Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10731555July 1, 2015
POWER TRAIN
JERKING AND LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN SHIFTING IN PARKING/REVERSE. WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE IT MAKES A JERK AND MAKE A THUD. SAME THING IN DRIVE BUT A LITTLE MORE HARSH. JERKING ALSO JUST WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE AFTER STARTING THE CAR. EVEN WHEN I DRIVE IT WOULD GIVE A JERK A FEW TIMES WHEN SWITCHING GEARS, AND ALSO WHEN I BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN IT DOES IT. I ALSO REMEMBER THE CAR SHAKING ONE TIME WHEN I TURNED IT ON. IT ALSO LOST ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN A 45 MPG AREA. HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT/RESTART THE CAR A FEW TIMES. TAKEN IN TO KIA EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED. LAST NIGHT, JUNE 30, WAS THE FORTH TIME. KIA CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. IT IS SCARY AND UNSAFE AS I FEEL IT CAN CAUSE A REAR-END ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731581July 1, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR LAST FRIDAY AND THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AND THEN SLOWING DOWN. I TRIED TO SPEED UP WHEN IT SLOWED DOWN BECAUSE I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND WAS AFRAID THAT SOMEONE WOULD HIT ME SO IT WOULD SPEED UP AND THEN SLOW DOWN. IT SCARED ME SO I PULLED OVER ON A SIDE STREET SO NO ONE WOULD HIT ME BEING THAT THE CAR WAS DRIVING ERRATIC. I STOPPED THE CAR, TURNED IT OFF THEN RESTARTED IT . ONCE I DID THAT , SAME THING AGAIN SO I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN AFTER I PULLED OVER THE SECOND TIME. THE 3RD TIME , IT STARTED DRIVING NORMAL BUT A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER , I COULD NOT START IT. I HAD TO HAVE TOWED 3 DAYS IN A ROW TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED SOMETHING EACH DAY BUT THE NEXT DAY , THE CAR WOULD NOT START . I AM AFRAID TO GET STRANDED AGAIN AND THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR !!! ITS A 2014. I WAS INITIALLY REAL EXCITED WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE BUT I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING GOING WRONG WITH THIS CAR AND I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10731310June 30, 2015
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED AND A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND WAS HEARD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730966June 29, 2015
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730801June 27, 2015
AIR BAGS
I RECEIVED MY RECALL LETTER FOR THE CLOCK SPRING REPLACEMENT, MIND YOU THE ILLUMINATE LIGHT WASN'T ON, MADE THE APPOINTMENT TO GET THE PART REPLACED FROM MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE TWO HOURS SO I LEAVE THE CAR THERE THEY CALL ME ON MY CELL PHONE RAMPING ABOUT OTHER ISSUE WITH THE CAR WHICH ARE NOT DOT PROBLEMS SO I SAY NO THANKS I CAN HANDLE THEM MYSELF , GO PICK UP THE CAR AND THEY TELL ME THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND THERE'S A PROBLEM AND ITS GONNA COST 110 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM,,, WOULDN'T THIS BE COVERED BY THE RECALL??? WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR MANUFACTURER DEFECT MY PREGNANT WIFE DRIVES THIS CAR SO NEEDS TO BE SAFE, HELP WITH THIS ISSUE SINCERELY THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730513June 26, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAKE WILL VIBRATE/GRIND EXTREMELY BAD UNDER MY FOOT. THE CAR BRAKE DOES THIS EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER GETTING MY CAR, WAS AFTER I HAD IT WASHED. IT ALSO DOES IT WHILE DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED KIA AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ABS SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT MEANS AND IT'S FUNCTION. HOWEVER, I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL ABS PERFORMANCE, AS WOULD ANY OTHER DRIVER. NOT ONLY DOES THIS MALFUNCTION DISTRACT MY ATTENTION WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CONTRADICTS THE PURPOSE OF ABS! IT SCARES ME WHEN IT IS HAPPENING, ENOUGH FOR ME TO LOOSE FOCUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROXIMATELY 28 MONTHS SO FAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730630June 26, 2015
SUSPENSION
REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM RUSTED THROUGH AND BROKE IN HALF CAUSING IT TO DRAG ON THE GROUND AND THE TIRE TO PUSH OUTWARD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730677June 26, 2015
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS EXPLODED WITH A LOUD BANG. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,050.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730207June 24, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
APPROACHING A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES SMOOTHLY, THE BRAKES WILL GRAB AND THE CAR WILL JERK TO A STOP, USUALLY WHEN THE CAR IS GOING LESS THAN 20 MPH. THIS IS MUCH WORSE IS COLD WEATHER. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING, IT NO LONGER OCCURS. WE JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN AUGUST 2014, SO THIS IS THE FIRST WINTER WE'VE HAD THE CAR, SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE PRIOR OWNERS TRIED TO HAVE IT FIXED OR NOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726830June 23, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726369June 20, 2015
AIR BAGS
I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO NOTIFIED NHTSA A WHILE BACK AND NO FOLLOW UP NOR ANY RECALLS. AFFECTED AREA IS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WHICH AFFECTED AND SHOWS AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN SOME IS SITTING ON THE SEAT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726234June 19, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STOP LAMPS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10726237June 19, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN DRIVING ON THE SIDEWALK. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRES EXPLODED AND DESTROYED THE RIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,200. UPDATED 8/31/15*CN UPDATED 10/26/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725870June 17, 2015
SEAT BELTS
REAR SEAT BELTS IN CLOTH SEAT CONFIGURATION DO NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE IN AN EXPOSED POSITION SO THAT A CHILD OR AN ADULT CAN REASONABLY OPERATE IT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A PLASTIC SHEATH THAT HOLD THE BUCKLE EXPOSED SO THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILD SEAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BUCKLE A CHILD IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS USERS WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND OMIT USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725604June 16, 2015
AIR BAGS
I HAVE MY VECHILE FOR A FEW MONTHS I KEPTED UP WITH MANTAINCE. NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND ALL OF SUDDEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WASN'T FOR SURE WHICH SIDE IT WAS FOR SO I GOT IT LOOKED AT AND I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE PASSENGER SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725037June 12, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724566June 10, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10724367June 9, 2015
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CHILD SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT IN A HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLOCK. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE SCISSORS TO CUT AND RELEASE THE CHILD FROM THE SEAT BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10723113June 3, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN YOU PULL ON THE OUTSIDE HANDLE IT WILL MAKE ALL THE DOORS LOCK SOMETIMES. I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED CASE, BUT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLIANTS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR WAS IN A CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10723163June 3, 2015
STEERING
I NOTICED WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY I HAD TO KEEP OVER CORRECTING THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WOULD GET STUCK AND YOU NEEDED TO KIND OF JERK IT TO UNSTICK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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