Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10509328April 23, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FUELING, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE THROTTLE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509064April 22, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ALONG WITH THE MANUFACTURER, STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509138April 22, 2013
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT INDEPENDENTLY IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT HELD TIGHTLY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A NEW SETTING OPTION FOR THE STEERING WHEEL AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO APPLY THE NEW SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,530. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508646April 18, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED TO 6000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT SOURCE OF THE SURGING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. UPDATED 06/18/13*LJ UPDATED 06/21/2013 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508148April 14, 2013
STEERING
VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE ROAD IS FLAT OR CROWNED. THE STEERING IS SIMILAR AT ANY SPEED. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 11/27/2012 AND THEY ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT HANDLED NORMALLY. THEY FOUND THE TOE SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND RESET. THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING AND HAS A DIFFERENT FEEL THEN A CONVENTIONAL TYPE. I AM TRYING TO CHANGE THE WAY I HAVE BEEN STEERING CARS FOR 59 YEARS. THE END RESULT IS THE CAR STILL WANDERS ON ANY ROAD I DRIVE ON. SEEING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THIS FILE TELLS ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS. WE NEED A FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505793April 10, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING. THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHILE I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THEY COULD NOT GET ME IN FOR AN APPOINTMENT IN A TIMELY MANNER AND NOW MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME IT COSTS OVER $200 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. IF I WERE EVER IN AN ACCIDENT THE PERSON SITTING IN THIS SEAT WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING OUT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505723April 9, 2013
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SOUND OF GLASS RATTLING. AT FIRST I THOUGH I HAD A BLOWOUT ON ONE OF MY TIRES, SO I MANAGE TO PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. I THEN DID A WALK AROUND OF MY CAR AND SAW THE BUSTED SUNROOF. THERE WAS NOTHING OVERHEAD NOR DID I SEE ANY FLYING ROCKS OR DEBRIS AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. THERE WAS NOTHING OTHER THAN THE EXPLOSION. THE GLASS WAS BUBBLED UP LIKE IT BLEWOUT AND NOT IN. THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUNROOF. THERE WERE NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING INSIDE THE FLAP BETWEEN THE GLASS AND INTERIOR. ALSO THE FLAP COVER IS VERY THIN AND FLIMSY, IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN ON IT, IT WOULD HAVE HIT ME ON THE HEAD BECAUSE IT IS JUST A THIN MATERIAL COVER. FURTHERMORE, IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AT ROUGHLY 73 DEGREES. ALL I CAN SAY IS FOR A SUNROOF TO EXPLODE OUTWARDS, THE GLASS HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE IN SOME SORT OF WAY. IT SCARE THE LIVING LIGHTS OUT OF ME, IT WAS SUCH A LOUD EXPLOSION. IF I HAD THE COVER UNDONE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE BROKEN FLYING GLASS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE MANAGER THERE TOOK PICTURES AND THEN MADE A COMMENT THAT HE WOULD FORWARD THE PICTURES TO THE DEALER BUT THAT IT WOULD BE DENIED BECAUSE THE LAST KIA THAT CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS PERSON HE WAS PLANNING ON FORWARDING THE PICTURES TO HAD DENIED THE CLAIM AND IT LOOKED THE SAME! THIS SHOWS ME THAT KIA IS VERY AWARE THAT THEIR PRODUCT (SUNROOF) IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS A POTENTIAL TO EXPLODE BUT OF COURSE THEY WILL NOT CLAIM THEIR PRODUCT HAS ANY DEFECTS BECAUSE IT WOULD COST THEM TOO MUCH. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS INCIDENT OBVIOUSLY. I NEED FOR YOU TO BEGIN AN INVESTIGATION INTO TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE GLASS IS NOT TEMPERED ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND CERTAIN TEMPERATURES OR IF THERE ARE OTHER DEFECTS THAT CAUSE IT TO EXPLODE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507521April 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE VEHICLE LURCHES WHEN SLOWING DOWN BETWEEN 2ND GEAR AND 1ST GEAR. THE LURCH IS STRONG ENOUGH TO JERK PASSENGERS FORWARD IN THEIR SEATS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN STAMFORD, CT ON APRIL 27, 2012. THEY REPLACED THE STOP LAMP SWITCH. THE FIX LASTED UNTIL 63,000 MILES, ALMOST 9 MONTHS LATER. IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP IN PLANO, TX. THEY SAID IT WAS A COMPUTER UPGRADE ISSUE. THE UPGRADE DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. KIA IS NOW TELLING ME THERE IS NO REFUND, NO FIX, AND THAT I'M NOT PART OF THE RECALL FOR THIS SAME PART ON LATER YEAR MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507381April 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE. YOU MUST USE KEY AND TOGGLE LOCK WHILE HOLDING DOOR NOB OUT IN ORDER TO UNLOCK DOOR, IT MAY TAKE A WHILE TO UNLOCK DOOR WHILE DOING THIS. I HAVE READ MANY RESPONSES TO OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS ISSUE IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND THE DOOR IS LOCKED, TRAPPING THE DRIVER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507386April 7, 2013
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BACK IN NOVEMBER . ACCORDING TO THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK. I CONTACTED 2 KIA DEALERS IN THE TAMPA FL AREA (BACK IN NOVEMBER) AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I GUESS THEY MUST BE TOO BUSY OR DON'T LIKE DOING WARRANTY WORK. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THIS CAR IS A POS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507295April 5, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
ON MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA WHEN I UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH THE KEY ALL DOORS UNLOCK EXCEPT THE DRIVERS DOOR REAL BIG SAFETY CONCERN, IF I GET STUCK IN MY CAR DURING AN ACCIDENT AN CANNOT GET OUT I WILL SUE KIA MOTOR COMPANY FOR NOT ISSUING A SAFETY RECALL, I HAVE ALSO NOTICE A LOT OF POSTINGS BASED UPON THIS ISSUE ON FIXYA.COM FOR THE 2003-2006 KIA OPTIMA NEED ATTENTION ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505469April 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BACK TURN SIGNAL, BACK LIGHTS AND FRONT LOW BEAMS CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BY PROFESSIONALS AND CONTINUE TO BLOW. I WOULD GUESS THERE IS A SHORT SOME PLACE. RECENTLY THE RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, HAD IT REPLACED AND IT BLEW FUSES. ONCE THE FUSES AND RELAY SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED THE LEFT LOW BEAM LIGHT WILL WORK IF THE RIGHT ONE IS DISCONNECTED. I HAVE COME ACROSS MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THIS IS NOT A COMMON ISSUE, AND WANT $115 TO RUN TEST. ALSO THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEAT/AIR MAKES LOTS OF NOISE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHEN ITS COLD OUT THE CAR MAKES LOTS OF SQUEAKING NOISE AND I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT'S IS "NORMAL". I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2008 I HAVE APPROX 67,800 MILES AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES 3 TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505479April 3, 2013
AIR BAGS
I GOT A LETTER BACK IN 2012 ABOUT A RECALL ON MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON COVINGTON PIKE IN MEMPHIS TENN. AND THEY SAID THEY REPLACED THE PART BUT MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS BACK ON AS OF 04/03/2013 BEING BACK ON FOR 5 OR 6 MONTHS. I DO NOT THINK THEY REPLACED WITH A NEW PART BECAUSE IN ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR LESS THEY WAS FINISH WITH ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505583April 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOOR LOCK FOR THE DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT WORK AND ALSO DOES NOT UNLOCK. THIS PRESENTS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, DRIVER CANNOT EXIT THE DRIVERS' DOOR! WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVERS' DOOR BUT IT WILL NOT OPEN! I REVIEWED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT. KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE DRIVERS DOOR ISSUE ASAP AS IT IS A HUGE LIABILITY SINCE IT IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507003April 3, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR WILL NOT START AFTER ADDING FUEL. AFTER REVIEWING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOT FOUND A FIX TO THE PROBLEM. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE, IT IS NECESSARY TO PUMP THE GAS NUMEROUS TIMES THEN SLAM INTO GEAR WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE GAS. THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE HARM TO THOSE AROUND THE VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP US FIND A FIX OR BETTER YET HAVE KIA RECALL THE 2003 OPTIMA. THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507022April 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
