Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11384136December 18, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I LEASED A NEW #KIA #OPTIMA #PHEV FROM YOU IN JULY OF 2018. IN JULY OF 2020, THE CHARGING CABLE LODGED IN THE CAR AND IT TOOK 4 HOURS FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO REMOVE IT. ON DECEMBER 2, 2020, I GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR SERVICE, BUT BEFORE I COULD BRING IT ON DEC 3, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BECAME A TURN ENGINE OFF NOW LIGHT, AND THE CAR STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY WITH A WISP OF SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA OF DELRAY. IT'S STILL THERE, THEY HAVEN'T TOLD ME WHAT'S WRONG. IT IS 2.5 YEARS OLD WITH JUST OVER 18K MILES ON IT. I LEASED THE CAR WHEN I LIVED IN CA, AND NOW LIVE IN FL, WHICH IS ALSO A PROBLEM, AS THE DEALERSHIP HERE JUST DOESN'T SEEM EQUIPPED TO SERVICE A PHEV. THE LEASE IS SCHEDULED TO END IN JULY 2021 BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ME AN OPTION TO RETURN THE CAR EARLY, YET IT FEELS UNSAFE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT (AND IT'S NOT OPERATIONAL RIGHT NOW).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383864December 17, 2020SERVICE BRAKES
FIRST I HAD TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION THEN I STARTED GETTING A WARNING MESSAGE STATING HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SAFETY. FOLLOWED BY CHECK BRAKES WARNING. THIS OCCURED WHILE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT.THE BREAKS COMPLETELY GO OUT AND BEGIN TO MAKE A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. ONCE I SHUT THE CAR OFF FIR ABOUT 30-60 MINUTES THE LIGHT GOES OUT UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURANCE. PRIOR TO LOSING ALL BREAK CONTROL THE CAR IS FINE. THIS PERSISTED TO A POINT THAT I CANNOT DRIIVE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE AS A HYDRAULIC PROBLEM AND COULD BE FIXED FOR $2700. THIS IS A KIA MANUFACTURING ISSUE AND KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO FIX IT. I DID SUBMIT A COMPLAINT TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO NO AVAIL. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE OR PUT THIS ON A RECALL LIST. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11384003December 17, 2020ENGINE
THERE IS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN PLACED IN GEAR, THE KNOCK IS NOT HEARD WHILE IN PARK. BECAUSE NO SENSOR HAS GONE OFF, THE REPAIR TECH SAID THERE IS NOTHING HE CAN DO. I DO HAVE A THE MOTOR THAT WAS RECALLED, AND IT WAS REPLACED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383799December 16, 2020ENGINE
ROD BEARINGS WENT BAD AND SEIZED THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY NOTICE . HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER . HAPPENED ON THE FREEWAY
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383573December 15, 2020ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, STEERING
RECALL ON ENGINE WAS REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO FOR HAVING METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE SECOND MOTOR HAS 15,000 MILES ON IT AND IT'S BURNING OIL AND SMOKING TO WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING. I WAS GETTING ON I 65 GOING NORTH AND SMOKE CAME OUT. IT HESITATES TO GO. CAN'T DRIVE IT OVER 45-50. STEERING HAS A RECALL FOR A PLASTIC CUFFLING BEHIND STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR ACCORDING TO RIVERCHASE KIA IN PELHAM ALABAMA. IT IS NOW MAKING A POPPING NOISE AGAIN. CONDENSATION IS GETTING IN TAIL LIGHTS CAUSING THE BULBS TO BLOW. THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN ON DIM YOU CAN BARELY SEE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383584December 15, 2020ENGINE, STEERING
I WAS GOING DOWN A ROAD IN MY TOWN LPGA IN DAYTONA BEACH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEARD THIS WEIRD SOUND THEN MY ACCELERATING STOPPED EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS. THE CAR ENGINE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS IT FINALLY SLOWED DOWN WHERE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALL OF MY ENGINE SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY CAR ENGINE WILL NOT ROLL OVER OR EVEN START MY BATTERY JUST TURNS ON. IT'S AS IF IT'S JUST STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY NO ONE HAS GIVEN ME A ANSWER THE TOW DRIVER IS THE ONE WHO TOLD ME THAT KIA OPTIMAS WERE HAVING RECALL ISSUES ON THEY'RE CARS WITH EXACT PROBLEMS LIKE MINE. I LOVE MY OPTIMA I TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF IT SO IT REALLY HURTS THAT THERE ISN'T MUCH I CAN DO ABOUT MY CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383294December 14, 2020ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING 70 MILES PER HOUR ON I96 WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO AN EXIT BUT THE CAR CUT OFF RIGHT AT THE EXIT RAMP AS I STOPPED TRAFFIC FOR A MILE. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TOWED. I HAD IT LOOKED AT TWO DIFFERENT PLACES AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS A 2015 WITH SLIGHTLY OVER 100,000 MILES. REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I HAD NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEFORE. THE LAST CAR SHOP SAID THAT SOMETHING CAME LOOSE IN THE ENGINE. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF I DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE RAMP. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH KIA AND HYUNDAI MOTORS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383323December 14, 2020FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHCILE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. THERE WAS ABNORMAL ODOR OF FUEL DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF ORANGE PARK (6373 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244, (904) 758-2612) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383378December 14, 2020STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, A CLICKING SOUND OCCURRED COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROADWAY, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED HERB CHAMBERS KIA OF BURLINGTON (93 CAMBRIDGE ST, MA-3A, BURLINGTON, MA 01803) AND INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR AND DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383416December 14, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
