Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10595005May 29, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD BOTH FRONT DOORS HAVE FAILED LATCHES IN THE LAST YEAR. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS YOU WILL GO TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT FORCE OR NOT AT ALL. I WENT 2 MONTHS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO OPEN MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, AND NOW I JUST KEEP MY DOORS UNLOCKED ALL THE TIME SO I DON'T NEED TO DEAL WITH IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594402May 27, 2014
TIRES
ON NOV 22ND MY SON WAS DRIVING IN DETROIT AT 11PM WHEN THE BACK PASSENGER TIRE BLEW. WENT TO THE TRUNK TO GET THE SPARE AND THAT'S WHEN WE DISCOVERED IT DIDN'T COME WITH A SPARE. NEXT DAY GOT IT TOWED AND PAID 234$ FOR A NEW TIRE. ON DEC 21ST, HUSBAND DRIVING HOME LATE HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND BLEW THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. GOT IT TOWED AND AGAIN 234$ FOR A NEW TIRE. ON MAY 25TH WAS DRIVING MY STEPSON HOME AND BLEW THE SAME FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. IT TOOK OVER 3 1/2 HOURS FOR THE TOW TRUCK AND SINCE IT WAS A HOLIDAY WEEKEND I WAS WITHOUT A CAR FOR TWO DAYS. AND THIS TIME IT ONLY COST ME 211$ CUZ I HAD A COUPON. 3 TIRES IN 6 MONTHS IS NOT RIGHT! THERE'S 2 OTHER DRIVERS AT MY HOUSE AND THEY HAVEN'T HAD PROBLEMS WITH DRIVING ON THE ROADS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593565May 23, 2014
STEERING
VEHICLE IS HARD TO HOLD STRAIGHT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE STEERING LOCKS INTO A POSITION AND REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. THIS CAUSES MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FATIGUE ON LONGER TRIPS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593389May 22, 2014
SEAT BELTS
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I UNBUCKLED MY SEATBELT AND THEN LEANED FORWARD TO PICKUP SOMETHING OFF THE FLOOR. WHEN I STARTED TO RELEASE THE SEATBELT AND THE SHOULDER STRAP PULLED MY HEAD INTO THE HEAD REST MY MY NECK. THE MORE I PULLED THE SEATBELT TO LOOSEN IT, THE TIGHTER IT GOT. NOTHING HELPED. FINALLY MY FRIEND WHO HAD BEEN DRIVING, REMOVED THE SIDE PANEL AND THEN REMOVED THE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE SEATBELT TO RELEASE MY NECK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592425May 19, 2014
STRUCTURE
I CAN NOT OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592244May 18, 2014
STEERING
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW WITH ONLY 7 MILES, IS HARD TO KEEP ON A STRAIGHT TRACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SLIGHT CORRECTIONS HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY MADE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR GOING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. THIS DRIFTING WILL HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE WIND BLOWING OR THE TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE, IT IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE CAR. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY ONE, BUT I CHALKED IT UP TO THE NEW TIRES NEEDING TO BE BROKEN IN. NOW THE CAR HAS 12,000 MILES AND TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND THE ISSUE IS STILL THERE. I'VE DRIVEN ENOUGH CARS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. NOW I FIND OUT THAT MANY OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME STEERING ISSUE. KIA/HYUNDAI CORPORATE NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THIS STEERING ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592152May 17, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I WAS PARKED IN A SECURED POLICE PARKING GARAGE THAT NO ONE HAS ACCESS TO EXCEPT POLICE OFFICERS. UPON GETTING INTO MY CAR, PLACING IT INTO DRIVE AND BEGINNING TO MOVE FORWARD OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE GLASS SHATTERING. I EXITED MY VEHICLE TO FIND THAT MY SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED INTO THOUSANDS OF PIECES. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT STRUCK THE GLASS THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. UPON DOING RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE KIA VEHICLES SUNROOFS HAVE. KIA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS TELLING ME THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHICH DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER TO KIA. KIA IS TELLING ME THAT THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED BECAUSE THERE WAS AN OBJECT THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. I TOLD THEM THAT I WAS IN THE VEHICLE BARELY MOVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588878May 16, 2014
