Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11266470October 5, 2019
ENGINE
WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AFTER TAPPIN MY BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN, WHEN WE WENT TO ACCELERATE TO THE SPEED AGAIN MY CAR STARTED FLASHING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND WOULDN'T GO OVER 2000 RPMS. NOW IN A LIMP MODE. GOT THE VEHICLE HOME AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IS METAL IN MY ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266533October 5, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
INTERMITTENT STALLING OF VEHICLE UPON SLOWING/STOPPING AT REDLIGHTS/STOP SIGNS IN WHICH ENGINE BEGINS LOSING POWER/GAS EITHER STALLS AS IF IT'S TRYING TO QUIT OR CAR STALLS & QUITS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENTS & INCREASING IN FREQUENCY. I HAVE NOTICED MY MOTOR KNOCKING LOUDER & UPON VISUAL EXAM, THE ENTIRE MOTOR IS SHAKING WHICH CAN BE FELT WHILE DRIVING BUT MOST NOTICEABLE CAUSING CAR TO SHAKE WHEN AT AN IDOL. MOST RECENT, I'VE BEGAN TO SMELL A VERY STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE UPON STARTING THE CAR BUT WORSENS UPON ACCELERATING. THE CAR IS RUNNING RICH, AND SMELL OF GASOLINE IS SO STRONG, WE HAVE TO ROLL DOWN WINDOWS. THE FUMES ARE MORE PROMINENT TOWARDS REAR OF CAR CLOSE TO EXHAUST. I CANNOT SEE ANY LEAKAGE OF FUEL WHEN LOOKING HOWEVER I AM LOSING FUEL SOMEWHERE BECAUSE MY GAS MILEAGE HAS GREATLY GOTTEN WORSE & BURNING THROUGH IT AT A FAST PACE. I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN SALISBURY NC TODAY IN WHICH THEY UPGRADED COMPUTER SOFTWARE RELATED TO RECALL ON 2.4L GDI ENGINE AS I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. MECHANIC STATES THE ENGINE TEST DID PASS BUT FEELS IT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AT SOME POINT?? MECHANIC SAID HE DIDN'T SMELL ANY GASOLINE BUT HE DID NOT TEST DRIVE THE CAR OR RUN DIAGNOSTIC TEST AS HE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE $129 FEE......I DECLINED PAYING THE FEE AND REQUESTED IT BE DONE AS THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BUT THAT WAS DENIED. I NEED THIS ADDRESSED AND REPAIRED. IT IS DANGEROUS, COSTING ME MORE MONEY FOR GAS & AFFECTING MY JOB. PLEASE ADVISE.......THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD NOT PLACE FINANCIAL OR SAFETY BURDENS ON OWNERS AS WE ALREADY PAY ENOUGH FINANCING AS WELL AS REGULAR/NORMAL WEAR & TEAR EXPENSES!! I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON MINE BUT BECOMING TOO DIFFICULT & DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ESP GETTING TO WORK SO I CAN SUPPORT MY FAMILY!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11266199October 4, 2019
ENGINE
METAL SHAVINGS IN OIL AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265877October 3, 2019
STEERING
ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2019 DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 4 WEST BOUND EXITING ALTAMONTE SPRINGS FL, MY STEERING BEGAN MAKING A THUMBING SOUND ALONG WITH A VIBRATION. AS SOON AS I PARKED, I BEGAN LOOKING FOR THE CAUSE OF SOUND. IT COMING FROM A 12 INCH STEERING COLUMN. I CALL KIA ON OCTOBER 3RD ASKING ON ANY TSB OR RECALLS ON THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. NONE FOUND. THIS OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING. PLEASE INITIATE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265936October 3, 2019
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V705000 (POWER TRAIN) AT GREENWAY KIA OF FRANKLIN (5026, 1413 MURFREESBORO RD, FRANKLIN, TN 37067, (615) 224-7973). THE DRIVESHAFT WAS REPLACED DURING THE REPAIR, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FLUID AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO CALL THE DEALER BACK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS VALID FOR ONLY TWELVE MONTHS AND HAD EXPIRED. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND THEY WOULD NOT GET PAID TO PERFORM THE REPAIR; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,323.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265533October 2, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING TO WORK AND MY CAR WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. IT STARTED TO SPUTTER AND I WAS TRYING TO PULL OVER AND IT JUST SHUT OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265552October 2, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, ALL POWER WAS LOST TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT QUICKLY EVACUATED THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH HER DISABLED DAUGHTER. THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT. A TOW TRUCK DRIVER ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND NOTICED THE BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DUTCH MILLER KIA OF CHARLESTON (335 MACCORKLE AVE SW, CHARLESTON, WV 25303, (855) 739-5369). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER LAST NIGHT. THE DEALER CALLED THE CONTACT AND PROVIDED THEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S REPAIR HISTORY. THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST REGARDING AN UNKNOWN RECALL. IN MAY OF 2019, THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A KNOCKING NOISE THAT WAS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER. THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTED THE DEALER TO INSTALL A DEVICE TO ELIMINATE THE KNOCKING NOISE. THE DEVICE WOULD ENABLE THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN 35 MPH SHOULD THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION FOR AN UNKNOWN DISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265620October 2, 2019
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING OR AT AN IDLING POSITION WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT AND YOU MOVE IT LEFT OR RIGHT ABOUT AN INCH THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE. IT ALSO DOES THIS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT 3WKS NOW. I CALLED THE RECALL CORPORATE OFFICE AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS HOWEVER, THERE ARE NOW 120 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM... IS SOMETHING GOING TO BE DONE OR ARE WE WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN??
