Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10838955February 29, 2016
POWER TRAIN
MY KIA OPTIMA (2011) HAD STARTED A TICKING ENGINE NOISE AT AROUND 90K MARK AND NOW IT'S ESCALATED TO A LOWER END WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPARTMENTA T ABOUT 92K IT WAS NORMAL NOISE OF CAMSHAFT AND I ONLY NOTICED IT UNDER LOADS AND HIGHER ELEVATION ON OVERPASSES. I HAVE BEEN USING MOBIL1,FULLY SYNTHETIC MOTOR OILS AND A K&N OIL FILTERS. THIS LAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT WAS GETTING LOUDER.AND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I ASKED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THAT MY WIFE'S 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT WAS GETTINGI TS OIL CHANGED@ AND YES WITH MOBIL1, AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT A RECALL ON THE MOTOR PLANT IN ALABAMA THAT SUPPLIES THE ENGINES OF BOTH FOR THOSE YEARS MODELS HAD AN METALLIC FRAGMENTS LEFT UN ENGINE AT MANUFACTURER OF ENGINE AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL. SO I CALLED KIA CONSUMER PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY APPARENTLY HAVE HIDDEN BEHIND THE RELOCATION TO THE GEORGIA PLANT AND SAID THAT MY CAR IS KOREAN DUH SO THAT MEANS THAT THE ENGINE IS KOREAN. WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND MACHINE SHOPS BOTH HAVE SAME PARTS JUST A DIFFERENT PART # SO IT WILL AVOID A RECALL BUT THAT IS SPLITTING UP THE DIVISION OF BRANDS NOT THE PLACE WHERE MY KIA ENGINE WAS MADE IN ALABAMA AND SO WAS THE SONATAS. JUST DIFFERENT NUMBERS. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE OUT THE BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE LAW AND ORDER OF FAITHFUL OWNER'S OF THE KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM KIA AND IM IN NEED OF THE NHSTA TO GET INVOLVED. AND DO AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE HYUNDAI AND KIA MOTOR PLANTS RECALL FOR YOU AND ME THE CONSUMER PRODUCTS SAFETY COMMISSION NEXT STEP I GUESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838965February 29, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838698February 26, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSNGER SEAT SENSOR MAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838024February 24, 2016
ENGINE
LAST WEEK, DURING AN OIL CHANGE, I WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION COOLER HOSE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TWO NEW ONES. IN ADDITION TO THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE COOLING SERVICE WHICH WOULD BE A TOTAL OF ABOUT $200. NO TELLING HOW LONG THE CAR WAS WITHOUT COOLANT, BUT MY CAR HAS NEVER OVER HEATED. COINCIDENTALLY, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE KIA/2011 FOR THE SAME ISSUE! I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING KIA WOULD OVER IF IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHICH IT MOST LIKELY SHOULD BE BY LOOKING AT ONLINE REVIEWS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838045February 24, 2016
ENGINE
BLOWN ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837709February 23, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WON'T OPEN, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNLOCKED. THE CAR COULD BE ON OR OFF WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837745February 23, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT HAD A HARD START. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE ACCELERATION AND THE PEDAL STIFFENED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837354February 21, 2016
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH STEERING WHEEL AT 12 O'CLOCK POSITION, THE STEERING WHEEL FEELS LIKE IT IS STUCK OR LOCKED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE MINOR STEERING CORRECTIONS. I HAVE TO SOMEWHAT JERK THE WHEEL AT WHICH TIME THE STEERING APPEARS TO WAKE UP AND RESPOND. IT FEELS AS IF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE SHUTS DOWN GIVING THE FEELING OF A LOCKED/STUCK STEERING WHEEL. BY JERKING THE WHEEL TO "WAKE UP" THE STEERING IT CREATES AN OVER COMPENSATED STEERING CORRECTION ISSUE AND A CONCERN FOR SAFETY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837391February 21, 2016
STEERING
WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND APPEARS VERY LOOSE WHERE I HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL ALMOST AN EXTRA 1/8-1/4 TURN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AND THEN SEEMS TO LOCK UP AT SPEEDS OF 55-60. I FIRST NOTICED THIS ABOUT A YEAR AGO BUT AFTER TODAY THE KNOCKING NOISE BECAME WORSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837282February 20, 2016
AIR BAGS
I WAS INVOLVE IN A BAD ACCIDENT WITH 10K IN FRONT END DAMAGE AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND HALF OF THE AIR BAG SENSOR CAME APART IN THE DAMAGE
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10837286February 20, 2016
