Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11257379September 23, 2019
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK OIL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND WAS DETECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE IT STALLED. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11257248September 22, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT LOW BEAM NEEDED CONSTANT CHANGING (1 EVERY 4-6 MONTHS). WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, I HAD CHANGED THE BULB, 2 WEEKS LATER, THE LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN. NOTICED A WHITE FILM ON INSIDE OF LIGHT ASSEMBLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THE WIRING CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR FOR THE LIGHT BULB. I PURCHASED A NEW ASSEMBLY, ONLY TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. FIRSTLY, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTING IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE IN THIS CAR TO BEGIN WITH, NOW I'M RUNNING OFF OF ONE LIGHT. AFTER LOOKING INTO COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THIS CAR. KIA IS A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY, YOU NEED TO STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND HAVE THE MINDSET OF PUTTING YOUR CUSTOMERS SAFETY AS A PRIORITY. I WORK AS A FIREFIGHTER/EMT AND I'D HATE TO ARRIVE ON SCENE OF SOMEONE THAT WAS KILLED DUE TO KIA'S FAULTY UNSAFE PRODUCT. ESPECIALLY OF ONE THAT COULD BE PREVENTED BY FIXING THESE PROBLEMS THAT YOU KNOW IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SHAME ON YOU KIA FOR PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11257250September 22, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS LOOKING ON CREDIT KARMA AND READ THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I HAD NO CLUE AND HAVEN'T HAD ANYONE CONTACT ME IN REGARDS TO THIS! I'M CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11257103September 21, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY OIL IS BURNING FASTER THAT EXPECTED. I GOTAND OIL CHANGE AND A WEEK LATER IT WAS TO THE BOTTOM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256580September 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATED TOO LOW AT NIGHT. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BULBS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT READ THAT THE HOUSING FOR THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE BURNING OUT DUE TO THE RECEPTIVE STRIP MELTING WHEN THE FRONT BEAMS WERE BEING USED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HAGERSTOWN KIA (LOCATED AT 10307 AUTO PLACE, HAGERSTOWN, MD 21740, 866-404-6114) WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256312September 18, 2019
STEERING
MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA STARTED MAKING A CLICKING/RATTLING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN DRIVING. THE NOISE IS WORSE WHEN YOU HIT A SMALL DIP IN THE ROAD. THE STEERING FEELS CATCHY AND UNSAFE. OVER THE PAST THE PAST 2 YEARS MY ALIGNMENT HAS BEEN OFF CAUSING ABNORMAL WEAR AND REPLACEMENT OF MY TIRES. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TODAY AND HOPEFULLY THEY CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256314September 18, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NOTICED THE SHARK FIN MISSING. AFTER CLOSER EXAMINATION IT APPEARS THAT IT SNAPPED OFF TO REPLACE THE HEADLINER MUST BE REMOVED I ORDER A NEW ONE AND I AM UNABLE TO REPLACE IT. TAKING TO DEALERSHIP AND HOPEFULLY THE WILL IT WHEN CHECKING ON MY STEERING ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256328September 18, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING, A KNOCKING NOISE OCCURRED COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256419September 18, 2019
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR INDICATION THAT A COMPLETE FAILURE WAS GOING TO OCCUR. I HAD NO PROPULSION AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES. I OWNED THE VEHICLE AS THE ONLY OWNER (PURCHASED VEHICLE BRAND NEW) FOR ONLY THREE YEARS WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. NO ONE EXPECTS THEIR VEHICLE TO FAIL IN A THREE YEAR TIME PERIOD FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WAS AROUND 180,000 AND PAST THE WARRENTY. I DRIVE FOR UBER AND PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE FOR UBER. A NEW VEHICLE FAILING IN A THREE YEAR TIME SPAN (FROM TIME OF PURCHASE) BECAUSE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY FAILED IS UNREASONABLE. KIA ISSUED A SOFTWARE UPGRADE ON MY VEHICLE AFTER MY ENGINE FAILED THAT ADDRESSES THE EXACT TYPE OF FAILURE THAT OCCURRED TO MY VEHICLE (INDICATING THAT KIA WAS AWARE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR PRODUCT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256489September 18, 2019
