Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11343204August 4, 2020
ENGINE
THE THETA 2.4GDI ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA MAY 2019, AFTER A TOTAL ENGINE SEIZURE THAT LEFT ME STRANDED AT AN INTERSECTION IN ALBUQUERQUE NM. IT HAS STARTED TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PATTERN OF MALFUNCTIONING IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS, SPORADICALLY, FIRST WHILE DRIVING AND ANOTHER TIME WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, PRONOUNCED MALFUNCTIONING. I AM DUMBFOUNDED THAT KIA STATES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AS I HAVE PROVIDED VIDEOS OF THE NOISES FOR THEIR REVIEW!! THEY THEMSELVES WRITE IN ARTICLES THAT THEY PREFER TO REPAIR BEFORE TOTAL ENGINE SEIZURE. HOWEVER, I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO PITRE KIA, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS ORIGINALLY REPLACED AND NOW THEY SAY THE ENGINE WARRANTY WAS 12 MONTHS, EVEN THOUGH THEIR LITERATURE STATES DIFFERENTLY. WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO FOLLOW THAT ADVISE, THEY COMPLETELY SWITCH TO TOTAL RUDENESS AND GO AS FAR AS LAUGHING AT YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN OVER THE VEHICLE THAT YOU PAID FOR AND WHICH ULTIMATELY PAYS THEIR SALARY!! I JUST WANT TO HAVE FAITH IN MY VEHICLE THAT IT WILL NOT LEAVE ME STRANDED. I AM RESTRICTED, AT THIS TIME, FROM GOING OUT OF TOWN. I DO NOT TRUST MY VEHICLE TO TAKE ME ANYWHERE, MUCH LESS MAKE THE NECESSARY TRIPS TO SANTA FE (56 MILES AWAY) DUE TO THE FEAR OF GETTING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, I AM A 64 YEARS OLD DISABLED FEMALE AND THOUGHT I HAD PURCHASED A RELIABLE VEHICLE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT IS THE FARTHEST FROM THE TRUTH. NOW THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES AND SUPERVISORS ARE IN TOTAL DENIAL OF THEIR FAULTY EQUIPMENT AND THEN PROCEED TO BE RUDE! THEY CAN LIE ALL THEY WANT, BUT THEY DO KNOW OF THE LAWSUITS OVER THEIR FAULTY ENGINES!! THEY ARE JUST BEING TOLD BY THE GREEDY CORPORATE HEADS NOT TO COMPLY WITH REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343230August 4, 2020
AIR BAGS
LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD BY KIA IF MY STEERING WHEEL CLICKED TO BRING IT IN ASAP, AT THE TIME IT WASN'T DOING THAT. A MONTH AGO IT DID, I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED. THE CLOCK SPRING ASSY FAILED. PLUS IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. SOME ARE COVERED OTHERS ARE NOT, EXPLAIN TO ME PLEASE THAT IF THEY ALL ARE DOING THE SAME THING WHY AREN'T THEY ALL COVERED? PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343270August 4, 2020
ENGINE
ENGINE KNOCKING WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH, THERE IS A RECALL ON ENGINES ON THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA AND THIS CAR ONLY HAS 75K MILES AND IS REGULARLY SERVICED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343116August 4, 2020
ENGINE
AS I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, I PULLED UP TO A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND I THERE WAS AN 18 WHEELER COMING UP BEHIND ME WITH MY 80-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER IN THE CAR. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY IN TIME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH LOW MILES AND I HAVE OIL IN IT AND OUT OF NOWHERE THERE'S IT'S LOUD TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SOMEHOW MY OIL IS BACK LOW AGAIN. THIS SO TOTALLY ON KIA SO MANY COMPLAINTS NOT ENOUGH RESOLUTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11343013August 3, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA WITH PEARL WHITE PAINT. CONSISTENT WITH WIDESPREAD REPORTS OF RAPID PAINT PEELING AND DELAMINATION OF THIS PARTICULAR PAINT COLOR, I TOO AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME. ALSO CONSISTENT WITH WIDESPREAD REPORTING, THE PRIMARY AREAS ARE ALONG THE PILLARS AROUND THE WINDSHIELD (LONG VERTICAL STRIPS PEELED DOWN TO THE PRIMER), AND BUBBLING AND PEELING ON THE ENGINE HOOD, THE FRONT GRILL AND THE FRONT BUMPER. THIS HAS HAPPENED VERY QUICKLY, AND IS RAPIDLY WORSENING. I FIRST NOTICED THE PEELING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD ON 5/28/20, AND THE ENGINE HOOD AND BUMPER ON 8/2/20. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 62,900 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT IS TYPICALLY GARAGED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS WILL CONTINUE TO WORSEN, AND THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WILL NEED TO BE REPAINTED. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECT, AS REPORTED BY OTHERS, WE ARE ALL EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES IN THE SAME MANNER AND LOCATIONS ON THE VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY KIA AT NO COST TO ME. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342855August 2, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT LIGHTS WENT COMPLETELY OUT ON HIGHWAY WHILE IN AUTO MODE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342701August 1, 2020
