Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11320403April 7, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
DIM HEADLAMPS DUE TO DETERIORATING REFLECTIVE COATING ON LOW BEAM HOUSING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11320419April 7, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO FIX AIR CONDITIONING ISSUE. WHEN THEY WENT TO RUN IT THROUGH THEIR CAR WASH, THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE WOULD NOT DO IT DUE TO THE SHARK FIN ANTENNA BEING LOOSE. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD, I SHOOK THE SHARK FIN LIGHTLY AND IT CAME OFF IN MY HAND. ALL OF THE SCREWS HAD BROKEN THE PLASTIC OFF THE SHARK FIN. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE COST TO FIX IS OVER $500. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH SUCH A WEAK DESIGN. LUCKILY THIS WAS CAUGHT AT THE DEALERSHIP AND DID NOT COME OFF WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11320229April 4, 2020
ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
SO I JUST TOOK MY WIFES CAR TO OUR LOCAL MECHANIC WHO NORMALLY DOES OUR OIL CHANGES. THE PRIOR WEEKEND I MOVED HER CAR TO MOW THE LAWN AND HER OIL LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT RIGHT OFF. I LET IT GO BECAUSE WE WHERE DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND DIDNT THINK ANYTHING OF IT( CONSIDERING IT'S A 2016 AND THOUGHT MAYBE THE OIL LIGHT WOULD COME ON STATING IT NEEDS AN OIL CHANGE). SO THE NEXT WEEK MY WIFE TELLS ME THAT HER OIL LIGHT CAME ON TWICE IN 1 DAY, I SAID OK I'LL CHECK THE OIL AFTER WORK AND ENGINE HAS COOLED DOWN. I CHECKED IT AND HAD NO OIL, GREAT! SO I BROUGHT IT TO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT I NEED TO CALL KIA BECAUSE IT HAD 1/2 QUART OF OIL IN THE PAN AND SOMETHING JUST ISNT RIGHT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND NOBODY HAS HEARD OF THESE ENGINES BEING KNOWN FOR DRINKING OIL. SO I RESEARCHED THIS AND FOUND ALL THESE STORIES LEADING TO AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN( GETTING OFF SUBJECT) HER LIGHTS WILL JUST TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD. CALLED KIA AND ALL THEY SAID WAS BRING IT IN, WE WILL LOOK AT IT AND GO FROM THERE. I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG, GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND WENT ON MY WAY. IT HAPPENED 7 TIMES AFTER THAT. IT'S A GREAT CAR! WE LOVE IT BUT NOW KNOWING WE WILL BE LOOKING AT AN ENGINE SWAP ISNT SETTING WELL WILL ME AT ALL! THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND REGARDLESS IF WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OR SECOND OWNER, KIA SHOULD BITE THE BULLET AND REPLACE ALL 2.4 ENGINES AND WIRING HARNESSES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11320008April 2, 2020
VISIBILITY/WIPER
I CAN NOT SEE THE CAR ON THE RIGHT IF I WANT TO SWITCH LANES ON A HIGH WAY. IN TRAFFIC I GET NOT ZOOM IN AND OUT OF LANES, EITHER I (THE DRIVER) OR THE PASSENGER NEEDS TO TURN THEIR HEAD IN ORDER FOR THE DRIVER TO TURN RIGHT. I TRIED THE LITTLE MIRRORS THAT YOU STICK ON BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. WHEN I TEST DROVE IT, I DID NOT REALIZED IT FOR I DROVE IT REGULAR ROADS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11320085April 2, 2020
ENGINE
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 DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO ZONE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER NOR WAS THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 132,054.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319926April 1, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SOUTHSIDE KIA LOCATED AT (9401 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. 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 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319838March 31, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILLION AUTO - KIA OF IOWA CITY (2845 MORMON TREK BLVD, IOWA CITY, IA 52246) TO BE REPAIRED UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NOTICED BY THE SERVICE STICKER PLACED ON THE WINDOW THAT THE WRONG TYPE OF OIL WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER CONTACTING THE SAME DEALER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY USED THAT TYPE OF OIL DUE TO THE RECALL UPDATE. AS THE CONTACT STARTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTING TO FLASH. