Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11327446June 5, 2020
ENGINE
THE OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN ON BUT THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AND THEN THE CAR STARTS STALLING AND KIND OF HESITATING WHEN DRIVING.THEN STARTS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING SO GOT IT DIAGNOSED AND IT READ THAT THE CRANK SENSOR SHAFT WAS THE ISSUE. BROUGHT IT TO CLASSIC KIA AND THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS BAD AND I NEEDED A NEW STARTER. GOT IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND PUT A NEW BATTERY IN,SO IT RUNS BUT THE LIGHT IS STILL ON AND THE CAR WILL START TO SMELL LIKE ITS OVER HEATING BUT ON THE DASH STILL READS BETWEEN HOT AND COLD(RIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD) BUT I PULL OVER AND ITS SMOKING. WHEN I POP THE HOOD ITS SMOKING BUT THE FAN IS STILL GOING SO THE ENGINE ISN'T OVER HEATED. CANT CONTINUE TO DRIVE LIKE THIS WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN AND THE CAR STALLING AND/OR DYING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327449June 5, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE OIL LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD BEGAN TO SPUTTER BEFORE STALLING. A BURNING ODOR WAS ALSO PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND HOT AIR WOULD BLOW FROM THE VENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER CLASSIC KIA (3875 EASTEX WAY, BELMONT TX) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND STARTER WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE STARTER WAS NOT REPLACED. ALSO, OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE RADIATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327357June 5, 2020
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. KIA OF EAST SYRACUSE (6717 MANLIUS CENTER RD, EAST SYRACUSE, NY 13057, (315) 701-5898) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327404June 5, 2020
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING 6/5/2020 WHILE IN MOTION IT HAS BEEN 110 DEGREES IN PHOENIX, AZ FOR THE PAST WEEK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327412June 5, 2020
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A WEAR NOISE, LIKE PARTS ARE GETTING LOOSE WHEN I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL THE LIGHTEST. IT SOUNDS DANGEROUS AND NOT SAFE AT ALL. IT ALSO SOUNDS WHEN DRIVING NO MATTER THE SURFACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327309June 4, 2020
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED, WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SAFFORD KIA OF FREDERICKSBURG (5204 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540)-891-7400. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE CODE AT THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT THE SAME DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). AS PART OF THE RECALL REPAIR THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE WAS INSPECTED BUT WAS NOT REPLACED BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO FAILURE WITH THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,227. *LN*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327058June 3, 2020
ENGINE
KIA REPLACED A BLOWN ENGINE IN 2017 ON RECALL. FROM THE BEGINNING I NOTICED IT FELT DIFFERENT. IT GOES THROUGH OIL , BUT DOESN'T LEAK ANYWHERE. WHEN I TAKE OFF AFTER ITS SAT FOR A WHILE A BIG CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS ("BURNING OIL IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER") . THE ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 40000 MILES ON IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE BLEW UP, I ALMOST CAUSED A GIANT ACCIDENT! NOW THE CAR IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT WORTHLESS AS WELL. I HAVE KEPT ALL DOCUMENTS ON THE CAR, OIL CHANGES, PARTS & REPAIRS, RECALLS, ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327062June 3, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, THE CAR MADE A NOISE AND THE GAS WOULDN'T GIVE THE CAR POWER. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND WHILE DOING SO THE CAR SHUT OFF. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE MECHANIC THEY SAID IT IS A SEIZED ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND KIA THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327109June 3, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE! HAD PICKED THE KIA OPTIMA UP THE DAY BEFORE FROM THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY HAD INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE, BELTS, AND HOSES. HAD DRIVEN 40 MINUTES FOR A DOCTOR APPT. GOT OFF THE FREEWAY. AS I WAS APPROACHING THE LIGHT (ABOUT 3 BLOCKS FROM FREEWAY), NOTICED GRAY SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD ON PASSENGER SIDE. WITH A BROKEN LEFT ARM, HAD TO GET OUT AND ACROSS TRAFFIC. SAW THE FLAMES AS I WAS CROSSING THE STREET. IN UNDER A MINUTE, THE FRONT OF CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327168June 3, 2020
ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING 45MPH, I HEARD A RIDDLING NOISE. AFTER HEARING THE NOISE I SAW MY MALFUNCTION LIGHT WAS BLINKING SO I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS THE NOISE. AS I WAS SEARCHING I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WASN'T RUNNING HOT OR NEEDED OIL SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO START AGAIN, STILL NOISE AND LIGHT BLINKING. OVER THE TIME THE NOISE GROW LOUDER AND LOUDER EACH TIME I TURN THE CAR ON.TRIED TO DRIVE BACK TOO SAFE AREA, THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO PULL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. PULL OVER IN A LOT TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK PICKUP TO RETURN HOME. NEXT DAY BEFORE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP I TURNED THE CAR ON TO SEE IS ANYTHING HAD CHANGED. THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE NOISE WAS LOUDER BUT THIS TIME THE CAR CUT OFF BY ITSELF. IT ALSO HAD LOST POWER AFTER A FEW SEC OF HAVING IT ON. WHILE IT WAS ON THE MOST IT WOULD DO WAS 20MPH. SO I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL ANYMORE. TOOK TO NEARBY REPAIR SHOP STATED IT NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. GOT A SECOND OPINION TO SAY THE SAME. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326726June 1, 2020
ENGINE
