Kia Optima Complaints (2015)

1,022 consumer complaints on file.

#11202838April 22, 2019
ENGINE
NORMAL DRIVING OPERATION UNTIL KNOCKING HEARD DURING LOW SPEED. ENGINE KNOCKING GREW LOUDER UNDER ACCELERATION. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO STATED AN ENGINE ROD MAY BE BEND. TOLD KIA HAS RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. KIA STATED THE VEHICLE VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. NO HEAVY ACCELERATION OR USE OF THE VEHICLE IN THE PAST. NO INDICATION OF ROD OR ENGINE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202532April 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OIL LIGHT SENSORS AREN'T WORKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197210April 18, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
* OCTOBER 2017 WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY CAR SLOWED DOWN. GOT OFF FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF CAR. CAR WOULD NOT START ANYMORE. KIA REPLACED HIGH VOLTAGE FUSE, HYBRID BATTERY, POWER RELAY. * MARCH 2018 CAR WAS TAKEN IN DUE TO HEV AND ENGINE LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING. CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE. KIA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. * MARCH 2018 CAR WAS RETURNED AFTER TRANSMISSION CHANGE AND 2 DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING CAR GAVE HEV AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. KIA SAID IT WAS A "LOOSE WIRE" FROM TRANSMISSION. * MARCH 2018 CAR GAVE HEV AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING AND KIA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN (2ND TIME IN 1 MONTH). * APRIL 2018 CHECK ENGINE AND HEV CODE CAME OUT WHILE DRIVING AND KIA REPLACED THE COMPUTER FROM ENGINE. *MARCH 2019 HEV AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WHILE DRIVING ON KIA REPLACED THE MAIN HARNESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11196607April 16, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I GET IN THE CAR SOMETIMES IT CRANKS RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM BUT ON THAT SAME DAY OR THE NEXT I CAN TRY AND FRANK IT BUT IT WON'T FRANK IT JUST CLICKS THE DASH BOARD WILL LIGHT UP AND EVERYTHING AND AFTER TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS IT IT WILL CRANKS UP AND HAVE NO PROBLEMS FOR A FEW HOURS THEN I CHECK IT AND THEN IT MIGHT FRANK RIGHT UP AND MIGHT JUST CLICK A FEW TIMES AND THEN CRANK RIGHT UP I THINK ITS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON ABOUT 4 MONTHS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11196477April 15, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I OWN A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. I HAVE A PANORAMIC SUNROOF THAT STRETCHES HE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CAR. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DURING A VERY BRUTAL WINTER WHERE WE HAD TEMPERATURES IN THE MINUS CATEGORY A FEW TIMES. WHILE DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY DOING APPROX. 55MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUN SHIT. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET SOMEWHERE SO I COULD SEE WHAT HAPPENED, I NOTICED THAT MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THE COVER WAS NOT OPEN BECAUSE IT WAS WINTER, SO LUCKILY THE SHATTERED GLASS COLLECTED INTO ON TOP OF THE COVER, OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE BLOWN THROUGHOUT MY CAR AND WHOEVER WAS IN IT AT THE TIME CAUSING PHYSICAL HARM. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY HAD HEARD IT HAPPENED BEFORE, AND BECAUSE OF THE TEMPERATURE SOMETHING MADE THE GLASS EXPAND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11192069March 27, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON OCTOBER 15, 2018, I PURCHASED FROM PEP BOYS FOUR GOODYEAR ALL SEASON 205/65R16 TIRES. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A TIRE PUNCTURE AND FLATTEN IMMEDIATELY AS A RESULT OF VERY LITTLE MEASURABLE SIDE IMPACT WITH A CURB. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MATTER ONLINE I HAVE DETERMINED THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS GOODYEAR STYLE TIRE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GOODYEAR CEO RICHARD KRAMER THREE TIMES (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS) AND GOODYEAR'S RESPONSE TO DATE HAS BEEN LACKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191606March 26, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
IF I PUSH THE PROXIMITY IGNITION BUTTON ACCIDENTLALLY THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN, NO BRAKES, NOT POWER STEERING. I AM WONDERING IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN I AM TRAVELLING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE ME ANY SATISFACTIOON..."TOLD ME NOT TO PUSH THE BUTTON" AND "TRADE IT IN ON A 2019." SOME MAKES WILL NOT SHUT DOWN IF GOING OVER 5 PMH UNLESS THE BUTTON IS PUSHED TWICE. OTHERS, YOU MUST HOLD THE BUTTON. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN THE MANUAL AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP. THERE HAVE BEEN DEATHS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO SOME WEBSITES. I CAN'T TEST THE CAR MYSELF. WAS HOPING THE DEALER WOULD OR TELL ME THE SITUATION WITH THE BUTTON AND SPEED. CAN YOU HELP ME?>.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190643March 22, 2019
