Kia Optima Complaints (2006)

155 consumer complaints on file.

#10182994February 20, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA,,,THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT TURN ON WHEN A PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT. MY WIFE WAYS 170 SO THIS IS WELL ABOVE A 130 LB LIMIT I HAVE READ ABOUT BUT NOT VERIFIED. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT QUITE FREQUENT THOUGH. 9 TIMES IN LAST 2 DAYS...TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO ACT UP AND NO CODES IN COMPUTER. THOUGH I HAVE WITNESSED THIS MALFUNCTION AT LEAST 100 TIMES NOW IN THE LAST MONTH. I TOLD THEM THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THEY SAID THEY CANT JUST THROW MONEY AT IT HOPING TO REPLACE THE BAD PART BY LUCK AS THE SENSORS ARE $1200.00 A PIECE AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WERE 5 SENSORS IN THE SEAT. I THEN TOLD THEM THAT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THE CAR WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I BOUGHT IT, AND NOW IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE, I CANT TRUST IT TO PROTECT ANY PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183060February 20, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 5 MPH, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE ICY. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYED ON. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A KIA DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 7558. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED A GROUND WIRE WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10179048January 18, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* - ON 11/8/06, THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE OIL PUMP EXPLODED AND CRACKED THE ENGINE BLOCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE VEHICLE IS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS 10,123 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHORT BLOCK ON THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK ON 12/11/06 AND ON 12/14/06 THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE HEAD WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARS A TAPPING NOISE, THE VEHICLE RUNS ROUGH WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178425January 11, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE AT 25 - 35MPH, HE EXPERIENCES AN ILLUMINATION PROBLEM WITH HIS LEFT HEADLIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT OPERATING CORRECTLY, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT CASTS A DARK SHADOW, WHICH HAMPERS HIS ABILITY TO SEE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A PROBLEM WITH HIS CAR, BUT WITH ALL OF THE KIA MODEL CARS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD SPOKEN WITH KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA CORPORATION ON 01/11/2007 AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER FOR HIS COMPLAINT (K1266127). KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA HAS ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN ALL OF THE MODELS AND IS UNCORRECTABLE, AND THAT THE VEHICLE MEETS FEDERAL STANDARDS, AND THEREFORE A RECALL IS NOT IN ORDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MUST BE TAKEN OUT ON A DARK ROAD AND A LEFT TURN MADE TO SEE THE SHADOW FROM THE HEADLIGHTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176400December 18, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED HE PURCHASE A 2006 KIA OPTIMA ON 11/30/06, WITH 377 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AT PURCHASE. THE CONTACT STATES THAT AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICE THAT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE NO ONE IS IN PASSENGER SEAT THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SOMEONE IS IN PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. HE SAID THAT THE AIRBAG IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE HAS INFORMED DEALERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ORDERED THE PART. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED HIM AND TOLD HIM TO BRING VEHICLE IN TODAY EVEN THOUGH THE PART WILL NOT BE IN UNTIL AFTER CHRISTMAS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DEALERSHIP HAS ORDERED THE PADDING FOR THE CUSHION ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT STATED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NHTSA SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176057December 13, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN PUMPING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL BLEW BACK OUT OF THE GAS TANK, AFTER THE AUTO SHUT OFF VALVE ON THE PUMP HANDLE STOPPED. THE SALES/SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER SIX ATTEMPTS AND WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AN OFFER TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE WAS MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174859December 1, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE A PASSENGER WEIGHING 125 POUNDS WAS PROPERLY RESTRAINED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE ADVANCED AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE, WHICH INDICATED A LACK OF AIRBAG PROTECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE DEALER REFERRED TO THE VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL WHICH INDICATED IN SOME INSTANCES WITH LIGHTER PASSENGERS, THE ADVANCED AIRBAG SYSTEM MAY NOT BE ACTIVE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE ADVANCED AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS FUNCTIONING ACCORDINGLY TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS AND ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174219November 25, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WE PURCHASED A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA A FEW MONTHS BACK. THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A FEATURE, THE DE-ACTIVATION OF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN THE SEAT IS VACANT. MY WIFE WEIGHS ABOUT 104 LBS AND DOES NOT ALWAYS ACTIVATE THE SWITCH AS INDICATED BY THE FACT THE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT GO OFF, AND THEREFORE IS UNPROTECTED IF THERE WAS A FRONTAL CRASH. THE DEALER CHECKED AND INDICATED THAT THE SWITCH IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. SOMETIMES SHE CAN GET THE INDICATOR TO GO OFF BY MOVING AROUND AND/OR BOUNCING ON THE SEAT. THE OTHER FUN FACT IS THAT WE CAN BE RIDING ALONG AND THE INDICATOR WILL COME ON OR IF IT IS ON IT WILL SOMETIME TURN OFF. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY RHYME OR REASON FOR THE ACTIVATION OR DE-ACTIVATION OF THE SENSOR SWITCH. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE SENSOR SWITCH CAN NOT BE BY-PASSED BECAUSE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173924November 21, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I JUST PURCHASED A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA. MY CONCERN IS WHEN MY WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT; THE AIR BAG DOES NOT ARM. KIA STATES THAT THE NEW STANDARD (NHTSA) STATES THAT ONE MUST BE OVER 130 LBS. IF TRUE, I FIND THAT UNACCEPTABLE. THERE IS NO STATEMENTS WITHIN THE OWNERS MANUAL OR IS THERE A PLACARD ON THE DASHBOARD WARNING ONE MUST BE OVER 130 LBS. SHOULD I HAVE AN ACCIDENT, WHO IS LIABLE, YOU OR KIA. PLEASE LET ME KNOW THE RULES, THE LAW AND IF THIS IS SO, WHAT INDIVIDUAL, FELT INDIVIDUAL LESS THAN 130 LBS DO NOT DESERVE THAT SAFETY FEATURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173863November 20, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
KUMHO RADIAL TIRE ON THE BACK (PASSENGER SIDE) OF A 2007 KIA OPTIMA FAILED AT APPROXMIATELY 70 MPH. THE STEEL BELTS IN THE TIRE BROKE AND THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WALLS. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE TREAT ITSELF, AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT ANYTHING OTHER THAN STRUCTURAL FAILURE (SUCH AS A FOREIGN OBJECT) WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRE'S FAILURE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173827November 19, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
OUR CONCERN RELATES TO THE SAFETY OF OUR VEHICLE. A NICE FEATURE OF THIS CAR IS THE DE-ACTIVATION OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN THAT SEAT IS VACANT; HOWEVER, THERE APPEARS TO BE A MALFUNCTION. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP AS PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS SEATED THERE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN OF OURS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171849October 25, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2006 KIA OPTIMA THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED 2 MONTHS AGO. IT HAS A PROBLEM STALLING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO WORK AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP. ONE OF THE LAST TIMES THIS HAPPENED I ALMOST HIT A BUSINESS SIGN TURNING A CORNER. I BELIEVE THE DEALER AND KIA ARE NOT DOING ALL THEY SHOULD SINCE I WORK THERE. THEY ONLY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE ONE TIME AND ONLY CHECKED A COUPLE OF THINGS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE CAR BUSINESS ALMOST 20 YEARS AND I AM NOT SATISFIED WITH WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. THE FACTORY REP. FOR KIA DID NOT REALLY CARE. HIS NAME IS [XXX]. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. BEFORE I PURCHASED VEHICLE THE DEALER HAD ALREADY HAD TO REPAIR THE FUEL PUMP ON THE VEHICLE. *NM 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
#10170291October 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 200 MILES I STOPPED FOR A MEAL. APPROX. 30 MINUTES LATER I STARTED MY KIA OPTIMA (2006). IT RAN VERY ROUGH THEN STALLED & DIED. I HAD PLANNED TO STOP AT WINERY APPROX. 3-4 MILES FROM CAFE I ATE AT. I STARTED CAR AGAIN. DROVE TO WINERY AND AS I PULLED INTO PARKING SLOT, CAR RAN ROUGH & DIED AGAIN. I WENT BACK TO SHELL STATION ACROSS FROM CAFE I ATE AT. CALLED KIA ROADSIDE ASST. CAR WAS TAKEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN PEORIA,IL. SERVICE DEPT FOUND MISFIRE AND CHANGED CRANK SENSOR. ALSO PERFORMED OTHER TESTS WITH REGARDS TO FUEL PRESSURE, ETC. RETRIEVED CAR THE FOLLOWING SAT 9/30/06. APPROX. 100 MILES LATER THAT DAY ON WAY TO INDIANAPOLIS, WE STOPPED AT MUSEUM. STARTED CAR APPROX. 2 HOURS LATER, CAR RAN EXCESSIVELY ROUGH AT START UP , BUT DID NOT DIE THIS TIME. DROVE BACK TO INDIANAPOLIS. INFORMED KIA AND TOOK CAR TO LOCAL KIA DEALER ON 10/3/06. CAR DID NOT DISPLAY SYMPTOMS UNTIL LATER IN THE DAY APPROX. 2-3 P.M. WHEN I DROVE BACK IN AFTER START UP WHILE RUNNING ERRANDS. SERVICE DEPT DID NOTICE MISFIRE AT THAT TIME. I AM NOW WAITING ON A LOANER CAR FROM KIA, SO MY CAR CAN GO IN FOR TESTING TO FIND PROBLEM. KIA AUTHORIZED WAITING REF#K1230868 ON 10/4/06. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170087October 6, 2006
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON PAVED ROADS, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE HAD A SEVERE VIBRATION AND MADE A ROARING NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE EXCESSIVELY WORN AND THE TREAD WAS SEPARATING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE TIRES WERE HANKOOK, OPTIMO P205/60R16, DOT #T7BKBWH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170085October 6, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, VISIBILITY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS ON DARK COUNTRY ROADS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ADJUSTED TOO LOW TO SEE BEYOND 30 FEET AHEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DESIGNED THAT WAY. UPDATED 11/14/2006 - THERE IS A DARK CURTAIN THAT BLOCKS HALF OF THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN DRIVING WITH THE LOW BEAMS ON THERE ON A DARK ROAD THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SEE MORE THAN 30 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DARK CURTAIN. WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY WITH AMBIENT LIGHT THE CURTAIN IS TRANSPARENT. THE DEALER CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT TO BRIGHTER ONES BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER THE DEALER THOUGHT THIS WAS A PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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