Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10758898August 24, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS DRAGGING ON THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758899August 24, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS TRYING TO BACK IN BETWEEN2 VEHICLES IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT. AND WHILE DOING SO, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR LUNCHED BACKWARDS WITH A JERKING MOTION, LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO DO 2 DIFFERENT THINGS ATONE TIME, AT FULL RATE OF SPEED AND DOING SO, IT BACKED INTO THE VEHICLE TO MY LEFT, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT HAD A MIND OF IT'S OWN. I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SIGHT, HE INFORMED ME THAT HE HAD SEEN AN ISSUE LIKE THIS HAPPENING ON THE NEWS. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF AND I WENT ONLINE TO REPORT THIS INCIDENT. I WAS NOT HURT AND IF MY COUSIN WASN'T IN THE CAR, I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD'VE BELIEVED ME. I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I'M REALLY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749671August 19, 2015
STEERING
WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TELESCOPING LINKAGE FROM THE RACK AND PION STEERING BUT THE LINKAGE WAS FINE AND TIGHT LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE TECH STATED IT HAS TO BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749374August 18, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VARIOUS DOORS WILL NOT PROPERLY LOCK/UNLOCK FROM THE ELECTRIC SWITCH AND THE KEY FOB. THIS IS AN INTERMENT FAILURE AFFECTING MULTIPLE DOORS IN THE VEHICLE. DIFFERENT DOORS LOCKS ARE FAILING AT DIFFERENT TIMES, BOTH LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. BASED ON MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, THIS AFFECTS A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF 2005 TO 2010 OPTIMAS. THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE OCCUPANTS TO BE TRAPPED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT OR EMERGENCY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749549August 18, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN TRAVELING 30 MPH. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THEY WERE INITIALLY WORKING AND I WAS REDUCING SPEED, HOWEVER SUDDENLY I HEARD A VERY LOUD CRUNCHING/GRINDING NOISE AND I LOST ALL BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. TO STOP THE VEHICLE I HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK. IF A CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO IT. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE I LOST BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY I WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION. IF CARS WERE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION OR IF A PERSON WAS CROSSING THE STREET I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THEM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SINCE I WAS IN THE INTERSECTION I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND THE BRAKES SEEMD TO BE WORKING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THE KIA DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS. PER THE KIA TECHNICIAN THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND THE HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS OR RECREATE THE ISSUE. PER THE KIA TECHNICIAN THEY EXHAUSTED ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. ADDITIONALLY, I CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT IF THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND THAT TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA (NHTSA ID 10638311, 10650553). ONE PERSON CRASHED BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE ISSUES HAVE SPORADICALLY HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO SPORADICALLY LOSE ALL BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND FEAR THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME I CAN LOSE ALL BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY AND CRASH, CAUSING AN INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749310August 17, 2015
ENGINE
THE EVENING OF 8/12/15 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE CITY ROAD, 2 LANES EACH DIRECTION. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER AND IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH SUDDEN DECELERATION AND VEHICLES COMING UP FROM BEHIND. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HIT ME AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. NO ENGINE MAINTENANCE/WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND WILL NEED COMPLETELY REPLACE WITH A NEW ENGINE. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING KIA'S 22,500 MILE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ONLY 16 DAYS PRIOR ON 7/27/15. DAVE GREEN, KIA ARAPAHOE SERVICE MANAGER, INFORMED TODAY (8/17/15) THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS IN THE PAST WEEK. THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE HOT WEATHER. WHAT EVER THE CAUSE THIS HAS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DEATH OR EXTREME INJURY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748435August 13, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED EVEN WITH AN OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,233.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10748540August 13, 2015
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT OR PULL TO THE LEFT. THEN WHEN I DROVE ON THE HIGHWAY AT FASTER SPEEDS I HAD TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAD TO CONSTANTLY FIGHT WITH THE STEERING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN THE CAR WOULD JUST VEER TO THE LEFT AND AFTER PULLING IT BACK STRAIGHT IT WOULD GO LEFT AGAIN. YOU NEVER KNEW WHICH DIRECTION THE CAR WOULD GO. IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH THE STEERING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747724August 11, 2015
