Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10585458April 29, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING UP TO STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584911April 25, 2014
STEERING, SUSPENSION
THE CAR IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP STRAIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. IF YOU CORRECT FOR ONE DRIFT YOU START GOING THE OTHER WAY. IN WINDY CONDITIONS OR WHEN LARGER TRAFFIC PASSES YOU, YOU BETTER HAVE A LOT OF EXTRA ROAD TO DEAL WITH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584923April 25, 2014
ENGINE
PURCHASED MY NEW OPTIMA ON 4/14/2014 (MONDAY) AND LATER THAT SAME WEEK AND FIRST OF THE FOLLOWING WEEK HEARD A NOISE BEST DESCRIBED AS A DIESEL ENGINE IDLE SOUND AT STARTUP. TOOK IT INTO MY DEALERSHIP ON 4/24/2014 TO FIND OUT IT WAS IN NEED OF A NEW ENGINE. AFTER LOOKING ON A FORUM FOR THESE CARS, THIS SITE AND OTHERS, THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TURBO MODEL OF THIS CAR AND YEAR. I BELIEVE THAT KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE DUE TO IT'S SEVERITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584219April 22, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES NOW, AND JUST THE THIRD THIS PAST WEEKEND SO I AM FINALLY WRITING A COMPLAINT. MY KIA HAS A FAULTY MAP SENSOR, THE DEALER SAYS, AND WHEN IT GOES OUT (ABOUT EVERY 2 MONTHS) MY CAR COMPLETELY DIES ON ME; I HAVE NO ACCELERATION, BRAKES LOCK UP AND MY POWER STEERING IS GONE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE TWO OF THE THREE OCCURRENCES HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN IT HAPPENS, I AM FORCED TO YANK THE STEERING WHEEL TO A SHOULDER AND LET THE CAR COME TO A STOP. SOMETIMES IT RESTARTS, SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. IN ALL THREE INSTANCES, MY CAR HAS HAD TO BE TOWED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR NOT ONLY ME BY ANYONE IN THE CAR WITH ME AS WELL AS ANY OTHER KIA DRIVER'S OUT THERE. I HAVE FILED MY COMPLAINT WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT THEY DO NOT OFFER A REPLACEMENT, JUST MONEY. WHILE I APPRECIATE THE OFFER, MONEY DOES NOT DO ANYTHING FOR MY CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING THE CAR. IT IS A BRAND NEW CAR, JUST ONE YEAR OLD. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE EACH TIME I DRIVE MY CAR BUT I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION, I DRIVE A LOT FOR WORK. ALL I AM SEEKING IS A REPLACEMENT CAR, I LOVE THE CAR AND ALL IT OFFERS BUT IT DOES NOT PERFORM WELL AT ALL AND I AM VERY FEARFUL OF THIS. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN OR IF YOU HAVE HAD SIMILAR ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583724April 20, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I HAVE TRIED USING THE KEY, THE ELECTRIC LOCKS FROM THE INSIDE AND ALSO MANUALLY. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS DEFECT ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS THIS HAPPENS A LOT TO KIA'S AROUND THIS YEAR OF CAR. *TR THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THE DRIVER IS NOT ABLE TO GET OUT OF OR INTO THE CAR IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. A DOOR LOCK OF THIS YEAR OF CAR SHOULD NOT FAIL THIS OFTEN OR AT ALL. I HAVE MUCH OLDER VEHICLES THAT HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF A VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583604April 18, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
FIRST: IN THE AFFECT PARTS SECTION OF THIS COMPLAINT THERE IS NO WHERE TO MARK DEFECTIVE LOCKS. I HAVE 2003 KIA OPTIMA SE FOUR-DOOR. IT WILL CONTINUOUSLY LOCK AND UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. WILL ONLY STOP CLICKING ON AND OFF WHEN ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THIS POSES A SAFETY ISSUE BY BEING LOCKED IN AN AUTO WITH ELECTRONIC LOCKS THAT CANNOT BE UNLOCKED EITHER MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEY FOB. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL, EITHER INVOLUNTARILY OR VOLUNTARILY. I BOUGHT THIS AUTO NEW AND STILL HAVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583281April 17, 2014
STEERING
WHEN BUYING THE CAR I NEVER TESTED IT ON A HIGHWAY OR ABOVE 45MPH. AFTER BUYING I TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO USE EVERY MUSCLE IN MY BODY TO KEEP THE CAR ON A STRAIGHT LINE. IT WAS FIRGHTENING. WILL NOT EVEN LET MY WIFE DRIVE OT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE STEERING HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS FINE AND PART OF THE NEW STEERING CONTROL SYSYTEM KIA DEVELOPED. EVEN TRIED NEW TIRES BUT THE CAR IS STILL ALL OVER THE ROAD. THEY ALSO CHANGED VIA SOFTWARE UPDATE THE STEERING TO "SPORT MODE" TO TOGHTEN UP THE STEERING. WHILE IT DID FEEL BETTER THE STEERING IS STILL FRIGHTENING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS - ESPECIALLY IF THERE ARE WING GUSTS. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SERIOUS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583289April 17, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR. FOR THE DRIVER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR YOU HAVE TO GO OVER THE CONSOLE TO GET OUT THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! TRIED TO UNLOCK WITH WILL NOT WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10582767April 17, 2014