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS!!! HARD TO STAY IN YOUR LANE AND OVER CORRECTING HAPPENS EVERY DAY. JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSES. WHERES THE RECALL???? I'VE GOT BIDS FROM $450-$650 TO FIX THIS CRAP. KIA WILL COST PEOPLE THEIR LIVES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837205February 19, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE OIL. SHE NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS VERY DARK AND HAD A BURNT SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10837219February 19, 2016
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE STEERING WHEEL EMITTED A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND VIBRATED WHILE TURNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10836972February 18, 2016
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA EX THAT HAD A SIX YEAR, SIXTY THOUSAND MILE FULL WARRANTY AND A TEN YEAR, ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. AT SOME POINT AFTER THE SIX YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED, BUT PRIOR TO THE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND MILE WARRANTY EXPIRATION, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO " DETERMINED INTERNAL FAILURE TO PASSENGER SEAT MAT $1875 TO REPAIR..." I DECLINED THE REPAIR DUE TO THE COST AND VALUE OF THE CAR AT THAT TIME. I AND SUGGESTED THAT THE COST OF REPAIR SHOULD BE ABSORBED BY KIA. I CALLED THE KIA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY COMPLAINT WOULD BE REVIEWED BY MANAGEMENT AND THEY WOULD CONTACT ME REGARDING THEIR DECISION. I SUBSEQUENTLY HEARD BACK FROM KIA THAT THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO CONTACT THE DEALER AND SEE IF THEY WOULD PROVIDE SOME SPECIAL DISCOUNT ON THE PURCHASE OF A NEW CAR. THIS WAS NOT A FEASIBLE ALTERNATIVE AT THE TIME. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS A MAJOR SAFETY MALFUNCTION, AS INDICATED BY A BRIGHTLY ILLUMINATED WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH. THIS NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THE PASSENGER BUT DEPRECIATES THE VALUE OF THE CAR BY 50%. I REALIZE THAT MANY SYSTEMS ON AN AUTOMOBILE OVER THE YEARS, HOWEVER, THIS PARTICULAR MALFUNCTION IS UNACCEPTABLE. I THINK THE RECENT RECALL OF MILLIONS OF AUTOMOBILES FOR AIRBAG FAILURE, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR MILEAGE, DEMONSTRATES KIA'S CULPABILITY IN THIS CASE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU MAY PROVIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10836751February 17, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY FOR THE REPAIR DUE TO EXCESSIVE SLUDGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10836330February 16, 2016
STEERING
THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE STEERING OF THE CAR WHEN IT GETS TO 45MPH AND HIGHER. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AT THE 12:00 POSITION AND TAKES A GOOD AMOUNT OF FORCE TO JERK IT OUT OF POSITION WHICH RESULTS IN THE CAR JERKING AT LEAST 2' TO THE SIDE YOU HAVE TO JERK IT EVERY TIME. YOU CAN'T DRIVE IT LIKE A NORMAL CAR AND IT'S NOT SAFE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE TAKEN IT INTO KIA MULTIPLE TIMES TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED AND THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. CORPORATE EVEN CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND IT IS ACTING "NORMALLY". IT IS NOT THE WAY WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE LETTING MY WIFE DRIVE HER CAR WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD IN IT ON THE HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10836493February 16, 2016
AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL AIRBAG LIGHT FOR FRONT PASSENGER WAS ILLUMINATED. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO PUT IT ON DIAGNOSTIC UNIT FOR $95 & GOT LIGHT TO GO OFF FOR NOW BUT STATED THAT THE SEAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED TO REPAIR IT AT A COST OF $1700.00. APPARENTLY THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL. OWNER HAS THE BILL FOR THIS DIANOSTIC SERVICE & ESTIMATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825834February 12, 2016
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK TIRES, TIRE LINE: OPTIMO H431, AND TIRE SIZE: 225/45/R18V. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXHIBITED BUBBLES ON THE SIDE WALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS OF THE TIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS 11,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825899February 12, 2016
VISIBILITY/WIPER
PASSENGER SUN VISOR STOPPED WORKING AND STAYS DOWN AFFECTING VISIBILITY ON RIGHT SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10825548February 11, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS LOOK LIKE FLASHLIGHTS WITH WEAK BATTERIES, YOU CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT 6 FEET IN FRONT OF CAR. THE LENS ON THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CLEAR LIKE NEW ONES, BUT THE HEAT FROM THE BULBS DESTROY THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT. THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IS WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. WHEN YOU GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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