Kia Optima Complaints (2013)
1,443 consumer complaints on file.
- #11361522September 28, 2020POWER TRAIN
I STOPPED IN A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR IT STARTED ROLLING. I JUMPED BACK ON THE CAR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE LEVER WAS IN PARK BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. I COULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER. THE LINKAGE THAT CONNECTS THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 64,000 MILES ON IT. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF A CHILD WAS BEHIND THE PARKED CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THE PART WAS LESS THAN A DOLLAR BUT THE LABOR WAS ALMOST $300.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11361608September 28, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR WHEN CAR LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING WERE STILL ON. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDE STREET TO PULL OVER AND PARK THE CAR. I SHUT IT OFF AND THEN WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART IT BLACK SMOKE WITH AN ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. KIA DEALERSHIP SAID MOTOR WAS SEIZED AND REPLACED IT UNDER A RECALL. THEN THEY SAID IT NEEDED FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY (WHICH BATTERY WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD), SO I HAD BOTH REPLACED. I DROVE FOR 2 DAYS AND HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR SO I TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A STARTER AND AN ELECTRICAL ASSESSMENT FOR A SHORT, AS STARTER BEGAN SMOKING WITH THE VEHICLE NOT EVEN RUNNING. NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW JUNCTION BOX/FUSE BOX OVER $2900 AND MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO OTHER PROBLEMS BUT NOT COVERED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY. I HAVE ALREADY PAID $900+ DOLLARS FOR FUEL PUMP, I EXCHANGED THE BATTERY WHERE I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT IT, AND $493 FOR STARTER. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THE JUNCTION BOX WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL OR SHORT AND NEED REPLACEMENT, UNLESS IT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL BLACK SMOKE ELECTRICAL SMELL THAT HAPPENED WHEN ENGINE SEIZED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11361242September 26, 2020FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR TURNED OFF ON ME RANDOMLY ? ALWAYS AM CONSISTENT WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE MY TAKE IS FULL WITH GOOD GAS I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS LINE ONCE ALREADY ,, MECHANIC SAID I MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE MY FUEL TANK BECAUSE SOMETHING WITH CAR NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR SO , I'VE ALSO SEE LEAKS LOOKS LIKE GAS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11361296September 26, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 WHEN I HEARD A SMALL POP & ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON & I LOST EVERYTHING. CAR CLICKS WHEN TRYING TO RESTART BUT DOES NOT START. OIL LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, EPS LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON NOW. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE CARS AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED ASAP AS IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11361033September 25, 2020ENGINE
2013 KIA OPTIMA [XXX] WAS TOWED TO SOUTHERN KIA LYNNHAVEN OF VIRGINA BEACH. VIRGINIA FOR A ENGINE FAILURE RECALL SC147 , UPON INSPECTION KIA DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE ENGINE STARTER AS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE SAYING THAT STARTER IS NOT OEM PART BUT AFTERMARKET WHICH CONTRADICTS SERVICE BULLETIN SC147 AND WARRANTY BULLETIN SC 147 WHERE ON PAGE 7 STATES ANY SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE PARTICULARLY STARTER SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR GOODWILL. 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
- #11361018September 24, 2020STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WE WERE TRAVELING AT AROUND 55-60 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE T-BONES BY A CHEVY AVALANCHE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND SWERVED SO THE TRUCK LUCKILY STARTED AT MY DOOR AND COMPLETELY RIPPED AND SMASHED IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND BACK/ TRUNK OF OUR OPTIMA. BACK WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED OUT. HIT SO HARD IT COMPLETELY TURNED US IN 2 CIRCLES AND BUSTED MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND IT HIT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I BUSTED MY HEAD OPEN AND RECEIVED 3 STAPLES AND KNEE SHOVED IN DASH BUT NOT 1 AIR BAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED!! I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A KIA!! I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A KIA BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11359947September 19, 2020STEERING