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE, HE SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL; HOWEVER, THE GEAR FAILED TO ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. GREENWAY KIA OF RIVERGATE (1536 GALLATIN PIKE N, MADISON, TN 37115, (615) 860-9888) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256495September 18, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN TURNING LEFT AND RIGHT. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256524September 18, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING TO FROM AUSTIN TO HOUSTON ON 290 EAST ON 9/15/2019 AT AROUND 12:00 NOON. I WAS GOING AROUND 70 MILES PER HOUR AND I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE AND I SAW WHITE SMOKING COMING FROM THE HOOD AND UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND OPEN THE FRONT HOOD. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AT THE BOTTOM, I ACTUALLY SAW FLAMES. THE ENGINE WAS TURN OFF AND I GOT AWAY FROM THE CARE AND IT DID STOP SMOKING. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO AUSTIN AND IT WAS TOWED TO DEALER WERE CARE WAS PURCHASED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256062September 17, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AT 80,XXX, AND HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE SCHEDULED SERVICES/MAINTENANCE. I BARELY DRIVE MY CAR NOWADAYS, AND JUST RIDE MY BICYCLE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT IS 1-MILE AWAY. MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, GOING 65MPH, 47-MILES INTO OUR DRIVE, OUR CAR STARTED JERKING. WE HAVE ABOUT 3-4 MILES LEFT TO OUR DESTINATION. WHEN YOU PRESSED ON THE GAS, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS JUST ACCELERATING AND NOT SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION AS TO WHY THAT WAS HAPPENING. WE EXITED FROM THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED AT A LOCAL PLAZA TO TRY AND RESET THE CAR, AND GAVE THE CAR ABOUT 20-MINS BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. WHEN WE TRIED DRIVING ABOUT THE LAST 10-MINS, EVEN AT 20MPH, IT WAS STILL JERKING AND STILL SOUNDED LIKE IT WASN'T SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR, AND STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS. WE ENDED UP TOWING OUR CAR BACK HOME BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO RISK GETTING STUCK ON THE FREEWAY AT 1-2AM. UNFORTUNATELY, I AM THE 2ND OWNER, HOWEVER, I DO HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY, SO I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS NOT THAT SERIOUS. I WILL DEFINITELY CONTACT KIA AND RAISE THIS CONCERN BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256185September 17, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT AND LEFT, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JEFF BELZER'S KIA CHEVROLET DODGE RAM KIA (21111 CEDAR AVE, LAKEVILLE, MN 55044, (952) 232-6897), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO LUTHER BLOOMINGTON KIA (1701 AMERICAN BLVD W, BLOOMINGTON, MN 55431, (612) 424-7641) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256281September 17, 2019
STEERING
2011 KIA OPTIMA FAVORS A PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH GROWS STRONGER AS THE SPEED INCREASES. THE PERSISTENCE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE IS SUBTLY DECREASED WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BUT QUICKLY RETURNS- RESULTING IN OVER 7 ALIGNMENTS IN 5 YEARS WITH ONLY 70K MILES. 3 SEPARATE KIA DEALERSHIPS HAVE INSPECTED THE ISSUE WITH ONLY A CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT BUT NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL TO FAVOR THE RIGHT PULL TO CORRECT THE FRONT LEFT PULL. A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN INCREASING IN SPEED, THE CAR WILL HEAVILY FAVOR A INSIDE PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH IS WORRYING. I'D LIKE A REGIONAL KIA RM TO HAVE A GO AT THE SITUATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255888September 16, 2019
ENGINE
