Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11308435February 11, 2020
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING SOUND WHEN YOU TURN IT WHILE STATIONARY AND DRIVING. WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REALLY BAD AND MAKES A REALLY LOUD RATTLING SOUND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308482February 11, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING DIMMER, CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT 2 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, FOG AND AT NIGHT. I HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS SEVERAL TIMES THINKING THIS WAS THE PROBLEM BUT CLEARING IT IS NOT. THERE IS A PROBLEM AND I FEAR DRIVING AT NIGHT AND IN FOG AND RAIN FOR FEAR OF SAFETY. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED FOR THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND THE PUBLIC. THIS ALL STARTED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS MY VISION BUT MY HUSBAND AND SON BOTH AND A MECHANIC HAVE CONFIRMED THE SOMETHING IS CLEARLY WRONG THIS THE LIGHTING SYSTEM IN THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308574February 11, 2020
STEERING
STREERING GET HOT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11308327February 10, 2020
ENGINE
OIL LIGHT BEGAN TO FLICKER, RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISES. ENGINE BLEW SHORTLY AFTER. VEHICLE WAS UP TO DATE ON NORMAL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307858February 8, 2020
ENGINE
MY DAUGHTERS 2016 KIA OPTIMA IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT RESTARTS AFTER SHUTTING DOWN. SOMETIMES SHE HAS TO HURRY AND PUT IN NEUTRAL AND RESTART AS CARS BEHIND ME DON'T KNOW THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF. SHE FEELS VERY UNSAFE AND IS AFRAID SOMEONE IS GOING TO RUN INTO HER. TOOK IT TO KIA DEALER AND THEY RAN CODES BUT NOTHING CAME UP AND THEY COULDN'T GET IT TO DUPLICATE. HAPPENED TWO MORE TIMES, TOOK IT IN THEY RAN CODES WITH NO RESULTS AND UPDATED THE 1802 SOFTWARE. ONE DAY LATER IT SHUT OFF AGAIN WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. NOT ALWAYS AT A STOP LIGHT SOMETIMES DRIVING 45 MPH OR TURNING A CORNER. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO AFFECT MANY DIFFERENT KIAS VEHICLES ON INTERNET BUT THERE IS NOTHING LISTED BY ANYONE THAT HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. AGAIN MY DAUGHTER FEELS UNSAFE AND DOESN'T WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR TILL IT IS FIXED. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 7 TIMES. I AM SHOWING THE LATEST DATE BELOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307409February 6, 2020
STEERING
WHEN I'M GOING AROUND A CURVE MY STEERING WHEEL STICKS AND STAYS IN THE TURNING POSITION. I HAVE TO FORCEFULLY TURN IT BACK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307413February 6, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND STARTED TO HEAR AN NOISE FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHILE I WAS ON A ROAD TRIP. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 45 MILES AND MOVED OVER ONE LANE TO THE RIGHT AND FRONT RIGHT TIRE BLEW - HAD LESS THAN 16,000 MILES ON CAR. I GOT THE TIRE REPLACED AT A KIA DEALERSHIP AND WHEELS ALIGNED. THEN,DRIVING ON A MAIN ROAD, 45 MPH A FEW WEEKS LATER, GOT TO A PASSING ZONE, AND PASSED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AFTER ACCELERATING TO 65 DURING THE SHORT PASSING ZONE. AFTER PASSING THE CAR I TAPPED THE BREAKS TO SLOW BACK DOWN TO 45 AND THE TRACTION, BRAKE, AND TMZ LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. WHEN BRAKE ENGAGED, CAR DID NOT BRAKE AS NORMAL AND A ODD NOISE LIKE A GRINDING SOUND COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AREA. TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALERSHIP, THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS, SAID IT WAS A 'MISS-TRIPPED' SENSOR AND CLEARING IT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. I DROVE MY CAR LESS THAN 5 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AND ENGAGED THE BRAKE ON A 40 MPH ROAD AT A STOP LIGHT, ALL THREE LIGHTS CAME RIGHT BACK ON. HAD TO CALL AND TAKE CAR BACK IN AND THEY ENDED UP KEEPING MY CAR SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE SAYING I HAD A BAD TIRE SENSOR, BUT CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. DROVE AGAIN, TO A NEIGHBORING CITY AND HAD BEEN DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES AND FRONT LEFT TIRE BLEW. GOT IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID TIRES BLOWING HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH CENSOR. GOT TIRE CHANGED AND ROTATION. PICKED UP CAR AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON -LOW PRESSURE. NITRO WAS ADDED BY DEALERSHIP AND LIGHT WENT OFF. TURNED MY PRESSURE READER ON AND 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE CAR WENT FROM 37 TO 45 PSI. I THINK BAD SENSOR IS CAUSING OVER INFLATING OF TIRES AT THE DEALERSHIP LEADING TO BLOWN TIRES.TESTED PRESSURE WITH SEPARATE PRESSURE READER AND TOO HIGH SO LET SOME AIR OUT, DROVE DOWN A HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH AND CAR 'BOTTOMED OUT' ON A ROLLING DIP IN THE ROAD SCRAPPING THE PLASTIC PROTECTION PIECE BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE UNDER THE CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307579February 6, 2020
ENGINE
