Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11508498February 22, 2023ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to the residence. The contact who is an independent mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508286February 21, 2023ENGINE
Car burns through 3 quarts of oil per week with just normal usage. Confirmed there are no oil leaks.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508317February 21, 2023POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving down the road the car said it had a major voltage failure and was shutting down. I was in the middle of the street and thankfully was able to coast to the turn lane before the car came to a total stop. since the gas pedal didn't do anything. the car then said there was multiple failures and the hybrid system needed to be immediately shut down. The car then wouldn't start or move after that. about 20 mins later the car like dashboard and screen would turn on but the engine would not. when it turned back on there were even more warnings along with other failures like emergency braking and transmission and the hybrid communication. when the tow truck came and took it it would go into neutral to get on the truck but wouldn't even do that when we got it to the dealership it had to be manually taken out of park to get it off the truck. there were lots of warning lights but the oil, engine, and another light I not sure what it meant were always on even when the others would go away after a while.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508342February 21, 2023ENGINE
2015 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SEIZED AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. AND THERE IS AN UNADDRESSED/OPEN RECALL THAT WAS NEVER REPAIRED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508347February 21, 2023ENGINE
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, there was a knocking noise coming from the engine compartment and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that he was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle failed to restart, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic awaiting the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508125February 20, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The driver side brake light and tail light is out. I have noticed this same problem on a few other Optimas' in my neighborhood about the same year as mine. There is a YouTube video saying it's because of the tail light connector.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508179February 20, 2023ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The 2016 Kia optima lx 1.6t has so many issues. First off, The power windows all stopped working within a week of each other. On the way home from work the check engine light came on and as I tried to accelerate the car started stuttering to go, it ended up jerking as if I was pressing the gas and then brake. I had to get it towed home. There has been oil spilling into other parts of the engine like the intercooler and the throttle body which could mix with gas which is a huge fire hazard. The high pressure fuel pump needs to be replaced. The car will no longer drive, the throttle position sensor needs to be replaced as well. The oil burns so fast, after a brand new oil change it doesn’t even last a week. We have over 5 codes popping up when they did a scan and they are all misfires and fuel pump related.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508224February 20, 2023ENGINE
Was driving car and started knocking and shutting down. Engine light came on and car was acting weird. Stopped to check oil and fluids which were full. Started car to try to get to a safe spot but car would not move. Took to a independent mechanic and he stated car had throwing a rod and motor was no good. All maintenance was done on time and accordingly. There is a faulty motor problem
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508077February 19, 2023ENGINE
Number 3 Fuel Injector, burning oil and have no idea where its going, gas mileage affected, VCT solenoid
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11508115February 19, 2023EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The headlights fail to light up safely and can cause serious injuries or even death. You are unable to see 10 foot in front of the car on deem and bright lights you can only see 15 feet at the max.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507795February 17, 2023ENGINE, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I purchased a brand new 2016 Kia Optima and have been experiencing a really bad rattling noise that is coming from the motor. I have taken my car back and forth from the Kia dealership and each time they inspect my car, they tell me that they can’t hear any rattling. As a mentioned earlier, the rattling noise is still there. I have been to the Kia in Durham, North Carolina and the Cary, North Carolina Kia dealership and still nothing has been done. I believe that my head gaskets or something like that in the more was defects when I purchased my vehicle. I also feel that the Kia dealership knew that my car had a defective motor and failed to inform me of that information. I would be glad to have my vehicle available for inspection upon request. How my safety and the safety of others are put at risk, is because the car could suddenly catch fire, it may stall in traffic, etc. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center but I do know that something is wrong with my car and has been since I purchased it brand new in 2016. Kia Motors did a quick look at my car and stated that they heard not rattling noises coming from the car. Other than that no other component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? There are no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the problem and it occurred over 2 months after I purchased the Kia Optima. If you are uncertain, simply state UNKNOWN, I am not sure as to why the vehicle rattles when taking off, but it is and have been loud enough for me to notice and my passengers as well. Therefore, I hope that this is something that you would look into and get some type of remediation. Thank You,
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507810February 17, 2023STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Paint on the entire car is delaminating
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507886February 17, 2023ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH and taking the off ramp, the vehicle stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to his fiancé's residence. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 81,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507594February 16, 2023ENGINE
I am the second owner of this car. According to carfax it has been well maintained at kia since day one. I have owned it for almost 6 months and it has been sitting at the dealership for 2months due to engine failure. There is a rod knock and sludge build up not for lack of maintaining it but from not being driven enough. I am being told it is a $16,000 repair. These cars are warranties for 10 years 100,000 miles (it only has 72,000 miles on it) but since I'm not the original owner that warranty doesn't follow. This is a misrepresentation.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507597February 16, 2023ENGINE
The contact's daughter owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the oil level was checked every other day. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that there was oil and fuel in cylinder #4. The O-rings, spark plugs, valve cover, oil, and filter were replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the same local dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel injector was stuck open and spraying fuel. The O-rings and spark plugs were replaced but the failure persisted. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called the manufacturer but failed to receive a response. The failure mileage was unknown.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507714February 16, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
Car has been broken in twice. First they stole all my belongings. The second time they took my car and got a ticket and destroyed the inside of it. The car can easily be stolen again. Only option I have is use the steering wheel lock that I purchased at autozone
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507377February 15, 2023UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
My car was stolen on February 14, 2023 at 7pm.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11506920February 13, 2023ENGINE
2013 KIA optima stalls out if over 2500 rpm reached. loses all power. Shutdown on highway and barely made it to pull off. Was able to start and pull off next exit only going at minimum speed, shut down again on state road with no pull off location and to drift with no power steering or brakes. Took to the Dealer and they have had it for over a week as they are so backed up with failing engine problems. Told by Dealer KIA is not covering all engine failures, opened case with KIA and they said I will just have to wait and see,
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507089February 13, 2023STEERING
It feels slipping, clunking and metal hitting metal while turning steering wheel either right or left 1 inch or 2 inches either way. Feels like its going break. I uploaded the issue that I'm pretty sure it is, I called kia and they didn't extend the warrant on my specific kia optima 2014 even though it was affect and in their letter it said 2014 kia optima have that defect of coupler . I will also upload the letter but mines doesn't qualify and they're not able to tell my why
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507107February 13, 2023ENGINE
On December 14 2022 I had my oil changed at a service center. On December 14 2022 later in the day after the oil change service had been completed my vehicle vehicle began to sputter then stalled while driving down the road almost creating an accident. There were no warning lamps messages or other symptoms prior to stalling on the road. As the vehicle began sputtering and stalling the warning lamps then became illuminated. I coasted my vehicle to safety and parked it. I scheduled the first available appointment with a Kia dealership and had it towed in. They did an inspection completed a recall and said I needed a whole new engine and only the short block was covered. I have service records for regular maintenance. I have contact the dealership and manufacturer with a response that the engine replacement is not currently covered at this time. I believe that if the vehicle was at a higher speed or more traffic was present that the engine failure could have caused serious injury or fatalities. My vehicle is available for inspection if requested. My vehicle is still located at the Kia dealership. I currently do not have an invoice or paper receipt from them. I do have an email from the dealership stating a new engine cost before taxes. I am unable to upload the file on this page for some reason. I can make it available if needed.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0