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWAY ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588564May 15, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE BOUGHT OUR KIA WITH LESS THEN 10 MILES ON IT, RIGHT OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR, WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMPS (TOTAL TO DATE 5/15/2015) 15 TIMES, BOTH REAR TURN SIGNALS BULBS AND REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD WHEN EVER THE PASSENGER SEAT WOULD BE MOVED AND NOW THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD FLICKERED DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LAST NIGHT AND REMANDS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588601May 15, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR. I PUT THE BRAKES ON BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE SPEED. THIS IS ALL HAPPENING GOING IN REVERSE. I CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING NEXT TO THE PARKING LOT. THE FLOOR MAT WAS SEATED PROPERLY AND YES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10588664May 15, 2014
POWER TRAIN
ON 5-4-14 I WAS DRIVING FROM WISCONSIN WHEN WE DECIDED TO STOP AT WAL-MART, WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR A PERSON TO MOVE OUT OF ITS PARKING SPOT, MY OPTIMA START TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN I HAD MY FOOT IN THE BRAKE, MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THEN THE ENGINE START RACING UP THE RPM WERE VERY FAST (WAS IN NEUTRAL), AT THE MOMENT A LADY AND HER SMALL KID WERE CROSSING IN FRONT OF MY CAR, GOD KNOWS WHAT IT WOULD HAPPENED IF I WOULDN'T MOVE THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME LAST YEAR IT DID THE SAME THING IN JULY WHEN I WAS AT THE STOP SIGN , THE SECOND TIME WAS THIS YEAR IN JANUARY WHEN I CAME BACK HOME FROM WORK THEN I WAS PARKING WHEN THE CAR STARTING ACCELERATING BUT I WAS HOLDING UP WITH CONCRETE BAR ON THE GROUND THAT IS IN MY PARKING LOT, AT THAT TIME I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, BUT IT WAS NOT MUCH OF CONCERN BECAUSE I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR IN THE STREET. NEXT DAY (5-5-14) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CONTACTED KIA TO REPORT THIS ISSUE, ON MAY 7 AT 4:20 PM A GENTLEMAN FROM KIA HIS NAME WAS [XXX] CALLED ME TO GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND TOLD HIM EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AND GAVE A CASE #2706364, THEN ON 5-7-14 ANOTHER GENTLEMAN FROM KIA CORPORATION CALLED ME, HIS NAME [XXX], AND TOLD ME THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF MY CASE NOW AND WILL CALL ME TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THIS, WELL HE DIDN'T CALL SO I CALLED HIM BACK ON 5-15-14, (10 DAYS LATER), HE TOLD ME HE WAS WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL HIM, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED BY ED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY WERE DOING SOME TESTS, HE CALLED ME LATER SAYING THAT HE TALKED TO [XXX] IN KIA CORPORATION AND HE GAVE 11 POINT OF INSPECTION TO DO. SITUATION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA TO AVOID ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS THAT COULD CAUSE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES. 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
#10588733May 15, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON 5/15/14 AT APPROX. 0430AM, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WITH MY RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. BECAUSE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR MOVED LESS THAN TWO FEET. I THEN PLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL, WHERE THE MOTOR REV'D TO APPROX. 7000 RPM. I THEN IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND THEN BACK ON. AFTER TURNING IT BACK ON, THE CAR THEN RESUMED NORMAL FUNCTIONS. LATER THE SAME DAY I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICEMAN, A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587615May 10, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
MY TIRE HAD STARTED BENDING INWARD AT THE TOP, AND OUTWARD AT THE BOTTOM. MY CAR STARTED GOING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP, AND THEY FOUND OUT MY SUB FRAME WAS RUSTED AND WORN OUT. THEY ALSO FOUND OUT THAT THE SUB FRAME HAD BEEN RECALLED IN 2009, BUT APPARENTLY NOT ON MY EXACT VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587361May 9, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE TRAVELING FROM KNOXVILLE TN.WE NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WHILE TRAVELING ON I-75.AS WE CONTINUED ON THE SMELL WENT AWAY.WE REFUELED IN SWEETWATER TN. AND CONTINUED ON.AT A REDLIGHT IN MADISONVILLE WE NOTICED THE SMELL AGAIN.I PULLED INTO A WENDYS PARKING LOT AND CHECKED BENEATH THE HOOD.THERE WAS NO GAS SMELL OR LEAKS.WE CONTINUED ON TO HWY 68.NEAR FARNER TN. THE CAR HAD A HOT SMELL AND WITHIN A FEW SECONDS WENT UP IN FLAMES.WE PULLED ONTO A SIDE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE.THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS, AND THE CAR DID NOT MISS OR SHUT OFF.NO WARNING WHATSOEVER.WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUT ONLY.FLAMES CONSUMED THE CAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER WE EXITED THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587450May 9, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY FOB, KEY OR MANUALLY. YOU ARE LITERALLY LOCKED IN THE CAR AND CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR TO GET OUT. THIS IS HORRIBLY DANGEROUS AND IF YOU WERE IN AN ACCIDENT YOU COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR. PLEASE HELP GET A RECALL ON THIS PART. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587529May 9, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER DOOR FAILS TO UNLOCK WHEN REMOTE IS PRESSED TO UNLOCK BUT WILL UNLOCK ALL OTHER DOORS. THE DRIVERS DOOR AND ALL OTHER DOORS WILL LOCK WITH REMOTE BUT ONLY THE DRIVERS DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587006May 7, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, HE HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE AND AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN VERIFIED THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE SUN ROOF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,369. UPDATED 06/12/14 UPDATED 07/15/14 MA UPDATED 07/18/2014*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587008May 7, 2014
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
ALL 4 HANKOOK OPTIMO 225/45/18 TIRES THAT CAME WITH MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX VEHICLE DEVELOPED A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL WITHIN 18 MONTHS. DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS AND ADVICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AROUND THE 2 YEAR POINT FROM PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585835May 1, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD ONGOING ISSUES IN WHICH THE CAR GOT "STUCK" AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH, EVEN IF I "FLOORED" IT. I HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE GAS PEDAL, WAIT A FEW SECONDS (BY THEN THE CAR WOULD BE DOWN TO 10-15 MPH), THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, WHICH SOMETIMES TOOK SEVERAL TRIES. I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARNING AND IF YOU SUDDENLY STOP MOVING AT THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC WITH NO INDICATION YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN, YOU COULD EASILY BE HIT. IN ONE CASE, I WAS TRYING TO PASS A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE GOING 25 IN A 40. I ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND THE VEHICLE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRETTY LOW-SPEED PASS, AS I ONLY NEEDED TO GET UP TO ABOUT 35 MPH, BUT THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AT 25 AND I COULD NOT GET PAST. I HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, WAIT, TRY AGAIN, AND REPEAT THIS A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS BECAME A VERY SCARY SITUATION BECAUSE BY THAT TIME, THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING AND I WAS LITERALLY STUCK IN THE PASSING LANE. I ALSO HAD THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY LOSE POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY URBAN INTERSECTION. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH PROBLEM, AND IT COST ALMOST $800 TO GET IT FIXED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I JUST HAD BAD LUCK, BUT I LATER FOUND THIS MESSAGE BOARD IN WHICH PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME MODEL DESCRIBE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/FAULTY-THROTTLE-POSITION-SWITCH-355 ACCORDING TO THIS, KIA RELEASED A PART TO FIX THE SITUATION. IT SEEMS THAT LOSING ALL POWER/THE INABILITY TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC POSES A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. IT BOTHERS ME THAT KIA APPARENTLY KNOWS ABOUT IT AND WOULD JUST ISSUE A NEW PART THAT COSTS OWNERS SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPAIR (COST PROHIBITIVE TO MANY PEOPLE), RATHER THAN ISSUING A RECALL, OR AT LEAST NOTIFYING OWNERS OF THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585944May 1, 2014
STEERING
I RECENTLY FILED 2 COMPLAINTS WITH YOUR OFFICE BUT WOULD NOW LIKE TO AMEND OR RETRACT THESE. AFTER A LITTLE MORE THAN 1K ON THE ODOMETER I FIND I AM BECOMING MORE USED TO THE ELECTRIC (MDPS) TYPE OF STEERING. I ALSO BECAME MORE AWARE THAT AS MY SPEED INCREASED THE STEERING ALSO BECAME MORE NOTICEABLY TIGHTER AND ALSO RETAINED BETTER TRACKING. WITH MY HANDS OFF THE WHEEL, AND NO OTHER CARS AROUND, IT WAS MOST OBVIOUS THAT THERE WERE NO ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS OR A SENSE THAT MY CAR WOULD SOON BE SWAYING INTO A DITCH. HOPE YOU FIND THIS HELPFUL. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima