Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11376741November 27, 2020ENGINE
IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, I TOOK MY KIA TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A STALL OUT AND TURNED OUT MY VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE A WEEK LATER AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. WELL A MONTH LATER, ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK, I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AND I'M HEARD A POP UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW SMOKE. A MIN LATER MY CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES. NONE OF MY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE CAR HAD A SAFETY ISSUE. MY WARNING LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR IS TOTALED AND UNDRIVABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11376266November 25, 2020AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT AS I WAS DRIVING ON I65 AND MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11376267November 25, 2020STRUCTURE:BODY
ALITTLE OVER 2 YEARS AGO I STARTED NOTICING PAINT PEELING OFF THE PILLARS ON THE SIDES OF MY WINDSHIELD, IT STARTED WITH A SMALL SPOT AND CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. I HAVE ALWAYS GOTTEN MY CAR SERVICED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP AND HAD WARRANTIES ON MY CAR SO I MENTIONED IT NUMEROUS TIMES AND EVERYTIME I WAS TOLD THAT PAINT WASN'T COVERED AND THAT "THEY HAD NEVER SEEN PAINT PEELING LIKE THAT " ON ANY OTHER SNOW PEARL WHITE KIAS. THE PAINT CONTINUED TO PEEL OFF, THE WIND WOULD BLOW HUGE PIECES OFF. NOW IT HAS STARTED ON MY HOOD, THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR AND THE TRUNK! ITS ALREADY SHOWING SIGNS OF RUST. THE WORST PART IS I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AGAIN AND ASKED WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON?! THE TECHNICIAN ASSURED ME THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT, AND WHILE I WAS SITTING THERE 2 OTHER SNOW WHITE PEARL KIAS PULL IN AND THEY HAVE PAINT PEELING IN THE SAME SPOTS! THATS WHEN I DECIDED TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND SAW THAT THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY MAINLY TO KIAS WITH THE SNOW WHITE PEARL COLOR. ALL I WANT IS FOR KIA TO REPAINT MY CAR. I PAID ALOT OF MONEY FOR IT AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY CAR BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS 20 YEARS OLD WITH THE PAINT FLYING OFF OF IT AND ITS STARTING TO RUST!!! THIS IS MY 2ND KIA I HAVE PURCHASED AND I LOVE THEM, BUT I AM EXTREMLY PISSED OFF AND DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR OVER 2 YEARS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOME SORT OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHEN THESE CARS WERE PAINTED IN THE FACTORY BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR WHY THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF SNOW PEARL WHITE KIAS WITH THE PAINT PEELING OFF IN THE SAME EXACT SPOTS. I ALSO BOUGHT MY CAR NEW SO I KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF THE ENTIRE TIME. I JUST WANT MY CAR PAINTED BEFORE ITS ALL RUSTED ESPECIALLY SINCE I PAID $30,000 FOR THE CAR.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11376276November 25, 2020ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS DECELERATING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARING AND ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11376125November 24, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
LAST NIGHT A WARNING MESSAGE POPPED UP THAT SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE FRONT CRASH COLLISION SENSOR AND IT WAS TURNING OFF. THE WARNING LIGHTS STAYED ON WHILE DRIVING HOME AND THIS MORNING IT WAS OFF BUT POPPED BACK UP AFTER AROUND 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11376165November 24, 2020ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHING. ADDITIONALLY, THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE KNOCK SENSOR THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11376240November 24, 2020ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR ACCELERATING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE NEAREST DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE OR I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLEI WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE NEAREST DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE OR I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY CAR AND ALL I HEARD WAS A FAINT CLICK OF THE STARTER THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER I CONTACTED MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VIA MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO REQUEST A TOW TRUCK ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TO 45 MINUTES LATER THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP AN MY BATTERY WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DEAD THE TOW TRUCK UNLOADED MY CAR INTO MY GARAGE WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY CAR AND ALL I HEAR IS A FAINT CLICK OF THE STARTER THE ENGIN WILL NOT TURN OVER I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SOME LOOKING UP AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE RECALL BY KIA ON MULTIPLE MODELS OF CARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE. MINE IS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA LX 2.4L AND I DID FIND OUT THAT ANYTHING FROM 2011 UP TO A 2015 KIA OPTIMA HAS ENGINE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE STALLING OUT AN THE ENGINE SEIZING UP BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECTS IN THE ENGINE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11375889November 23, 2020VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED WITHOUT IMPACT WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN THE HOUSE SHE HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD BOOMING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,300.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11375951November 23, 2020STEERING
