Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11354143September 10, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON WHEN ON AUTO ON THERE OWN ON A BRIGHT SUNNY DAY. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, THE PASSENGER BRAKE LIGHT GOES OUT. WHEN I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF THE BRAKE LIGHT WORKS AGAIN. THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BOTH WHEN DRIVING AND PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354205September 10, 2020
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I BOUGHT A 2012 KIA OPTIMA FROM AUTONATION IN AMARILLO,TX AND I HAVE MULTIPLE SAFETY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE WHICH AUTONATION DIDN'T TELL ME ABOUT AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE RECALLS CAN CAUSE A FIRE AND A FATAL ACCIDENT. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO KIA DEALERSHIPS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THE RECALLS. KIA HASN'T FIXED OR REPLACE THE SAFETY RECALLS. I WILL NOT HAVE ME OR A FAMILY MEMBER DIE CAUSE THE NEGLECT THAT KIA HAS BEEN DOING ON MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA" VIN# [XXX]". I HAVE FILED A SETTLEMENT CLAIM WITH KIA SETTLEMENT CLAIM'S DEPARTMENT "CLAIM #[XXX]". I HAVE TAKEN IT TO 2 KIA DEALERSHIP'S. I'VE DONE ALL OF THE STEPS KIA DEALERSHIP HAS ASKED ME TO DO AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX OR REPLACE THE RECALLS. I USE MY 2012 KIA FOR MY DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS CAUSE I'M DISABLED. I LOST FAITH AND CAN'T TRUST THIS 2012 KIA OPTIMA THAT IM STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS. I NEED THIS CAR FIXED BEFORE ME OR ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS DIES IN A CAR ACCIDENT FROM THE NEGLECTED RECALLS FROM KIA. 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
#11354234September 10, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353894September 9, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HEV LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOARD STATING "CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM. STOP VEHICLE AND TURN OFF ENGINE". VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN CITY ON TRAFFIC LIGHT AND SUDDENLY GOT THAT AND CAR STOPPED IN 15 SEC AND COULD NOT MOVE ANYMORE. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN ON HIGHWAY CAUSE 15 SEC IS NOT ENOUGH FOR SAFELY STOPPING! WITNESSES HELPED TO PUSH THE CARD TO THE SHOULDER APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET. ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEM WAS LOCKED AS WELL CAUSE OF HEV SYSTEM STOPPED SUPPLING THE POWER. KIA CONCORD REPLACED THE SAFETY PLUG ASSY-MALE 125 AMPS TO 150 AMPS (PART # K 37586 4R002). CAR HAD ONLY 82K. AS FAR I SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND IF MANUFACTURER IN ALL CASES UPGRADES IT TO HIGHER FUSE, THEN THIS IS A REASON FOR RECALL. NOW I WARRY ABOUT NEXT ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAN CAUSE THAT FUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353940September 9, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SHAKE, VIBRATE AND BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NATIONWIDE KIA SERVICE CENTER LOCATED AT 20 WEST TIMONIUM RD, TOWSON, MD 21093, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11354070September 9, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I QUICKLY PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR IMMEDIATELY. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS OFF APPROX 20 MINUTES LATER THE SMOKE STARTED TO DIE DOWN. AT THAT POINT, I WAS TO SCARED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON TO SEE IF I COULD DRIVE IT HOME. THE NEXT MORNING I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT KIA THE TECHNICIAN SAID IT WAS NOT AN ENGINE ISSUE HE THINKS IT MAY BE FROM A SLUDGE BUILD UP FROM OIL (BECAUSE HE REALLY DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE IT COULD BE). I HAD JUST TAKEN MY CAR FOR ITS OIL CHANGED THAT SAME DAY. WHICH THEY DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT ANY KIND OF BUILD UP. THE KIA EMPLOYEES WERE RUDE WHEN I CALLED AND REQUESTED A LOANER CAR. THEY AT FIRST TOLD ME TO COME DOWN AND PICK UP A CAR, ONCE I DROVE IN, THEY DENIED ME FOR A LOANER CAR AND TOLD ME I COULD RENT ONE FOR 35 A DAY. THE TECHNICIAN SAID THEY CAN'T GET A CODE TO COME UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH KIA THEN IS TELLING ME IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHEN ASKED WHY THEY ARE REPLACING THE ENGINE, THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE BUILD UP THEY HAVE TOO, WHEN REALLY THEY DON'T TECHNICALLY KNOW FOR SURE WHAT CAUSED THE SMOKE ISSUE. SO NOW KIA IS EXPECTING ME TO PAY 7,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE, WHICH WOULD BE COVERED IF THEY CAN GET A CODE TO COME UP. SO, NOW I AM FORCED TO PAY THIS TO GET MY CAR UP AND RUNNING SO I DON'T LOSE MY JOB (WHICH I HAVE ALREADY MISSED SEVERAL DAYS DUE TO NOT HAVING A VEHICLE). MY FATHER AND I MET WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND HE IS UNDECIDED WHAT THE ISSUE, OR CAUSE IS AT THIS TIME. THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO A FRIEND OF MINE, AND KIA TOLD HER THE SAME THING THAT IT WAS CAUSED FROM A OIL SLUDGE ISSUE, BUT AFTER MONTHS OF ARBITRATION, KIA COMPENSATED HER FOR THE DAMAGES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353769September 8, 2020
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND STALLED DURING A DRIVE AND WAS UNABLE TO START. INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DASHBOARD TURNED ON ALONG WITH RADIO AND WINDOWS BUT BATTERY WAS DAMAGED. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED FROM AN AUTO SHOP, IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THERE WAS ENGINE FAILURE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT FROM A MAIN STREET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353811September 8, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
I OWN A 2020 KIA OPTIMA (MY SECOND ONE IN LESS THAN A YEAR). THREE WEEKS AGO, I APPLIED MY BRAKES BEFORE ENTERING A CURVE. IN THE PROCESS, I HIT A BUMP (NOT A POT HOLE) IN THE ROAD'S AND MY BRAKES DISENGAGED AND I THOUGHT I WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE THE BRAKE WERE GOING TO ENGAGE IN TIME FOR ME MISS A HIT ON COLLUSION. THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN, YESTERDAY. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH A KIA OPTIMA. IN MY 2016, THE SAME THING WAS OCCURRING. THE SERVICE SHOP REPLACE A ROD OR SOMETHING THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAD A LOANER KIA OPTIMA (2019). I COULD FEEL VIBRATIONS IN BRAKE PADDLE WHEN I DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SAME OCCURRED IN THE FIRST 2020 KIA OPTIMA THAT I PURCHASED LAST OCTOBER. KIA COUNTRY SAVANNAH TRY EVERYTHING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. LUCKILY, THE DEALERSHIP TRADED ME I OUT OF THAT VEHICLE BEFORE MY FIRST PAYMENT AND WAS GIVEN A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL MY CURRENT VEHICLE WAS LOCATED AND DELIVERED FROM ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. NOW, I EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE WITH YOUR COMPANY'S VEHICLE. I WAS FORCED TO TRADE-OUT OF 2016 CAR DUE TO KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353615September 8, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY TURN THEMSELVES ON AND OFF IN DAY AND NIGHT TIME. THIS ONLY HAPPENS IN THE 'AUTO' OPTION FOR THE HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS ON THIS ON HERE. IN ADDITION TO THAT THE CAR DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE KEY FOB MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WITH BRAND NEW BATTERY IN THE FOB. STEP DAD HAS THE SAME CAR WITH SAME ISSUES WITH THE KEY FOB.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353623September 8, 2020
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ON MY DASHBOARD REMAINS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY SINCE APRIL 2018 WHEN THE FRONT END (JUST RIGHT OF CENTER) WAS IMPACTED. HAVE BEEN TO KIA PERFORMANCE CENTER IN MOOSIC PA AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO REGARDING THIS MATTER. ALSO, MY VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT ERTLEY MOTORWORLD AND THEY TOO STATED THAT NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11353474September 7, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HI MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA ON 08/07/2020 I PUT THE RECOMMENDED GAS IN MY TANK AND THEN GOT ONTO THE INTERSTATE AFTER ABOUT 5-15 MINS IT STARTED LOOSING POWER AND I COULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE PAST 60. ALSO NOW WHEN I START DRIVING IT JERKS REALLY BAD AND WON'T GO PAST 2 ON THE RPMS. WHEN IT JERKS I'M ASSUMING THAT IT IS THE GEARS TRYING TO CHANGE. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE HAS ACTED WEIRD EVER SINCE BUYING THIS CAR IT COMES AND GOES AND JUST RECENTLY IS WHEN IT STAYED ON AND WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT BEGAN FLASHING WHEN THE LOSS OF POWER AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY ISSUE BEGAN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353492September 7, 2020
ENGINE
THE CARS ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR OVER A YEAR. THE ENGINE IS CONSTANTLY BURNING OIL EVEN THOUGH OIL CHANGES ARE DONE EVERY 2000 TO 3000 MILES. THE VEHICLE ENGINE SOUNDS LOUDER EVERY MONTH. THE CAR PASSED TWO RECALL TESTS AT A KIA DEALERSHIP, ONE FOR WHICH I PAID OUT OF POCKET. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL BY MY MECHINIC AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON MY CAR. THE KIA DEALERSHIP CANNOT EXPLAIN TO ME WHY MY CAR IS PASSING THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT'S OBVIOUS THE CAR HAS HAD AN ENGINE PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THERE IS A DISTINCTIVE KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND YOU CAN HEAR THE ENGINE HICCUP WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED ON, AS IF WERE ABOUT TO BRAKE DOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353512September 7, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES
MY BRAKES ON MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HAVE A DEFECT WHEN TURN ON CAR THE SWITCH GEAR CHANGES TO P R D AND ANY GEAR WITHOUT ME PUTTING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO PUT THE SWITCH GEAR IN PLACE AND IT SMELLS LIKE A GASOLINE SMELL WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A BRAKE FLUID LEAK ARE WHAT BUT I WAS JUST NOTIFIED THAT ON CONSUMERS AFFAIRS KIA HAS A RECALL ON YEAR 2013 TO 2015 KIA CARS AND HYUNDAI CARS. SOME CARS HAVE BEEN CATCHING ON FIRE. KIA RECALL LINK HTTPS://ABCNEWS.GO.COM/US/WIRESTORY/HYUNDAI-KIA-RECALL-VEHICLES-LEAKS-FIRES-72793532 AND ON CONSUMERS AFFAIRS KIA RECALL BRAKE FLUID LEAK CARS ON FIRE LINK HTTPS://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS/HYUNDAI-KIA-RECALLS-NEARLY-600000-CARS-OVER-DEFECT-THAT-CAN-CAUSE-VEHICLES-TO-CATCH-FIRE-090420.HTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353399September 6, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN JUNE 2020 AFTER ORDERING FOOD AT A FAST FOOD DRIVE THROUGH MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD ROLL BACK UP. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH THOUGHT MAYBE THE WINDOW WAS OFF TRACK. ABOUT A WEEK OR SO LATER WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL STREET IN MY TOWN MY DRIVER SIDE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW SLID DOWN I BEGAN HEARING AND FEELING WIND COME THROUGH THE WINDOW I CALLED MY DAD WHO LIVES IN MIAMI HE TOLD ME TO PUT A FLAT HEAD SCREWDRIVER DOWN IN THE WINDOW TO KEEP THE WINDOW FROM SLIDING DOWN AND POSSIBLE BREAKING AND TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE KIA DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE WINDOWS LOOKED AT. (WHICH I DID) A COUPLE DAYS LATER WHILE PICKING MY DAUGHTER UP FROM WORK I WAS BACKED INTO A PARKING SPOT. I ROLLED THE BACK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOWN TO LET HER KNOW I WAS THERE SINCE SHE WAS MORE TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE CAR THEN THE FRONT AND ALL BEHOLD THE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. I CALLED KIA 1ST THING THE NEXT MORNING AND WAS TOLD MY CAR HAD A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL BUT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT MY WINDOWS UNLESS I PAID OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THE RECALL DID NOT COVER THE WINDOWS. I'M UPSET BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE MONEY TO FIX 3 WINDOWS HAD I NOT HAD THAT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM MY WINDOWS WOULD STILL BE WORKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353406September 6, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
9/5/2020 ROUGHLY 10:00 AM ENTERING THE ONRAMP TO GET ON I10 WEST. CAR LOST ACCELERATION, NEVER REACHED 40 MPH, THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE, TOOK FOOT OFF GAS, ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, CAR LOST ALL POWER AND TURNED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO PULL ONTO RIGHT SHOULDER AND PARK VEHICLE. CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOME. I CALLED ALL STAR KIA IN SAN BERNADINO CA, UNABLE TO ASSESS VEHICLE FOR 7 - 10 DAYS. CALLED PALM SPRINGS KIA MULTIPLE TIMES ON EXTENDED HOLD. WHEN WE CONNECTED, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULDNT BE LOOKED AT UNTIL 9/18/2020.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353452September 6, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE IN MOTION THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES AT RANDOM TIMES DURING THE DAY. ABS WARNING LIGHT, BSD WARNING LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ALL WENT OFF. THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE SEES THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WERE ON, BUT THEIR COMPUTER IS NOT DETECTING A PROBLEM. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BRING IT BACK. WELL, THEY'RE ON AGAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN STATIONARY SINCE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SUNDAY EVENING MY SON SENDS ME A PIC OF MY CAR, THE LIGHTS ARE ON!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353453September 6, 2020
STEERING
WHEN TURNING, THE WHEEL CLICKS AND THUDS SIDEWAYS AS IF LOOSE. THE STEERING COUPLER SEEMS TO BE THE CULPRIT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353263September 5, 2020
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOUGHT MY KIA 1 AGO & ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM W/HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS TURNING ON & OFF WHEN IN AUTO MODE. TRUNK LATCH HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE LATCH NOT LOCKING WHEN TRYING TO CLOSE TRUNK. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY GET 20-30 LATCH ISSUES W/MY MAKE & MODEL OF KIA EVERY WEEK. AFTER VEHICLE STARTS CAR JUST DIES & ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. AT TIMES CAR WILL STAY ON BUT STUTTERS LIKE ITS GOING TO DIE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353114September 4, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DRIVER SIDE DOOR DOESN'T CLOSE ALL THE WAY HEAD LIGHT BULBS MELTING TO HEADLIGHT HARNESS SMOKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11353172September 4, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER SOUTHWEST KIA OF ROCKWALL LOCATED AT 1790 I-30 FRONTAGE RD, ROCKWALL, TX 75087, (469) 402-2900 AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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