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
SOUNDS LIKE PIECES OF METAL WAS LEFT IN THE ENGINE DURING THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING AND WAS NEVER TAKEN OUT ,THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING, I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO GET CHECKED , THE DEVICE AT KIA OF ESSINGTON OF PHILADELPHIA SAID IT WAS A GRINDING SOUND ON THE BOTTOM END OF THE ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11187475March 18, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE HESITATED AND SUDDENLY SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY ENGINE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11185479March 9, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE QUIT OPERATING AT 98375 WOULD NOT GO PAST 60 WOULD SPUTTER RPMS WOULD NOT GO PAST 2 RPMS HAD TOWED TO DEALER SHIP COMPLETE ENGINE FAIRER REPLACED WITH NEW ENGINE 4 DAY WITH NEW ENGINE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11185458March 8, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON MARCH 7TH 2019, I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES AN HOUR I FELT A CLICK, & MY ENGINE LIGHT MY OIL LIGHT AND MY BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. MY CAR DID NOT SHUT OFF BUT GAS WAS NOT ABLE TO FLOW INTO THE ENGINE THEREFORE I WAS COASTING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF ON TO THE EXIT RAMP I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, THEN I WAS ABLE TO SHUT MY CAR OFF. I THEN BEGAN TO RESTART THE CAR, & IT DID RESTART I PROCEEDED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE MOVE FORWARD, BUT THE THREE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ONCE AGAIN. THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AGAIN, THEN, PROCEEDED TO RESTART THE CAR, IT RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY TO WORK, WHICH WAS A VERY SHORT DISTANCE. LATER THAT DAY I DOWNLOADED THE UVO APP IT DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE., THIS TEST WAS WRONG, SOMETHING WENT WRONG & IS WRONG. ACCORDING TO PAST RECALLS, THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED AND SIMILAR REPORTS HAVE BEEN MADE. I FOUND THIS EXTREMELY SCARY BECAUSE OF THE FACT I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MEDIUM TRAFFIC, MY ENGINE STOPPED THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. LUCKILY I WAS STILL ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL ENOUGH TO GET OFF ON THE EXIT RAMP AND TO PULL TO THE SIDE. I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR 6 MONTHS. I HAVE HAD THE OIL CHANGED ONLY AT THE DEALERSHIP, AND ANY OTHER SERVICES HAVE DONE BY THE DEALER SHIP. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHAT I HAVE READ FROM THE PAST EXPERIENCES OF KIA OPTIMA OWNERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11184454March 5, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING THE VEHICLE NO WARNING SIGNS OR LIGHTS. ENGINE SHUTS OFF. TAKE TO A MECHANIC THE MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. REPLACE THE MOTOR. DRIVE THE CAR FOR 1 MONTH MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH TIMES LIKE WAS EMPTY WHEN ROUTINE OIL CHANGES WERE DONE AT 3,000 MILES. A CAR DOES NOT BURN OIL OVER A 30 DAY PERIOD CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. A FAULTY PRODUCT DOES. KIA SHOULD RECALL THE ENGINES IN THIS YEAR AS WELL. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY IS EXTENDED PAST 2014.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183904March 4, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ( ATLANTA WEST KIA, DOUGLASVILLE, GA) FOR AN OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION, ETC. I WAS NOTIFIED WHEN I CHECKED IN THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER RECALL FOR AN UPGRADE OF THE COMPUTER/ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT WHILE PERFORMING THE OTHER SERVICE WORK. 3 WEEKS AFTER THE OIL CHANGE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR SUDDDENLY LOST POWER AFTER A BIG PUFF OF WHITE SMOKE AND LOUD NOISE. I WORKED MY WAY OVER TO THE NEST EXIT AND PROCEEDED TO TURN AROUND TO GO BACK HOME. NO WARNING/ENGINE/OIL LIGHTS CAME ON DURING THIS TIME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND NEVER RETURNED MY CALL, WITH NO RESULTS. WE CHECKED THE OIL THE CAR WAS 3 QUARTS LOW. CONTINUE TO NOTIFY THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR NEEDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERYTIME I CHECKED IT WEEKLY. LET ME REINTERATE THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE IN NOV 2018. I CALLED KIA CORP. THEY INFOMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECASUE I HAD 68K ON THE CAR. THEY ASKED ME TO HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS. THE SERVICE RECORDS WAS IN THE KIA DEALERSHIP SYSTEM AS I HAVE USED THAT DEALER (PRIOR OWNER) FOR MOST OF MY WORK. I AM NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SERVICE RECORDS. AT THIS POINT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. KIA HAS RECALLED EVERY YEAR BUT 2015 - APPARENTLY THEY THINK THEY GOT IT RIGHT IN 2015 SINCE THE MOTOR WAS BUILT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE ENGINE I S PRACICALLY GONE AND I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 4 YEARS. I PURCHASED BAND NEW OFF THE LOT 9/2015. I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO ADD THE 2015 KIA OPTIMA TO THE ENGINE RECALL LIST BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT EITHER BY THE CAR STOPPING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC OR CATCHING ON FIRE. DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTIUES TO STICK AND THE DORR WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183431March 1, 2019
ENGINE
SHORTLY AFTER CROSSING OVER TRAIN TRACKS I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND OBSERVED SEVERAL LIGHTS ON AND THE RPM WAS AT 0. I ROLLED TO A STOP AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY LATER TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THEY SAID THEY ARE FILING A CLAIM WITH KIA TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I PREVIOUSLY GOT A LETTER FROM KIA THAT INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP UPDATE THE ECU SO THAT THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIMP. THE CAR WAS AT 101000 MILES WHEN THE BREAKDOWN OCCURRED. HOPEFULLY KIA REPLACES THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183175February 28, 2019
AIR BAGS
THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN 2 FRONT END COLLISIONS BOTH AT DIFFERENT RATES OF SPEED. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. IT WAS FIXED BOTH TIMES BY PROFESSIONAL SHOPS AND INSPECTED BY A KIA CARLOTTA WHERE THEY CLEARED CODES ON FAULTY AIR BAGS AND TOLD ME IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. I WANT THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO FURTHER. I HAVE CHILDREN AND NEED MY AIR BAGS TO WORK.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182082February 23, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS COMPLAINT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY VEHICLE. IT IS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SUPER-BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS. I GET TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY THESE LATE MODEL VEHICLES WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY HEADLIGHTS (HID OR LED) WHEN THEY ARE COMING TOWARD ME. I HAVE LONG RESPECTED THE OVERSIGHT PROVIDED FOR VEHICLE SAFETY IN THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE ALWAYS TRUSTED THAT PROPER CONSIDERATIONS ARE MADE TO ENSURE VEHICLES ARE SAFE. BUT I CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME UNDERSTAND HOW THE SUPER-BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS HAVE MADE IT PAST SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS, AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REGULATED OUT OF EXISTENCE. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO DEFINE MAXIMUM LIMITS FOR HEADLIGHT INTENSITY AND EFFECTIVE LIGHTING DISTANCE THAT WOULD PREVENT THE BLINDING OF ONCOMING DRIVERS. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE ON AMERICAN ROADS, AND I'D BE SHOCKED IF IT HASN'T ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND DEATH. PLEASE RECTIFY THIS OVERSIGHT IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE THAT THE REPUTATION OF AMERICAN CAR/ROAD SAFETY IS RESTORED AND TO PREVENT NEEDLESS INJURIES AND DEATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181401February 20, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING THE CAR, CAR JUST STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I WAS LITERALLY STALLED ON A BUSY ROAD DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL AAA REPAIR CENTER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE ALTHOUGH I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE, NO ENGINE OR OIL LIGHTS TO ALERT THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11176453February 12, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN I'M OUT DRIVING I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL KIA OPTIMAS HAVE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. THE BACK LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. HALF OF THE BACK LIGHTS WENT OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174833February 6, 2019
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL STICKS AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. IT TAKES SOME ADDITIONAL FORCE TO GET OVER THE 12 O'CLOCK HUMP CLOCKWISE AND COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THIS OCCURS DURING ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11173396January 31, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ON MY DRIVEWAY GOING LESS THAN 10MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE I WAS BEING SHOT AT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND NOTICED MY SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARDS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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