Kia Optima Complaints (2007)

167 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10562477February 1, 2014
VISIBILITY
THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND THE VISOR WILL NO LONGER STAY UP. THIS BLOCKS VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I SEARCHED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FIND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA AND ALSO HYUNDAI THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO KIA REPLACES THESE VISORS BEFORE THEY BREAK AND EVEN AFTER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. IF THE VISOR BREAKS WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING IT CAN CREATE A HAZARD AS THEY DRIVER CAN'T SEE OR NEEDS TO HOLD THE VISOR UP WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547349October 9, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS BURN OUT REPEATEDLY. AT LEAST ONE OF THEM BURNS OUT EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542253September 6, 2013
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN ON IT'S OWN. THEN IT JUST CUT RIGHT OFF ON ME. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ...TO NO AVAIL.....THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING GOING ON.....I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT HE FELT IT WAS EITHER THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR...HE REPLACED THE STARTER FIRST AND THEN TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD CEASED AND I WOULD NEED A NEW OR REBUILT ON PUT IT. I HAD JUST CHANGED MY OIL A WEEK OR TWO AGO...SO IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THAT...SO I'M HOPING BY WRITING THIS SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO IT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT LESS THEN A YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535335August 14, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PLACED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY SEIZED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE IGNITION KEY BEGAN TO TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532929July 31, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER SIDE VISOR CEASED TO REMAIN UPRIGHT WHEN FLIPPED UP OUT OF THE WAY. ONLY WAY TO KEEP FROM BLOCKING MY VIEW WAS TO FLIP IT OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR. KIA NEVER RECALLED THIS ITEM, BUT IT HAS FAILED ON THOUSANDS OF THEIR VEHICLES. DEALER WANTED OVER $500 TO REPAIR. INSTEAD, I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR $206.50. I ORDERED THEM AND REPLACED THE VISORS MYSELF--I SEARCHED AND FOUND DIAGRAMS FROM KIA'S PARTS INVENTORY AND FOUND POSTS ONLINE FROM OTHERS WHO'D HAD TO REPLACE THEIRS WHO EXPLAINED THAT YOU POP OFF THE OVAL-SHAPED PIECE HOLDING THE ARM OF THE VISOR WITH A BUTTER KNIFE (SLIP IT UNDERNEATH) OR FLAT-BLADE SCREWDRIVER TO ACCESS THE SCREW UNDERNEATH AND UNSCREW TO REMOVE THE OLD VISOR AND SCREW IN THE NEW ONE IN ITS PLACE. MY CAR WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND YET ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON IT (I ALTERNATE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE); THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO SOON. GIVEN THAT SO MANY OF THESE FAILED SO EARLY ON, KIA SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THEM FREE AND THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO'VE ALREADY REPLACED THEM OR HAD THEM REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532102July 27, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
AFTER REGULAR USE, BOTH SUN VISORS HAVE LOST THEIR TENSION. ALSO ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE CYLINDER THAT CLIPS INTO THE HOLDER AT THE TOP JUST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF. THEY WILL NOT STAY UP, AND JUST FLOP AROUND. I CAN NOT SEE WHEN I AM APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT IF IT IS RED/YELLOW/ETC.IF I PUSH IT TO THE SIDE , IT HITS ME OVER THE SIDE OF THE HEAD WHEN I MAKE A TURN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING HERE. TO REPLACE BOTH WOULD COST ME ABOUT $200 OR MORE, WHICH I SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526155July 22, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
PASSENGER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT FOLD UP OUT-OF-THE-WAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF TENSION PREVENTING THE VISOR FROM BEING PLACED IN THE FOLD-UP POSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524990July 15, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, THE LIGHTS ARE SO BAD AT NIGHT, THAT YOU CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE ON DARK ROADS AT ALL . NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET, ONLY DRIVE AT NIGHT AND VERY SCARED, CAREFULLY ONLY IF IT IS NECESSARY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN USED CONDITION, ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW, HAD THE LIGHTS REPLACED AND WORKED ON BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER FORTY YEARS WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES BUT THIS ONE IS THE ONLY ONE IN MY LIFETIME THAT HAS EVER HAD A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE OF, ITS DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE OUT WALKING AT NIGHT, ANIMALS, AND TO THE DRIVER W/PASSENGERS. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, BORROWED THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS CAR, SO DISAPPOINTED IN IT, DID NOT PERSONALLY EVEN OWN A CAR UNTIL NOW. MY DREAM WAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE VACATIONS AND LONG TRIPS IN MY LATER YEARS BUT THIS HAS PUT AN END TO THAT DREAM. I KNOW I WANT BE ABLE TO GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER, BUT WOULD LIKE TO LET OTHERS KNOW BEFORE THEY PURCHASE A 07 KIA OPTIMA, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, FOR ALL TO BE AWARE AND DO NOT BUY A CAR UNTIL YOU'VE DRIVEN IT AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524603July 12, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524225July 10, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT REMAIN UPRIGHT, IMPAIRING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ALSO BEGAN TO PRESENT THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SUN VISORS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522645July 1, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALL OF A SUDDEN DOES NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IT JUST HANGS OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR KIA OPTIMA'S. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $200 TO REPLACE IT AND I DID NOTHING TO BREAK IT. I JUST USE THE VISOR NORMALLY AND DO NOT HANG ANYTHING FROM IT. I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ONE DAY AND IT JUST FELL DOWN. MY CAR IS A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS OLD SO IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I JUST FINISHED PAYING IT OFF SO THIS IS VERY UPSETTING. I FEEL THAT IF THE DRIVER'S VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED THEN IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW WORKING PART. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVE WITH THE VISOR DOWN ALL THE TIME. IT GETS IN THE WAY. MANY PEOPLE PROBABLY DO NOT REALIZE THEY CAN REPORT THIS ISSUE SO I AM PROVIDING SOME LINKS FOR FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE STATING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. PLEASE REPORT THIS ISSUE. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/KIAMOTOR/OPTIMA/WIPER-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2006/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SUN_VISORS_WILL_NOT_STAY_FOLDED_UP.SHTML HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/KIA/OPTIMA/VISIBILITY/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521357June 24, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SRS LIGHT STAYS ON.... TALKED TO DEALER.. THEY SAID KIA HAVEN'T RECALL THIS PART YET. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENOR IN THE SEAT NEED TO BE RESET. VEHICLE CAN'T PASS INSPECTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10515939June 10, 2013
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 KIA OPTIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I CAME TO A STOP. ONCE MY OPTIMA CAME TO A STOP, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY WIFE AND I GOT OUT. ONCE WE DID, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH SENT BURNING SHRAPNEL OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR ERUPTED IN FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514538May 31, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON/ WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10514129May 29, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS WOULD FALL FROM THEIR HOUSING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUN VISORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,450. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10505469April 3, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BACK TURN SIGNAL, BACK LIGHTS AND FRONT LOW BEAMS CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BY PROFESSIONALS AND CONTINUE TO BLOW. I WOULD GUESS THERE IS A SHORT SOME PLACE. RECENTLY THE RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, HAD IT REPLACED AND IT BLEW FUSES. ONCE THE FUSES AND RELAY SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED THE LEFT LOW BEAM LIGHT WILL WORK IF THE RIGHT ONE IS DISCONNECTED. I HAVE COME ACROSS MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THIS IS NOT A COMMON ISSUE, AND WANT $115 TO RUN TEST. ALSO THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEAT/AIR MAKES LOTS OF NOISE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHEN ITS COLD OUT THE CAR MAKES LOTS OF SQUEAKING NOISE AND I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT'S IS "NORMAL". I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2008 I HAVE APPROX 67,800 MILES AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES 3 TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504988March 29, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
BOTH SUN VISORS ARE UNABLE TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO USE BOTH VISORS AS THEY WOULD HANG LOOSELY DOWNWARD FLAPPING ABOUT AIMLESSLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO ANCHOR THEM TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO DRIVE. DEALER STATES COST TO REPAIR IS ALMOST $500.00 AND THEY NEED MY CAR FOR THE DAY. PARTS MUST BE ORDERED TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10504177March 22, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
BOTH SUN VISORS BROKE AND WILL NOT OPERATE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10496212February 2, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND DOESN'T REMAIN IN A LOCKED POSITION. WHEN I TRY TO MOVE IT TO THE LOCKED POSITION AGAINST THE CEILING, IT FALLS DOWN INTO CLEAR SIGHT. THIS IS GREAT WHEN THE SUN IS IN YOUR EYES, BUT NOT DURING ALL OTHER TIMES. IT SEVERELY DECREASES VISION WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND KIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED NO RESOLUTION OR RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE SUN VISOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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