Kia Optima Complaints (2011)

628 consumer complaints on file.

#11141500October 19, 2018
STEERING
BAD PART IN STEERING COLUMN , THE PLASTIC COUPLER IS BROKEN AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND AND WITH THAT PART BEING BAD IT COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. I FIRST HEARD THIS NOISE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11141365October 18, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ENGINE AND IGNITION REPLACED DUE TO BEARING WEAR RECALL. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 WEEKS AGO FOR REBUILT ONE, AND NOW CAR WON'T START. IT'S BEEN 2 DAYS AND KIA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE REASON I WANTED TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES. KIA WANTED ME TO WAIT FROM 10 SEP TO MID DEC BECAUSE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE ON BACK ORDER. WHICH MEANS THERE'S SO MUCH DEMAND THAT DEC IS THE EARLIEST THEY COULD RECEIVE IT. THEIR SHOP IS FULL, MOSTLY OF THESE CARS (OPTIMA). THEY EXPECTED ME TO WAIT 3 MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM TIME. IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND THAT THEY COULD DO THIS. THE CRAZIEST THING IS THAT EXPECT EVERYONE TO WAIT THIS LONG. I TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT COSTUMERS WHO ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CARS, AND THEY WERE TOLD THE SAME THING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2014 USED, ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS, NOW HAS 111,000+ MILES. ALWAYS DID ALL MAINTENANCE CHECKS, OIL & FILTER CHANGES, TUNE UPS, FLUIDS CHANGE AND YEARLY INSPECTIONS. ONLY USED FOR GOING TO WORK AND COMING HOME 5 DAYS A WEEK (APPROX. 54 MILES PER DAY). I DECIDED TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT OTHER PLACE & ENDED UP SAVING $1100. KIA WANTED TO CHARGE $2,700 FOR REBUILD TRANSMISSION & FOUND A GUY THAT CHARGED ME $1,600 FOR REBUILD ONE. KIA NEVER GAVE ME QUOTE COPY. JUST TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE. HOW CONVENIENT! GUY TOLD ME THE WAY THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BUILT IT'S SIMPLY BAD ENGINEERING. AND SHOWED ME THE PART OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT BROKE. WOULD UPLOAD THE DOCUMENTS , BUT I LEFT IN MY CAR! CAN STILL PROVIDE THEM THOUGH! THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN HOUSTON! THE CAR SIMPLY DIED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11141030October 17, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AND PROVIDED POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROJECTED A TRIANGLE SHAPE, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM SEEING THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE CLEARLY SEEN, BUT NOT THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,988.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11140210October 14, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
EVERY TIME I STOP TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR, IT TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR SO BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR HAS A JERKING MOTION. KIA EXCHANGED THE CARBON CANISTER BUT IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11133405October 4, 2018
ENGINE
MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA IS CONSUMING LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL. I HAVE RECEIVED 10 OIL CHANGES SINCE FEBRUARY 2018 (OCT AS OF TODAY) AFTER MY CAR'S OIL LIGHT WOULD BLINK EVERY 1000 MILES WHEN DRIVING. THE DEALER SAID THEIR WAS NO VISIBLE LEAK AND PERFORMED A CONSUMPTION TEST WHICH SHOWED MY CAR WAS CONSUMING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH KIA MOTORS AND HAS YET TO ADDRESSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11133171October 3, 2018
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE SUN ROOF GLASS WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED KINGDOM KIA AT (573) 426-3100 (LOCATED AT 2600 N BISHOP AVE, ROLLA, MO 65401) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11131492September 25, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SMITHTOWN KIA (726 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, ST JAMES, NY 11780, (631) 724-8008) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130261September 18, 2018
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (EVERGREEN KIA, 9205 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60643, (800) 556-5223) WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT UPDATED 11/19/18*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129096September 12, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BURST INTO FLAMES. MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT WITH A TREE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#11128768September 11, 2018
ENGINE
THE ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED WHAT OTHER KIA ENGINES HAVE. ENGINE OIL WAS EITHER BLOCKED OR RAPIDLY BURNT UP, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPIN A ROD BEARING, THUS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. LUCKILY I STOPPED DRIVING IMMEDIATELY, PREVENTING A FIRE; AS HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER KIA VEHICLES. SADLY, KIA IS REFUSING TO WARRANTY OR RECALL THE HYBRID ENGINES, EVEN THOUGH MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11124211September 4, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR STALLED OUT WHILE IN MOTION. CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL AND WOULD NOT RESTART.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11123102August 28, 2018