ENGINE
ENGINE KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY , WHEN PRESSING GAS PETAL OR CRANKING UP ! CAR WON'T ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING, OIL LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS ON & OFF WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY ! CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342719August 1, 2020
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL CLICKS CONSTANTLY WHEN TURNING ANY DIRECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342739August 1, 2020
ENGINE
I GOT A OIL CHANGE CAME HOME AND THE NEXT DAY STARTED MY CAR AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN KNOCKING MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342463July 31, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY BREAK SERVICE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON AND IT'S MAKING A NOISE LIKE IT'S A HONDA I TOOK IT BACK TO GANAS SERVICE AND WEEK LATER THE BREAK LIGHT BACK ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342414July 30, 2020
ENGINE
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND THE VEHICLE LACKS ACCELERATION. A LOUD TAPPING IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THIA STARTED ON JULY 25, 2020 WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342149July 29, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY 2012 OPTIMA WAS TAKEN TO IMPERIO KIA IN DANA POINT FOR A MANDATED ENGINE INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE ADVISER ACTING STRANGELY. MY CAR ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE, AND BEGAN TO SMELL RUBBER BURNING. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVER ANSWER THE PHONE, AND WITH 4 WEEKS THEY CLOSED DOWN. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AT KIA OF IRVINE, WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, IT HAD METAL PIECES AND RUBBER PIECES IN IT, THE HOSES WERE DISCONNECTED AND THERE WAS RUBBER MELTED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THERE WERE MISSING CLAMPS AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROBEMS. KIA REPLACED MY ENGINE AND TURBO WITH REBUILT PARTS, AFTER A WAIT THAT LASTED 4 MORE WEEKS. KIA PROVIDED ME A 5 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT WERE REPLACED AND DAMAGED IN THIS CASE #12538291. IN 2019, ANOTHER MANDATED INSPECTION OCCURRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AND FUEL PIPE IN THE VEHICLES THAT PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A DANGER OF FIRE. ON JULY 28, 2020, THE OPTIMA STARTED TO LOSE ITS POWER, AND CHOKED AND HESITATED UPON STARTUP WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I REOPENED THE ENGINE CLAIM AND TOOK THE OPTIMA INTO THE IRVINE DEALERSHIP. THEY CLAIN THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT IT DOES NOT EXIST! THEY ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INSPECTION OR LACK THERE-OF FOR THE FUEL PIPE, AND CLAIM THAT THE WARRANTY AND RECALL DO NOT COVER THE FUEL PUMP. AGENTS ARE WORKING FROM HOME DUE TO COVID-19, AND THERE IS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SPEAK OF. THE QUOTE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY HIGH AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME A HIGH DIAGNOSTIC FEE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH TRAUMA BECAUSE OF KIA, AND I WANT THEM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEIR WARRANTY RECORDS ARE A DISGRACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342038July 29, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE OR STOP THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK I COASTED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL BECAUSE I HAD NO BREAKS. THEN I HAD A TOW TRUCK COME AND PULL ME OFF THE FREEWAY TO SEE IF I COULD START MY VEHICLE HOWEVER IT DID NOT START ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON THE DASH ON AND THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND SMELL LIKE FIRE I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. THE MECHANIC SAID THE ENGINE IS FRIED BECAUSE THE OIL PUMP WAS NOT BEING PUMPED INTO THE MOTOR THEREFORE IT LOCKED UP HE SAID I BELIEVE THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FOR THE SAME REASON I CHECKED THE RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SYSTEM THAT A 2015 KIA OPTIMA IS UP FOR RECALL. I BELIEVE KIA NEEDS TO REFUND THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 88,000 MILES IN THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED KIA NEEDS TO CALL ME