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265744October 2, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 KIA OPTIMA IN NOVEMBER 2018. I HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 22,500 MILES ON IT AND HAVE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH UPDATED OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE PER THE SCHEDULE RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER. ON SATURDAY 9/28 I DROPPED THE CAR OFF FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, AND AS I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IT SPUTTERED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO DIE, BUT IT DIDN'T. THE CAR CONTINUED TO RUN AND IT GOT ME HOME. THE NEXT DAY, SUNDAY 9/29, IT DROVE WITHOUT PROBLEMS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR, BUT WHILE DRIVING THE CAR COMPLETELY POWERED DOWN AND STOPPED WORKING. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A MAJOR CITY ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK UP, AND I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH NOT TO BE STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AT THIS TIME SO I CALLED THEM FIRST THING MONDAY 10/1 TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND DROPPED IT OFF. THE DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING TO BE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE ISSUE SO READY TO GIVE ME THE CAR BACK. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND I CAN'T BELIEVE WE AS CONSUMERS HAVE TO PUT OUR LIVES AT RISK TO WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN BEFORE ANY RECOURSE CAN BE TAKEN. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT IS VERY COMMON FOR THE DEALERSHIP NOT TO BE ABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO UNABLE TO PROVIDE A FIX. KIA HAD 5+ YEARS OF ENGINE STALL PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT ACKNOWLEDGED UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER, AND THE DEALERSHIP CERTAINLY WILL NOT VALIDATE THIS. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS, THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES BOTH GO OUT, SO YOU HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAYERS TO RELY ON TO KEEP YOU ALIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265790October 2, 2019
ENGINE
THERE ARE TWO (2) ISSUES THAT ARE POSSIBLY CONNECTED. THE FIRST IS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE KIA DEALERSHIP CONFIRMS THAT I AM USING APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART PER 250 MILES, BUT THEY STATE THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR HAS ALSO BECOME SLUGGISH. ACCELERATION TIME HAS BEEN GREATLY INCREASED AND CAR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAVE ME CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ALSO WHEN I NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265293October 1, 2019
ENGINE
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX WITH A 2.4L...I WAS DRIVIN DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WENT INTO A LEMP MODE. HAD CAR SCANED CODE IS P1326 SAME AS OTHER KIAS SAME YR LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF I HAD RECALLS ON MY CAR AND THERE IS NOT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265417October 1, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND SEIZED IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF CARSON (LOCATED AT 22020 RECREATION RD, CARSON, CA 90745, (424) 277-0368) WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,371.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265430October 1, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE VEHICLE LOST MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. CAR PROS KIA HUNTINGTON BEACH, 18835 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648, (714) 274-4632, WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11259078September 30, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT NIGHT TIME FOR ABOUT A WEEK STRAIGHT MY HEAD LIGHTS WOULD RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF BY THEIR SELVES WHILE I'M DRIVING AND THEN MY CAR WOULD BE SITTING IN MY PARKING SPACE AND MY NEIGHBORS TOLD ME MY LIGHTS WOULD JUST BE ON ALL NIGHT AND MY CAR WOULD BE LOCKED AND EVERYTHING AND ONE DAY I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND I COULDN'T EVEN UNLOCK IT TO GET IN IT SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT'VE BEEN MY CAR REMOTE BATTERY DIED AND SO I ASKED A NEIGHBOR THAT WORKS ON CARS TO SEE WHAT IT COULD BE THEY POPPED MY HOOD AND CHECKED MY CAR BATTERY AND IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD, THEY TRIED TO GIVE ME A JUMP WHICH WAS JUST ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO UNLOCK AND GET INTO MY VEHICLE BUT MY CAR BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY FRIED DUE TO HEADLIGHT SENSOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11265278September 30, 2019
STEERING
I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WITH 53,000 MILES. I HAVE RECENTLY NOTICED A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHERS TO BE DEFECT FROM A CHEAP PLASTIC PART . I AM READING THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF LIFE. YOU CAN HEAR THE POPPING SOUND WHEN TURNING CORNERS, LEFT AND RIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258980September 30, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT IT STILL COMES ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11259003September 30, 2019
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS A TERRIBLE RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR END WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. BOUGHT IN 2016
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258833September 29, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE ANTENNA SHARK COVER BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING. THESE SCREWS LOOK CHEAP AND UNSAFE IT FLEW OFF ON HIGHWAY..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258876September 29, 2019
ENGINE
THE ENGINE KNOCKED AND IT MAKE A NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11258722September 28, 2019
ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK GOING UP THE HILL ON A HIGHWAY MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, I WAS GOING 70 MPH. CAR WOULDN'T START I HAD TO GET A TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY SAID IT MIGHT NEED A NEW ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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