FLEXIBLE STEERING COUPLING FAILED. POORLY DESIGNED RUBBER COUPLING DISINTEGRATES AT LESS THAN 80K MILES. THIS CREATES ONE INCH OR MORE OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11359972September 19, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY CAR IS GETTING A P2562 CODE WHICH IS FOR THE TURBOCHARGER BOOST CONTROL POSITION SENSOR. I'M HAVING A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11355470September 16, 2020ENGINE
STARTED VEHICLE UP AND IT STARTED SMOKING VERY BADLY. TOOK IT TO KIA DEALER. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW MOTOR . PRICE 9400.00. AND IT WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRENTY.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11355142September 15, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A LONG DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SINCE ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET AND CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DECLARED TOTALED BY HIS INSURANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11355216September 15, 2020POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED MORITZ KIA HURST (110 NE LOOP 820, HURST, TX 76053) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,592.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11355005September 14, 2020ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT AND ANOTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE ARRIVED AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11353492September 7, 2020ENGINE
THE CARS ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THE ENGINE IS CONSTANTLY BURNING OIL EVEN THOUGH OIL CHANGES ARE DONE EVERY 2000 TO 3000 MILES. THE VEHICLE ENGINE SOUNDS LOUDER EVERY MONTH. THE CAR PASSED TWO RECALL TESTS AT A KIA DEALERSHIP, ONE FOR WHICH I PAID OUT OF POCKET. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL BY MY MECHINIC AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON MY CAR. THE KIA DEALERSHIP CANNOT EXPLAIN TO ME WHY MY CAR IS PASSING THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR HAS HAD AN ENGINE PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THERE IS A DISTINCTIVE KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE HICCUP WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED ON, AS IF WERE ABOUT TO BRAKE DOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11353512September 7, 2020SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKES ON MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HAVE A DEFECT WHEN TURN ON CAR THE SWITCH GEAR CHANGES TO P R D AND ANY GEAR WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT THE SWITCH GEAR IN PLACE AND IT SMELLS LIKE A GASOLINE SMELL WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A BRAKE FLUID LEAK ARE WHAT BUT I WAS JUST NOTIFIED THAT ON CONSUMERS AFFAIRS KIA HAS A RECALL ON YEAR 2013 TO 2015 KIA CARS AND HYUNDAI CARS. SOME CARS HAVE BEEN CATCHING ON FIRE. KIA RECALL LINK HTTPS://ABCNEWS.GO.COM/US/WIRESTORY/HYUNDAI-KIA-RECALL-VEHICLES-LEAKS-FIRES-72793532 AND ON CONSUMERS AFFAIRS KIA RECALL BRAKE FLUID LEAK CARS ON FIRE LINK HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS/HYUNDAI-KIA-RECALLS-NEARLY-600000-CARS-OVER-DEFECT-THAT-CAN-CAUSE-VEHICLES-TO-CATCH-FIRE-090420.HTML
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11353406September 6, 2020ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
9/5/2020 ROUGHLY 10:00 AM ENTERING THE ONRAMP TO GET ON I10 WEST. CAR LOST ACCELERATION, NEVER REACHED 40 MPH, THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS, ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, CAR LOST ALL POWER AND TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO RIGHT SHOULDER AND PARK VEHICLE. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOME. I CALLED ALL STAR KIA IN SAN BERNADINO CA, UNABLE TO ASSESS VEHICLE FOR 7 - 10 DAYS. CALLED PALM SPRINGS KIA MULTIPLE TIMES ON EXTENDED HOLD. WHEN WE CONNECTED, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULDNT BE LOOKED AT UNTIL 9/18/2020.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11353453September 6, 2020STEERING
