Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10615352July 22, 2014
ENGINE
(MY REPORT IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS ID 10552403) THIS CAR SEVERELY HESITATES/STALLS AFTER COMING TO A STOP (RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, YIELD SIGNS, AND ETC). CAR HESITATES/STALLS FOR ~2-3 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING WHILE AT A DEAD STOP. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I PUSH THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND AT ALL FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AS INCOMING CARS CAN CLOSE THE SAFETY GAP QUICKLY IN 2-3 SECONDS. COLD WEATHER CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE/STALL MORE OFTEN THAN WARMER WEATHER FROM MY EXPERIENCE, BUT IT'S HAPPENED WHEN CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR OVER 20 MINUTES, AS WELL. I HOPE KIA WILL CHECK INTO THIS PROBLEM AS MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS NO ANSWER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10615193July 21, 2014
STEERING
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA FOR MY WIFE, I CHOOSE THIS CAR SINCE I ALREADY OWNED A 2011 OPTIMA THAT I HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH, ALMOST 50,000 MILES. SO I FELT I KNEW WHAT I WAS GETTING WITH THE 2014 OPTIMA. I DROVE THIS CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME LAST WEEK AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE IS DEFINITELY AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING, IT IS CHALLENGING TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN YOU NEED TO MAKE A CORRECTION TO FOLLOW A CURVE IN THE ROAD, IT IS AS IF THE VEHICLE OVER SHOOTS AND THEN YOU NEED TO CORRECT AGAIN, CAUSING YOU TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH IN THE LANE, IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS HELD IN POSITION BY SOME ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCE, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IT TAKES EXTRA EFFORT TO MOVE IT FROM THIS POSITION . I AM CONCERNED SINCE I HAVE DRIVEN MY 2011 OPTIMA FOR 3 YEARS AND IT DOES NOT DISPLAY ANY OF THESE CHARACTERISTICS. KIA NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10614706July 19, 2014
SEATS
ON OUR 2014 OPTIMA LX MODEL THE PASSENGER SEAT IS ADJUSTED TO LOW TO THE FLOOR BOARD AND MY PARTNER WHICH IS 61 YEARS OLD AND 4'10" IS STARING RIGHT AT THE DASH CANNOT SEE OVER THE TOP OF DASH AND IF AIR BAG SHOULD DEPLOY MAYBE VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE OUTSIDE WORLD . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617525July 18, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE INDICATOR STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. KIA DEALERS WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE US THAT PASSENGER WAS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT PROPERLY, AND NEEDED TO SIT A CERTAIN WAY FOR IT TO WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611173July 17, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE POWER LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR AND IT COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,628.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611257July 17, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE CONTACT OPENED THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS UNLOCKED BUT FAILED TO OPEN AS A RESULT THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 86,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611346July 17, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK IN THE AM, AS I DECELERATE AT THE STOP SIGN, WHEN SPEED NEARS 20-25 MPH THE VEHICLE JERKS HARD LIKE IT'S TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT. SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR AS THE VEHICLE WARMS TO RUNNING TEMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611372July 17, 2014
STEERING
