Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11382738December 9, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING TO PICK MY KIDS UP WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER THE CAR STARTED MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AND KIND OF JERKED SOME. I PICKED UP 1 KID PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR JERKED AGAIN AND BARELY WAS MOVING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS. THEN MY DISPLAY FLASHED HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 200 YARDS TO PARK SAFELY AND THAT WAS IT. MY HUSBAND WENT TO PICK IT UP LATER WITH A TRAILER AND OIL WAS POURING OUT OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND THERE WAS NO REASON. THIS IS THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR IN MY CAR, IN 2017 WE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AS WELL DUE TO SOME KIND OF BEARINGS. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN YET, IT'S IN MY DRIVEWAY WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE NEWEST RECALL IS. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WITH KIA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378500December 8, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 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. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDNENT MECHANIC WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WITHOUT REFERRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THEY ALSO SAID THE ISSUE MIGHT BE WITH A COUPLING PIN IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE DEALER KIA OF HUNTINGTON (1720 E. JERICHO TURNPIKE, HUNTINGTON STATION, NY 11743, (631) 546-0200) WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378544December 8, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOWBEAMS SEEM WEAK/DIM. RESEARCH SHOWED VIA KIA"2011-2013 MY OPTIMA/OPTIMA HYBRID HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION" THAT THE REFLECTOR IN THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP HOUSING MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME, RESULTING IN A GRADUAL DIMMING OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ONLY PERTAINS TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN KOREA. MY VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED IN GEORGIA, BUT I BELIEVE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS THE SAME FOR BOTH LOCATIONS. BOTTOM LINE, MY LOW BEAMS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND DRIVING AT NIGHT IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE LIMITED VISIBILITY. I PERSONALLY COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE'S INSPECTION AS OUTLINED IN THE TSB (ATTACHED) AND DETERMINED MY VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM, BUT SINCE MINE WAS ASSEMBLED IN GEORGIA THEY WON'T REPLACE AT NO COST TO ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378220December 7, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN ODOR APPEARED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, GET OUT THE VEHICLE, LOOK UNDER THE HOOD, AND WITHIN SECONDS UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WENT UP IN FLAMES. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A COLLISION LOT. NO MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378260December 7, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER BROTHER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND HE SMELLED SMOKE. THERE WAS FIRE IN THE TRUNK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE BROTHER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RETRIEVE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED HER INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY DIRECTED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO RECOMMENDED INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE NOT DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378289December 7, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
LO QU PASA ESQ EL CARRO TIRA GASOLINA Y LO EMOS ARREGLADO 4 VESES Y TIRA TODA LA GASOLINA YA ISIMOS UN RECLAMO Y NOS NOS QUIEREN DAR NINGUNA COMPENSACIN LO QUE ASE ES QUE SE LE TIRA LA GASOLINA Y TENGO MIEDO QUE SE YEGUE A QUEMAR PORQUE CADA VEZ QUE LE A PASADO SOLO EMPIEZA A TIRAR GASOLINA NO IMPORTA SI EST PARADO A CONDUCIENDO LA LTIMA VEZ QU PAS LO ESTBAMOS CONDUCIENDO Y ME PERCAT Y ME REGRESE Y LO TENGO EN MI CASA Y YA NO LO EH VUELTO A MOVER PORQUE TENGO MIEDO QUE SE QUEME ESTOY ENVIANDO UNA FOTO DE LA MANGUERA UN VIDEO DE QUE ES LO Q LE PASA TENGO UN VIDEO DE PERO NO LO PUDE ENVIAR .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378345December 7, 2020
TIRES
MY SON HAD A BLOW OUT OF HIS COOPER CS5 ULTRA TOURING TIRE. 2 WEEKS LATER HE FINDS A BUBBLE IN HIS OTHER COOPER CS5 TIRE. BOTH TIRES HAVE ONLY BEEN ON HIS CAR FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11378067December 6, 2020
AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN A FORD 150 PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. FORWARD COLLISION WORKED & SLOWED THE VEHICLE TO 35MPH. I HIT THE TRUCK DOING SEVERE FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHAT SO EVER.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377614December 3, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING TWO DAYS AGO. MY RPM'S JUMP WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND IT STALLS AND JERKS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I TOOK IT TO ADVANCED AUTO PARTS AND THE CODE "P1326" SHOWED ON THEIR CODE READER. KNOCK SCENSOR IS UNDER THE CODE AND I'VE READ WHERE MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND HAD THEIR WHOLE MOTOR REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377710December 3, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT-OFF WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK CASE KIA LOCATED AT 3190 SATELLITE BLVD NW, DULUTH, GA 30096, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,440.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377728December 3, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 154,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377548December 2, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT-OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS MANUALLY SHIFTED TO THE ON POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KINGS KIA (9600 KINGS AUTO MALL ROAD, CINCINNATI, OH 45249, (513) 677-6700) HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC CHECKED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BUT FOUND NO ISSUES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO NOTIFY THE DEALER WHENEVER THE FAILURE RECURS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377308December 1, 2020
ENGINE
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN WHEN TRYING TO EXCELLERATE ON THE GAS TO ENTER ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED BOGGING DOWN AND NOT PICKING UP SPEED. TOOK IT TO O'REILLY AUTOPARTS TO GET THE ENGINE CODE AND IT CAME BACK AS A FAULTY BOOST CONTROL POSITION SENSOR CIRCUIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377322December 1, 2020
