Kia Optima Complaints (2014)

622 consumer complaints on file.

#11439468November 5, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owned a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that as he attempted to merge onto a highway at 45 MPH, the brake pedal and steering wheel locked up upon the depression of the brake pedal without warning. Due to the failure, the contact hit an electrical box encased in concrete as the vehicle continued to roll into bushes before it came to a halt. The airbags deployed upon impact. The contact exited the vehicle and removed his son from the back seat. The contact was not treated for injuries at the scene. The contact's son had a few lacerations on his neck that did not need medical attention. A police report was filed. A few days, his insurance towed the vehicle from the scene to an independent junkyard where the vehicle was deemed a total loss. A week later, the contact sought medical treatment for pain in his chest and right arm; the contact was diagnosed with a hairline fracture to his sternum. Upon investigation, the contact discovered that his vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The contact attempted to reach out to the manufacturer by email but did not receive a response. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11439423November 4, 2021
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SUSPENSION, ENGINE
Vehicle has engine failure at 156600mi. Bearings and axle are worn out which caused the engine to go into limp mode (code P1326). Car is accelerating poorly and does not oprate over 60mph. Vehicle required a new engine. Dutch Miller of Charlotte Kia, 7725 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC ensured that engine would be brand new. However, the engine was used, and obtained at LKQ costing $3600. Total cost for the engine and labor totalled $5117.18. Kia also confirmed the problematic suspension which led to the engine failure was fixed. Once again this obligation was not met.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11438967November 1, 2021
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle check engine light came on at 164000mi. Diagnostics confirmed trouble codes P2562 (Power train system) and C2130, C1611, C1612 (Anti-lock brake sytem). The begins to shake at 40mph and the turbo fails to run properly causing the car to accelerate poorly and make steering an issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11438797October 31, 2021
ENGINE
Hello, as you are aware Kia finally issued a recall for engine failure and my vehicle is one of the many that experienced engine failure on 10/19/2021. My vehicle now sits at the local dealership with so many others waiting to go through the process of videoing the engine so they can send to corporate to approve a new engine. In the meantime, I, along with other customers are left helpless and frustrated with no vehicle to drive for several months from what the local dealership is telling me. Kia is not taking care of their customers upfront by providing a loaner/rental vehicle. Instead, thy say we can rent a vehicle and get reimbursed after our vehicle has been repaired. How many people have many to rent a vehicle for months? Not me! I was told it would be a minimum of four months without my vehicle and some have been there much longer. I am in desperate need of transportation for obvious reason (i. e. work, appointments, errands, unexpected situations, family obligations, etc....) I am hoping that you can advise what can I do to get Kia to step up and do the right thing upfront, especially for those who can't afford a rental vehicle. I am also wondering if my 2014 Kia Optima should've even been sold to me in September 2017 with this known engine issue? My research and websites show this issue was definitely before I made the purchase. Kia failed their customers and not wanting to step up and issue a recall sooner shows that safety was not their top priority. Thank you for any assistance you can provide.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435772October 6, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
My car has 80,000 miles and the paint chipping on the bumper, hood, and roof is starting to cause rust on the car body.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434886September 29, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the electric power steering (EPS) warning light was illuminated, and the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,750.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434023September 23, 2021
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car cut off whilst driving without warning
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11433734September 20, 2021
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
Failed Emissions Test for Engine light being on. Took to mechanic and he specified that it was my gas cap that needed replacing and I did so, but light is still on. No leakage was present at the time when mechanic checked, however, in the past there was a smell of gas inside the vehicle but it's no longer present at the moment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432974September 14, 2021
ENGINE
We’ve had our engine replaced by Kia for an issue with models with the turbo installed. The turbo seized up and in turn caused our engine to fail, so Kia said they knew about the issue and gave us a new engine and turbo at no cost to us and also gave us a unlimited mileage warranty for the engine because of the issue. Now just about a year later of them installing the new parts, the same issue has arisen. Turbo failed and in turn it messed up the engine, the Kia dealership we have it in has told us that they will not cover it under warranty and that the turbo isn’t apart of the warranty either.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11432035September 7, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The rear lights develop condensation which causes the brake lights/turn signals to fail. This failure could easily lead to accidents and appears to be a safety issue. Kia has known about this problem since at least December 1, 2014 as it issued a “Pit Stop” PS364 to dealers regarding remediation of the problem on that date, yet Kia has not issued a (safety or non-safety) recall. My left light developed condensation in mid-2020. My right light currently has condensation.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431919September 7, 2021
