Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11297780January 7, 2020
ENGINE
CAR WAS WORKING FINE AND WE GOT TO A LIGHT AND IT JUST STOPPED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11297609January 7, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON 12/27/19 WHILE TRAVELLING FROM PA TO FL ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A FAMILY VACATION, TRAVELLING ABOUT 75 MPH AT 5:00AM IN COLUMBIA, SC THE DASH DISPLAY READ CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AND SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN STIFFENING, I COASTED FROM THE PASSING LANE TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THEN TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE CAR. KIA FAILED TO PROVIDE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SINCE THE CAR HAS OVER 60,000 MILES(ACTUALLY HAS 121,398 MILES APPROX). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE JTS KIA DEALERSHIP VIA MY INSURANCE COVERAGE IN COLUMBIA, SC. AFTER THE ASSESSMENT I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN MAIN HYBRID FUSE WHICH CAUSED THE BATTERY AND THE RELAY ASSEMBLY TO FAIL. CHARGED $1756.89 TO REPLACE THE FUSE, BATTERY, AND RELAY ASSEMBLY. I PRESENT THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY POSSIBLE TO REACH A LANE SHOULDER WITHOUT POSSIBLE HARM OR DEATH. ACCORDING TO KIA'S OWN "TECHNICAL OPERATIONS NOTICE - PS515(REV 2, 02/28/2019" DATED AUGUST 2017), THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE BATTERY FUSE IS TO BE REPLACED FROM A 125 AMP TO A 150 AMP. THIS FUSE IS PART OF THE SAFETY PLUG LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. AS A OWNER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARNED OF THIS POSSIBLY HAPPENING TO THE CAR AND GIVEN THE OPTION TO HAVE THIS FUSE REPLACED....AT KIA'S EXPENSE. FOR THOSE STILL DRIVING THIS YEAR AND MAKE OPTIMA HYBRID, PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS OCCURRENCE. THE 125 AMP HV BATTERY FUSE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE NEWER 150 AMP HV BATTERY FUSE(PART #375F2 4R150. SEE KIA'S PITSTOP: TECHNICAL OPERATIONS NOTICE #PS515. UNFORTUNATELY MY COMMUNICATION WITH KIA PROVED FRUITLESS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11297448January 6, 2020
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A THETA II TURBOCHARGED ENGINE 6 SPEED MANUAL AND I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET TAKING MY SON TO WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND WOULDN'T GO PAST 2ND GEAR. WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK HAD IT SENT TO MECHANIC THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND 2 P CODES CAME BACK FROM CRANKSHAFT AND CONTROLS AND SEIZED ENGINE. SO I HAD IT TOWED INTO WESTON KIA DEALERSHIP. PLUS I HAD JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR IN APRIL. THE DEALERSHIP SHIP CALLED ME SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE AND WIRING AND COMPUTER AND SENSOR CHIP. ALSO MY PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN BLINKING OFF 3 DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND STILL IS. MY EMERGENCY BRAKE DOESN'T WORK AND ROLLED WHILE IT WAS PULLED UP IN NEUTRAL AND HIT MY DAUGHTER AS SHE WAS RUNNING AROUND THE FRONT OF THE CAR TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT IN HER KNEE CAP. I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM WESTON AND IT DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. SOMEONE PUT 380MILES ON MY CAR IT HAD A 1/2TANK OF GAS AND MY CLUTCH AND CLUTCH PEDAL AND GEAR SHIFT WAS WAY SHORTER AND 1/4 INCH OFF IN SHIFTER BOX. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING 60 MPH WITH MY KIDS AND WE WERE LEAVING MY PARENTS HOUSE FROM XMAS. ALL OF A SUDDEN I ALMOST LIST CONTROL OF THE CAR MY CLUTCH PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOOR. I GOT US TO SAFETY ALMOST AVOIDING A HUGE WRECK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM AND HAD NOTICED ON INVOICE THEIR TECHNICIANS HAD TIGHTENED UP BY BOLTS AND FLYWHEEL. WELL I GO OUTSIDE AND THEIRS FLUID ALL OVER THE PAVEMENT UNDER THE CAR BUT NONE ON INSIDE. THEY PAID FOR A TOW TRUCK AND BY THE WAY SINCE REPLACING THE NEW ENGINE I WENT FROM 34 MILES TO THE GALLON TO 20 AND PASSENGER AIR BAG STILL ILLUMINATED OFF. MY DEFROST ISNT WORKING NOW AND MY ENGINE LIGHT BLINKED 3XS. THEY WANT ME TO PAY 1500 FOR NEW CLUTCH.THEIR TECH ADJUSTED MY FLYWHEEL BOLTS AND CLUTCH CABLE. 65.00 EMERGENCY BRAKE AND 125.00 FOR TEST. IT ALREADY HAD ONE. FUEL LEAK?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11297065January 4, 2020
ENGINE
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WOULD HIT THE GAS AND THE CAR WOULD TRY TO STALL, IT DID STALL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CAR WOULD JERK AND THE ENGINE WOULD START KNOCKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11296804January 3, 2020
STEERING
WHENEVER TRAVELING OVER SPEEDS OF 45 MILES PER HOUR THE STEERING SYSTEM STARTS STICKING AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION, AND CAUSES YOU TO MAKE OVER ADJUSTMENTS WHICH MAKES YOU WEAVE ACROSS THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11296959January 3, 2020
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STOPPED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. I GOT IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. IT STARTED BACK UP AND RUNNING BUT WAS MAKING A WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND THE ENGINE OIL WAS VERY THICK. I JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE 2 MONTH AGO. I HAVE ONLY 104.000 MILES ON THE CAR AND I TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11296709January 2, 2020