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341914July 28, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CONCORD KIA (2199 MERIDIAN PARK BLVD, CONCORD, CA 94520) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE UNKNOWN RECALL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT A YEAR LATER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341958July 28, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
HAD OIL CHANGED AND DROVE ABOUT 500 FEET FROM DEALERSHIP WHEN CAR SHUT DOWN IN MIDDLE OF STREET. TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND ABOUT TO RUN OVER ME. CARS SLIDING ON BRAKES TO AVOID MY STALLED CAR IN THE STREET. TRIED TO TURN INTO PARKING LOT TO GET OFF STREET BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TOP STEER. HAD TO SIT THERE IN 100 DEGREE HEAT. FINALLY HAD TO GET OUT OF CAR WHEN IT WAS SAFE AND RUN ACROSS STREET .CALLED STAFF MEMBER FROM DEALERSHIP TO COME AND HELP ME. HE ASSISTED ME IN GETTING CAR BACK INTO PARKING LOT AND SAID ABS HYDRAULIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. QUOTED ME $2341.84 TO REPAIR. I AGREED AND THEY FIXED IT ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AFTER ALL. NOW I AM TOLD I NEED HORNESS WIRING IS BURNED OUT! ANOTHER $2000.00 FOR WIRING. THIS NEED TO BE INVESTIGATED ASAP. IT'S NO WAY WITH ONLY 54000 MILES, THIS SHOULD BE HAPPENING. I NEED SOMEONE TO CONTACT ME OR KIA IN BATON ROUGE, LA LOCATED ON SEIGEN LANE. I HAVE THE PRINT OUT BUT I CANNOT UPLOAD IT. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW. I DON'T THINK THEY CAN FIX IT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS WRONG THAT KIA HAS NOT DISCOVERED YET. THIS CAR SHOULD BE GOOD FOR MORE THAN 54000 MILES. PLEASE HELP ASAP . THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341580July 27, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE CAR 61K MILES..BASICALLY THE DEALSHIP IS SAYING THE CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341603July 27, 2020
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE . ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341488July 26, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY HEAD LIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF AND ON BY THEMSELVES THREE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED HAS BEEN IN DIFFERENT AREAS IN THE CITY I LIVE IN. I ALWAYS KEEP MY CAR'S HEADLIGHTS ON AUTO. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT NIGHT WHEN THEY RANDOMLY TURNED OFF BY THEMSELVES. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND THE SCREEN FOR THE HEADLIGHT FUNCTION WAS SWITCHING FROM AUTO TO OFF BY ITSELF, SO I JIGGLED THE TRIGGER FOR THE HEADLIGHTS AND THEY CAME BACK ON. SAME THING THE LAST TWO TIMES. SCARY FOR ME BECAUSE MY ROUTE HOME FROM WORK IS PRETTY SCARCE WITH STREET LIGHTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341507July 26, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN CAR IS DRIVING, OR SITTING THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL GO ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. LIKE WHEN ITS DARK THEY WILL SHUT OFF. THEN COME BACK ON, SWITCH IS ON AUTOMATIC MODE. THEN WHEN YOU SWITCH TO TURN LIGHTS ON IT WILL DO ON AND OFF. BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, FINALLY DID IT ON MY HUSBAND HE WAS THINKING I HAD LOST MY MIND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341563July 26, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 40 IN TENNESSEE AND MY CAR JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I WAS IN RIGHT LANE AND I PULLED OFF TO SHOULDER. A DOT EMERGENCY REPAIR TRUCK STOPPED AND TRIED TO JUMP MY CAR, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED, NOT EVEN A NOISE OR ANYTHING. CALLED AAA FOR A TOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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