AT ALL SPEEDS SINCE NEW - THE CAR HAS HAD NO PREDISPOSITION TO GO STRAIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDS CONSTANT INPUT AS THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDS EXCESSIVE INPUT TO MAKE EVEN THE SLIGHTEST CORRECTION. AND, WHEN THE STEERING DOES RESPOND - IT OVER CORRECTS. THIS EFFECT HAS YOU WEAVING CONSTANTLY. IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER TO CHECK TRAFFIC - YOU CAN BE IN THE NEXT LANE. RATHER THAN BEING ABLE TO MAKE A SMOOTH TURN - THE DRIVING LINE THROUGH A TURN LOOKS MORE LIKE A CIRCULAR SAW BLADE THAT A SMOOTH ARC. THE ELECTRIC ASSIST STEERING HAS A DIGITAL FEEL. IT'S AS IF THERE ARE PROGRAMMED DIGITAL POSITIONS THAT THE WHEEL CAN BE TURNED TO. ANYTHING IN BETWEEN THOSE POSITIONS HAS YOU FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO HOLD YOUR LINE. IT'S BAD DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY. IT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING ON NARROW TWO-LANE ROADS - ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE WINDY. IT'S SUBTLE, BUT, YOU CAN FEEL DISTINCT FAVORED STEERING WHEEL POSITIONS TO EITHER SIDE OF STRAIGHT AHEAD(EXAMPLE: 2 AND 4 DEGREES TO EITHER SIDE). IT FEELS AS IF THE STEERING CLICKS INTO THOSE POSITIONS. WHEN THE WHEEL IS IN ONE OF THESE POSITIONS - AND, THE ARC OF THE TURN MATCHES THE 2 OR 4 DEGREE STEERING ANGLE - YOU CAN GO AROUND CORNERS WITH NO HANDS ON THE WHEEL. IT FEELS ELECTRICALLY STUCK IN POSITION. IF A TURN IS NOT THE SAME ANGLE AS THE STUCK POINTS - YOU OFTEN FIND YOURSELF COUNTER-STEERING THROUGH THE TURN. EXAMPLE: YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A 3 DEGREE LEFT HANDER. THE STEERING WHEEL FAVORS A 2 OR 4 DEGREE POSITION. THE 2 DEGREE POSITION HAS YOU DRIFTING TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TURN. YOU CORRECT TO TIGHTEN IT UP. THE WHEEL CORRECTS BY GOING TO THE FAVORED 4 DEGREE POSITION. YOU HAVE TO HOLD PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT(COUNTERSTEER) TO HOLD YOUR LINE IN A LEFT HAND TURN. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO FAVORED POSITION FOR GOING STRAIGHT. DANGEROUS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611003July 16, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
YOU CAN START IT UP. DRIVE IT FOR A LITTLE BIT, BUT AS SOON AS YOU MAKE A STOP OR SLOW DOWN, IT WILL STALL. CHANGED THE OIL, ALL FLUIDS. IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. SO I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10611056July 16, 2014
WHEELS, STEERING, SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER IS 09V183000 AND THE COMPONENT IS SUSPENSION. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL PORTION FOR MY VEHICLE WAS PERFORMED BUT ONLY AS AN INSPECTION BY GLASSMAN KIA, SOUTHFIELD MICHIGAN, IN JULY 2009. I EXPERIENCED THE ACTUAL CORROSION OF THE FRONT SUB-FRAME BUT THANK GOD I DID NOT HAVE A CRASH. I AM TOLD BY KMC THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THEY MAY NOT FIX THE CAR. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT AT GLASSMAN TOMORROW, JULY 17, 2014. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610656July 15, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE FRACTURED GLASS PENETRATED THE VEHICLE INTERIOR HOWEVER, THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610550July 14, 2014
ENGINE
2008 KIA OPTIMA. I HAD BEEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. IT WAS 93 DEGREES OUTSIDE AIR WAS RUNNING. CAME TO A STOP AT RED LIGHT AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF THE RADIO STILL WORKED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. AND THE OTHER LIGHTS THAT COME ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING TO THIS THE BEFORE IT HAPPENED. I PUT MY CAR BACK IN PARK AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND THEN TRIED TO START IT UP. IT STARTED AND DIDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. HAPPENED BEFORE NOON DROVE UNTIL 430 OFF AND ON AND IT WAS FINE. HAS 78000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON SO WHEN I WENT TO AUTO ZONE TO CHECK IT NO ALERTS CAM UP BUT THEY SAID IT WAS STRANGE AND THE LIGHT SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON. HAVE READ MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610169July 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
BACK WHEN THE CLOCK SPRING HAD A RECALL WE HAD IT FIXED, SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON THEY TOLD US IT WAS UP TO US TO REPAIR WITH A COSTLY BILL. OUR STATE INSPECTION RAN OUT AND THE CAR WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. THEY RAN DIAGNOSIS AND IT CAME BACK TO THE OCS SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WILL COST ME $1800. 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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610212July 13, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF OF WORK ON THE NIGHT OF 7/12/2014, I WENT TO MY CAR TO UNLOCK MY DOOR WITH THE KEY. MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I HAD TO GET INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT, CLIMB OVER THE CENTER COUNSEL AND INTO MY DRIVER SEAT. ONCE I GOT HOME, I COULD NOT OPEN THE DRIVE SIDE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THEREFORE, I DID THE REVERSE ABOVE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPEN TO ME. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 9/25/12 AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT DOOR LATCH, WHICH COST ABOUT $200. READING THE INFORMATION ON HERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THESE CARS. KIA MUST PLACE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THIS IS A REQUIRING PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS ASAP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610013July 12, 2014
