Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11361522September 28, 2020
POWER TRAIN
I STOPPED IN A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR IT STARTED ROLLING. I JUMPED BACK ON THE CAR AND STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE LEVER WAS IN PARK BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE OR NEUTRAL. I COULD HAVE BEEN RUN OVER. THE LINKAGE THAT CONNECTS THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE TRANSMISSION BROKE. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 64,000 MILES ON IT. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS IF A CHILD WAS BEHIND THE PARKED CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THE PART WAS LESS THAN A DOLLAR BUT THE LABOR WAS ALMOST $300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361608September 28, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD ABOUT 50 MILES AN HOUR WHEN CAR LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, LIGHTS AND EVERYTHING WERE STILL ON. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A SIDE STREET TO PULL OVER AND PARK THE CAR. I SHUT IT OFF AND THEN WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART IT BLACK SMOKE WITH AN ELECTRICAL TYPE SMELL CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. KIA DEALERSHIP SAID MOTOR WAS SEIZED AND REPLACED IT UNDER A RECALL. THEN THEY SAID IT NEEDED FUEL PUMP AND BATTERY (WHICH BATTERY WAS ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD), SO I HAD BOTH REPLACED. I DROVE FOR 2 DAYS AND HAD TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR SO I TOOK BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A STARTER AND AN ELECTRICAL ASSESSMENT FOR A SHORT, AS STARTER BEGAN SMOKING WITH THE VEHICLE NOT EVEN RUNNING. NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW JUNCTION BOX/FUSE BOX OVER $2900 AND MAY HAVE BEEN RELATED TO OTHER PROBLEMS BUT NOT COVERED AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY. I HAVE ALREADY PAID $900+ DOLLARS FOR FUEL PUMP, I EXCHANGED THE BATTERY WHERE I ORIGINALLY BOUGHT IT, AND $493 FOR STARTER. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY THE JUNCTION BOX WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL OR SHORT AND NEED REPLACEMENT, UNLESS IT WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL BLACK SMOKE ELECTRICAL SMELL THAT HAPPENED WHEN ENGINE SEIZED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361625September 28, 2020
ENGINE
KNOCK SENSOR DETECTOR IS MALFUNCTIONED. THE ENGINE VIBRATES WHEN ACCELERATING. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACE NOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361242September 26, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR TURNED OFF ON ME RANDOMLY ? ALWAYS AM CONSISTENT WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 3000 MILES AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE MY TAKE IS FULL WITH GOOD GAS I'VE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE GAS LINE ONCE ALREADY ,, MECHANIC SAID I MIGHT HAVE TO REPLACE MY FUEL TANK BECAUSE SOMETHING WITH CAR NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS OR SO , I'VE ALSO SEE LEAKS LOOKS LIKE GAS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361296September 26, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, STEERING
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 WHEN I HEARD A SMALL POP & ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON & I LOST EVERYTHING. CAR CLICKS WHEN TRYING TO RESTART BUT DOES NOT START. OIL LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, EPS LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON NOW. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE CARS AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED ASAP AS IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361033September 25, 2020
ENGINE
2013 KIA OPTIMA [XXX] WAS TOWED TO SOUTHERN KIA LYNNHAVEN OF VIRGINA BEACH. VIRGINIA FOR A ENGINE FAILURE RECALL SC147 , UPON INSPECTION KIA DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE ENGINE STARTER AS SUBSEQUENT FAILURE SAYING THAT STARTER IS NOT OEM PART BUT AFTERMARKET WHICH CONTRADICTS SERVICE BULLETIN SC147 AND WARRANTY BULLETIN SC 147 WHERE ON PAGE 7 STATES ANY SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE PARTICULARLY STARTER SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR GOODWILL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361060September 25, 2020
ENGINE
OUT OF NO WHERE , MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND LOST COMPRESSION. WOULDN'T GO OVER 40MPH AND I WAS ON A BUSY HIGHWAY SO I PULLED OVER GOT IT TOWED HOME , DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND GOT A P1326 CODE WHICH CAME BACK AS A KNOCK SENSOR PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360979September 24, 2020
ENGINE
ENGINE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. ABSOLUTELY NOT SAFE AT ALL. MY 2012 OPTIMA HYBRID IS ROUGHLY AT 115K MILES. AFTER SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS HOW'S KIA NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE! VERY DISAPPOINTED AND HOPING TO SEE A RESOLUTION FROM KIA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361018September 24, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WE WERE TRAVELING AT AROUND 55-60 MILES AN HOUR AND WERE T-BONES BY A CHEVY AVALANCHE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND SWERVED SO THE TRUCK LUCKILY STARTED AT MY DOOR AND COMPLETELY RIPPED AND SMASHED IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND BACK/ TRUNK OF OUR OPTIMA. BACK WHEEL IS COMPLETELY TURNED OUT. HIT SO HARD IT COMPLETELY TURNED US IN 2 CIRCLES AND BUSTED MY FRONT LICENSE PLATE AND IT HIT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I BUSTED MY HEAD OPEN AND RECEIVED 3 STAPLES AND KNEE SHOVED IN DASH BUT NOT 1 AIR BAG IN THIS VEHICLE DEPLOYED!! I HAVE ALWAYS OWNED A KIA!! I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE A KIA BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE!!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11360602September 23, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WOULD SMELL FUEL WHILE I WAS DRIVING SO EVENTUALLY I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT. THE LOW PRESSURE FUEL LINE CRACKED AND WAS PULLING OFF THE QUICK CONNECTOR. THE PLASTIC QUICK CONNECTOR BECAME BRITTLE BECAUSE FUEL WAS SPILLING ON IT CONSTANTLY AND EVENTUALLY BROKE. THERE WAS A RECALL RECENTLY DONE ON THE SAME KIA MODEL AS MINE BUT THE 2013 & 2014 MODELS. THE SAME ISSUES IS AFFECTING THE 2012 KIA OPTIMAS AND THIS YEAR SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE SAME RECALL. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THAT FUEL LINE AND IF NOT WHAT IT WOULD COST TO REPAIR. I WAS QUOTED $600, I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY HUGE TO REPLACE A FITTING AND MAYBE SOME HOSE SO I TRIED TO GO AS LONG AS I COULD BUT EVENTUAL THE QUICK CONNECT BROKE AND THE RISK OF FIRE WAS TO GREAT TO CHANCE DRIVING IT. SO MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR 6 MONTHS AND OF COURSE I NEED A NEW BATTERY AND POSSIBLY OTHER THINGS TO GET IT RUNNING AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360645September 23, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE PROPERLY WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER BECAME DIFFICULT TO MOVE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED AT THE DEALER BOB BELL KIA OF BALTIMORE (7900 EASTERN AVE, BALTIMORE, MD 21224) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360818September 23, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
BUT MY MOM WAS DRIVING HER CAR ONE DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BEARING OR SOMETHING CAME LOOSE AND OIL SQUIRTED ALL OVER THE GROUND AND THE CAR DIED AND AND WE HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT 4500 BUCKS AND NOW THE HYBRID LIGHT SYSTEM KEEPS COMING ON THE DEALERSHIP THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING THEY HAD TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER KIA PLACE AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ONAND NOW WITH THE MOTOR REPLACE THE HYBRID LIGHT SYSTEM KEEPS COMING ON THEY DON'T KNOW WHY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360439September 22, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WHEN I GO TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION; THE CAR STALLS AND TURNS OFF AND THEN IT TURNS ITSELF BACK ON. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I DRIVE OVER 50 MPH THE CAR/TIRES START TO VIBRATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360488September 22, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL CUT COMPLETELY OFF. YOU HAVE TO SWITCH FROM AUTO TO THE ON POISTION. ITS A VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360206September 21, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA BURSTED INTO FLAMES WHILE STATIONARY IN FRONT OF MY HOME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11359947September 19, 2020
STEERING
FLEXIBLE STEERING COUPLING FAILED. POORLY DESIGNED RUBBER COUPLING DISINTEGRATES AT LESS THAN 80K MILES. THIS CREATES ONE INCH OR MORE OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11359972September 19, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY CAR IS GETTING A P2562 CODE WHICH IS FOR THE TURBOCHARGER BOOST CONTROL POSITION SENSOR. I'M HAVING A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11360016September 19, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY CAR LOSES POWER WHEN I USE THE HORN. IT HAPPENS WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE ON AND IN TRAFFIC. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS FAULTY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WERE 3 ACTIVE RECALLS NEEDING TO BE FIXED. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED KIA SERVICE CENTER TO GET THE RECALLS TAKEN CARE OF AND ADDITONALLY, HAD THE A/C COMPRESSOR, STRUTS, AND A BELT REPLACED. I ALSO DESCRIBED THE ISSUE OF ENGINE POWER LOSS WHEN I USE THE HORN WITH SERVICE TECH AND ATTEMPTED TO DEMONSTRATE. HOWEVER, MY CAR DIDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE IF THE TECHS TESTED IT THOROUGHLY DURING THE DAYS IT WAS BEING SERVICED. THE FINAL DETAILED BILL STATES THAT THE CAR WOULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I'M CURRENTLY SATISFIED WITH THE FIXED RECALLS, A/C, BELT, AND OTHER MINOR REPAIRS. I'M HIGHLY CONCERNED AND FRUSTRATED THAT I'M STILL EXPERIENCING ENGINE, ACCELERATION, RPM, AND A/C FAILURE WHENEVER I NEED TO USE MY HORN. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WHILE IN TRAFFIC, I HAD TO BLOW THE HORN BECAUSE A DISTRACTED DRIVER NEARLY SIDE SWIPED ME. AS A RESULT, MY CAR LOSS POWER. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T SHIFT. I ENDED UP DOING AROUND 30MPH UNTIL I MADE IT TO A SAFE DESTINATION. I CALLED FOR HELP, BUT AFTER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON, IT WAS AS IF IT NEVER HAPPENED. I'M FURIOUS ABOUT IT BECAUSE THE DISTRACTED DRIVER PROCEEDED TO TAILGATE AND INTIMIDATE ME OUT OF ANGER. LASTLY, IT WAS NOT PROFESSIONAL OR CARING TO BE LAUGHED AT WHEN I VOICED THIS PROBLEM AT THE SERVICE CENTER. I NEED HELP AND ANSWERS BEFORE SOMETHING MORE TERRIBLE HAPPENS. THE NUMBER OF ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL COMPLAINTS ARE STARTLING. I'M HOPING THAT MY ISSUE WILL BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND LOOKED INTO. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11359781September 18, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELLING STRAIGHT IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN MY CAR STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT, THEN IT STALLED AGAIN. THEN I RESTARTED IT ONE MORE TIME. THEN IT MADE A GRINDING CLUNKING SOUND LIKE SOMETHING SNAPPED AND WAS GETTING WHIPPED AROUND BY THE MOVING PARTS. THEN IT HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AS THE CAR NO LONGER WAS RUNNING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355605September 17, 2020
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SHE BECAME AWARE OF A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE RECENTLY, HE NOTICED THAT THE HIGH FUEL PUMP LEAKED FUEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED THE PARKWAY FAMILY KIA LOCATED AT 22555 US-59, KINGWOOD, TX 77339, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000. *LN*DT*JB CONSUMER STATED DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO HELP.*JB*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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