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED BUT MOST DANGEROUS WHEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THE STEERING BECOMES JERKY AND NOT RESPONSIVE AND FORCES YOU TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AGGRESSIVELY THEN IT WILL START TO WORK AGAIN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. AT SLOWER SPEEDS THIS IS NOT NEARLY AS DANGEROUS AND THE SWERVING IS MINIMAL BUT STILL PRESENT. WHEN IT HAPPENS AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THE SWERVING IS VERY SIGNIFICANT AND VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR MISSES OF POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS AND WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292531January 2, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOORBOARD; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK CASE KIA (3190 SATELLITE BLVD, DULUTH, GA 30096, (678) 321-1590) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER LEAVING THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE TUBE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292545January 2, 2020
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, IT WOULD NOT TURN SMOOTHLY AND THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE VEHICLE RESPONDING WHEN MAKING TURNS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT PAID TO HAVE THE FRONT END REPLACED AND BELIEVED THAT THE RACK AND PINION, TIE ROD, AND STRUTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FROM THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED HOW TO RESOLVE THE FAILURE WITH A $2.00 PART FOR THE STEERING PLASTIC COUPLER; HOWEVER, THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS OVER $1,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292213December 31, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING ON FREEWAY THE CAR SHUT OFF WILL NOT START, INDICATING LIGHT AREN'T REPORTING ANY PROBLEMS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292234December 31, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE FUEL CONSUMPTION IN THE MOTOR WOULD BOG THE ENGINE DOWN TO WHERE IT WOULD BARELY GO OVER 40 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AT THIS TIME THE ENGINE TROUBLE INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND NOT GO OFF. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP IN MT. HOPE, WV.. THE MECHANIC CHANGED OUT THE SENSOR THAT SHOWED UP ON HIS METER AND THE ENGINE SEEMED TO DO GOOD WHILE IN THE SHOP BUT WHEN THEY BACKED IT OUT OF THE SHOP BAY, ANOTHER SENSOR LIGHR CAME ON. WE HAD ALREADY PAID THE DEALERSHIP $206, THEY WOULD NOT RETURN OUR MONEY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291977December 30, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SEZED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO RETURN TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FAMILY MEMBER'S HOUSE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292024December 30, 2019
STEERING, WHEELS
STEERING WHEEL SLIPS WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292078December 30, 2019
STEERING
EVERY TIME HI TURN THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT IT MAKES A SEVERE CLUNKING SOUND NOW VIBRATES GOING DOWN THE ROAD MY MOTHER'S CAR SAME TYPE DOES THE SAME THING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11292091December 30, 2019
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA LX. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM GOING OVER AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING COMPANY AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER (KIA ATLANTA SOUTH; 7310 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260) WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BLACK BOX DID NOT CAPTURE THE INCIDENT DETAILS. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE BUT 3 DAYS AFTER THE VEHICLE BEING RETURNED, SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DETERMINED ON ANY INSPECTIONS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER RIGHT SHOULDER AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO CAPITAL ONE BANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11292117December 30, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SET ON 75 WITH 67 MILES TO EMPTY WHEN ALL SUDDEN THE CAR START SLOWING SPEED I LOOKED CRUISE CONTROL HAD SHUT OFF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE JUST WENT DEAD ON THE SIDE OF ROAD THE WILL TURN ON TURN OVER TO WANNA CRANK BUT WON'T CATCH TO CRANK I CALLED THE DEALER SHIP AND EXPLAINED HE SHE SAID SHE SURE IT'S FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THEY JUST INSTALLED 2 THIS WEEK ON THE SAME CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291835December 29, 2019
ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR LOST POWER SO I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER A CAR ALMOST HIT ME FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TURNED MY CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291692December 28, 2019
POWER TRAIN
RECENTLY WHEN I HIT ABOUT 103,000 MILES MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA 2.0 TURBO TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN ACTING STRANGE. WHEN DRIVING FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AS I'M PULLING OFF ACCELERATING THE CAR JERKS MAKE AND WON'T ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. AFTER DOING ACOUPLE RESEARCH I WAS TOLD IT'S THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR. I. BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT AS YOUR PULLING OFF AFTER THE COMPLETE STOP IT JERKS SO HARD YOU JERK SO HARD WITH THE CAR. ALSO IF ANYBODY IS BEHIND YOU AND IT DOES THAT SUDDEN JURK IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND YOU ISN'T AWARE BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE YOUR HITTING THE BREAKS. I ALSO SEARCHED ONLINE THAT THIS MODEL AND YEAR CAR HAS TWO OPEN RECALLS FOR ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS (UNKNOWN).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291438December 27, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS MERGING BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY AFTER I HAD A PANIC ATTACK DUE TO BEING OVER A BRIDGE WITH ALL THESE CARS AND THE CAR BEHIND ME PROCEEDS TO AGGRESSIVELY TRY TO CUT ME OFF FROM GETTING OVER AND HIT THE BACK OF MY CAR CAUSING DAMAGE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11291449December 27, 2019
ENGINE
SUDDEN ENGINE KNOCK AND SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN FRONT OF A HIGH SCHOOL. THIS INCIDENT REQUIRES ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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