THE HORN IS UNDER POWERED. IT ONE OF THOSE "ROAD RUNNER" "MEEP-MEEP" SOUNDING HORNS AND CANNOT ALERT OTHER DRIVERS EFFECTIVELY. THE 2013 OPTIMA SX VEHICLE HAS A REGULAR "AMERICAN" HORRN SOUND. WHY NOT RECALL TO CHANGE THE HORN TYPE? *TR ## VIN PASSED ## KIA OPTIMA SX 2012 ##
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10507024April 3, 2013
STRUCTURE
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE CARPET HAS WORN THROUGH (THREADBARE) JUST IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SEAT. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT IT AND THE REP TOLD ME IT HAPPENS WITH DRIVERS THAT ARE SIX FEET TALL. THE SPOT THAT IS WORN IS ON A RAISED SURFACE (COVER?) OF SOME SORT. A REDESIGN TO PLACE A HEAY DUTY CARPET PIECE IN THAT PART OF THE CARPET OR REDESIGN THE REMOVABLE FLOOR MAT TO COVER THE SPOT SO IT WOULDN'T WEAR OUT THE UNDERLYING CARPET. WHAT TO DO FOR REPAIR??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505197April 1, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 5/9/13 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505266April 1, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I BROUGHT TWO NEW 2006.5 KIA OPTIMAS (A RED ONE AND A BLACK ONE) FROM OUR LOCAL DEALER. SINCE I HAVE HAD THE CARS, BOTH OF THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH STARTED WITHIN A FEW MONTHS OF THE PURCHASE. THE TAIL LAMPS ONLY LAST ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS BEFORE I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BULBS. FIRST ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER WILL BLOW OUT, AND THEN WITHIN WEEKS, THE OTHER SIDE WILL GO TOO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH BOTH CARS EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CARS. WHEN I CALL THE DEALER AND ASK ABOUT THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST TELL ME I'VE BEEN BUYING CHEAP BULBS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEAD LAMPS ON BOTH VEHICLES AT THE RATE OF ABOUT ONE EVERY SIX-MONTHS ON BOTH VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE WHAT THEY CALLED THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL ON BOTH VEHICLES. NOW THERE IS A NEW PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THEM. ABOUT 52,000 MILES, I STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE PARKING LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON WHEN CAR WAS TURNED OFF AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO, THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF. THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP THE BATTERY FROM GOING DEAD WAS TO DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE TOOK THE CARS TO OUR LOCAL KIA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHEN WE DROPPED THEM OFF FOR THE SERVICE, I ASKED THE REPRESENTATIVE ([XXX]), TO ALSO LOOK INTO THE PARKING LIGHT ISSUE AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM I HAD BEEN HAVING. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, [XXX] SAID THEY FORGOT TO LOOK AT THE PARKING LIGHT ISSUE, ADDING SHE WOULD CONTACT KIA DIRECTLY TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD CALL ME WHEN SHE HAS AN ANSWER, IT HAS BEEN A MONTH . TODAY SHE TOLD ME IT WILL COST $400 TO FIX THE LIGHTS PROBLEM. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IT IS NOT A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THIS IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMERS WHO INVEST MONEY INTO PURCHASING A NEW CAR. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AS A MATTER OF CONSUMER RIGHTS AND PROTECTION AGAINST MANUFACTURES KNOWN DEFECTS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504988March 29, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
BOTH SUN VISORS ARE UNABLE TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO USE BOTH VISORS AS THEY WOULD HANG LOOSELY DOWNWARD FLAPPING ABOUT AIMLESSLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO ANCHOR THEM TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO DRIVE. DEALER STATES COST TO REPAIR IS ALMOST $500.00 AND THEY NEED MY CAR FOR THE DAY. PARTS MUST BE ORDERED TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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