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
2014 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STEERING PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING ISSUE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO WANDER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONSUMER HAS ATTEMPTED TO GET THE STEERING ISSUE FIXED SEVERAL TIMES. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ELECTRIC ASSISTED POWER STEERING. HOWEVER, THE DEALER CHANGED THE STEERING MODE FROM NORMAL TO SPORT SETTING, WHICH MADE NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROBLEM. DRIVING THE VEHICLE DEMANDED CONSTANT CORRECTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583805April 16, 2014
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON AND READS, AIR BAG OFF AND STAYS O WITH AN ADULT PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN IN DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS A NUMBER OF TIMES (TEN) AND HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. KIA SAID THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED IN MAKING REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHT WAS ON AT ONE TIME WHEN AT THE DEALERSHIP AND A DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOUND. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS STATEMENT IS THAT IF THE LIGHT IS ON AND THERE A PERSON IN THE SEAT, AND AN ACCIDENT WAS TO TAKE PLACE, THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. I FEEL THAT THIS A REAL SAFETY PROBLEM, ONE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESS BY KIA AND REPAIRED OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE DANGER TO THE PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. I KNOW I COULD JUST TRADE THE VEHICLE IN TO GET RID OF MY PROBLEM, BUT THAT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE NEXT OWNER WILL HAVE THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CONDITION CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED BOTH OR RESIDENTIAL AND EXPRESSWAYS, IT STAYS ON UNTIL I TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND STOP THE CAR. HOW DO I KNOW, IF THIS SYSTEM IS EVER WORKING PROPERLY? ..UPDATED 04-16-14 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583115April 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS WOULD EXPERIENCE AN ELECTRICAL SHOCK AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH ANY EXTERIOR METAL PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583216April 16, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
THE LOCK TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT DISENGAGE. I PUT THE KEY IN, BUT THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I HAVE TO ENTER THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT FOR THIS COMPANY TO DEAL WITH. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS PLACED ON THIS VEHICLE. ARE WE SUPPOSED TO WAIT TO SEE WHO DIES FIRST BEFORE THE COMPANY IS FORCED TO DO A RECALL? IF I KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. AT THE TIME, THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. IT IS PAID OFF, AND I CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER ONE. I CAN'T TRADE IT IN KNOWING THAT THE NEXT PERSON WOULD INHERIT THIS PROBLEM. I, FOR ONE, COULD NOT LIVE WITH MYSELF IF A PERSON DIED AS A RESULT OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. JUST REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ON THIS VEHICLE. IT IS A GREAT CAR, BUT THE DEFECTIVE ACTUATOR THAT PREVENTS THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROM OPENING OVERSHADOWS THE THAT FACT. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND ANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CO-WORKERS, OR ANYONE ELSE BUY THIS CAR (OR ANY OTHER KIA) UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED. THE TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD NEEDS TO STEP IN FAST. WE AS CONSUMERS ARE DOING OUR PART BY REPORTING THESE ISSUES, PLEASE DO YOURS BY PROTECTING THE PUBLIC FROM THIS SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578982April 10, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEATS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN DASH. THE CAR DEALER SAID IT CAME FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AND THAT THE AIR BAG IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. HE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE $1600.00 TO $1700.00 TO FIX IF I WANTED IT FIXED. MY WIFE JUST PULLED INTO HER MOTHER'S DRIVEWAY WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT WILL NOT GO OUT AND RIGHT NOW IS SCARED THAT THE BAG WILL GO OFF WITH HER MOTHER WHO IS 92 IN THE SEAT. I THINK THE PRICE IS STEEP AND IF ANYONE SHOULD PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED THAT IT SHOULD BE KIA TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10579048April 10, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
