Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10683118February 12, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. IT SHOWS THAT IT'S UNLOCKED. I CAN USE THE KEY AND CONTINUOUSLY PULL THE HANDLE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND IT WAS OPENING. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. TOOK IT TO KIA IN HOLLAND THEY QUOTED ME A MINIMUM OF $300 TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT TOLD ME THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT IT COULD BE. I WILL NOT ALLOW AN IGNORANT PERSON TO TOUCH MY VEHICLE. I CAN AT LEAST TELL YOU THAT IT IS THE LATCH. I LIVE IN MICHIGAN. IF I AM HIT ON MY PASSENGER SIDE AND AM IN NEED OF HELP I MIGHT AS WELL CLOSE MY EYES AND DIE. NO ONE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET ME OUT WITHOUT HAVING TO DRAG ME OUT OF THE WINDOW WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE TO BREAK. THIS COULD EASILY BE AN ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN DEATH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682816February 11, 2015
STEERING
THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM , BUT STEERING CONTROL IS REALLY BAD. AS I AM GOING DOWN THE ROAD,(WORSE AS SPEED INCREASES) THE CAR WANDERS LEFT TO RIGHT WITH NO MIDDLE GROUND. SO IT IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE AS I AM ALL OVER AND NOT JUST PULLING TO ONE SIDE. I HAVE TO KEEP ARMS LOCKED ON STEERING WHEEL TO TRY TO KEEP GOING STRAIGHT AND STILL JUST ISN'T ENOUGH. DEALER SAYS THAT'S WHAT KIAS DO.THIS IS A SERIOUS CONCERN , AS SERIOUS ACCIDENTS WILL CONE FROM THIS AND THE MAKER DOES NOTHING ABOUT IT. LOOKING IN REAR OR SIDE VIEW MIRROR FOR A SECOND AND I CAN BE ON THE VERGE OF THE LANE NEXT TO ME. WHAT WORRIES ME MOST IS I SEE THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR MANY PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS AND NO ONE HAS DONE A THING ABOUT IT. I LOVE THE KIA OPTIMA BUT HAD I KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED..MY FAULT FOR LACK OF RESEARCH, HOWEVER YOU WOULD THINK THE MANUFACTURER WOULD FIX AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR QUITE SOME TIME. THIS HAS TO BE FIXED ALREADY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682455February 10, 2015
WHEELS
WE GOT A NEW KIA OPTIMA SXL 2013. THE TYRES ARE FILL WITH NITROGEN GAS. ON OUR LAST STATE INSPECTION WE WERE TOLD THE THERE WAS 25% LEFT ON THE TREAD OF EACH TYRE & WILL REQUIRE CHANGING SOON. STARTED TO CHECK OUT PRICES IN THE AREA AT ALL THE TYRE MERCHANTS. ONLY TO FIND IN MY HORROR THAT ONLY TWO PLACES IN A 30 MILE + RADIUS CAN DO NITROGEN FILL & THE PRICES ARE HORRENDOUS. IT SHOULD NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT TO SIMPLY CHANGE TYRES ON A CAR. KIA AS WELL AS A LOT OF OTHER NEW CARS DON'T COME WITH A SPARE TYRE, BUT INSTEAD SUPPLY YOU WITH A SMALL COMPRESSOR UNIT. BECAUSE OF THIS DIFFICULTY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO BE FORCED TO CHANGE OVER TO AIR FILLED TYPES, AND BUY A NEW SPARE WHEEL & TYRE FOR THE TRUNK. AT A GREAT DEAL MORE EXPENSE, THAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED. KIA USA ARE BEING OF LITTLE OR NO HELP WHATSOEVER. VERY ANGRY. I AM NOW IN THE STAGE OF MAKING A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS WE IT IS ALSO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ANYONE ELSE IN THE SAME BOAT???? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682650February 10, 2015
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
I STOPPED TO HAVE MY TIRE PRESSURE CHECKED AND THE MECHANICS WERE VERY CONCERNED WITH THE PASSENGER TIRE'S SIDEWALL SEPARATING FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE. THEY HIGHLY SUGGESTED THEY REPLACE THE TIRE WITH THE DOUGHNUT SPARE EVEN THOUGH I WAS ONLYB10 MILES FROM HOME. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES THE BACK PASSENGER TIRE WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. THESE TIRES ONLY HAVE 20,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682178February 9, 2015
ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE NOISE WAS EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10682026February 8, 2015
STEERING
THE STEERING GETS STIFF AND TENDS TO STICK WHEN GOING STRAIGHT THIS CAUSES SLIGHT OVER STEERING BACK AND FORTH CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS TO COME ON WORSE THE LONGER YOU DRIVE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681654February 6, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, STEPPED ON BRAKES AND FRONT FRAME BROKE INTO TWO PIECES, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, NEARLY CAUSED A PILE UP ON THE ROAD. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681555February 5, 2015
STEERING, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED. ALSO, THE SUBFRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680795February 3, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SEPARATED FOR THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION OF THE FRONT BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680973February 3, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING ON I-10 WESTBOUND, KATY TX FREEWAY, TRAVELLING ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING THE CAR TO GO BACK AND FOURTH BETWEEN TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. IN THE PROCESS, I WAS HITTING THE RUBBER DIVIDERS, DAMAGING THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND THE WINDSHIELD. THE BLOWN TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE OIL PAN, THE RADIATOR, AND EVENTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION. I GOT THE CAR TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CAR WAS TOWED OFF THE FREEWAY AND EVENTUALLY PICKED UP AND TRANSPORTED TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE REPAIR SHOP OWNER BOTH AGREED THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD TO BUY A NEW CAR. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680712February 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DOORS (ALL) WILL LOCK AFTER UNLOCKING WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO GET IN. I UNLOCK THE DOOR, EITHER MANUALLY OR WITH THE KEY FOB, WHEN YOU PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR THE DOORS LOCK. YOU CAN PLAY WITH IT AND FINALLY GET IN BUT I'VE HEARD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME THING ON THE SAME MODEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680743February 2, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I GET AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD FORM 2ND GEAR TO 1 ST GEAR HWNE IT IS COLD ...BUT ONCE IT WARMS UP IT IS FINE ...THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT ... IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES ...IT HAS HARDLY BEEN DRIVEN ...I CALLED THE DEALER THEY SAID THE WARRANTY RAN OUT ... I CALLED KIA THEY SAID THE SAME THING ...THIS IS A ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ... THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ... I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS ...IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT ...IT IS SAID THEY DON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS ... I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMAS ...PLEASE DO A RECALL ON THIS MATTER ...IT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND ..THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10680355February 1, 2015
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
I LIVE IN IOWA AND WE GOT 6 INCHES OF SNOW.... WENT TO CLEAN THE SNOW OFF MY CAR WITH THE BRUSH PART OF SNOW BRUSH AND WHILE DOING THAT WAS ALSO WARMING UP MY CAR AND AS I WAS CLEANING OFF THE BACK WINDSHIELD I NOTICED A HOLE IN THE WINDOW..... MY BACK WINDOW NOT ONLY HAD A HOLE IN IT BUT SHATTERED!! HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?!?! I DID NOTHING WRONG!!! NOTHING I HAVEN'T DONE A MILLION TIMES BEFORE AND WHY AM I RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING FOR THIS?!?!? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679365January 28, 2015
STEERING
IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE CAR STRAIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE STEERING STICKS AND IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SMALLEST CORRECTION, YOU HAVE TO OVER-CORRECT. THIS RESULTS IN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN AN S PATTERN. IT IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE AT LOWER SPEEDS. I JUST TOOK A 3 HOUR TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY AND BY THE TIME I FINISHED I WAS EXHAUSTED FROM THE AMOUNT OF CONCENTRATION REQUIRED TO SIMPLY DRIVE THE CAR IN MY LANE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679221January 27, 2015
AIR BAGS, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAD A RECALL ON MY AIRBAG HAD TOOK THE CAR TWICE TO DEALERSHIP TO BE FIX EACH TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIX BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME RIGHT BACK ON AND STILL ON. THEY ALSO NEED TO GO BACK AND DO A FUEL INVESTIGATE ON 2006 MODEL TOO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10678660January 24, 2015
STEERING
THIS IS THE MOST RECENT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF TIMES MY CAR HAS WONDERED INTO ANOTHER LANE OF TRAVEL BY ITSELF. TODAY MY SON AND I WERE GOING OUT TO EAT. THERE WAS A COLD RAIN FALLING, SO THE WINDOWS STARTED TO FOG UP A BIT. I LOOKED DOWN JUST LONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE DEFROST ON AND WHEN I LOOK BACK UP MY VEHICLE IS ABOUT 3/4 INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAVEL AND MY HAND DID NOT MOVE AT ALL!!! HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER CAR COMING IN THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAVEL THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HEAD ON CRASH AND THERE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN FATALITIES TOO, ALL BECAUSE KIA WILL NOT FIX THIS ISSUE THEY KNOW THEY HAVE WITH THE 2013 OPTIMA. THE CAR WONDERS CONSTANTLY SO YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO LOOK IN YOUR REAR VIEW OR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, NOT CAN YOU LOOK DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO TURN THE