SEATS
2012-2014 KIA OPTIMA AND POSSIBLY OTHER CARS. HEADREST POSITION IS VERY MUCH INCORRECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD LEAD TO MANY PEOPLE BEING PARALYZED OR KILLED AS IN A SIMILAR MANOR AS HAPPENED TO RACE CAR DRIVER DALE EARNHARDT. HERE'S A LINK TO PICTURE...WHICH SHOWS THE AGGRESSIVE ANGLE AND FORWARD POSITION OF THE HEADREST. HTTP://IMAGES.DEALER.COM/EVOX/STILLS_0640/9259/9259_ST0640_051.JPG THE HEADREST IS SHOWN FULLY ADJUSTED TO IT'S REAR POSITION AND AS ONE CAN SEE IT ENDS UP PUSHING YOUR HEAD FORWARD SO YOUR CHIN IS IN YOUR CHEST AND YOU CAN'T DRIVE BECAUSE YOUR LOOKING AT YOUR FEET. THUS YOUR FORCED TO DRIVE SITTING OFF THE BACK OF THE SEAT WHICH IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. YOU CAN ADJ THE HEADREST TO THE FULL UP POSITION (OUT OF THE WAY) HOWEVER IN A COLLISION, THE TOP OF THE HEADREST WOULD HIT YOUR HEAD AND THE FORCES COULD SNAP YOUR NECK AND KILL YOU. HERE'S A QUOTED COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET... "IS ANYONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR HEADRESTS? I CAN'T SEEM TO BE ABLE TO SIT WITHOUT HITTING MY HEAD ON THE REST. I HAVE FOUND ONE SOLUTION. I DON'T RECOMMEND THIS, BUT IT IS ALL I HAVE FOUND THAT WORKS. I TURN THE HEAD REST AROUND." -------------------- TURNING THE HEADREST AROUND DEFEATS THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THE HEADREST, HOWEVER YOU CAN DRIVE THE CAR COMFORTABLY. VIEWING THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS THERE IS A DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO AS ONE CAN SEE IN THE PICTURE. THE REAR HEADREST ARE PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE AND PROPERLY DESIGNED. I'VE CONTACTED KIA AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS THE FIRST ONE TO COMPLAIN. YEA RIGHT... QUOTED COMPLAINT ON THE INTERNET... I WILL BE CONTACTING KIA ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT AS THEY HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS PREVIOUS CONCERNS, I AM NOT HOPEFUL. ---------------- FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME AT ANYTIME FOR ANYTHING THAT MAY BE NEEDED OR REQUIRED TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610081July 12, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I BRAKE AND SLOW DOWN MY KIA OPTIMA AND IT GETS TO 20 MPH OR LOWER, IT WILL JERK SUDDENLY AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS CHANGING ABRUPTLY AND DANGEROUSLY. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE AND NOT JUST A RECENT OCCURRENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609314July 9, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DOOR(S) HAVE LOCKED AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT MANY ATTEMPTS TO PULL ON THE HANDLE WHILE TURNING THE KEY. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE, ATTEMPTS AT UNLOCKING WITH THE KEY RESULTED IN ALL DOORS LOCKING WHEN THE INNER OR OUTER HANDLE WAS PULLED, POTENTIALLY TRAPPING SOMEONE IN THE CAR. THEN IT HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER DOOR A FEW MONTHS LATER. REPLACING THE LATCH FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608939July 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
LIGHT TURNED ON FOR AIR BAG WHILE TURN VEHICLE ON. NO ACCIDENT. CALLED KIA ON THIS ISSUE. AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SC0094. AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE SORRY BUT THAT CAMPAIGN IS OVER. SO THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN ON AIRBAG SAFETY. UPDATED 3/18/2015 *JS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609060July 8, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIA OPTIMA IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULDN'T TURN CAR ON AND WHEELS LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608739July 7, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AND WOULD ATTEMPT TO STALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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