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INITIALLY INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. AS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A SECOND TIME AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN ENGINE MISFIRE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT THEN STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND HIT AN UNKNOWN OBJECT ON THE ROAD WHICH CAUSED A BLOWOUT OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS LOOSE AND ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL WAS VERY LOW DESPITE HAVING A RECENT OIL CHANGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE MATTER. AFTER NOT HEARING FROM THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT CALLED BACK AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNSUCCESSFUL IN REACHING THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319782March 30, 2020
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
WHEN I AM DRIVING MORE THAN 65 MPH, MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES FOR 3 SECONDS, STOPS, AND THEN CONTINUES UNTIL I GO UNDER 65 MPH. WHEN I DRIVE OVER A BUMP OR OBJECT, IT SHAKES AS WELL. THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING WHEN TURN THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11319549March 27, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE SHARK FIN ANTENNA COVER JUST BROKE OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11318958March 22, 2020
ENGINE
KIA OPTIMA ON 2.4L ENGINE IS THE SAME HYUNDAI HAVE ISSUES, THOSE CARS ARE ALL THE SAME, THE HYBRID BATTERY HAVE BOTH NAMES, MY ENGINE IS KNOCKING AND MY CAR HAS NO RECALLS ON ENGINE, BUT MY FRIEND HAVE A HYUNDAI THAT HE HAVE FULL REPLACEMENT, I REPLACE THE HYBRID BIG BATTERY TO KEEP MY CAR AND AFTER COUPLE WEEKS, MY ENGINE KNOCKING, THE CAR IS SUPER CLEAN AND USED ENGINE COST ALMOST 3K INSTALLED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11318724March 19, 2020
AIR BAGS
HORN DOSEN'T BLOW OR NOTHING WORKS ON STEERING WHEEL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11318303March 16, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CABLE DAHMER OF KANSAS CITY LOCATED AT (555 W 103RD ST, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114 (816) 284-7240) WHERE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURBO OIL FEEDER LINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11318089March 15, 2020
ENGINE
CAR WAS PURCHASED08/2018 AND ON 3/06/2020 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE. THE CAR HAD A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE IN 1/31/20. AFTER HAVING THE CAR CHECKED LOCALLY IT WAS DETERMINED THE OIL WAS LOW DUE TO THE CAMSHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION(DOUGS AUTO 28387) THE TECHNICIAN OBSERVED METAL SHAVING WHICH CONTAMINATED THE REMAINING OIL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE MAKES A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE IS PRACTICALLY NO LONGER DRIVEABLE DUE YO FEAR OF THE ENGINE SEIZING COMPLETELY WHICH CAN RESULT IN INJURY, CRASH, OR DEATH. KIA IS AWARE OF THE RECALL HOWEVER STATES MY VEHICLE ISNT IMPACTED HOWEVER EVERYTHING WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IS OUTLINED IN THE RECALL STATEMENT. KIA HAS DECLINED TO HELP FURTHER ACCORDING TO PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE SAME ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11318137March 15, 2020
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND WENT TO MOVE TO THE SECOND LANE IT WAS FINE EXCEPT I MY CAR BEGAN TO STALL AND SLOW DOWN MAKING THIS GRINDING NOISE WHEN I TRIED TO GAIN SPEED... ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND I COULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 30 MILES PER HOUR. ALL WHILE INCOMING TRAFFIC WAS COMING AT ME GOING ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR I HAD TO GAIN COMPOSURE. PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND PULL OVER... IT WOULDN'T LET ME GO ABOVE 20 WHEN I PULLED OVER.... I WAS FREAKING SCARED ONCE I PULLED OVER I WAS SHAKING AND CRYING HAD TO GAIN COMPOSURE... I BELIEVE I CAUGHT THIS ON MY DASH CAM. I [XXX] HATE THIS KIA... IT BY GRACE MY KIDS WEREN'T IN THE CAR WITH ME AND THAT THE VAN BEHIND ME SWITCHED LANES AT THE LAST SECOND.... I HAVE TAKEN MY KIA 2 TIMES TO THE KIA REPAIR DEALERSHIP, THE FIRST ONE WAS FREE THE SECOND TIME I HAD TO PAY 145 JUST TO BE SEEN. MIND YOU I WENT TO THE KIA REPAIR DEALERSHIP IN BERWYN AND THEY SAY IT'S FINE.... IT'S NOT FINE THAT MY CAR COULDN'T GO ABOVE 30 MILES ON THE EXPRESS WAY, IT'S NOT FINE THAT I WAS ALMOST IN A COLLISION IT'S NOT FINE. KIA WILL NOT REPAIR THESE CARS UNTIL SOMEONE DIES.... I CAN'T TAKE THIS CHANCE WITH MY CHILDREN. I WILL BORROW MY MOM'S TOYOTA UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS RECTIFIED. I AM A SINGLE MOM MY KIDS ONLY SOURCE OF INCOME AND SUPPORT I DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE OFF FROM AN INJURY THAT MAY OCCUR OR LACK OF RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. I WILL HAVE TO SEE IF MY DASH CAM CAUGHT THE INCIDENT BEFORE MY CAR SHUT OFF... I WILL SEND IT LATER IF IT DID. 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