RECENTLY WHEN DRIVING I'VE HEARD A PRONOUNCED "KNOCKING" NOISE COMING FROM MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT CAN ALSO BE HEARD AT LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL. I WAS AWARE OF A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON MY ENGINE BECAUSE OF IT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A KIA SERVICE CENTER FOR THEM TO RUN THE AUDIO TEST REQUIRED BY THE RECALL. ALTHOUGH THEY ADMITTED THAT THE KNOCKING WAS COMING FROM THE ISSUE STATED IN THE RECALL, THEY SAID IT WAS STILL "IN SPEC" AND IT WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH YET TO WARRANT REPLACING THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. THEY ALSO MENTIONED TO BRING IN THE CAR AGAIN IF IT GOT WORSE. JUST A FEW DAYS LATER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE KNOCKING WAS SO LOUD I COULD NOT HEAR MY RADIO. MY WIFE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR AND I ALSO DON'T BELIEVE I WILL BE ABLE TO SELL IT IN THIS CONDITION. IF KIA IS ADMITTING FAULT WITH THE ENGINE ISSUE, WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? IS THIS SAFE? IF THEY ARE WAITING FOR IT TO FAIL BEFORE REPLACING IT, I COULD HAVE MY ENGINE SEIZE ON THE HIGHWAY OR CATCH FIRE BASED ON WHAT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS TARGETED AT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326745June 1, 2020
ENGINE
CODES P1326 P0011 P0012. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326583May 30, 2020
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WHEN I'M DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY SURFACE DRIVING OVER THE SLIGHTEST BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLANKING SOUND ALSO THE CAR IS PULLING TO THE RIGHT MY FRONT TIRES ARE WEARING OUT ON THE UPPEROUTSIDE OF THE TIRE THE PART OF TIRE THAT TOUCHES THE ROAD. I HAVE LOOKED ON WEB TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD A ISSUE WITH THIS WHAT I FOUND WAS THAT IT MAY BE THE STEERING COUPLER. IT'S GETTING WORSE I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT GOING TO TURN ONE OF THESE DAYS BECAUSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326474May 29, 2020
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
KIA OPTIMA 2011 TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST ON JULY 2 2018, MY KIA OPTIMA CAUSED ME TO PLUMMET INTO TRAFFIC AFTER MY BRAKE DIDN'T PERFORM L. THAT'S CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO KIA FOR ALL SERVICE NEED AND CAR STILL PERFORM POORLY. HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR MULTIPLE TIME JUST FOR IT TO ACT RIGHT. CAR STOPS ONE ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ONE DAY. I HAVE A 3 OLD AND THAT DAY SHE COULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME. I LOST MY LICENSE AND MY MONEY I INVESTED FOR A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY CHILD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326534May 29, 2020
ENGINE
MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA SXL TURBO IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN I HIT THE GAS. IT ALSO STALLED ON ME WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. SOLENOID ALSO HAD TRACES OF METAL SHAVINGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326366May 28, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL INJECTOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE CAR SPUTTERED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT WARNING. IT SPUTTERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY; IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE MOMENT THAT I MOVED ONTO THE EXIT RAMP. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A FULL DIAGNOSTIC AND REPORTED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. WHILE REPAIRING THE INJECTOR, THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE INJECTOR LEAKING AND CLOGGING THE CONVERTER. NO CODES ALERTED MYSELF, OR THE MECHANIC TO THESE ISSUES. THE MECHANIC REPORTED THAT NEITHER ISSUE WAS COVERED UNDER THE ENGINE RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326265May 28, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAMS ON THIS CAR ARE ALMOST NON EXISTENT. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON TO SEE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF THE CAR. IT'S SO BAD THAT WHEN A CAR IS BEHIND ME THERE IS THE SHADOW OF MY CAR FROM THE HEADLIGHTS BEHIND ME. I BROUGHT TO THE GARY ROME KIA IN JANUARY WHO TOLD ME IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE LIFETIME HEADLIGHT WARRANTY BECAUSE THE FOIL IN HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS INTACT. IT IS A MAJOR HAZARD AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR BUT IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. CAR HAS 109K ON IT.*DT*LN *TR THE CONSUMER SUBMITTED A PHOTO OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE DIM LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER STATED MINIMIZES DRIVING AT NIGHT OR IF DRIVING SHE WOULD HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO SEE AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326108May 27, 2020
ENGINE
MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA SXL TURBO IS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND WHEN I HIT THE GAS. IT ALSO STALLED ON ME WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326202May 27, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS HAPPENS WHILE I AM DRIVING OR WHEN I COME TO A STOP. THE CAR APPEARS TO STALL AND THEN THE GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS IN MY CONSOLE AREA GO OUT AND THE LIGHT INDICATOR IN THE DASHBOARD GOES OUT AND THEREFORE YOU CANNOT SEE WHICH GEAR YOU IN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALER THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND THAT IT APPEARED TO FIX ITSELF. IT APPEARED TO CLEAR UP BUT SINCE HAS STARTED BACK . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11326258May 27, 2020
ENGINE
I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE ENGINE HAS A DELAYED ACCELERATION WHEN TAKING OFF. MAKES A STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING. SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURNING OIL AFTER DRIVING A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE NEED TO REPLENISH THE ENGINE OIL. OIL IS EXTREMELY DARK. SOMETIMES THERE IS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. HARD TO ACCELERATE ON THE FREEWAY AT TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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