINCHESTER TN...UPDATED*BF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE WITH AN ALLEGED SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION INCIDENT THAT RESULTED IN MULTIPLE FATALITIES. THE DRIVER OF THE 2008 KIA OPTIMA WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED IN THE AREA OF 90 MPH. THE DRIVER TRAVELED DOWN THE TURNING LANE AND STRUCK A 2003 FORD WINDSTAR FROM THE REAR. THE FORD WINDSTAR WAS PUSHED ACROSS THE INTERSECTION INTO A THIRD VEHICLE WHICH WAS STOPPED IN THE TURNING LANE. THE KIA OPTIMA CAME TO REST IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. THE DRIVER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND IT COULD NOT BE STOPPED. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS STUCK AT 93 MPH AND THE RPM'S WERE STUCK AT 4500. THE IGNITION WAS STUCK IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN NEUTRAL. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
3
#10807227November 27, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 85 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10789895November 12, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR THE AIR BAG WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE VEHICLE WAS ONE MONTH OUT OF THE COVERED DATE. UPDATED 03/01/16.*JB *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783805October 20, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE GEAR FROM OUT OF PARK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763275September 12, 2015
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHICH DIAGNOSED PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IS BAD. MUST REPLACE COMPLETE SEAT BOTTOM AND TRACK AT A COST OF ABOUT 1700.00 USD. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS RESET, BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT IF ANYONE SITS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT THE SYSTEM WILL TRIP AGAIN AND NOT BE ACTIVE. I INVESTIGATED ONLINE AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE KIA DEALER PARTS DEPARTMENT COUNTER PERSON . THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL AND NOT A REPAIR FOR THE CUSTOMER TO FINANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10759027August 25, 2015
SUSPENSION
RECEIVED THE VOLUNTARY RECALL NOTICE TO HAVE THE UNDERBODY COMPONENTS SPRAYED WITH WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED A RUST INHIBITOR OR PREVENTATIVE, SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP 8/24/15 FOR THE APPLICATION WHEN THE SERVICE MANAGER CAME INTO THE WAITING ROOM AND SAID THAT THE LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM IS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH, SPLIT AND DEEMED THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOOK A LOOK AND SURE ENOUGH, RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH AND SPLIT DOWN THE BACK SIDE. GLAD KIA DECIDED TO DO THE RUST INHIBITOR RECALL OR I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE ARM ACTUALLY DISINTEGRATED AND BROKE. THIS VOLUNATRY "RECALL" IS LIKE CLOSING THE BARN DOOR AFTER THE HORSES HAVE ESCAPED, AND TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A CAR WITH INFERIOR PARTS, A COATING ISN'T GOING TO HELP THE RUST PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748435August 13, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH AN OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,233.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10734741July 17, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEATS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10734050July 14, 2015
POWER TRAIN
MY CAR SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFT LEVER EXPLAINED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V153000, HOWEVER. MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF THAT RECALL. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A DAMAGE BUSHING IN THE SHIFT CABLE. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $150.00 LABOR, $8.28 BUSHING AND $50.00 FOR THE TOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717578May 21, 2015
AIR BAGS
WIFE WAS COMING BACK FROM WALKING THE DOGS IN THE PARK, AT THE PARK SHE WAS FEELING DIZZY, WHEN SHE SAT DOWN IN THE CAR SHE WAS FEELING BETTER. AS SHE WAS DRIVING HOME, SHE PASSED A SCHOOL AND SAW THE SIGN TO SLOW DOWN. AFTER THAT, SHE BLACKED OUT AND SHE WOKE UP AFTER THE ACCIDENT, IN A DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. SHE HAD HIT A FENCE THEN HEAD-ON INTO A TREE. THE WHOLE TIME ALL THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING IS THE REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT UPDATED 05-27-15 *BF.....UPDATED 06-12-15 *BF UPDATED 06/23/15*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10717793May 21, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECELERATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY OTHER DRIVERS ON THE SCENE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUSED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714223May 3, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
FEBRUARY 2013 STARTED EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. EXAMPLE: REAR WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT STOPPED WORKING (HAD TO HAVE REPLACED), THEN TROUBLE WITH TURN SIGNAL LIGHT WOULD AT TIMES NOT WORK. THE AIR CONDITIONER STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR: ADDED COOLANT AND FR( JULY 2013) BUT STILL ISN'T WORKING RIGHT. THEN CD PLAYER HAD ISSUES WHERE IT WOULD NOT EJECT CD OR FAIL TO READ THE DISK AT ALL. THEN THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING TOO. JUNE 2014 CAR WOULDN'T START HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY BUT STILL WOULDN'T CHARGE. JANUARY 2015 INSTALLED NEW ALTERNATOR, STILL DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE. HAD THE CHARGING SYSTEM INSPECTED FEBRUARY 2015. TURNED OUT TO BE A SHORT OR FAILURE DUE TO ELECTRICAL ISSUE HAS TO GET IT FIXED. FEBRUARY 2015 ELECTRICAL REPAIRS (SWITCH, PLUG, FUSE). MARCH 2015 CAR IS MAKING GRINDING NOISE WHEN PRESSING DOWN ON THE BREAK, IT IS VERY HARD TO BRING THE CAR TO A FULL STOP AND MAKES A GRINDING SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712826April 25, 2015
VISIBILITY
I HAVE OWNED MANY CARS AND HAVE NEVER SEEN SUNVISORS SAG UNTIL I OWNED THIS CAR. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703911April 6, 2015
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER AND THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10701471March 24, 2015
VISIBILITY
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN FROM ITS STOWED POSITION, DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVER'S LINE OF SIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 55MPH. THIS BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE ROAD AND OTHER TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE VISOR BACK UP TO THE ROOF, BUT IT WOULD NOT STAY AND AGAIN FELL, BLOCKING VISION. THE DRIVER ALSO TRIED TO PUSH THE VISOR UP TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD, BUT AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT STAY AND DROPPED BACK INTO THE LINE OF SIGHT. DURING THIS TIME, THE DRIVER WAS DANGEROUSLY DISTRACTED TRYING TO GET THE VISOR OUT OF THE LINE OF SIGHT, AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. FINALLY, THE DRIVER HAD TO EXIT THE FREEWAY WHILE HOLDING THE VISOR WITH ONE HAND, AND THE OTHER HAND ON THE WHEEL, JUST TO BE ABLE TO SEE. THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE VISOR IS REMOVED OR REPAIRED. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH 2006-2008 KIAS AND HAS BEEN ENCOUNTERED BY NUMEROUS DRIVERS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE FIXED BY KIA BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE VISOR BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE ROAD AND CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10691455March 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON FEBRUARY 21 2015 I DROVE THE CAR TO THE STORE WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. I CALLED KIA DEALER AND THEY HAD NO SOLUTION. THE KIA DEALER GAVE ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24 2015. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND PUT IT IN THE GARAGE. ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22 2015 I WENT INTO THE GARAGE AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I DECIDED TO BACK THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE AND COULDN'T BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. ON TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24 2015 I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SHIFTER RELEASE MECHANISM INOPERATIVE NOT ALLOWING THE KEY TO BE RELEASE IN SWITCH. THEY REPLACED SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AND THE BATTERY. THE COST FOR THE REPAIRS WHICH I PAID WAS $870. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON FEBRUARY 25 2015. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10673104January 16, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED WHEN SHIFTING OUT OR INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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