Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10318420March 10, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND ACTIVATED THE OPENING OF THE REAR TRUNK WHEN SUDDENLY THE RADIO UNIT BEGAN TO FUNCTION FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE SECONDS. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO THE "DRIVE" POSITION, WHILE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE HE WAS ABLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 6,835.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315566March 2, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN HE PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THEY INFORMED HER THAT WHENEVER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE, THE FOUR WHEELS HAD TO BE IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR ELSE IT WOULD NOT START. THE KIA MANUFACTURER WAS NEVER CALLED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7895.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315256March 1, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IN JULY 2008 THE LEFT FRONT DOOR LATCH MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED ON MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THIS MALFUNCTION MADE IT UNABLE TO BE UNLOCKED. AS THE LOCKING FUNCTION OF THIS MECHANISM WORKS BY MOVING THE LATCH OPENING LEVER OUT OF POSITION, THIS MALFUNCTION MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE OCCUPANT TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM INSIDE. THIS PRESENTS A HAZARD TO THE OCCUPANT IN CASE OF CRASH OR FIRE. THE LATCH WAS REPLACED WITH A REPLACEMENT UNIT. IN DEC 2009, THE REPLACEMENT LATCH MALFUNCTIONED AND HAS EXHIBITED THE SAME CHARACTERISTIC PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT HAD THE $ TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS SHARED BY MANY KIA AND HYUNDAI OWNERS. I HOPE MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE NEVER IN A CRASH AND CANNOT EXIT THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10313547February 24, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCKED AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK MANUALLY OR WITH THE REMOTE. THE DRIVER HAD TO GET OUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE AND REAR DOORS WILL OPEN BUT NOT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. ALL FOUR DOORS WILL LOCK AFTER YOU GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE EVEN IF THE KEYS ARE IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO HAVE A POLICE OFFICER OPEN THE DOOR WITH A SLIM JIM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312807February 22, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING MY 2006 KIA OPTIMA, I NOTICED A DISTINCT "CLUNKING" SOUND EMANATING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION EVERY TIME I ENCOUNTERED A SHARP BUMP IN THE ROAD. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT "THEY ARE ALL LIKE THAT." I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS A SATISFACTORY RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311989February 19, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
KMC'S RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. SC075 THE SUB FRAME ON OUR KIA OPTIMA 2001 HAS RUSTED THROUGH THIS CAUSED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AND STRUT TO COLLAPSE INWARD PINNING THE WHEEL AT 45 DEGREE ANGLE AND DAMAGING THE TIRE. THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. KIA SAYS THEY WILL ONLY HONOR THE DAMAGES IN A NORTHERN STATE.... THAT USES ROAD SALT BUT WE LIVE ON THE GULF COAST THAT IS ALSO A SLAT HAZARD AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312001February 19, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTMA. THE FRONT SUB-FRAME RUSTED AND CRACKED IN HALF, AND IT COLLAPSED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRS, SINCE THE STATE OF TEXAS WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 09V183000, SUSPENSION FRONT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000. UPDATED 05/07/10. *LJ UPDATED 09/14/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311766February 18, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT A KIA OPTIMA A FEW MONTHS AGO AND RECENTLY IT HAS DEVELOPED A DANGEROUS SHIFTING PATTERN WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST ABOUT 20MPH IT JERKS THE !@#$%'.OUT OF YOU AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE BRAKING AT THE TIME YOU MEET A SNAP FROM SEAT BELT AS YOU FLY TOWARDS WINDSHIELD CAUSING SEVER NECK AND BACK PAIN THIS IS GETTING WORSE , DEALER WILLING TO FIX BUT KIA IS IGNORING THE ISSUE AS I HAVE HEARD OF OTHERS HAVING SAME PROBLEM , I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER ITS PROBABLY JUST COMPUTER ORIENTED BUT KIA HAS TO AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR , CONTACTED KIA AND AS EXPECTED THERE COMPUTER WAS DOWN AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10311912February 18, 2010
AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311204February 17, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AS SHE WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SO THAT IT COULD BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WOULD REPLACED PARTS ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUE TO SHUT OFF. THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE KIA MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THEY DO NOT COVER ANY PARTS THAT ARE NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY. VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311430February 17, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES
I HAVE BEEN REFUSED THE REPAIR ON MY 2004 KIA BY NO LESS THAN 3 DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THE RUSTING FRONT END BECAUSE OF LACK OF RUST PROOFING. IT MADE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE 4 MONTHS AGO AND I HAVE HAD NO SATISFACTION. YOU ARE GOING AFTER TOYOTA WITH BOTH BARRELS YET YOU ARE LEAVING KIA ALONE AND I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT SERIOUS EXPENSES AND PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2004. I HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AT CONTACTING YOUR OFFICE WITH NEGATIVE REPLIES. IF I DO NOT HERE FROM THIS AGENCY IN THE NEAR FUTURE CONCERNING MY ISSUES I WILL CONTACT THE MEDIA AND SEEK MY RESTITUTION THROUGH THE SQUEAKY WHEEL GETTING THE GREASE METHOD AND MY ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT ASSIST WILL BE PART OF THAT DISCUSSION. PLEASE PUT HEAT ON KIA TO GET AGGRESSIVE WITH THE RECALL REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310988February 16, 2010
VISIBILITY
THE BACK WINDOW OF MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA JUST BLEW OFF MY CAR, WENT AIRBORN AND HIT THE ROAD SHATTERING IT IN A ZILLION PIECES. THEIR WAS A VEHICLE BEHIND ME AND THANK GOD IT DID NOT LAND IN THEIR WINDSHIELD. THE GLASS COMPANY WAS HERE TO INSPECT AND THEY SAID THAT THE GLASS HAD BEEN GLUED ON TOP OF THE SEAL AND WASN'T INSTALLED CORRECTLY AT ALL. THAT IS WHY IT FLEW OFF LIKE IT DID. IT IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I CAN NOT GO WITHOUT MY VEHICLE. THEY WILL NOT COME TO MY HOUSE AND INSTALL THE WINDOW HERE, THEY INSIST THEY HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THEIR DEALERSHIP. ALL I WANT IS REIMBURSEMENT OF MY COST OF REPLACING THE WINDOW WHICH WOULD BE CHEAPER FOR THEM IN THE LONG RUN ANYWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310527February 15, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
06 KIA OPTIMA POWER DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS; ONCE LOCKED THE KEY WILL NOT WORK TO OPEN DOOR CORRECTLY, NEITHER WILL THE DOOR OPEN MANUALLY FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER CONTACTED BUT WILL NOT FIX PROBLEM ALTHOUGH VEHICLE IS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES OVER WARRANTY. THROUGH PERSONAL RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND WELL KNOWN DEFECT. PROBLEM EXISTS IN THE DOOR LATCH (AKA DOOR CHECKER) PER KIA. THIS DEFECT ASSIGNS TO THIS VEHICLE THE TITLE OF " DEATH TRAP". THE FACT THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED AND KIA FORCED TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM IS APPALLING AND CASTS DOUBT ON THE SERVICE OF THE NHTSA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310540February 15, 2010
VISIBILITY
BOTH SUN VISORS HAVE FAILED WORKING AND WILL DROP DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR MISUSED THEM IN ANY WAY. THEY JUST SNAPPED UPON OPENING. MANY COMPLAINS HAVE BEEN POSTED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT'S TIME SOMEONE STEPS UP AND REPORTS THIS BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310383February 14, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOES NOT ALWAYS ACTIVATE WHEN AN ADULT SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. EVEN WITH AN ADULT WEIGHING ABOUT 115 POUNDS OCCUPIES THE SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10308946February 12, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEYLESS REMOTE WOULD NOT UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE LATCH ON THE VEHICLE FAILED NOT THE KEYLESS REMOTE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS GIVEN HIM A NEW KEYLESS REMOTE THAT BEGAN WORKING NORMALLY AND THEN IT FAILED AGAIN. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE LATCH ON THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS TO DATE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,537. UPDATED 3/10/10 *CN UPDATED 08/18/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307433February 8, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