DRIVING NORTH BOUND ON THE 405 AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHOWED SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, OIL LIGHT AND 2 OTHERS, THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND ONLY HAD BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO SHUFFLE OFF THE MAIN FREEWAY TO AN OFF RAMP WHERE I PULLED OVER TO ATTEMPT TO POWER THE CAR BACK ON. THE SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED TO BECOME APPARENT AND I WENT OUT TO LIFT THE HOOD AND SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT THE OPENING. I RUSHED TO GET MY KIDS OUT THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE BATTERY CABLE OFF TO TRY TO SALVAGE IT FROM CATCHING FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO WIGGLE THE BATTERY CABLE OFF BUT SMOKE CONTINUED TO COME OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY DROPPED OFF AT THE DEALERSHIP CAR PROS KIA IN GLENDALE AND IM BEING INFORMED THE STARTER WAS THE ISSUE AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. IM UNCERTAIN ABOUT THE DIAGNOSIS SINCE THE EVENT OF THE VEHICLE LOSING ALL POWER OCCURRED DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383407December 14, 2020STRUCTURE:BODY
PEELING PAINT ON HOOD AND SIDE PILLARS. SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH KIA AND SWP WHITE PEARL PAINT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383424December 14, 2020ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING JUST GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND MY KIA OPTIMA WITH 107K MILES DECIDED TO SHUT OFF OUT OF KNOWHERE. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE OIL AND NOTICED IT WAS PRETTY MUCH EMPTY WHEN IT SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN. I CHECK IT REGULARLY AND KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE ALSO HAD IT CHANGED A MONTH OR SO BACK. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. IT TOOK THEM 2 WEEKS AND VARIOUS TEST INCLUDING A COMPRESSION TEST AND INSTALLING NEW SPARK PLUGS. AFTER ALMOST 700$ SPENT THEY GOT IT RUNNING FOR 15MINS AND THE CAR SHUTOFF AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE...SO AFTER I GET IT TOWED ALL THE WAY BACK HOME I HEAR THAT KIA HAS A MASSIVE SETTLEMENT GOING ON FOR THIER ENGINES FAILING. NOT SURE IF I WILL GET A RECALL BUT I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED. I HOPE THAT ANYONE HAS THIS PROBLEM CAN FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THIS. NOT TO MENTION I JUST PAYED IT OFF AND IT FORCED ME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383194December 13, 2020ENGINE
ON DEC 5, 2020. I WAS DRIVING ON 78 WEST WHEN SUDDENLY MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX BEGIN TO DECREASE IN SPEED.WITHIN 5 MINUTES I HAD TO PULL OVER WHERE MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF. DEC 12, 2020 I WAS TOLD THAT MY ENGINE WASN'T TURNING OVER AND THE MOTOR WAS GONE. JUST LIKE THAT. I WAS VERY CONFUSED AND DISAPPOINTED AS I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383176December 12, 2020STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FEEL LOOSE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS. THERE WAS ALSO A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RESPONDING PROPERLY TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. PLASTIC STEERING COUPLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF THE PART AND 3 LABOR HOURS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383186December 12, 2020SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
I HAVE 63,826 MILES ON MY 2018 KIA OPTIMA S AND I DROVE IT TO THE STORE AND ALL MY LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON WHEN I WOULD COME TO A STOP AND MY POWER STEERING WOULD GO OUT AND ABOUT CAUSE ME TO WRECK. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY ALTERNATOR BUT AFTER GETTING A NEW ALTERNATOR I THEN DROVE IT TO GET DINNER A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN THE SAME THING STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN AND MY POWER STEERING KEPT GOING OUT AGAIN. I HAVE TWO NEWBORN BABIES, A 5 YEAR OLD AND A 10 YEAR OLD IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME AND HAD I WRECKED WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A BAD SITUATION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11382983December 11, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CONTINUES TO TURN ON AND OFF EVEN AFTER REPLACED PARTS! BURNING AT LEAST 2 QUARTS OF OIL PER WEEK! BRAKE LIGHTS STOP WORKING IF HEADLIGHTS ARE ON! HAD TO START USING SUPER TO ELIMINATE A RATTLE WHILE ACCELERATING UPHILL! ENGINE SHAKES!!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11383045December 11, 2020ENGINE
ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED CAUGHT ON FIRE AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11382848December 10, 2020ENGINE
THE CAR HAD BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE TOTALING THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS NOT IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11382890December 10, 2020STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PAINT IS SERIOUSLY PEELING "DELAMINATING" IN "SNOW WHITE PEARL" AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED!! IT OCCURS DRIVING OR JUST WASHING THE CAR. SEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11378662December 9, 2020SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WHICH RESULTED IN HER VEHICLE ROLLING OFF THE ROAD AND INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND LANDED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND WAS IMMEDIATELY RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK AND CHEST; AS WELL AS LACERATIONS TO HER RIGHT LOWER ARM AND LOWER ABDOMINAL AREA. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNCERTAIN OF ITS CURRENT WHEREABOUTS. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD YET TO BE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:17V224000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, SHE HAD NOT RECEIVE A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0