HEAT OR AC ON WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR WONDERING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT INTO OTHER LANES OF TRAVEL, POTENTIALLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS. ON AND TRIP OF LENGTH, IN ORDER TO PREVENT THIS WONDERING FROM HAPPENING YOU HAVE TO 100% OF THE TIME CORRECT TO THE LEFT AND THEN BACK TO THE RIGHT AND THEN BACK TO THE LEFT AND BACK TO THE RIGHT, ALL THE WAY TO YOUR DESTINATION, AND ALL WITHOUT TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL NO MORE THAN 1 INCH TO THE RIGHT OR 1 INCH TO THE LEFT, SO IN ESSENCE I AM HAVING TO CONSTANTLY STEER THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH WITHIN A 2 INCH RANGE OF MOTION. THERE IS NO CENTERING OF THE VEHICLE AND HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT AND THE CAR STAY STRAIGHT. THERE IS ALWAYS A CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN THE LANE OF TRAVEL. THAT IS HOW SENSITIVE THE EPS IS. IT IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. NOW THERE ARE SEVERAL POST ON THE INTERNET OF KIA DEALERS BEING ABLE TO ADJUST THE SENSITIVITY OF THE STEERING THROUGH THE COMPUTER, AND THESE PEOPLE ALSO SAY THAT INITIALLY KIA TELLS THEM NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. IT APPEARS KIA IS DECEIVING THEIR 2013 OPTIMA OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10681253January 20, 2015
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK, STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS STARTED IN JUNE 2014 DURING THE MID SUMMER. THE TRUNK WOULD COME OPEN WHILE JUST SITTING THERE OR COME OPEN WHILE DRIVING. SO FAR NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT BY IT OPENING UP WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING BUT IT COULD COME OPEN WHILE I AM DRIVING AND IF I WAS TO TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH AND IT WAS TO OPEN IT COULD CAUSE MY BACK WINDOW TO BREAK OR FLY OFF AND HIT ANOTHER CAR CAUSING INJURIES. LAST YEAR DURING THE NIGHT WE HAD HEAVY RAIN THE WHOLE NIGHT AND WHEN I GOT UP IT WAS STILL RAINING HARD AND I NOTICED AFTER GOING OUT THE TRUNK WAS OPEN WIDE. THE MAT IN THE TRUNK WAS SOAKING WET, BACK AND FRONT MATS AND INSIDE WHERE THE TIRE GOES HAD A LITTLE ONE 2 FEET OF WATER. I CANNOT GIVE THE DATES FOR ALL OF THE TIME EXCEPT 4 WHICH WAS ON 10-14-14 WHERE FORD KIA HAD TO REMOVE THE WATER AND DRY OUT PARTS. I WAS STUCK WITH THE BILL IN WHICH I HAVE THE BILL AND IN OCTOBER 8, 17, 24 NOVEMBER 4,12,19,27. DECEMBER 10,15.18 22, 24.31. JANUARY 2015 2, 8,15,17,18. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP HERE ABOUT IT AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE AND I TOLD THEM THAT THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED NEXT DOOR HAD A WIRELESS KEY THAT THEY COULD OPEN, TURN ON MY LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT AND A COUPLE THAT LIVED TWO DOORS DOWN HAD A CAR AND WHEN THEY MOVED IN THAT HE COULD OPEN HIS DOORS AND SUCH WHICH WOULD UNLOCK MY DOORS AND TURN ON THE LIGHTS AND OPEN THE TRUNK AND THEY SAID AT THE SHOP THAT THE FREQ ON MY CAR CANNOT BE CHANGED. IT SEEMS THAT I GOT A CAR THAT MANY OF THE PEOPLE CAN COME AND TRY THEIR KEY AND GET INSIDE AND JUST PUSH THE BUTTON AND TAKE OFF. IT HAPPENS DURING SETTING AND DRIVING SO THE SPEED I CANNOT STATE RIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676703January 20, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,887. UPDATED 04/13/15*LJ UPDATED 11/5/2015*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676266January 18, 2015
STEERING
UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CAR CONSISTENTLY DRIFTS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND RIGHT TO LEFT. STEERING WHEELS FEELS AS THOUGH IT BECOMES LOCKED IN POSITION. AS YOU ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE STEERING, THE STEERING WHEEL RANDOMLY BREAKS FREE CAUSING OVER CORRECTING WHICH COULD VERY EASILY RESULT IN A CRASH. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERS AND THEY SAY THE CAR IS WITHIN SPECS AND YOU DON'T HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON SO THEREFORE THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH IT. THIS IS GOING TO RESULT IN SOMEONE LOSING THEIR LIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676189January 17, 2015
STEERING
I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 22000 MILES. ON MY FIRST RELATIVELY LONG TRIP, I GOT UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAS NO STRAIGHT POSITION. IT NEEDS CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS, EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT (MOSTLY RIGHT ). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED FOR ALIGNMENT DISCREPANCIES, BUT EVERYTHING IS WITHIN MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN UPDATE TO THE ELECTING POWER STEERING MODULE/STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING DESIGN FLAW. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS UNTIL YOU LISTEN, KIA? WE THE PEOPLE CALL UPON THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES TO HELP IN RESOLVING THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima