Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11355606September 17, 2020
ENGINE
CAR ENGINE BEGAN MAKING INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISES. PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK IT OUT. TURNED OFF THE CAR THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND CAR ENGINE MADE EVEN LOUDER KNOCKING SOUNDS. MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK AND SAID IT WAS A INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM/FAILURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355293September 16, 2020
ENGINE
WE WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET SLOWING DOWN FOR A SIGNAL. THE CAR STALLED AND A MESSAGE CAME UP SAYING TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED 4 MILES TO THE DEALER. NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING ANY PROBLEMS.THE DEALER TOLD US WHILE THEY WERE CHECKING FOR THE PROBLEM THE ENGINE CEASED UP. THEN THEY SAID THE BELT HAD COME OFF. I THINK THE ENGINE CEASED CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF.TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE PROBLEMS KIA HAS BEEN HAVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355422September 16, 2020
ENGINE
MY CAR JUST DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD A AAA TECHNICIAN COME OUT FOR A TOW. HE INSPECTED MY ENGINE AND FOUND OUT THERE WAS A LOW AMOUNT OF OIL AND METAL SHAVINGS. AFTER BEING TOWED TO A AUTO SHOP THEY DETERMINED MY ENGINE FROZED AND INFORMED ME I NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE. THEY ALSO FOUND METAL SHAVINGS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355448September 16, 2020
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT AND HIS DAUGHTER LEASED A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PARKING BRAKE WOULD ACTIVE INDEPENDENTLY AS THE PARKING BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY APPEAR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE PARKING BRAKE HAD ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY AS THE CHECK HYBRID WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. DUE TO THE PARKING BRAKE ACTIVATION, SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE REAR TIRES BEGAN TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS AND THE CONTACT ALSO LOST CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING.THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE.AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FLIP APPROXIMATELY SIX TIMES AND ULTIMATELY LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS INITIALLY TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE, ONCE SHE WAS REMOVED BY PARAMEDICS, SHE WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR MINOR BRUISES AND BURNS IN AN AMBULANCE. SHE DID NOT SEEK FURTHER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11355470September 16, 2020
ENGINE
STARTED VEHICLE UP AND IT STARTED SMOKING VERY BADLY. TOOK IT TO KIA DEALER. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW MOTOR . PRICE 9400.00. AND IT WAS NOT UNDER ANY WARRENTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355087September 15, 2020
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING AT 60MPH MY STEERING WHEEL SHACKS AND IT DOES THE SAME EXACT THING WHEN I RIDE OVER A SPEED BUMP OR JUST HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THERE IS A LOT OF PLAY IN MY STEERING WHEEL AND I CAN HEAR A CLACKING AND CLICKING NOISE WHEN JUST TURNING THE WHEEL. ALSO I'M CONCERN ABOUT MY AIR BAGS COME OUT BECAUSE OF ALL THE SHACKING AND CLICKING THAT'S COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355120September 15, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE TAIL LIGHT HAS BEEN REPLACE MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IT GOES OUT ALMOST AS SOON AS I REPLACE IT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WATER IS IN THE LIGHT CAUSING IT TO SHORT. THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE 2014 WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355142September 15, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING A LONG DISTANCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN ON ITS OWN AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE SAW SMOKE AND FIRE THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED IT WAS DIFFICULT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SINCE ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS FAILED. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE OR FIRE REPORT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE CONTACT THERE WAS A ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET AND CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DECLARED TOTALED BY HIS INSURANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355216September 15, 2020
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE STARTED LOSING MOTIVE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE RESUMING NORMAL DRIVING. THE CONTACT CALLED MORITZ KIA HURST (110 NE LOOP 820, HURST, TX 76053) WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,592.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355232September 15, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN OREGON, MY CAR STALLED AND MADE WEIRD SOUNDS OUT OF NOWHERE. ON A BROAD CURVE, MY CAR SLOWED DOWN QUICKLY AND LUCKILY THERE WEREN'T ANY CARS BEHIND ME. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS GOING TO FAIL. I TRIED TO PULL OVER SAFELY TO THE NARROW SHOULDER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN FOR A LITTLE BIT. I TRIED STARTING IT AGAIN AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE ROCKS IN A BLENDER. I HAVE TAKEN GREAT CARE OF MY HYBRID AND HAS NO HISTORY OF OTHER ISSUES AND IT ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES ON IT. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2.4 L THETA II ENGINE FROM MY CAR'S YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355255September 15, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS RANDOMLY TURN OFF WHEN SET TO "AUTO" POSITION WHEN SIGNALING. DOES NOT HAPPEN FREQUENTLY BUT ANY TIME IT HAPPENS IS TOO MANY TIMES FOR YOUR HEADLIGHTS TO RANDOMLY TURN OFF. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND HAPPENS WHEN SIGNALING TO CHANGE LANES. - HEADLIGHTS SET TO "AUTO" - DRIVING AT NIGHT - SIGNALING TO CHANGE LANES - ISSUE OCCURS THE LIGHTS WILL TURN OFF AND THE INTERIOR INDICATOR GOES DARK FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN COMES BACK ON AND IS STILL INDICATES "AUTO" AS THE SETTING. DOES NOT OCCUR FREQUENTLY ENOUGH FOR DEALER/MECHANICS TO IDENTIFY THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354850September 14, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER FUELING VEHICLE WILL NOT RUN. KEEPS DYING FOR UP TO TWO DAYS. DRIVES FOR A FEW SECOND THEN DIES WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354966September 14, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PLUG THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE CHARGING CABLE FOR MY ELECTRIC CHARGER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PLUGGED INTO A DEDICATED WALL OUTLET IN MY GARAGE. FORTUNATELY, NO MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE NOR BODILY HARM RECEIVED . I CONTACTED KIA AND THEY HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE CHARGING CABLE WITH NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION OR EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PICTURES ATTACHED, THE PLUG ACTUALLY MELTED A LITTLE. I DO BELIEVE MAJOR DAMAGE WAS SUBVERTED BECAUSE I NOTICED MY CAR WAS NOT CHARGING AND PULLED THE PLUG OUT OF THE WALL TO SEE IF IT NEEDED TO BE RE PLUGGED. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I NOT CAUGHT THIS RIGHT AWAY. USUALLY I LEAVE MY CAR TO CHARGE OVER NIGHT. SCARES ME TO THINK WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355005September 14, 2020
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE OIL LEVEL WARNING LIGHT AND ANOTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED HE ARRIVED AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355013September 14, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION ISSUES: BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. WOULD LAG THEN JERK THE CAR WITH SOME TORQUE ONCE IT CAUGHT 3RD GEAR. HAD TO GET 2 REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ALSO ENGINE SEIZER ISSUE, MY ENGINE STARTED TO SEIZE WHEN I WAS GOING 45 MILES AN HOUR WITH ALOT OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED MAKING LOUD THUNKING NOICES THEN A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THEN I WAS STUCK ON A ROAD NOT BEING ABLE TO GET ABOVE 22 MILES AND HOUR, THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER. AND I WAS STUCK TRYING TO GO UPHILL AND ALL THESE CARS BEHIND ME. I ENDED UP HAVING TO STOP THE CAR AND LEAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF A 2 LANE ROAD ON A HILL WITH THE EMERGANCY BREAK ON. KIA KNEW IT WAS ANOTHER SEIZED ENGINE WHICH I THOUGHT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AGAIN WHICH I HAD BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THIS 3RD TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING THE SKILLING ISSUES AROUND 20-25MILES AND HOUR, BUT AFTER THEY KNEW I WASNT GOING TO BUY ANOTHER KIA AGAIN THEY WOULDNT FIX MY TRANS THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE RECALLED ANYWAYS. BUT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER OPTIMA SEIZED ENGINE, AND EVEN THOUGH ALL OPTIMAS ARE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE, THEY SAY THAT MINE ISNT COVERED BECASUE ITS A HYBRID AND HAS A MOTOR IN THE CAR ALSO SO ITS DIFFERENT SET UP. BUT THERES ARE OTHERS ONLINE WITH THIS KIA OPTIMA 2011-2013 HYBRID ENGINE SEIZER JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER OPTIMAS. AND I THINK THE HYBRIDS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. AS WE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354800September 13, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
AT ABOUT 1500 MILES ON THE CAR, I HAVE 2200 NOW, I STARTED TO NOTICE A GRINDING AND A ROUGH CONTACT IN THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS KIA HAS HAD AOT OF ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES ON THE STINGER SINCE INTRODUCTION. WILL BE TAKING TO DEALERSHIP SOON BUT PER THE RESEARCH, KIA DOES NOT HAVE FIX OTHER THAN REPLACING REPEATEDLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354553September 12, 2020
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING SLOW AND TURNING A KNOCKING CLUNKING SOUND, OR SLIPPING CONDITION WHILE DRIVING IN HIGH SPEED ALSO MAKING WHEEL VIBRATE. WHEN IN STOP AND JUST TURNING WHEEL YOU HEAR THE LOAD CLUNKING. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354586September 12, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SINCE I BOUGHT 2016 KIA OPTIMA EX, THERE HAS BEING WINDOWS PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL. EITHER WINDOW REGULATOR OR MODULE PANEL OR SOME THING ELSE CAUSE WINDOWS TO DROP DOWN WHILE YOUR DRIVING, OR MALFUNCTION DOES NOT OPERATE AT ALL. AT LEAST 4 TIMES I TOOK TO DEALER TO FIX IT, BUT IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME HAPPENS AGAIN, IT IS NOT ONE WINDOW HAPPENS TO ALL OF THEM. I AM SICK & TIRED OF GOING TO DEALER TO WASTE MY TIME. IT IS SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH KIA AND SHOULD REDESIGN THE OPERATING WINDOW SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354589September 12, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE WINDOWS FALL ON THEIR OWN AND NOT OPERATIVE WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE SO FAR AND TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER. I AM TRYING NOT TO LOWER MY WINDOWS AT ALL FOR NOW. IT IS SERIOUS WHEN IT RAINS & WATER GETS INSIDE THE CAR, I LIVE IN FLORIDA AND IT RAINS A LOT. ANY SOLUTION ?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354590September 12, 2020
ENGINE
AS I WAS COMING UP TO AT STOP LIGHT IT FELT AS IF THE CAR HAD LOSS POWER I LOOK DOWN AT MY DASH TO SEE ALL MY INDICATOR LIGHTS ON I TRIED TO PUSH ON THE GAS BUT ALL IT DID WAS STUTTER WITH VERY LILTTLE POWER DID WANT TO GO SO I PULLED TO SIDE TURN KEY OFF FOR 5 MINS OR SO CHECKE ALL FLUIDS CAPS AND LINES ALL WAS OK STARTED RIGHT BACK UP BUT IT WAS A SLIGHT THUMP SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE BUT DIDN'T THINK NOTHING OF IT CAUSE IT WASN'T LOUD ENOUGH I THOUGHT TO BE CONCERN FEW MINS INTO DRIVING SOUND KINDA FADED. VERY NEXT DAY MAYBE 15 MILES INTO DRIVING SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN LOSS POWER INDICATOR. LIGHTS COME ON I PULL OVER ONLY THIS TIME I SIT WAIT 5 10 MINS TRY TO START CAR AGAIN IT DOESN'T EVEN CRANK OVER 20 MINS GO BY I TRY TO START IT AND IT DOES ONLY TO HEAR THAT SAME THUMPING SOUND BUT LOUDLY THIS TIME SO I PUT CAR IN DRIVE SOUND FADES AS I START SLIGHTLY PUSHING CAR THE THUMP SOUND BECAME A LOUD METAL SOUNDING NOISE LIKE SILVERWARE BOUNCING IN A BUCKET I TURN IT OFF AN IT'S BEEN SITTING SINCE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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