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE TOOK A TRIP TO TEXAS TO SEE MY DAUGHTER. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THAT TRIP; WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING ALL ON IT'S OWN... THE 1ST TIME I QUESTIONED IF I HAD ACCIDENTLY BUMPED SOMETHING, THE 2ND ALSO AND THE 3RD ALLOWED IT TO ACT ON ITS OWN AND BEFORE I KNEW IT WAS ALMOST 100MPH. THANKFULLY THE BRAKE ENGAGES.. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR CHECK AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE.. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR THE 5TH OCCASION REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.. I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IF THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN REPAIR..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747459August 10, 2015
STEERING
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, $350 REPAIR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747588August 10, 2015
STEERING
NOTICED IN OCTOBER 2014 THE CAR STARTED DRIFTING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK UP. IT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND NOW I'M HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS TOLD BY MY COWORKER WHO HAS A 2011 OPTIMA THAT HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A PLASTIC GEAR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD COST ROUGHLY $300 TO FIX. UPON RESEARCH WITH THIS ISSUE I HAVE COME ACROSS SEVERAL OWNERS THAT SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH KIA KNOWS ABOUT. I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE BEFORE THIS ISSUE KILLS SOMEONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747305August 9, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
LOUD GRINDING NOISE DEVELOPED IN RIGHT REAR BRAKE. UPON HIS EXAMINATION, MECHANIC FOUND RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FROZEN IN THE ENGAGED OR CLOSED POSITION. ALSO, LEFT REAR BRAKE CALIPER FOUND TO BE FROZEN IN THE DISENGAGED OR OPEN POSITION. IN ESSENCE, BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE! WE WERE DRIVING A CAR THAT ONLY HAD FRONT BRAKES FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. OUR MECHANIC COULDN'T REMEMBER A CASE WHERE BOTH REAR BRAKES WERE INOPERABLE ON A CAR. WE BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM TO BE UNACCEPTABLE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 74,314 MILES AND ONLY 5 YEARS OLD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746724August 6, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY STATED THAT THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG IS CRACKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745882August 3, 2015
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE PARKING INTO A PARKING SPACE THAT FACES A SUPERMARKET BUILDING, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SUDDENDLY ACCELERATES AT AN UNKOWN SPEED , WHILE I AM STEPPING HARDER ON THE BRAKE , AND THE CAR IS NOT RESPONDING CRASHING INTO A PARKING BARRIER POLE FINALLY MAKING THE CAR STOP INCHES FROM THE WALL WHERE PEOPLE GO IN AND OUT OF THE SUPERMARKET, I WAS SCREAMING THE WHOLE TIME WHILE BEING PUSHED RAPIDLY AT AN UNKOWN SPEED FEELING HELPLESS AND SCARED, THE CAR SIDE ARIBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE MAKING THE VEHICLE ALL FULL OF SMOKE INSIDE. THIS IS A COMPLAINT OF A CONCERNED VICTIM FOR A FAULT THAT THE KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAS, SO IT CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE PEOPLE ARE HURT, OR KILLED OUT THERE NEEDLESLY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745242July 31, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE ENGINE DID NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745289July 31, 2015
STEERING
WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND, IT FIRST STARTED WHEN YOU MAKE A RIGHT TURN, NOW REGARDLESS OF WHICH WAY YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745332July 31, 2015
STEERING
CAR STARTED HAVING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, WILL EVEN PULL TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEED RATE. CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING STEERING ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10743944July 27, 2015
SUSPENSION, STEERING
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 55MPH OR HIGHER STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOUD KNOCK AND PULLS LEFT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL IS UNCONTROLLABLE. WHEN IN PARK AND TURNING THE WHEEL IT MAKES THE KNOCKING NOISE ALSO. UPDATED 10/07/15*LJ UPDATED 12/11/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10736205July 24, 2015
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING TO WORK(2013 KIA OPTIMA APPX 32000 MILES) AS I ACCELERATED TO MERGE ON THE INTESTATE, A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST,THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR ANY WARNING, THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE LIGHT TO INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP THEY REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE ON THE ENGINE THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, THIS IS NOT COVER BY KIA WARRENTY,AFTER DOING SEVERAL DAY OF RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY KIA OWNER WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE SLUDGE IS THE CAUSE BUT MOST MECHANIC KNOW THAT SLUDGE IS A SYMPTOM NOT A CAUSE, AND WHAT IS EXCESSIVE 1%OR 5% WHO MAKES THAT DETERMANITION? I HAVE DONE REGULAR OIL CHANGES MYSELF. I CONTACTED THE KIA HOME OFFICE AND AM WAITING FOR A REPLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10735503July 21, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF ABOVE MY HEAD WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ON A BEAUTIFUL CLEAR DAY. ONCE I GOT PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER I OBSERVED A BOWLING BALL SIZED HOLE BLASTED OUTWARD IN THE CENTER OF THE FRONT PANEL OF THE SUNROOF. NOTHING HIT IT. EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. BOOM. LUCKILY THE SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, OTHERWISE THE SHATTERED GLASS WOULD HAVE RAINED DOWN UPON ME AT THE TIME OF THE BIG BANG, AND I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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