Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10860051April 18, 2016
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND AND STICKS EVERY TIME I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHILE DRIVING IT CAN BE A CHALLENGE TO STEER WITH THE STEERING WHEEL AS IT WILL GRAB AND MAKE THAT CLICKING NOISE AND YOU HAVE TO USE SOME FORCE TO STEER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855704April 15, 2016
POWER TRAIN
SHORTLY AFTER TEST DRIVING AND BUYING A USED 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT ENGINE HESITATION PROBLEM WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT MAY NOT OCCUR FOR MANY MILES OF SLOW-AND-GO TRAFFIC BUT, WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT IS SHOCKING BECAUSE THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COMPLETELY DIE FOR UP TO 3 OR 4 SECONDS. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHILE TURNING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY OR CROSSING A HIGH SPEED INTERSECTION.I THIS HESITATION PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AT RANDOM REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ENGINE OR THE WEATHER IS COLD OR WARM. WE LEFT THIS CAR AT A KIA DEALER FOR SEVERAL DAYS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE HESITATION PROBLEM. THE ENGINE HAS HESITATED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10859776April 15, 2016
ENGINE
ON APRIL 10, 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON 270W IN STL DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALLED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTACT AAA TO COME TOW MY VEHICLE AS IT WOULD RESTART BUT THEN DIE AGAIN WITHIN 1 MINUTE. UPON TAKING TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THE MECHANICE DETERMINED THROUGH A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND A NEW ONE WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL COST TO FIX THIS ISSUE WAS $964 WHICH I FELT WAS ROBBERY. MY VEHICLE HAS 76K MILES ON IT AND HAS ALL REGULAR MAINTANCE AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. I SEE THAT THESE EXACT SAME ENGINES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATA AND THAT THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ENGINE BUT YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND FUEL PUMP ASAP SO OTHERS WILL NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF THIS SITUATION. I AM JUST THANKFUL I DID NOT HAVE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT FROM THIS OCCURENCE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855442April 14, 2016
ENGINE
ON MARCH 23, 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON 422W IN PA DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALLED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTACT AAA TO COME TOW MY VEHICLE AS IT WOULD NOT RESTART. UPON TAKING TO MY LOCAL SERVICE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION NOTHING WAS OUTWARDLY WRONG EXCEPT VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. MECHANICE DETERMINED THROUGH A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED AND A NEW ONE WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS 108K MILES ON IT AND HAS ALL REGULAR MAINTANCE AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. I SEE THAT THESE EXACT SAME ENGINES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATA AND THAT THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ENGINE YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND HOPEFULLY SAVE ANOTHER FAMILY FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF THIS SITUATION. I AM JUST THANKFUL NO ONE HAS HAD A TRAGIC ACCIDENT FROM THIS OCCURENCE. I ALSO FIND IT AMAZING THAT WHEN CALLING KIA TO GET A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL OF THESE ENGINES HAVE BEEN SENT OUT IMMEDIATELY TO COVER THE HYUNDAI RECALL.....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855265April 13, 2016
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO STOP. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855299April 13, 2016
ENGINE, STEERING
THE FIRST THING WOULD HAVE TO BE THE STEERING WHEEL LIKE IT HAS BEEN NOTED BEFORE WHEN YOU SIT STILL IT HAS A CLICKING SOUND. AND ALL DRIVING THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MILES AN HOUR IT STICKS AND YOU HAVE TO JERK IT BACK WITCH IS NO SAFE I HAVE HAD IT ALIGNED MANY TIMES BUT DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS 112,113 MILES ON I TAKE CARE OF REPLACE THING THAT NEED TO DONE AND OIL CHANGES EVERY 3,000 WELL AFTER I HIT THE 100,000 MARK MY CAR SOUNDS LIKE IT HAS NO OIL .. ARE I HAVE SEEN ON THE INTERNET THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR RPMS ARE REALLY HIGH BUT THERE NOT ... IT STARTS WHEN I'M GOING 20 MPH ANOTHER THING THAT IS WEIRD WHEN I'M TURNING LEFT THE NOISE GOES AWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855364April 13, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, WITHOUT ANY WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE AND WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854994April 12, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER ROLLING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10855180April 12, 2016
SUSPENSION
KIA HAS ISSUED A RECALL (09V183000) HOWEVER IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE STATE IN WHICH I RESIDE, BUT ALL BORDERING STATES TO THE EAST, WEST, AND NORTH. I'M IN KY AND STATES LIKE OH, IN, IL, WV, ARE INCLUDED. I'M HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE LISTED IN THE RECALL HOWEVER AS THEY HAVE SELECTED TO COVER ONLY SPECIFIC STATES I'M LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS NOW INOPERABLE. THE SUB-FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED THE TIRE AND SUSPENSION TO BREAK FREE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854924April 11, 2016
AIR BAGS
ONE MORNING I TURNED THE CAR ON AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT GONE OFF! ; (
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854280April 8, 2016
STEERING
WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854424April 8, 2016
STEERING