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY POWER WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JTS KIA OF COLUMBIA (230 KILLIAN COMMONS PARKWAY, COLUMBIA, SC 29203) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377038November 30, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE OPERATING AT 65+ MILES PER HOUR ON THE INTERSTATE MY KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAD A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE CAUSING MY CAR TO HAVE TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. I HAD TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THIS. THIS ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 97300 MILES, WHICH WOULD STILL BE UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY, HAD I BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER. A LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC TYPES OF CARS I LEARNED THAT THE REGULAR, NON-HYBRID, KIA OPTIMA HAD RECALLS FOR ENGINE FAILURES SO I CALLED KIA CORPORATE TO SEE IF I HAD COVERAGE. KIA CORPORATE INITIALLY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WOULD POSSIBLY BE COVERED IF A SPECIFIC PART FAILED (ROD BEARINGS). IF THIS WAS TRUE THEN I WOULD HAVE GONE THROUGH A CLAIMS PROCESS TO GET WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR MY CAR. BECAUSE OF THIS I DECIDED TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FEW DAYS AT A DEALERSHIP I WAS AGAIN INFORMED THAT MY ENGINE HAD SEIZED (WITHOUT DETERMINING WHY/ WHAT PART FAILED), BUT THE STORY CHANGED. KIA THEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS ZERO CHANCE THAT MY CAR WOULD BE COVERED EVEN IF THE SPECIFIC PART HAD FAILED ( WHICH WE DIDN'T KNOW). I CALLED CORPORATE AGAIN UPON HEARING THIS NEWS AND SPOKE TO SOMEONE WHO LOOKED AT THE TRANSCRIPT/SUMMARY FOR MY INITIAL CALL AND TOLD ME THAT WHAT I WAS INITIALLY TOLD DIDN'T HAPPEN. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WAS LYING TO THEM AND THAT WHAT I WAS TOLD IN MY FIRST CONVERSATION WITH CORPORATE DIDN'T HAPPEN. KIA QUOTED ME A NEW ENGINE FOR 10000+ DOLLARS (THOUSANDS MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH) AND BILLED NEARLY 200 DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LIKELY TOOK MERE MINUTES. ULTIMATELY I DECIDED TO HAVE ANOTHER MECHANIC PUT IN A REFURBISHED ENGINE FOR ABOUT HALF THE PRICE. I BELIEVE THAT THE DECEPTION THAT KIA PUT ME THROUGH WAS WRONG AND THAT IT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE FOR A WELL-CARED FOR CAR TO SUDDENLY DIE WITHOUT WARNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377056November 30, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ROUGHLY 65 MILES , I HAD LITERALLY JUST GOTTEN ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR JUST WOULDN'T , THE RPMS AND MPH JUST WENT DOWN AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. I HAD TO PULL OVER. I SHUT CAR OFF, CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO START SINCE THAT DAY. THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY LOUD NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENED , THERE WAS NO SMELLS. IT JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING & ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT ALL CAME ON. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY FULL OF OIL AND THE FILTER WAS CLEAN. THE CAR HAD COOLANT IN IT, NO LEAKS. I USE THE SAME SHOP FOR ALL MECHANICAL WORK SO HE HAS ALL RECORDS OF MY MAINTENANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377227November 30, 2020
ENGINE, STEERING
I PURCHASED ON MY 2019 KIA OPTIMA ON 6/19. AND SINCE THEN OFF AND ON THE CAR HAS EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT STARTING ISSUES. NOW I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND NEITHER ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. WHEN PRESSING THE STOP/START BUTTON THE CAR WOULD HESITATE TO START NO LIGHTS OR CODES ARE STORED IN THE COMPUTER. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA ABOUT THE ISSUE ALL I WAS EVER TOLD WAS TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND LET THEM INSPECT IT. THE DEALER WOULD RESET AND UPDATE FIRMWARE. THAT WOULD LAST FOR A MINUTE BUT EVENTUALLY THE CAR WOULD GO BACK INTO THE SAME THING OF HESITATING. THE CAR HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE KIA HAS OPENED CASE AFTER CASE BUT NO SOLUTION. THE CAR IS CONSIDERED A LEMON BY STATE STATUES. NOT ONE TIME HAS KIA OFFERED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE THE ONLY THING I'M TOLD THAT IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BRING IT BACK. I WOULD SPEND MORE AND MILES TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT THE LEFT REAR WHEEL ALWAYS NEED TO BE ALIGNED I'M NOT SURE WHY BUT WHEN I TAKE THE CAR FOR AN ALIGNMENT THAT WHEEL IS ALWAYS OUT OF SPECS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376989November 29, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
SHAVINGS FOUND IN OIL CAUSING ENGINE SEIZURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376866November 28, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS COMING OF THE FREEWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JUST TURNED ITSELF OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MANAGE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID ANY COLLISION. I TRIED TO CHANGE THE STARTER BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT WAS BAD. IT HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO START UP AGAIN SINCE IT FIRST STOPPED ON ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376716November 27, 2020
ENGINE
THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND WOULDN'T GO IT BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING RIGHT PAST PURRFECT AUTO AND TURNED AROUND AND PULLED INSIDE THE SERVICE AREA BEFORE THE CAR WAS ABLE TO CATCH FULL FIRE. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE CAR GOT HOT AND THAT'S WHAT I TOLD PURREFCT AUTO BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE SO I THOUGHT THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING HOT AND THAT MAYBE IT JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT TOO HOT AND DECIDED TO CATCH ON FIRE BUT THE CAR WAS STALLING BEFORE THE FIRE AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO I TOOK IT TO KIA TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET THEY SAID THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AFTER PERFECT AUTO BASICALLY TOOK THE WHOLE ENGINE OUT OF THE CAR TO TRY TO SEE WHY THE CAR WASN'T WORKING RIGHT AND THEY STILL COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT I PAID THEM $3,000 ALMOST $4,000 AND THE CAR STILL WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY SO I WHEN I TOOK IT TO KIA THEY DENIED ME BECAUSE THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT IN WARRANTY AND THAT I NEEDED TO BUY A NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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