STEERING
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a clicking noise was heard when the steering wheel was turned. The contact's wife also informed the contact that the vehicle was shaking while she was driving. The dealer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an upcoming appointment for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11431456September 2, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
I noticed a small spot of paint chipping one day. Then I was washing my car and noticed a lot of spots chipping. As I started watching them they kept chipping all over from my hood which is the worst to side of doors sides and roof around front window and front and back bumper. I looked online to research it and if anyone had this problem and it seems to be just the white kia that has this problem. I have contacted kia mutable times. I sent pictures of my car and 3 estimates. All I keep doing is getting the run around about what there going to do. It is now getting worse and starting to rust real bad.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430878August 28, 2021
ENGINE
Engine failed and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the road. The engine is now knocking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11430704August 27, 2021
ENGINE
On 8/26/2021 I was driving up the Hwy and my kia optima started to slow down on its own.. the battery light, and engine light was flickering on and off, and oil light came on.. I checked the oil and it read 70%. On dash.. I beared off to the right shoulder out of traffic. I was originally going about 65mph it dropped all the way down to 10mph. Pulled over and the the car stopped. Tried starting the car back up but it made a clicking sound. I called a tow truck. The tow truck hauled it to a local mechanic. Mechanic diagnosed the problem being that the car had medal on the oil timing sensors known as the vvt timing solenoid sensor. He changed the oil. But still did not fix the problem. I have had this car since July 1, 2021, about almost 2 months got a oil change 2 days after I bought the car. Car will not excelerate over 40 mph. Engine light is still on. The sensors was not changed because the mechanic said it wouldn't do any good because the engine had metal fragments in it by now because metal scrappings were on the sensors.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11429761August 19, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, he noticed that the low beam headlights were significantly dim. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated he was able to continue to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The dealer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to their location for diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for diagnosis. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11428589August 10, 2021
ENGINE
Driving on the interstate just as I was getting off the car stalled on the offramp. I managed to get it going again about a mile down the road, I was making a left across the highway and it stalled on me again I managed to coast into a driveway without incident. I had an oil light the check engine lightAnd a battery light come on. After coasting into a driveway I could no longer get the car to start. I just bought the car four months ago with only 32000 miles on it. Brought it back to the dealer I bought it from and they recommended I tow it back to Kia as the engine may have seized as it is a known problem. Been almost a week stuck with no car after buying a practically brand new one. I’m still waiting to hear back from the Kia dealership.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11428119August 6, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The engine seized up at 83,000 miles with all regular maintenance done. There is no specific cause of what caused that, as dismantling the engine would cost me more $. I have already spent $200 on the dealership and independents mechanic. I was merging on to the interstate and I lost all power, it was a narrow one lane, no shoulder section of the road, as it was also an interchange for a state hwy and the interstate. I had to limp over to the shoulder as traffic behind me began blaring horns. The shoulder I did find was a narrow gore, and I was very uncomfortable while getting a tow and ride setup. I was terrified I was going to be sideswiped at any moment. I was told by my trusted mechanic it was the Hybrid battery. The Dealership said the engine seized up, which also damaged the battery. In either case, my car does not travel forward under its own power. I had no warning until the event happened, I just lost power.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11427512August 2, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 78 mph, the vehicle inadvertently shifted into limp mode. The contact pulled over and the vehicle was able to be restarted however, the vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11426019July 22, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I DONT KNOW IF IS THE MOTOR OR WHAT IS IT BUET I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN N IT DOESNT WANT TO START BACK UP AGAIN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11425746July 21, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Brakes tend to lock up suddenly when applying minimal pressure to the pedal then jerks out of complete lock and then normal brakes. Engine HVAC system and AC suddenly stopped working and I have taken it to a shop for electrical testing with no luck.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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