Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10891620July 29, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE FROM THE ENGINE BAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10891636July 29, 2016
STEERING
THE STEERING COUPLER ON THE OPTIMA SHATTERS BECAUSE IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10889100July 27, 2016
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY CAR STALLED AND I HAD TO RESTART VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON BEFORE OR AFTER THE CAR TURNED OFF. WHITE SMOKE APPEARED. SO MUCH SMOKE I COULD NOT TELL IF IT WAS FROM BACK OR FRONT OF CAR. I DROVE THE CAR A COUPLE MORE BLOCKS AND HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, CAR STARTED JERKING AND TRYING TO DIE/STALL AND AGAIN A TON OF SMOKE. I PARKED THE CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SOMEONE FROM SERVICE DEPT CALLED AND SAID IT WAS A BAD BATTERY AND WOULD BE 350+ TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. HE LIED AND TOLD ME HE PUT A NEW BATTERY IN IT AND DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND IT WAS FINE. I SPOKE TO SERVICE MANAGER TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE MY VEHICLE. I HAS OT PAY DIAGNOSTIC FEE AND WAS TOLD 5 DAYS LATER THAT IT WAS ENGINE FAILURE AND I NEEDED TO PROVIDE MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS. I TOLD THEM I HAD JUST MOVED AND THE ONLY RECEIPTS I COULD GET WERE THE ONES IN THE CAR UNTIL I COULD GET THROUGH THE BOXES IN STORAGE AND GARAGE. THEY SAID TO PROVIDE WHAT I COULD FIND. I WAS ABLE TO EASILY LOCATE 4 RECEIPTS (THEY WANTED 10, VEHICLE HAS 53,000 MILES) I EXPLAINED AGAIN THAT I KNEW THE CAR HAD A DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND EXPECTED IT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS NOTIFIED 10 DAYS LATER THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY WARRANTY AND I ESCALATED MY CLAIM TO KIA CUSTOMER CARE. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL FILE VEHICLE ABANDONMENT ON MY CAR IF I DO NOT REMOVE OR REPAIR. I HAVE YET TO BE GIVEN AN EXACT AMOUNT OF COST TO REPAIR. I PROVIDED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT KIA MAILED OUT ON JUNE 10, 2016. IT WAS PUSHED BACK AT ME AND I WAS TOLD "THEY KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S NOT COVERED" I WAS NOT INJURED, BUT I WAS NOT ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND ONLY ON SIDE RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN IT OCCURRED AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. KIA KNOWS OF THE DEFECT AND DANGER IT POSES & REFUSES TO RECALL THIS VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888354July 26, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PROJECTOR HEADLIGHTS VISIBILITY ISSUES AT NIGHT. CONSUMER USES HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AT NIGHT. *SMD THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, THE CONSUMER PROVIDED IS INVALID. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888693July 26, 2016
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,935. UPDATED 09/30/16*LJ *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888798July 26, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CLOSED DRIVER'S DOOR AND DOOR WOULD NOT REOPEN. I TOOK CAR TO AUTO SHOP AND MECHANIC FINALLY GOT DOOR TO OPEN AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF. HE THOUGHT HE HAD REPAIRED THE DOOR AND CLOSED IT, BUT WHEN HE TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR FINAL INSPECTION, AGAIN IT WOULD NOT OPEN NORMALLY AND UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE FOUND THE DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY FROM THE WAY THEY HAD BEEN MANUFACTURED. AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE KIA DOOR LOCK MECHANISMS INCLUDING MY CAR'S YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD, ESPECIALLY SINCE I TRANSPORT SMALL CHILDREN, SOME IN CAR SEATS. MY CAR IS AN OLDER CAR AND I WOULD LIKE ALL FOUR LOCKS REPLACED WITH 'UP TO STANDARD' LOCKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888333July 25, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEARS FAILED. THE CONTACT USED THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,837. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888077July 25, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING (IN FORWARD MOTION), WITHOUT ANY PRESSURE BEING APPLIED TO EITHER THE BRAKE OR PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO SLOW ITSELF RAPIDLY; AN AUDIBLE RUMBLE CAN BE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO VIBRATE SLIGHTLY; A YELLOW TRIANGLE WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT AND THE WORDS 'CHECK BRAKE' APPEARS IN THE DRIVER'S DIGITAL DISPLAY; ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE INCREASES THE RPMS BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOW RAPIDLY - NOT IDLE AS IF IT WERE NOT IN GEAR, BUT JUST AS IF THE DRIVER WAS BREAKING SUDDENLY. THE ONLY KNOWN METHOD OF CORRECTING THIS IS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTART IT. WHEN THE VEHICLE RESTARTS YOU CAN FEEL THE BRAKE PEDAL RELEASE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY AT LEAST TEN TIMES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 25 MPH ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS TO 70 MPH ON BUSY FREEWAYS. I SINCERELY FEAR THAT IF NOT CORRECTED IT WILL LEAD TO A (POTENTIALLY FATAL) VEHICLE COLLISION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A NEAR-BY KIA DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 21 JULY 2016 BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR DUPLICATE THE MALFUNCTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888132July 25, 2016
STEERING
MY STEERING STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING NOISE AT 62,000 MILES IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT THAT TIME WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I NOW HAVE 83,000 MILES AND IT IS A CONSTANT CLUNKING SOUND WHENEVER THE WHEEL IS TURNED TO ANY POSITION WHEN DRIVING THE CARE AND ALSO STATIONARY AND WHILE THE CARE IS IN PARK. IT ALSO CLUNKS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON UNEVEN SURFACES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888172July 25, 2016
ENGINE
CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES, HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. FOUND SLUDGE IN ENGINE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10887901July 23, 2016
STEERING, SUSPENSION