INDICATOR LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG HAS IRREGULAR PERFORMANCE. CAN'T DEPEND ON OPERATION OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. HAVE MADE 4 OR 5 COMPLAINTS WITH DEALER AND NO RESOLUTION. LOOKING AT INTERNET IT APPEARS THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS MODEL YEARS ON THE KIA OPTIMA AND OTHER MODELS WITHIN THE KIA FAMILY. WOULD LIKE TO HAVE RESOLUTION PRIOR TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT WITH SOMEONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG DOES NOT FUNCTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307595February 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY CAR DOORS DO NOT OPEN EITHER INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED WITH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND NOW IS AFFECTING MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL AND WILL HAPPENS RANDOMLY. THE PASS. DOOR IS NOW 100% AFFECTED AND THE DRIVERS SIDE JUST STARTED TODAY. SO THE END RESULT IS I AM LOCKED INSIDE MY CAR UNLESS I CRAWL THROUGH THE WINDOW. I GOOGLED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND APPARENTLY THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT THERE IS NOT A RECALL AND BECAUSE MY CAR IS A 2004 (WITH ONLY 39,000 MILES) THEY WILL NOT COVER IT. I TOLD HIM HOW DANGEROUS THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS AND HE REALLY DIDNT SEEM TO CARE. II ASKED HIM WHO ISSUES RECALLS AND HE SAID IT WAS YOUR ORGANIZATION, WHEN I SAID THAT I WOULD CALL YOU TO TRY AND GET A RECALL HE THEN SAID "WELL YOU COULD BRING IT INTO KIA AND SEE WHAT THEY FIND, ALTHOUGH NO GAURANTEE I WOULD GET IT PAID FOR BY THEM EVEN THOUGH IT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY KIA CARS. I THEN TOLD HIM I WOULD BE CONTACTING YOUR ORGANIZATION AND HE DIDNT SEEM TO HAPPY. * WHEN MY PASSENGER DOOR STARTED WITH THIS PROBLEM APPROX. 2 MONTHS AGO I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I SHOULD ADD THAT THE NEAREST KIA DEALER IS APPROX. 2.5 HOURS ONE WAY AWAY FROM ME. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306470February 5, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BROUGHT A NEW 2006.5 KIA OPT. AT LESS THAN 3000 MILES PARKING LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON WHEN CAR WAS OFF, AUTO LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF, DASH LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER. TOOK TO DEALER ABOUT 4 TIMES AND THEY JUST PLAYED WITH THE SWITCHES AND SAID NOT TO WORRY. AT ABOUT 5500 MILES AND A DAY AFTER THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNER SHIP THE CAR WAS DEAD AND NEEDED A TOW. NEW BATTERY.TWO LATER SAME THING, THEN AGAIN 4 WEEKS LATER, REPLACED LIGHT SWITCH AND DID WIRING REPAIRS, I NOW HAVE 23500 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE HAD OVER 12 TOWS OR JUMP STARTS. THIRD BATTERY, FUSE BOX, ALTERNATOR AND OTHER REPAIRS. IN 12/2009 WITH 23000 MILES IT DIES AGAIN 4 TIMES IN 3 WEEKS AND HAD TO BE TOWED, ANOTHER NEW BATTERY. SOMETHING UNKNOWN IS DRAINING THE BATTERY AND THEY CAN'T FIND IT. AM WORRIED THAT CAR WILL DIE OUT WHEN DRIVING IT OR THE LIGHTING WILL ALL GO OUT CAUSING ME TO CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306126February 4, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I WAS LEAVING FOR SOME TIME OFF OF WORK TO GO BACK TO WISCONSIN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DRIVER DOOR LOCKED ON ME AND I COULD NOT GET IT OPEN. I TOOK IT TO A DEALER AND THEY HAD TO TAKE THE DOOR OFF TO FIX IT. THEN IT ONLY REMAINS FIXED FOR ABOUT 3-4 TIMES AND IT LOCKS ON ME AGAIN AND THEN I HAVE TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE AND GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS OVER 60,000 MILES AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEN I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. COMMON SENSE TELLS ME THAT IF IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN DON'T YOU THINK THAT IT IS A DEFECT OF SOME SORT AND THE COMPANY KIA SHOULD BE LOOKING AT A RECALL. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE? A NICE LAW SUIT. I TOOK MY CAR WHERE I GET MY OIL CHANGED AND THEY AGAIN OPENED THE DRIVER DOOR SO TO UNLOCK THE DOOR SO IT COULD BE OPENED. WELL, AGAIN IT UNLOCKED FOR 3-4 TIMES AND LOCKED UP AGAIN, SO NOW I AM OUT MONEY AND THE [XXX] DOOR STILL DOES NOT UNLOCK SO I CAN USE THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THIS PRESENTS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE! CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *JB 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

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