Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10640273September 30, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO LATCH AND LOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD ONLY ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BY USING ANOTHER DOOR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE LOCK ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640298September 30, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. UPON ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS INDEPENDENTLY LOCKED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOORS FAILED TO UNLOCK IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639695September 29, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A USED KIA OPTIMA IN MARCH 2012, BUT HAD, WHAT I THOUGHT WERE "GRABBING" BRAKES. I TOOK IT IN WHEN I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN TSB-067. I HAD THE CAR ANALYZED, AND FOUND IT HAD THIS SHIFTING ISSUE. I HAD THE REPROGRAMMING DONE AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, THEN NOT ONLY DID THE DOWNSHIFTING ISSUE START BACK UP AGAIN, BUT NOW HAVE ACCELERATION ISSUES AS WELL. NOW THE VEHICLE "LOPES" ON ACCELERATION - SOMETIMES A LOT . I CONTACTED KIA ABOUT IT, AND THEY SAID I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK FOR DIAGNOSIS YET AGAIN, AND THEN THEY WOULD THINK ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE SECOND SERVICE APPOINTMENT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON IT YET. IT IS DESTROYING MY TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF THE "BANGING" OF THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE EXTREME DOWNSHIFTING OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639814September 29, 2014
ENGINE
MY HUSBAND AND I USED A PREMIUM OIL FILTER (NOT KIA), AND A FEW WEEKS LATER HAD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP UP THE STREET AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE WE USED AN OIL FILTER THAT WAS NOT KIA, THE FILTER CAUSED METAL IN THE ENGINE WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT TO ME IN 6 YEARS, NOT ONE PIECE STATED THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO USE A KIA OIL FILTER. THE SHOP THAT I ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO HAD TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND STATED THAT THERE ARE BULLETINS OUT THAT ARE ONLY AROUND 2 YEARS OLD. WHILE SPEAKING WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO GO TO A KIA DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHICH STATED THE SAME THING. NOW, THE KICKER, THEY WILL NOT HELP IN FIXING THE ENGINE BECAUSE I AM OVER THE 100,000 MILE MARK. ON TOP OF THAT, I AM NOW CHARGED A TOW BILL AND MORE DIAGNOSTIC FEES ON TOP OF WHAT I ALREADY PAID IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR EITHER (SINCE THEY REQUIRED THE CAR TO BE AT A DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE). I CALL THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS LADY THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALL UNTIL I CALL THE 800 NUMBER AND TELL THEM I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE OR I WILL BE GOING TO THE LOCAL MEDIA AS WELL AS ANY SOCIAL MEDIA AVENUE I CAN. THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WILL ALSO NOT HONOR THE "ENGINE FOR LIFE" THAT I SIGNED UNLESS I CAN PROVIDE ALL RECEIPTS FROM THE LAST 5 YEARS ON ANY MAINTENANCE THAT I DID ON THE CAR OUTSIDE OF A DEALER (AIR FILTER, ETC). I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MARRIED AND THE ACCOUNT CLOSED. AND - WHO KEEPS THEIR RECEIPTS FOR 5 YEARS ON AIR FILTERS?? THIS IS NOT ONLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR A LOYAL CONSUMER, BUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT YOU "AGREED" TO AND SIGNED UPON PURCHASE NOT BEING HONORED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639351September 26, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED HOWEVER, THE ILLUMINATION WAS EXTREMELY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT BOTH HEAD LAMPS OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE REFLECTOR TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639417September 26, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, A STRONG ELECTRICAL BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THAT THE STARTER AND ASSOCIATED FUSES WERE COMPLETELY BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO RECOMMENDED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639209September 26, 2014
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN VISORS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE FAILED TO REMAIN CLOSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT BOTH SUN VISORS WERE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638606September 24, 2014
POWER TRAIN, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN LEAVING A STOP SIGN .RED LIGHT OR A DRIVE WAY . SOME TIMES THE CAR WON'T GO WHEN GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED.HAS A DELAY OF ABOUT 2 SECONDS .HAVE TO FLOOR THE GAS PEDAL TO MAKE IT GO. VERY BAD WHEN OTHER CARS ARE BEHIND ME. BOUGHT CAR MAY 30 2014 . HAD 5 OR 6 INCIDENTS ALREADY. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM CAN'T GET IT FIXED. SUSPECT ECONOMY SYSTEM IS PROBLEM. THE INTERNET HAS SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638668September 24, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638736September 24, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT FLICKERED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW DAYS THEN CAME ON PERMANENTLY. I LATER HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000, AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY. THAT ONLY COVERED KIA 2006 THRU 2008. IT APPEARS THAT 2009 SHOULD BE INCLUDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638311September 23, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND A LADY PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT SO I WOULD AVOID HITTING HER. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I SMACKED INTO A POLE. FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW AND WHY I HAD SO MUCH DAMAGE TO MY CAR WHEN I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH. I FINALLY REALIZED THAT THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP MY CAR EVEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JULY 10, 2013 AND ONE YEAR LATER ON THE SAME DAY JULY 10, 2014 MY BRAKES FAILED ON MY CAR WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A GATE TO OPEN. I HEARD A TERRIBLE CRUNCHING NOISE, A WARNING SIGN CAME ON SAYING HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP THE CAR WAS TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE SAME WARNING SIGN CAME ON DURING THE ACCIDENT. I REMEMBER MY CAR WOULDN'T STOP AND ACTUALLY SEEMED LIKE IT GAINED A LITTLE SPEED. I HIT THE POLE AND THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T STOP SO I HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT. I SAT THERE IN SHOCK OVER WHAT HAD JUST HAPPENED. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HIT THAT POLE AND WHY THERE WAS SO MUCH DAMAGE TO MY CAR. NOW I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED. IT WAS DUE TO MY BRAKES NOT WORKING THAT DAY. ON JULY 10, 2014 WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME, I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP DOWN THE STREET AND THEY KEPT IT FOR 7 WEEKS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR SO I PICKED IT UP. I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS STILL WRONG WITH IT BUT THEY WOULDN'T LISTEN TO ME. NOT EVEN 1K MILES LATER THE BRAKES WENT OUT FOR THE 3RD TIME. THIS TIME KIA PICKED UP SEVERAL ERROR MESSAGES. THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR AND ITS BEEN 4 WEEKS. THEY SAID THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC POWER UNIT. THIS IS WHAT THEY TOLD ME 2 WEEKS AGO AND ITS STILL NOT DONE. THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR TO DRIVE AND I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT ANYMORE! *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638362September 23, 2014
ENGINE
DRIVING VEHICLE AT 35-40 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN ENGINE STOPPED. THERE WAS HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SMELLED OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. SMOKE DISSIPATED AFTER 15 MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN TURNERSVILLE NJ. SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP ON 9/23 AND WAS TOLD STARTER AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638485September 23, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
OUR VEHICLE STARTED ONLY UNLOCKING THE 3 PASSENGER SIDE DOORS, WHEN USING THE KEYFOB TO UNLOCK. THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL STAY LOCKED AND YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK VEHICLE WITH KEY. NOW 2 OF OUR OTHER DOORS(BOTH REAR) DONT UNLOCK. ALL THE DOORS DO NOT LOCK WITH THE KEYFOB AND WHEN WE PUSH THE LOCK BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS, WHICH IS A PAIN IN THE BUTT WHEN YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638154September 22, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TRAVELING 25 MILES AN HOUR ON A ROAD AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AT A RED LIGHT. THIS HAPPEN ONCE BEFORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. LUCKY THEY CAR IN FRONT OF US RAN THE RED LIGHT TO KEEP US FROM HITTING THEM. BUT ON THE 8TH OF THIS MONTH MY SISTER USED MY CAR FOR HER DRIVERS TEST, SHE TRIED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR HER TEST. THE MAN TESTING HER SAID IT DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX THIS. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM SHOULD FIX IT OR REPLACE THE CAR. THIS COULD CAUSE A WRECK THAT COULD KILL OUR FAMILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638161September 22, 2014
STRUCTURE
WATER LEAK CAR ROOF TO BODY SIDE WELD NEVER SEALED AT FACTORY, CAUSE EXTENSIVE MOLD DAMAGE. CEILING REPLACED, CARPETS , KIA DEALER UNABLE TO FIND REPLACEMENT BACK SEAT CAN'T REPAIR, MOLDY SMELL. CERTIFIED MOLD EXPERT SAID ENTIRE INTERIOR OF CAR NEEDS REPLACED, AND AIR TESTED BYE A CERTIFIED EXPERT ($2000). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633609September 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KEY FOB WAS PLACED ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO ENABLE FEMALE ADULT TO PLACE CHILD INTO SAFETY BOOSTER SEAT. KEY FOB WAS LEFT ON ROOF BY ACCIDENT, BUT THE CAR WAS STILL ALLOWED TO START. THE CAR GAVE NO AUDIBLE WARNING THAT THE KEY WAS STILL OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN 10 MILES. IN THE INTERVENING TIME, THE KEY FOB FLEW OFF THE TOP OF THE CAR AND WAS LOST. NO AUDIBLE WARNING WAS GIVEN TO THE DRIVER THAT THE KEY LEFT THE CAR'S PROXIMITY. UPON ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION, THE FEMALE ADULT AND HER CHILD WERE STRANDED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633816September 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, FROM EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE LOCKING MECHANISM WILL NOT UNLOCK, LEAVING NO EASY ACCESS OR EXIT TO OR FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS IS QUITE A HAZARD AS THE OPERATOR COULD BECOME TRAPPED IN THE CAR IN AN EMERGENCY (AND THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR SOME YEARS NOW AS BEING VERY COMMON TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR). WHY HAS NHTSA BEEN IGNORING THIS PROBLEM? *TR....UPDATED 12/09/15 *BF UPDATED 08/30/2017*CT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633437September 15, 2014
AIR BAGS
I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 05 THRU 08 ON THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE FRONT AIRBAG. MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I GUESS MINE IS NOT COVERED. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID MINE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BUT IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY IF THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM ISN'T IT COVERED. I GUESS THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INJURY OR DEATH BEFORE ITS COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632687September 12, 2014
STEERING
VEHICLE DRIFTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. VERY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE. CONSTANT CORRECTIVE STEERING REQUIRED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632888September 12, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER'S DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK WHEN TRYING TO ENTER THE CAR AND IT DOES NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE MANUALLY EITHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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