AT 60K MILES, STEERING HAS BECOME DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN, STEERING COLUMN IS LOUD AND MAKES A POPPING NOISE, AND NOW THERE IS SOME TYPE OF CLUNK IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION THAT CAN BE HEARD WHEN STEERING ANGLE IS BEING ALTERED WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY BRIDGING A BUMP. STEERING WHEEL STICKS AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55MPH, AND THUS OVER-STEERING IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN TRACKING. DEALER INFORMS ME THAT SOME $4 PLASTIC GEAR NEEDS REPLACING SOMEWHERE, BUT THAT IT WILL BE $400 IN LABOR TO REPLACE, BUT THEY CAN'T EVEN GUARANTEE REPLACING THIS PART WILL FIX THE ISSUE. WHAT A JOKE- THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST KIA/HYUNDAI PRODUCT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10887876July 22, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND TOOK CAR TO DEALER. CLOCK SPRING IS FAULTY AND NEEDS REPLACED. COST TO REPLACE IS $350 ACCORDING TO KIA DEALERSHIP. I'VE READ THAT KIA HAS HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ON PRIOR MODELS AND WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT. CAR ONLY HAS 74K MILES AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE SAFETY FEATURES ON THIS CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10886002July 19, 2016
ENGINE
CAR WAS RUNNING FINE OR SO I THOUGHT AND @ 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING MY OIL CHANGED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE EXHAUST/SMOKE AND MY SON AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BAD GAS OR CLOGGED INJECTORS. WE DROVE IT TO AZ AND BACK TO NV. CAR SEEMED TO RUN OK AT THAT POINT THEN MY DAUGHTER TOOK IT TO CA AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND FINALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE TOOK IT TO A JIFFYLUBE WHERE THEY SAID IT HAD NO OIL. WHAT?!?!?! THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED AT 47,000 MILES. PUT 4 QTS IN AND TOOK IT AAA TO RUN AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC. SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE ACCORDING TO THE CODE THEY GOT AND RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. WRONG AGAIN.. DAUGHTER DROVE AWAY AND SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO AAA WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM AND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SLUDGE EVERYWHERE IN THE ENGINE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AS SCHEDULED. WAITING TO HEAR WHAT KIA IS GOING TO DO, BUT FROM THE SOUNDS OF THE PRIOR COMPLAINTS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I CAN'T AFFORD $5,000+ TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY CAR. THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS. THEY NEED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY FOR THEIR [XXX] ENGINES. *TR PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885436July 18, 2016
AIR BAGS
I ALSO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. I CHECKED AND FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG ON 2006 KIA OPTIMA, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR IS NOT COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. THIS RECALL NEED TO COVER ALL 2006 KIA OPTIMAS SINCE SO MANY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885592July 18, 2016
ENGINE
MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HAS GONE THROUGH 2 ENGINES WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. BOTH TIME I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STOPPED. I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. NO LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED, THAT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WILL BE SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT TO THE KIA ORGANIZATION SHORTLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885738July 18, 2016
STEERING
2012 KIA OPTIMA LX ****(ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING)****THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS KIA WAITING FOR, DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THEIR NEGLIGENCE TO RECALL THESE PROBLEMS!!!! THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD POPPING/KNOCKING NOISE, STICKS, PLAY/ VERY LOOSE WHEN TURNING LEFT TO RIGHT, WHILE DRIVING OR PARKING THE VEHICLE. HAVE TAKEN IT TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN, TIE ROD AND FLEXIBLE COUPLING NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED/ REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 242,000. HOWEVER, I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2014, THE APPROXIMATELY MILEAGE WAS 208,412. JUST PRIOR TO THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS STRICKLEY USED FOR FUEL TESTING/STUDIES ONLY, IN A CLIMATE CONTROL BUILDING, WHERE IT WAS ON A DINO MACHINE. THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO HAVE A RESOLUTION AND BE RECALLED ASAP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885306July 16, 2016
AIR BAGS
SEATBELT LIGHT IS ON. DEALER SAYS IT'S A CLOCK SPRING THAT'S NOT UNDER MY WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WILL COST $335.00 ON TOP OF THE $84.00 I PAID FOR DIAGNOSIS. IT APPEARS THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON 2009'S AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON 2008'S FOR THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885172July 15, 2016
ENGINE
CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN DOING 40 MILES PER HOUR--- -WAS TOLD ENGINE SEIZED --ENGINE BEING REPLACED NO POWER STEERING NO BRAKES BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT ON A HIGHWAY HEAVY TRAFFIC DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10884497July 13, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD WITH MY SON AND A FRIEND, GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY AT NOON, WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT COME FROM THE MOON ROOF CAUSING ME TO SWERVE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ASSESS THE SITUATION, WE FOUND THAT THE MOON ROOF HAD "EXPLODED" CAUSING THE ENTIRE THING TO CRACK AND REMAIN CRACKING, CAUSING TINY SHARDS OF GLASS TO FORM. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY UNDRIVEABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10884066July 11, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. 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 NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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