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP HAS A SHORT GOING TO THE MOTOR, WHICH IS A FIRE HAZARD. ALSO, YOU MUST MOVE THE WHEEL NONSTOP OR IT WILL LOCK UP WHICH COULD CAUSE YOU TO WRECK AND DIE. VERY DANGEROUS. AT THIS POINT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING MAKING IT VERY HARD TO DRIVE AND STEER.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11375774November 22, 2020ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I NOTICED MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX MAKING A LOUD CLICKING/TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE SUDDENLY THE CAR TURNED OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE. WHEN I PULLED OVER THE CAR WAS OFF SO I TURNED IT ON AND CONTINUED TO HEAR THE LOUD CLICKING/TAPPING NOISE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11375832November 22, 2020ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE CAR SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF IN THE HIGHWAY. BIG TRYCK WAS BEHIND ME. GLADLY THE TRUCK WASNT GOING FAST. TRIED TO PUSH THE BUTTON CAR TURNED OVER BUT DIDNT CRANK JUST MADE A SOUND AND TGE LIGHTS IN DASH BOARD JUMPED. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11375328November 19, 2020ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING
THE CAR MADE A LOUD NOISE AN THE STRINGL LOCK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11374978November 17, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR STOPS, LOSING ALL POWER AND FUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING IT.AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, BUT MOVING SLOWLY TO A STOP ON A CITY STREET. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESTART, IT DID AND I BROUGHT IT TO KIA DEALER. I BOUGHT THE USED CAR 60 DAYS AGO. IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BUT SEEMED FINE. FROM A DEALER. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT ANY MORE, BECAUSE THIS COULD CAUSE A FATAL COLLISION. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. OTHER ISSUES THAT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE THIS HAPPENED: JUST 5-10 MINUTES BEFORE THIS HAPPENED, I'D INSERTED A PHONE CHARGER INTO THE USB PORT AND THE RADIO WENT OUT, BUT A MINUTE OR SO LATER, STARTED WORKING AGAIN. IN THE PRIOR TWO WEEK PERIOD, THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO STA RTING, NO SOUND, NO ANYTHING. THEN ON THE REPEAT ATTEMPT TO START IT, IT DID. I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR NOW, PARTICULARLY SINCE I TYPICALLY HAVE PASSENGERS WHOSE LIVES ARE ALSO RISK.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11375049November 17, 2020ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ROD BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAR PROS KIA HUNTINGTON BEACH LOCATED AT 18835 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648 WHO CONFIRMED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11374794November 16, 2020ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
I WENT TO START MY CAR WHICH WAS ON AUGUST 24, 2020 AND IT WAS MAKING A VERY VERY LOUD NOISE I COULDN'T MOVE IT SO I HAD IT TOWED OVER TO A MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE IN FACT HAS BEEN BLOWN ARE THE BLOCK HAS BEEN BLOWN SO THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED I AM WAY AND THERE WAS NO WARNING ON MY VEHICLE AND WITH ALSO NO NOTIFICATION OF OIL WAS LOW OR NO OIL IN MY CAR WHATSOEVER THERE WAS A METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL PAN THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED AND IT THERE'S NO LEAKS IN THE CAR AT ALL AND SO NOW I PAY PAYMENTS FOR A CAR AND SOMEBODY ELSE TO TAKE ME AROUND TO WORK EVERY DAY FOR MONTHS ON MONTHS ANDPAYMENTS FOR A CAR THAT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BROKEN DOWN AND THE DEALERSHIP HERE KIA WILL NOT THEY FIX MY CAR THEY REFUSE TO BECAUSE OF A DISAGREEMENT PRIOR TO THIS I AM ON ANYTHING ABOUT MY CAR THEY WILL NOT DO I AM ACTUALLY THE ONE WHO DISCOVERED THERE WAS A RECALL IN THE VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY AND NOBODY HAS TOLD ME AND EVERYBODY HAS FAILED TO MENTION THIS OR CONTACT ME
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11374841November 16, 2020ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STOKES KIA (202 S. GOOSE CREEK BLVD, GOOSE CREEK, SC 29445, (843) 572-7300 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11374845November 16, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL ELECTRICAL INDICATION IN SIDE THE VEHICLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIKE SHAW KIA (6802 S PADRE ISLAND DR, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78412(361) 204-2731) WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS BURNT DUE TO A WIRE HARNESS CONNECTION. THE VEHICLE REAR PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11374871November 16, 2020FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR HAS A BAD GAS FUME SMELL THAT COMES THROUGH THE VENT WHEN DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON MOTOR HAS A LOUD TAPPING NOISE AND BURNS GAS QUICK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11374710November 15, 2020ENGINE
I JUST BOUGHT THE THIS CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO . THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE CAR APPEARED AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO DIE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING . I PULLED OVER TO A SAFE AREA TURNED THE CAR OFF . I WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO RESTART . MY CAR WOULDN'T START . AFTER SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOKING AT THE CAR THEY BELIEVE IT'S THE ENGINE AND TOLD ME THE CAR HAD A RECALL. I CALLED KIA DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN ADDRESSED ON TOP OF THAT THE TURBO IS LEAKING FLUIDS . THIS CAR IS A MESS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11374627November 14, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD,THE FIRE DEPARTMENT THINKS IT WAS SOMETHING ELECTRICAL. IT WAS IN PARK WHILE I WAS DROPPING SOMEONE OFF WHO WAS GETTING OUT OF MY CAR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0