AS REPORTED IN MANY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS, WHEN I DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL GETS "STUCK" AND STIFFENS AND JERKS, REQUIRING ME TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK TO CENTER SO THAT I CAN DRIVE STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS AND VERY TIRING. THE KIA SERVICE MANAGER SAID THIS IS THE WAY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING IS SUPPOSED TO WORK AND I HAVE TO "LIVE WITH IT". I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 4 YEARS, HAVE 33,000 MILES, AND THIS PROBLEM ONLY JUST STARTED. THE KIA USA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AGENT SAID THERE'S NOTHING KIA CAN DO, IT OPERATES AS DESIGNED. HE SAID MANY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS LOVE THE WAY THE ELECTRONIC STEERING HANDLES. REALLY? WHAT'S TO LOVE ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING OF YOUR CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65-75 MPH??? THIS IS A TRAVESTY ON KIA'S PART. I NOTICE THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEB SITE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND ZERO INVESTIGATIONS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE TO INITIATE AN INVESTIGATION? DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A MAJOR AUTO ACCIDENT TO GET ANYONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A DESIGN PROBLEM?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10854496April 8, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS EXTREMELY DIM, PROBLEM REVIEWED BY DEALER. NO RESOLUTION. SEEMS A ELECTRICAL SITUATION. SAME PROBLEM NOTED BY MANY OTHER 07 OWNERS. PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME. ONLY LOW BEAM AFFECTED. REVIEWED BY MANY DEALERS WITH NO SOLUTIONS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS VIRTUALLY NO LOW BEAM LIGHT EMITTED . BULBS HAVE BEEN CHANGED. CIRCUITS CHECKED BY DEALER.... NO CHANGES IN PROBLEM. NEED A SOLUTION... NO LIGHTS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853734April 6, 2016
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD AREA NEAR THE VEHICLES ANTENNA WAS FRACTURED AND DETERIORATING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ONLY THE FIRST LAYER ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS FRACTURED AS LARGE THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853890April 6, 2016
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT STICKS AND IT TAKES A BIT OF FORCE TO BREAK IT FREE. IT IS ALSO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. YOU MUST CONTINUOUSLY KEEP ADJUSTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO STAY IN YOUR LANE. I DID SOME SEARCHING AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T INK THIS IS SAFE AND SHOULD BE FIXED. I TOLD THE DEALER ABOUT IT, BUT THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY MECHANICAL ISSUES AND MAYBE IT WAS THE ALIGNMENT. I HAD ALREADY HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED, WHICH WAS OK. THEY SAID MAYBE IT WAS THE TIRES. I BOUGHT NEW TIRES WHICH DIDN'T HELP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT 1.5 YEARS, BUT DIDN'T REALLY DRIVE IT A LOT ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS ISN'T NEARLY AS NOTICEABLE WHEN DRIVING AT IN TOWN SPEEDS, JUST AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853458April 5, 2016
POWER TRAIN, STEERING, WHEELS
I HAVE A KNOCKING SOUND IN MY STEERING WHEEL. THE NOISE HAPPENS WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. ALSO, I HAVE NOTICED AN ODD GRINDING/SLIPPING SENSATION IN THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WHEN I ACCELERATE ON A RIGHT TURN FROM DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS. PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ON A "DECLINE" WHILE ACCELERATING TO THE RIGHT TO ENTER TRAFFIC IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. 73,000 MILES CURRENTLY BUT I'VE NOTICED THE GRIND/SLIP A LOWER MILEAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853588April 5, 2016
STEERING
HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALOT OF FREEPLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE NOISE IS PROGRESSING. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING BUT IT IS NOW GETTING WORSE. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO KIA FOR MY OIL CHANGES AND HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WORNG, WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET MY OIL CHANGE ON SATURDAY 4/2 THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES AND I TOLD THEM I MENTIONED IT TO THEM WHEN MY CAR HAD LESS THEN 100,000 AND HE THEN SAID IT DOESN'T COVER THE STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853256April 4, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CONSTANTLY BLOWING THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS. HAVE REPLACED 4 BULBS IN 4 MONTHS. ON 04/03/16 I LEFT TO START MY CAR TO GO HOME AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM TO DISCOVER I HAD NO LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS AND MY HIGH BEAM WOULD NOT STAY ILLUMINATED UNLESS I HELD THE LEVER THAT CONTROLS THE HEADLIGHTS. BOTH BULBS ARE OUT AGAIN! THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852580March 30, 2016
POWER TRAIN
WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING. AT FIRST IT ONLY DID IT ONCE OR TWICE WITHIN A MONTH SO IT WAS HARD TO DUPLICATE. RECENTLY IT STARTED GETTING CONSISTENT. IT WOULD JERK HARD WHEN PUTTING IT IN GEAR OR PARK. ALSO GOING DOWN THE ROAD IT SHIFTED REALLY HAD LIKE SOMETHING WAS SLIPPING. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS IN THE MORNING OR AFTERNOON. TWICE THIS WEEK, IT DID IT EACH TIME I WENT SOMEWHERE. THE SHIFTS WERE SOMETIMES SHORTER AND MORE OFTEN. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS MAYBE SLIPPING OR NEEDED FLUID. I TOOK IT IN AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THEY REPLACED TRANY TEMP SENSOR, CODE P0711. THERE WAS NO CODE ON THE DASH, THEY HAD TO CHECK IT IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WORKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10852577March 30, 2016
STEERING
WHILE TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THEY DID A 360 CHECK AND NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD PLAY IN IT AND MADE A CLICKING NOISE ABOUT A QUARTER TURN EACH DIRECTION. IT IS A PLASTIC GEAR PIECE THAT IS SMALLER THAN A QUARTER, PICTURE WILL BE ATTACHED. THEY SAID IF I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED IT WOULD GET EVENTUALLY WORSE BY WEARING OUT THE TIRES OR ALIGNMENT SO I HAD IT REPLACED. THEY HAD TO TAKE APART THE STEERING WHEEL TO REPLACE IT. IT WAS 20 FOR THE PIECE BUT WITH LABOR MY BILL WAS 181.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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