AIR BAGS
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY AIRBAGS ON 8/15/2018 ON 8/16 I WAS REAR ENDED BY A BIG WORK TRUCK AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. 5 CARS INVOLVED. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11122840August 27, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO WORK WITHOUG WARNING. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE BULBS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DICK HANNAH KIA (3400 NE AUTO MALL DR, VANCOUVER, WA 98662, 360-342-9104) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BALLAST IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122663August 27, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS I'VE REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS-LOW BEAM ON AN AVERAGE OF TWICE A YEAR. LOW BEAMS ARE SO LOW IN LIGHTING AND I'M CONCERNED IF THEY ARE ON WHEN DRIVING IN THE DARK. RECENTLY I CHANGED THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT, 2 WEEKS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. HOWEVER PRIOR TO CHANGING THE BULB THE FIRST TIME, I NOTICED THE LENS COVER WAS SO HAZY ON THE INSIDE, LIKE WHITEISH CHALKY LOOKING. I TOOK BULB #2 OUT BUT NOTICED IT WASN'T BURNT OUT. HOWEVER THE WIRES AND THE HOUSING FOR THE BULB PRONGS WERE MELTED. FORTUNATELY IT ONLY MELTED THE PRONG CONNECTION POINT AND WIRES AND DIDN'T SPARK A FIRE. BUT NOW I'M LEFT REPLACING THE WIRING AND LENS COVER ASSEMBLY. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD, HOWEVER THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ON THIS CAR HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT AN ISSUE FROM DAY ONE AT ZERO MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE RECALLS AND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. LESSON LEARNED....WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11120682August 17, 2018
STEERING
BAD PART IN STEERING COLUMN , THE PLASTIC COUPLER IS BROKEN AFTER 39400 MILES . THIS HAPPEN ON MANY KIA 'S AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS YET?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11120364August 16, 2018
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SMITHTOWN KIA (726 MIDDLE COUNTY RD, ST JAMES, NY) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH A SAFETY DEFECT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11119784August 14, 2018
ENGINE
TURBOCHARGER, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, GASKET-EXAUST MAN IF, INTERCOOLER I'M HAVING THE THE ENGINE PROBLEM WANT TO FIND OUT IF THIS CAR WAS RECALL,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11119785August 14, 2018
ENGINE
MY CAR IS NOT SPEEDING UP.ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE IS HEATING UP TURBOCHARGER, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, GASKET-EXAUST MANIF, INTERCOOLER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11119599August 13, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LAWRENCE KIA (1225 E 23RD ST, LAWRENCE, KS 66046, 785-856-8700), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 185,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11119469August 12, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD CYCLICAL KNOCKING SOUND. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALER WHOSE REPORTED DIAGNOSIS WAS "CHARACTERISTIC OF ROD BEARING FAILURE" AND WE WERE INFORMED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WAS TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. INFORMED BY LOCAL DEALER THAT KIA HAD DECLINED THE CLAIM TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND THAT THE ONLY COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO TAKE IT UP WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. AFTER MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS (INCLUDING A 2 WEEK TIME LAPSE DURING WHICH THEY WOULD TAKE OUT CALLS BUT NOT NOTIFY US OF DECISIONS MADE UNLESS WE CALLED THEM), WE WERE FINALLY INFORMED THAT EVEN THOUGH ALL OTHER 2011 KIA OPTIMAS HAD BEEN RECALLED UP TO 125,000 MILES, FOR "ROD BEARING FAILURE" AND THUS HAD THEIR ENGINES REPLACED, OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA WAS NOT COVERED FOR ROD BEARING FAILURE BECAUSE IT WAS A HYBRID. THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY WITH REPLACING THE ENGINE EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMAS. THE LOCAL DEALER OFFERED A USED ENGINE FOR THE WHOPPING PRICE OF $5474.17 WITH NO WARRANTY OR TO REBUILD THE ENGINE WITH PARTS THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER FROM KOREA FOR A WHOPPING TOTAL OF $5710.75. THE LATTER OPTION WOULD INCLUDE A 12,000 MILE WARRANTY BUT WOULD REQUIRE A LENGTHY WAIT ON THE PARTS TO ARRIVE FROM KOREA. EVIDENTLY, KIA DOES NOT KEEP NEEDED PARTS IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES WHICH SOUNDS SKETCHY AT BEST. AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION AND AGONY, WE WILL SELL THE CAR FOR SCRAPS. WE CANNOT RISK SPENDING ALMOST $6000 ON A CAR AND COOPERATION THAT WE NOW HAVE VERY LITTLE FAITH IN. WE WILL NEVER OWN A KIA AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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