Kia Optima Complaints (2004)

225 consumer complaints on file.

#10190897May 16, 2007
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
PUNCTURED TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE DAMAGED TIRE HAD EXCESSIVE TREAD WEAR IN RELATION TO THE MILES DRIVEN ON CAR. THE FIGURES SHOWED THE TIRE WAS WEARING 3-1 EXP: UNIROYAL TOURING TRACK, P205/60R15-90H WITH 60,000 MILE TREAD WEAR. 10/32ND TREAD DEPTH NEW. I BOUGHT THIS TIRE ON 03/07/07, AND WAS DAMAGED ON 05/14/07= 70 DAYS OLD. BOUGHT TIRE FROM WAL-MART, BRUNSWICK, GA 31520. TOOK TIRE TO SAME ON 05/14/07. TIRE SHOWED 4/32NDS WORE OFF OF TREAD. THIS = 24,000 MILES OF WEAR AT 6,000 MILE PER 1/32ND OF TREAD. TRAVEL NO MORE THEN 100 MILES PER DAY AT 68 DAYS AND 1 ROUND TRIP OF 1,500 MILES = TOTAL OF8,300 MILES OF TRAVEL ON CAR. AS I SAID 3-1 WEAR OF TREAD.MFG WILL NOT AJUST PRORATED COST OF NEW TIRE NOR WILL WAL-MART. NEW TIRE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED FREE BUT COAT ME PRORATE OF $49.00. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10190959May 16, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RUNS WELL, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON MAY 12, 2007 AND HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE. SHE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID AND THE LIGHT, BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10188041April 16, 2007
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN AUGUST 2004, A 2004 KIA OPTIMA, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE UNTIL ABOUT APRIL 2006. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I NOTICED WHEN I LEFT MY HOUSE THAT THE CAR SOUNDED A LITTLE FUNNY AND THE CLUTCH WAS GIVING ME PROBLEMS. I WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST DIED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INSURED ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WOULD ONLY COST $50 AT THE MOST. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR AND I WENT TO WORK. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER TO INFORM ME THAT THE CLUTCH WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY AND IT WAS GOING TO COST ME $1500.00 TO FIX MY CAR. THEY FIXED IT AND I PAID. UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT THE END OF THE STORY, A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER MY CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP, THEY INSTANTLY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR AND I WENT TO WORK. THEY CALLED ME A FEW HOURS LATER AT WORK TO TELL ME THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BAD AGAIN AND TRIED TO TELL ME IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS RIDING THE CLUTCH. I TOLD THEM THAT THIS WASN'T THE ONLY MANUAL TRANSMISSION I HAD OWNED. I'VE OWNED 4 MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS SOME NEW SOME MUCH OLDER AND I'VE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. THEY DID TELL ME THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING BECAUSE THE NEW CLUTCH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THEY HAD INSTALLED THE CLUTCH BUT THEY FOUND THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS THE PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE AND CAUSED BOTH CLUTCHES TO GO BAD BUT THEY INSURED ME THAT IT WASN'T POSSIBLE. THEY PAID FOR THE CLUTCH AND THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178328January 10, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ,WHERE THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE REPAIRED THE AIR BAG SENSOR ON TWO OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS SUPPOSE TO DETECT A WEIGHT 90 POUNDS OR ABOVE. *AK UPDATED 2/6/2007 -*NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168159September 13, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. THE CONTACT IS AWAITING INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE THIRD AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10165162August 10, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT CONTACTED. UPDATED 08/29/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164405August 3, 2006
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 2004 KIA OPTIMA WITH A BELT THAT SQUEAKS RATHER LOUDLY. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST $120.00 TO REPLACE IT IF I WANTED TO, BUT IT WAS NOT DANGEROUS. MY PROBLEM WAS THAT I HAD JUST BOUGHT THE CAR AND IT MADE THIS AWFUL SOUND. I EVEN CONTACTED KIA'S COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT, BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST KIA. THIS JUST DIDN'T HAPPEN ONCE, BUT SQUEAKS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161074June 29, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE GAS CAP WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED TO REMOVE PRESSURE IN THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WAS SLUGGISH, AND HAD VERY LITTLE POWER, AND A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD. SO, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERS MECHANIC RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH REVEALED SEVERAL MISFIRE CODES. UPON REMOVING THE FUEL PUMP, MELTED WIRING WAS DISCOVERED RUNNING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE GAS TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146947January 5, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A KIA OPTIMA 2004, ON DECEMBER 28,2005 I NOTICE A PIERCING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND THAT MY ROTORS WERE RUSTED. MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN A CAR THAT IS BRAND NEW AND ONLY DRIVEN FOR 14 MONTHS HAVE RUSTED ROTORS. ISN'T THERE SAFETY STANDARDS ON MATERIAL USED SO THAT THIS DOES NOT OCCUR IN SUCH SHORT OF A TIME. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHICH RESULTED IN A BILL TOTALING $659.00. MY PURPOSE OF PURCHASING A NEW CAR WAS TO AVOID CONSTANT REPAIRS RIGHT AWAY. I FEEL THAT ALL OF THE FINE PRINT WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN KIA ADVERTISES A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FOR A CAR UP TO 100,000 MILES. I EVEN CALLED THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE FOR KIA AND THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED IN SUCH SHORT OF A TIME. THE CAR HAS ONLY SEEN 1 WINTER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144213December 2, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MOTOR MOUNTS AND PULLEYS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TIME TO THE SHOP IN LESS THAN A MONTH. THE PULLEYS AND MOUNTS ARE BOUND TO CAUSE OTHER DAMAGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138555October 4, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SOUND FROM THE AIRBAG HAD GIVEN THE DRIVER A HEADACHE. THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNKNOWN. *SC . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10135721September 7, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IMPACTING A FIXED MEDIAN CURB. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER REMARKED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION APPEARED TO HAVE BOLTS MISSING. THIS WAS INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY THE BODY SHOP. IN THEIR DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, THEY FOUND THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT BOLTS WERE MISSING AND THE 2 HOLES WERE ROUNDED OUT IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BOLTS FALLING OUT. THE BOLTS FALLING OUT CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE THEREBY CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH KIA MOTORS AMERICA. THEY REQUIRED THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR MYSELF TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THEIR CAR WAS AT FAULT. AFTER SUBMITTING THE REPAIR ESTIMATE AND PICTURES FROM BOTH THE SCENE AND FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, KIA MOTORS AMERICA AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT. THE REPAIR SHOP MANAGER COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A DETERMINATION WITHOUT EVER LOOKING AT THE CAR. ACCORDING TO JENNIFER AT KIA, THE COMPLAINT IS CLOSED AND I HAVE NO FURTHER RECOURSE OTHER THAT TO CONTACT A LAWYER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT WILL BE SHOWN AS A CLAIM AGAINST MY INSURANCE POLICY AND THEN CAUSE MY RATES TO INCREASE. I FEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE PRESENT ON OTHER 2004 KIA OPTIMAS OR OTHER MODELS THAT BOTH KIA AND HYUNDAI MAKES. *JB UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130335July 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. ALSO, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE CURVE. THEN OWNER CALLED DEALERSHIP WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO PICK UP VEHICLE UP BUT DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR ABOUT 4.5 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND WAS LEFT AT THE SHOP. THE NEXT DAY OWNER CALLED TO CHECK ON THE VEHICLE, NOTHING WAS DONE . THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. CURRENTLY, THE OWNER WAS WAITING FOR THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER'S FAMILY SUFFERED HEAT EXHAUSTION BY WAITING OUTSIDE, AND HIS SON BECAME ILL DUE TO HEAT EXHAUSTION. THE OWNER HAS NOT CONTACTED KIA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126773June 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, TIRES:SIDEWALL
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 KIA OPTIMA AND PAID IN FULL. I PURCHASED FOR THE 10 YR WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY I BOUGHT. THE A/C HAS ALWAYS OVERHEATED , CAR SEATS IN THE LOCKED POSITIONMOVING WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THEIR POSITION, LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING WHEN NO ONE IS TOUCHING THEM, TRANSMISSION JUMPING. VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS. THE BIG BELL ROAD KIA IN PHOENIX, LOCATED AT 2121 EAST BELL ROAD,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114834March 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 KIA OPTIMA FROM THE DEALER ON 12/09/2004. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOT BEEN WORKING SINCE THE FIRST DAY IT WAS DRIVEN OUT OF THE DEALER'S LOT. WHAT'S MORE, THREE WEEKS INTO OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO EXHIBIT INTERMITTENT, ROUGH IDLING PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS NOT NOTICEABLE ON COLD STARTS, BUT AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 35 MINUTES OR SO AND THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP AND REACHED A CERTAIN TEMPERATURE, IT WILL BEGIN TO MAKE ROCKING-JERKY-THRUSTING LIKE MOVEMENTS. IT CAN BE FELT, AS IF, THE CAR IS EITHER CHOKING OR TRYING TO ACCELLERATE WHILE WAITING AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. AS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, THE MODULE WAS ORDERED ON ITS FIRST VISIT, THE MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND REORDERED ON ITS SECOND VISIT, THE MODULE WAS INSTALLED ON ITS THIRD VISIT, AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT NEEDED A SWITCH FOR THE CRUISE TO WORK. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE CRUISE CONTROL IS STILL INOPERABLE. AS FOR THE IDLING PROBLEMS, IT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED ON ITS FIRST VISIT. IT WAS VERIFIED AND REPRODUCED ON ITS SECOND VISIT, AND THE CAR STAYED FOR 2 AND 1/2 WEEKS WITH THE DEALER TO REPLACE A MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. PICKED UP THE CAR ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IT STILL HAS THE SAME IDLING PROBLEMS. IT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER 5 DAYS LATER, AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THE PROBLEM "COULD NOT BE DETECTED." TWO DAYS AFTER ITS LAST VISIT ON 02/02/2005, THE DEALER DELIVERED THE CAR WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT AND PASSENGER DOORS. THE CAR GOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE IT WAS IN THE DEALER'S CARE, AND THEY PROMISED IN WRITING TO FIX IT. 1 AND 1/2 MONTHS LATER, THE PROMISED WAS NOT FULFILLED, SO I PICKED UP THE CAR AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SHOP. MY INSURANCE PAID FOR THE COST, LESS $500 DEDUCTIBLE. WHERE THE DEALER FAILED IN 1.5 MONTHS TO FIX THE DAMAGE, ANOTHER SHOP SUCCEEDED IN JUST 6 DAYS! THE DOORS ARE FIXED, BUT THE ON-GOING PROBLEMS ON THE CAR STILL REMAIN. THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP OF A SUPPOSEDLY "BRAND NEW" CAR, AND IT BEHAVES LIKE A CLUNKER.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114770March 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
RY TIME IT RAINS AND OUR COUNTY DIRT ROAD GETS WET AND MUDDY. MUD SPLASHES UP INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTO THE EGR VALVE AND CAUSES IT TO MALFUCTION DUE TO THE WAY IT WAS DESINED. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERS SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A MAINTENCE PROBLEM AND THAT THE DEALER WOULD FIX IT ONLY ONCE AND AFTER THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIR IF IT FAILS AGAIN. AS OF THIS DATE ( 03/24/05) THIS CAR HAD 23760 MILES OF A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109815February 4, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE MY PASSENGER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD AREA. IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OFF THE ROAD THE SMOKE HAD TURNED INTO FLAMES AT WHICH TIME I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND I AND MY PASSENGER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CALLED 911. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10109795February 3, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, A FIRE STARTED FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102349December 8, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BOUGHT KIA OPTIMA ON JUNE 22, 2004 VIN# [XXX] AND HAVE SINCE HAD SEVEN SERVICE APPOINTMENTS, REPLACED TWO SETS OF DRIVE BELTS, REPLACED A LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK, REPLACED A LEAKING FUEL REGULATOR, MACHINED THE FRONT ROTORS, LOST TIME FROM WORK, LOST PRODUCTIVITY FROM WORK AS WELL AS JEOPARDIZED MY WIFE'S WORK FROM CAR POOLING FOR FIVE MONTHS, COMPLETED SCHEDULED ARBITRATION WITH THE BBB WITHOUT SUCCESS FOR FOUR PROBLEMS: ACCELERATION DELAY, LOW GRINDING BRAKE NOISE, LOW VIBRATION STEERING NOISE, AND LOUD SQUEALING NOISE FROM THE DRIVE BELTS. *JB UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096741October 5, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IRREGULAR OCCURRENCES OF STEERING PROBLEM, LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK. *BF SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR OF THE POWER STEERING RACK, THE CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMERS CONCERN. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNINGS, THERE WAS A SECOND DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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