NEARING 60,000 MILES, THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A WEIRD ENGINE NOISE. THE KIA DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE CONNECTING ROD WAS BAD AND THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. THIS ISSUE IS VERY WELL KNOW AND WIDESPREAD. THE KIA DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE COULD CATCH FIRE, SHOULD THE ENGINE BLOW. THE DEALERSHIP FELT THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE BUT KIA CORP. DECLINED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, WHICH IS THE ONLY OPTION AVAILABLE TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT THE OIL WAS NOT AT THE RECOMMEND LEVEL. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED LAST SUMMER AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE OIL WAS LOW; NO SERVICE LIGHT OR OIL LEVEL LIGHT. TO AVOID PUTTING MY 6YR. OLD AT RISK, I HAD TO CHOOSE TO PAY $5500 TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. THIS IS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT EFFECTS MY CHILD'S DAY-TO-DAY. I HAVE ALSO COME TO LEARN THAT THE ENGINE INSTALLED IS RE-MANUFACTURED AND ONLY HAS A 12-MONTH WARRANTY. DESPITE KIA'S REASONING, THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE FAR TOO COMMON FOR HYUNDAI/KIA OWNERS, PLUS THEY HAVE ALREADY ISSUED A RECALL FOR OLDER MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE RE-MANUFACTURED ENGINES SHOULD CARRY A LONGER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255947September 16, 2019
POWER TRAIN
AFTER 2ND TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED, 2 DAYS AFTER I RECEIVED A DIAGNOSTIC WARNING OF A POSSIBLE MOTOR CONTROL UNIT ERROR. , I RECEIVED A PROMPT SO IT COULD REPORT IT BACK TO KIA, I THEN RECEIVED AN EMAIL WITH ERROR CODE P0C17 BROUGHT CAR BACK TO KIA, THEY STATED THE CALIBRATION WAS OFF, AND NEEDED TO BE RE CALIBRATED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255935September 16, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
ON SATURDAY 9/14/19 MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE/OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN A DRIVER PULLED UP NEXT TO HER AND TOLD HER THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE ENDED UP IN FULL FLAMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255998September 16, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IDK WHO IS GOING TO READ THIS BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEONE CAN TELL ME A LITTLE SOMETHING ABOUT MY KIA OP.HYBRID! ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO, A TRUCK HIT MY CAR AND MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO HUBCITY HAGERSTOWN MD THEY FIXED THE BODY REPAIRS, THEN THEY TOOK IT TO KIA HAGERSTOWN MD TO GET THE ABS SYSTEM FIXED (WHICH MY WARRANTY COMPANY HAD TO PAY FOR IT). ABOUT A WEEK AGO I TOOK IT TO KIA LETTING ONE OF THE SERVICE MANAGERS KNOW IT'S HAVING SOME PUSH BACK WHEN I'M DRIVING THAT IT WASN'T HAVING BEFORE HE ACCIDENT SUCH AS ON THE HIGHWAY IT WILL FEEL LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO GO. I'LL BE GOING A CERTAIN SPEED FOR A WHILE, IT'LL GIVE PUSH BACK REV ALL THE WAY UP TO 5RPM ACTS LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO KEEP GOING THEN IT GOES BACK DOWN TO A LOWER NUMBER AND ACTS FINE. THEN A FEW TIMES NOW I'LL BE AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN I'LL PRESS ON THE GAS IT DIDN'T GO I'LL LET GO OF THE GAS IT REVS UP, JERKS AND GOES BY ITSELF!!!!!! ALMOST MAKING ME HIT THE VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME. HE DROVE MY CAR FELT HOW IT WAS DRIVING AND SAID CERTAIN THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE CAR ACCIDENT AND TO BRING IT BACK ASAP. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE 14TH OF THIS MONTH I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65 70 IT WAS ACTIN A LITTLE JERKY AND WASN'T GOING ANYMORE THEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND SAID HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING DO NOT DRIVE AND THE CAR LITERALLY WOULDN'T LET'S ME GO ANYMORE. I GOT STUCK MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND FREDRICK MD HIGHWAY PATROL HAD TO ASSIST ME. OUT OF ALL THE TROUBLES I HAD ALMOST HITTING A FEW CARS IN FRONT OF ME (WHICH WOULDN'T OF BEEN MY FAULT EACH TIME IT'S HAPPENED) AND MY CAR JUST TURNING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY HAS BEEN THE WORST SINCE I'VE HAD IT. MIND YOU THIS IS ALL WITHIN A 2-3 MONTH TIME FRAME AND MY CAR WASN'T LIKE THIS BEFORE. JUNE 14TH WAS THE DAY MY CAR GOT HIT SINCE THEN HAS BEEN HELL WITH THIS CAR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255714September 16, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY KIA HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND THE LINE BESIDE THE TURBO IS LEAKING OIL LIKE CRAZY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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