TO WHOM IT CONCERNS, I HAVE A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN RELATED TO THE OPTIMA 2013 HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM. I AM NOT SURE IF THE BEHAVIOR I AM GOING TO DESCRIBE IS TYPICAL OR DEFECTIVE. WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED, WITH THE CRUISE SET, I FIND THAT ANY SUDDEN AND HARD HIT TO THE BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE SOME TYPE OF AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FEELS LIKE ABS AND SOUNDS VERY MECHANICAL HOWEVER THE BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT DEACTIVATE AFTER I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO AUTOMATICALLY REDUCES THE CAR TO A NEARLY COMPLETE STOP (LESS THAN 15MPH) WITHOUT ME HAVING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, THE MOST RECENT WAS 4/10/14. EARLIER TODAY I WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH THE CRUISE SET, WHEN IT APPEARED A PERSON WAS GOING TO WALK INTO THE HIGHWAY. I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID THE PEDESTRIAN, WHO EVENTUALLY DID NOT ENTER THE ROAD. THE SITUATION WAS NOT WORTHY OF COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP HOWEVER THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM I DESCRIBED ABOVE ACTIVATED. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKING SYSTEM CONTINUED TO BRING THE CAR TO A SPEED LESS THAN 15 MPH. THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME, UNDERSTANDABLY, HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID ME AS I COULD NOT SPEED BACK UP UNTIL THE SYSTEM RESUMED TO NORMAL OPERATION. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS TYPICAL OPERATION OR A POTENTIAL DEFECT. I FEEL THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. SHOULD I HAVE TO HIT MY BRAKES AND THIS SYSTEM ACTIVATES, I COULD BE SEVERELY REAR-ENDED. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578443April 9, 2014
AIR BAGS
I WAS EXITING TO TURN RIGHT ONTO THE STREET WHEN I LOOKED DOWN FOR A FEW SECONDS AND HIT THE MEDIAN HEAD ON. THERE WAS A BIG TERRA-COTTA POT WITH A TREE PLANTED IN IT THAT I HIT HARD. IT RIPPED THE FRONT BOTTOM PART OF MY CAR OFF AND BROKE MY TRANSAXLE. IT WOULDN'T DRIVE ANYMORE AND IT TOTALED MY CAR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS EVER CAME OUT EVEN WHEN I HIT HEAD ON. I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A CSCAN. I ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION FOR ALMOST THREE MONTHS AND STILL HAVE A KNOT ON MY HEAD. I WAS ALSO WEARING MY SEAT BELT. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10578641April 9, 2014
STEERING
THE CAR HAS A HARD TIME CONTINUING IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING ALWAYS PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CAR EITHER GOES 1 LEFT OF 1 RIGHT. THERE IS NO CENTER. IT IS A STRAIN TO TRY TO KEEP THE CAR IN A LANE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578414April 8, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, THOUGH IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE HANDLE. THE ELECTRONIC LOCK FOB WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. THE KEY WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CAR. ENTRY AND EXIT MUST BE DONE BY CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND GOING THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THIS IS A MAJOR HAZARD TO THE DRIVER AND FELLOW PASSENGERS. IF WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY TWO YOUNG BOYS IN THE CAR, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP THEM EXIT THE CAR UNTIL I HAVE CLIMBED OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND EXITED THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. HELP!!!!!!!! THIS IS DEFINITELY A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE RELATED TO THE KIA BRAND OF CARS. ALL OVER THE INTERNET IT IS DISCUSSED HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS BECOME A PROBLEM FOR ALL TYPES OF KIA MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578102April 7, 2014
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE VEHICLE PULLS SHE YOU TRY TO CORRECT IT GETS WORSE. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO STRAIGHT. WHILE DRIVING ON LONG TRIP I AM EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO KEEP THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BY THE STEERING OF THIS VEHICLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577438April 4, 2014
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10576874April 2, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE VEHICLE SWAYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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