#11317876March 13, 2020
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS DECEASED DAUGHTER WHO WAS DRIVING A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. THE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND WENT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WENT DOWN AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE HEAD ON WHERE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE EXACT EVENTS WERE UNCERTAIN. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THE DAUGHTER WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED FEMUR AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER (RIVERSIDE COLLISION CENTER LOCATED ON 1441 SOUTH BRANCH RIVER RD, ROMNEY, WV 26757) WHERE THEY WERE REFUSING TO RELEASE THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER REPURCHASED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION OF THE COLLISION CENTER. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *LN*JB*DT*JB*DT*DT*JB*DT*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*JB*DT*DT*DT*DT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
1
#11317959March 13, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS HEADED FROM OHIO TO MICHIGAN AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WON'T LET ME ACCELERATE ANYMORE AND I GET THIS BURNING SMELL AND THEN ALL THE DASH LIGHTS START FLASHING AND THEN THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY STOPS I POP THE HOOD OPEN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT'S LEAKING OIL WHICH IS NOT MY FAULT CAUSE I JUST GOT THE OIL CHANGED AND THEN THE CAR JUST REFUSES TO START NOW I CAN GET THE LIGHTS ON AND STUFF BUT AS FOR THE ENGINE TURNING OVER IT'S JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN AND I'M SURPRISED KIA HASN'T HAD A RECALL ON ANYTHING AT ALL FOR THESE ENGINES CAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11317732March 12, 2020
ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO STALL NOT ALLOWING ANY POWER WHILE PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT KIA EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THEY FOUND A PIN IN THE ENGINE THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE R REMOVED BUT NEVER WAS CAUSING THIS TO CAUSE MAJOR DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE AND HEAD GASKET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11317462March 11, 2020
SEAT BELTS
I RECENTLY HAD MY CAR REPAIRED FOR THE TURBO FUEL LINE WHICH WAS A RECALL AND SNAPPED IN MY. THIS WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER EVER SINCE THAT NOW MY TURBO IS NOT WORKING AND I HAVE VERY LITTLE PICKUP WHEN I ACCELERATE. ALSO MY SEATBELT LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON STATING THAT MY SEATBELT IS NOT CONNECTED WHEN IT IS. AND THIS PROBLEM WILL RECOVER FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND HAPPEN AGAIN IN A FEW DAYS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11317509March 11, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION, THE VOLTAGE INDICATOR SWITCHED FROM NORMAL VOLTAGE TO HIGH VOLTAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER ELK GROVE KIA LOCATED AT (8480 LAGUNA GROVE DR, ELK GROVE CA) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 18V161000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11317520March 11, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3RD WINDOW MOTOR THAT HAS FAILED IN JUST A FEW MONTHS! FIRST MY BACK TWO WINDOW MOTORS AND HOUSINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOW MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS DOWN AND WILL NOT ROLL UP. ON THE WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING IT STOPPED WORKING AND NOW MY CAR IS SITTING OUTSIDE AT WORK UNSECURED. KIA CONTACTED ME REGARDING MY LAST COMPLAINT AND IS WORKING TO SEE IF I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR THE SECOND WINDOW. I AM WAITING FOR A RESPONSE NOW TO MY EMAIL AND CALL THIS MORNING REGARDING THIS THIRD WINDOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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