WHEN TURNING, THE WHEEL CLICKS AND THUDS SIDEWAYS AS IF LOOSE. THE STEERING COUPLER SEEMS TO BE THE CULPRIT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11353252September 4, 2020ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ROUGHLY 65 MPH. MY VEHICLE PRETTY MUCH WENT INTO LIMP MODE. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO TRAVEL AT A CERTAIN TOP SPEED. OVER HEATING THEN BECAME A VERY DRASTIC ISSUE. I LOOKED ON THE NHSTA WEBSITE FOR ANY KNOWN RECALLS THERE WERE SOME FOR MY YEAR AND MODEL BUT MINE WASN'T LISTED? I CALLED A FAMILY MECHANIC AND DESCRIBED IN MORE GREATER DETAIL ABOUT MY ISSUE FROM START TO FINISH, HE ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THAT IT WAS DISPLAYING THE EXACT QUALITIES AS THE LISTED RECALL AND I SHOULD CALL KIA MOTOR COMPANY TO HAVE THE LOOK INTO MY CLASS OF VEHICLES FURTHER. LONG STORY SHORT I WAS BASICALLY LEFT HOMELESS IN A CITY AND STATE PRETTY MUCH BEAT ON THE WHOLE IDEA OF EVERY GETTING MY CAR BACK AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IT DROPPED BELOW 28 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES FROM HOME. BECAUSE OF THIS CORPORATIONS NEGLIGENCE. I LOST MORE THAN A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP I HAD TO START BACK OVER AGAIN AND I'M UNFORTUNATELY AN ONLY CHILD WITH NO PARENTS SO IT WAS VERY MIND BOGGLING.. I MADE REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO COME TO SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT WITH KIA TO NO AVAIL. SOME ONE WENT SO FAR AS TO STEAL A SAFE OUT OF MY VEHICLE. WHICH I HAD PROFESSIONALLY INSTALLED AND VANDALIZED THE INSIDE OF MY CAR BEYOND REPAIR. THANKS KIA, FOR VICTIMIZING ME TO MAKE YOUR MILLIONS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11353055September 3, 2020STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PEELING PAINT. ESPECIALLY ON THE SIDE OF FRONT WINDOW. SMALL PATCHES ELSEWHERE. TURBOS AT TIMES FAILED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11352736September 2, 2020ENGINE
FROM THE BEGINNING THIS CAR JOURNEY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DEVASTATING ON ME I BOUGHT A CAR FOR COLLEGE RIGHT BEFORE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL DURING COVID SAVED UP $5000 TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE I WENT TO VINTON AUTO SALES IN ROANOKE VIRGINIA THE MAN APPROACHES ME I TELL HIM WHAT CAR I LIKE WE TEST DRIVE IT THEN I'M LIKE WELL I'LL COME BACK TOMORROW WITH MY FINAL DECISION HE WAS LIKE BASICALLY FORCING ME TO BUY THE CAR THAT DAY PROMISING A 3 MONTH WARRANTY I MEAN LET'S BE REAL WHO GOES TO DEALERSHIP AND BUYS A CAR WITHOUT DOING RESEARCH UNLESS THERE'S A WARRANTY INVOLVED ON IT SO 3 WEEKS INTO MY HAVING THE CAR I DECIDED TO MAKE A TRIP TO MARYLAND FROM VIRGINIA TO SEE HIM FOR MY GRADUATION I'M ON A ONE WAY HIGHWAY CLOSE TO ALMOST HARRISON BURG MY CAR JUST STOPS BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING MEANWHILE THERE'S ON COMING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND TRACTOR TRAILERS GOING 80+ MPH I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OVER AFTER ALMOST DYING I CALL MY DEALERSHIP THE GUY HANGS UP ON ME IN THE MOST RUDEST WAY TELLING ME IT'S NOT HIS PROBLEM ANYMORE THERE'S NOT A WARRANTY I NEED TO FIX IT MY SELF IN THE MOST RUDEST WAY WHILE I'M STRANDED ON A ONE HIGHWAY ALONE WITH A BROKEN CAR 2 HOURS FROM HOME SO I END UP PAYING $500 TOW BACK TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC HE FIXES IT I PICK IT UP ON THE WAY HOME FROM PICKING IT UP IT MISFIRED AGAIN ON A HIGHWAY I ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING UNABLE TO ACCELERATE BUT LUCKILY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO A GAS STATION MIND YOU I PAID THE GUY $500 TO REPLACE THE KNOCK SENSOR HE SAID WAS MESSED UP I TOW IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC HE TELLS ME TODAY HE CAN'T DO NOTHING IT'S THE ENGINE SO I'M OUT OF A CAR OUT OF COLLEGE AND OUT OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DUE TO THE CAR THIS IS MY LAST RESORT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A COLLEGE STUDENT THIS FALL BUT I CAN'T BE DUE TO THIS SHADY DEALERSHIP WHO RUINED MY LIFE I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA TO BE EXACT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11352752September 2, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SOMETIMES UPON STARTING MY CAR IT JUST SPUTTERS AND SPUTTERS AND SPUTTERS FOR SEVERAL MINUTES LIKE IT'S NOT GONNA START THEN IT KICKS IN AND STARTS BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES IT'S NOT GONNA END UP STARTING AND I WILL BE STRANDED SOMEWHERE. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING OFF AND ON PERIODICALLY FOR THE LAST FIVE MONTHS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0