CAR HAS 29,061 MILES ON IT WHEN THE ENGINE CRACKED. THE CAR IS 12 YEARS OLD AND WELL MAINTAINED. MY DAD DROVE THIS VEHICLE AND HAD NOTICED THE CAR MAKING GRINDING NOISE. PRIOR TO AND DURING THE DAY IT STOPPED ALONG A WINDY ROAD DRIVING 30 MILES PER HOUR. I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM THERE IS A NOTED ISSUE THAT THIS HAPPENS AT THIS MILEAGE. KIA DISTRICT MANAGER DECLINED TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. NO CAR AT 29000 MILES SHOULD HAVE ENGINE CRACK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307190February 5, 2020
STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS
WILL PRODUCE PHOTO FROM BODY SHOP WHEN CALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307223February 5, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GUIDE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307308February 5, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE BURNS OUT BLINKER BULBS AND HEADLIGHTS AT AN EXTREMELY ACCELERATED RATE: ONE A MONTH. ADDITIONALLY, THE WIRING HARNESS IS HEATED TO THE POINT OF BEING MELTED. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A VOLTAGE REGULATION OR GROUND ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11306946February 4, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE MIRROR INSIDE THE LOW BEAMS IS NOT WORKING. IT DOES NOT ALLOW MY HEADLIGHTS TO PROJECT OUT. I BARELY SEE AT NIGHT. ONLY LIGHTS I HAVE ARE MY FOG LIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11307056February 4, 2020
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION IS SOMETIME SHIFTING ABRUPTLY, & ALSO SLOW TO UP SHIFT GEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11306628February 3, 2020
POWER TRAIN, SEATS
THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT A SAFE TIME FRAME. FOR EXAMPLE IF I NEED TO CROSS A BUSY STREET. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY NO CARS COMING BECAUSE WHEN I ACCELERATE MY ENGINE REVS BUT DOESN'T MOVE. I'VE BEEN ALMOST REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE ENGINE WILL HIT 8 OR 9 THOUSAND RPM THEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDES TO CATCH AND THROW MY HEAD INTO THE SEAT. WHICH IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT OF ME I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO REAR END THEM BECAUSE OF THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11306629February 3, 2020
SEATS
THE SEAT HAS COMPLETELY RIPPED OPEN JUST FROM GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. NOW I HAVE DUCT TAPE THE SEAT SO IT LOOKS VERY TRASHY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11306789February 3, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVIUNG APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND BLACK SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE POLICE WAS PRESENT AND FIRE DEPARTMEN EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT AND THEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11303066January 30, 2020
ENGINE, VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ENGINE AND TIRE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND SMOKE AND WITHIN A MOMENT THE FLAMES WAS UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DOUG SMITH KIA (495 W MAIN STREET AMERICAN FORK, UT 84003 PHONE (801) 692-4390) TO HAVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (ENGINE) PERFORMED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A RECALL FOR UNDER FRAME CORROSION PROTECTION WAS ALSO PERFORMED. THE DEALER CHECKED THE ENGINE AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND PROVIDED A FREE OIL CHANGE, AND REPLACED DIP STICK TO THE ORANGE COLOR. THE CALIFORNIA FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CALIFORNIA STATE PATROL DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION AND SCRAPES FROM GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT HOME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND CAUSED THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.*BF CONSUMER STATED HE LOST EVERYTHING IN THE CAR.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11306134January 30, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11302760January 29, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED A CODE NUMBER: P1326. THE CONTACT CALLED THE NATIONWIDE KIA DEALER, LOCATED AT 1600 YORK RD, LUTHERVILLE TIMONIUM, MD 21093, AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11302840January 29, 2020
ENGINE
CAR WAS LOSING POWER DRIVING FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH INDICATED TO BRING CAR BACK IN THE NEXT DAY DUE TO ENGINE KNOCKING NOSE. ON THE DRIVE BACK HOME I WAS AT A STATIONARY STOP LIGHT AND ALL THE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON THE CONSOLE AND THE CAR DIED. IMMEDIATELY WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON ALL SIDES OF THE CAR AND INSIDE THE CAR WITH A CHEMICAL BURNING SMELL. SMOKE CONTINUED FROM UNDER THE HOOD FOR A FEW MINUTES. JUMPTED OUT OF THE CAR AS THE ENGINE WOULD NO LONGER START AS IT HAS SEIZED. CALLED A TOW TRUCK, HAD THE CAR TOWED AND NOW IT WILL NOT START AS THE ENGINE IS LOCKED. DEALERSHIP WILL CHARGE $1500 TO DIAGNOSE WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE BUT WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY ISSUE THE POINT REMAINS THE KIA ENGINES SIEZE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AND NO RESOLUTION FROM THE KIA DEVELOPMERS/AUTO MAKERS. PLEASE RECALL THESE ENGINES SO THE CUSTOMERS CAN GET THEIR CARS FIXED AND FULLFILL CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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