Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11322189April 24, 2020LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE DOORS SECURELY LOCKED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE CAUSED THE BATTERY TO BE DRAINED. SPARKS NISSAN KIA (1100 AUTO MALL DR, MONROE, LA 71203, (833)255-2570) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE, AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO OFFER THE REPAIR DUE TO THE BODY WORK THAT WAS REQUIRED TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *LN*JB *BF*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11322034April 23, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO THE DESTINATION. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RETRIEVED SEVERAL UNKNOWN DTC CODES USING A DTC SCANNER TOOL. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CODES WERE INCORRECT. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,402.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11322071April 23, 2020ENGINE
ENGINE SEIZED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321896April 22, 2020STEERING, SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AFTER HAVING WORK DONE ON THE LAST RECALL, I NOTICED THERE IS A RATTLING NEAR THE STEERING WHEEL ON EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD I HIT. IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW BIG OR SMALL. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND THE RATTLING HAS SINCE THEN GOTTEN LOUDER AND WORSE. I FEAR THERE IS SOMETHING LOOSE EITHER WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL AND COMPONENTS OR THE BARS UNDERNEATH. I CANNOT SEEM TO FIND EXACTLY WHAT IT IS BUT ITS ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR. IT IS ONLY HAPPENING WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321782April 21, 2020ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THREE OUT OF FOUR WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. IT STARTED WITH THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, THEN THE REAR DRIVER 3 MONTHS AGO, AND NOW THE FRONT PASSENGER ABOUT A MONTH AGO. DID SOME RESEARCH TO FIND IT'S A PRETTY COMMON PROBLEM ON KIA'S FOR THE REGULATORS TO BREAK. I DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY AT THE TIME TO FIX THE FIRST ONE, WAS SAVING UP AND THEN SECOND ONE STOPPED WORKING. DEFINITELY DIDN'T HAVE MONEY FOR TWO, WHEN THIRD QUIT. NOW JUST WAITING FOR THE LAST ONE TO KEEL OVER. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT PROBLEM, BUT I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO FIX ALL FOUR WINDOWS AT ONE TIME ON A CAR THAT'S ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321850April 21, 2020ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY CAR HAVE LOT OF PROBLEMS IN SIDE
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321709April 20, 2020STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
IN THE LATE MORNING OF MONDAY, APRIL 6TH 2020, MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 2013 KIA OPTIMA SXL HOME FROM THE STORE WHEN THE CAR BEGAN FILLING WITH SMOKE. LUCKILY, HE WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND JUMP OUT BEFORE FLAMES BEGAN TO ENGULF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. HE CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE COMPANY WAS DISPATCHED. THEIR RESPONSE TIME WAS SHORT, BUT IT TOOK UNDER A MINUTE FOR THE CAR TO GO UP IN FLAMES (SEE PICTURES ATTACHED). THERE WAS ZERO WARNING THAT THIS HORRIFIC EVENT WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. NO ENGINE LIGHT, NO FUNNY NOISES, NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. IN FACT, I HAD JUST BROUGHT THE CAR INTO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE SERVICE LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE ON MARCH 9. THEY GAVE ME NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD CAUSE IT TO CATCH ON FIRE. WE FILED A CLAIM WITH OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, WHO CONFIRMED THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND LISTED A RECENT, BUT AS YET UNANNOUNCED, RECALL ON MY EXACT YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THE CAR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT ACCORDING TO A FEBRUARY 27, 2020 ARTICLE IN US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, KIA WOULD SHORTLY BE RECALLING NEARLY 142,000 2013 AND 2014 KIA OPTIMA'S. FURTHERMORE, 'KIA SAYS A FUEL HOSE CAN DETERIORATE AND CRACK DUE TO ENGINE HEAT. THE HOSES CAN LEAK AND CAUSE FIRES. A FIX IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO START APRIL 16.' ALTHOUGH AT THE TIME OF THE ARTICLE NO FIRES HAD YET BEEN REPORTED, GIVEN THE SUDDEN NATURE OF OUR CAR FIRE, IT IS OBVIOUS TO US WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321725April 20, 2020FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE 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
- #11321529April 19, 2020ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, STEERING
DRIVING DOWN IN MOTION ON A VILLAGE ROAD GOING 40 MPH, CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, LOST POWER STEERING, I HAD TO PULL CAR OVER WITHOUT POWER STEERING TO SIDE OF BUSY ROAD, CAR WOULD NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY AND PARK WOULD NOT ENGAGED RIGHT AWAY INTO PARK, CAR THEN ROLLED FORWARD ABOUT 10 FEET AND SLAMMED INTO PARK. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER HOWEVER ALL POWER LIGHTS, AND BATTERY WERE WORKING WITHOUT ISSUE. CALLED A TOW TRUCK, COULD NOT GET AHOLD OF KIA FOR KIA 24 HOUR EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, DUE TO COVID-19, I HAD TO CALL A LOCAL BODY SHOP/USED CAR DEALER FOR A TOW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321454April 17, 2020SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65 MPH AND AN ALERT POPS UP. IT SAID "POSSIBLE BMS CONDITION." I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE, BUT ALSO NOTICED MY CAR SPEED REDUCING. I SAFELY GOT INTO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND THEN THE CAR STEERING WHEEL FROZE UP. ANOTHER ALERT TO CHECK BRAKES WENT ON. I PUSHED THE BRAKES OVER AND OVER TO GET THE ALERT OFF. IT THEN OVER A TIME SPAN OF 3-5 MIN STARTED TO SLOWLY RUN LOW ON ELECTRICITY BECAUSE THE HAZARDS LIGHTS WERE BLINKING SLOWER. I GOT IT TOWED AND WAITING TO SEE WHAT IS THE PROBLEM. BEEN LOOKING IT UP AND MOST LIKELY IT'S THE FUSE IN THE BACK TRUNK UNDER THE COVER UNDERNEATH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321178April 15, 2020ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING OUT OF NOWHERE MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE OUT OF THE FEW YEARS I HAD THIS CAR BUT NOW IT JUST CAME ON I'M UPDATED WITH OIL CHANGES AND ALL I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THIS IS HAPPENING I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321232April 15, 2020UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR HAS A FOUL SMELL IN IT I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT HAS BACTERIA GROWING UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND THE ENGINE AND THAT'S WHY IT SMELL LIKE MOLD WHEN I TURN ON THE A/C I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO FROM DRIVETIME IN COLUMBUS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321236April 15, 2020POWER TRAIN
MY 16 YEAR OLD SON SAVED HIS MONEY (SINCE 13 YEARS OLD) AND PURCHASED BACK IN OCTOBER 2019 THE CAR USED FROM A DEALER WITH 79546 MILES ON THE CAR. ON FEBRUARY 18, 2020 ON HIS DRIVE HOME FROM SCHOOL HE NOTICED A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE. HE WAS NOT SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHATSOEVER. HE DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT HOME. MY HUSBAND CHECKED THE OIL AND THE DIP STICK HAD NO OIL ON IT. THE CAR AT THIS TIME ONLY HAD 82794, IT'S LAST OIL CHANGE BACK WHEN WE PURCHASED IT IN OCTOBER AT 79546 MILES. HOW DOES A CAR BURN THROUGH SYNTHETIC OIL IN A LITTLE OVER 3K MILES AND 5 MONTHS OF DRIVING. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP WHICH STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO BEARING FAILURE. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ONLINE, IT APPEARS THERE IS A PENDING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WITH HYUNDAI AND KIA BUT IT APPEARS THE HEARING FOR PRELIMINARY APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. I WISH AS A PARENT WE WOULD HAVE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE OF RESEARCHING ABOUT THE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY OF KIA VEHICLES BECAUSE KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW, I WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED THIS PURCHASE. I FEEL COMPLETELY SCREWED AND NOW MY POOR 16 YEAR OLD HAS NO CAR BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE 6K TO FIX IT. WHAT A TERRIBLE FIRST CAR PURCHASING EXPERIENCE FOR MY SON. PLEASE GET KIA CORPORATION TO DUE THE RIGHT THING AND GET THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD. THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN REGARDS TO THE DESIGN OF THEIR ENGINE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321056April 14, 2020ENGINE
ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE - *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11321149April 14, 2020ENGINE
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND OFF AND WHEN I WENT TO GO GET IT CHECKED, IT CAME UP AND TRANSMISSION RANGE SENSOR CIRCUIT (PNRDL) INPUT. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, I CAN'T TAKE IT OUT UNTIL I TURN MY CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON. MY CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 87,000 MILES AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TRANSMISSION/ENGINE ISSUES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320889April 12, 2020ENGINE
I WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN I HEARD A FAINT KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. LESS THAN TEN MINUTES LATER, WHILE GOING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, I LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS AND HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE ENGINE KNOCK WAS MUCH LOUDER NOW AND THE CAR WOULDN'T BUDGE. I'M GUESSING THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUES WHICH CAUSED RECALL SC147, BUT TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE HYBRID EX DOESN'T HAVE A GDI ENGINE. WITH ONLY 113K MILES, I'M HOPING KIA WILL COVER IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320479April 8, 2020SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN MAIN STREET WHEN EVERYTHING SHUT OFF, ELECTRICAL, MOTOR, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP . SHE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD , A MAN PULLED OVER TO HELP HER AFTER 20 MINS THE CAR WAS AS ABLE TO START AGAIN. 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. VERY SCARY .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320488April 8, 2020ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WHEELS
I PURCHASED MY CAR IN BELLEVUE NE I TRIED TAKING IT BACK WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK. THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND SENT ME TO EDWARDS KIA IN COUNCIL BLUFFS IA. MY BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE HORRIBLE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THEY IN NE SAID THEY WERE COMPLETELY FINE. IT COST $600 TO REPAIR. THE BELLEVUE MANAGER ASKED ME WHAT I EXPECTED HIM TO DO ABOUT IT. THEY LET ME LEAVE THE LOT WITHOUT INSPECTION MY CAR. THEN I HAD A MOTOR RECALL MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE THIS HAS NOW HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 30 DAYS. EDWARDS KIA IN COUNCIL BLUFFS CURRENTLY HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 2 WEEKS AND TELL ME THAT IT COULD BE AN ADDITIONAL 6 WEEKS BEFORE I GET IT RETIRED TO ME
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320612April 8, 2020ENGINE
CODE P1326 CAME UP INDICATING VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE OR A KNOCK SENSOR OR AND ENGINE BEARING IS ABOUT TO NEED REPLACING
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11320620April 8, 2020ENGINE
ENGINE IS UNDER RECALL DUE TO LAWSUIT AND THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO REPLACE IT
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0