Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11253643September 6, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED WITHOUT WARNING AND MADE AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO UNIVERSITY KIA (5105 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL BLVD, DURHAM, NC 27707) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,673. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11253348September 5, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE HOME, AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE STILL ON. DRIVING THE NEXT MORNING WE PAID ATTENTION TO THE BRAKE LIGHT IN THE REAR WINDOW AND EVERY TIME THE CAR WOULD START TO SLOW DOWN OR SEEM TO LOSE POWER THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE BRAKES ARE ENGAGING ON THEIR OWN. YOU COULD SEE THE LIGHT FLICKERING BUT IF YOU HOLD YOUR FOOT UNDER THE PEDAL TO KEEP IT FROM MOVING THERE WAS NO ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11253407September 5, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BREWBAKER KIA (334-319-8343, LOCATED AT 222 EASTERN BLVD, MONTGOMERY, AL 36117) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. IT WAS ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SIMPLY OUT OF OIL; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL LEAK. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT HE RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN ALERT IN 2016 REGARDING ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11253260September 4, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHILE ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL AT AROUND BETWEEN 1 AND 2 OCLOCK PM I WAS STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP AT GA HWY 225 IN SPRINGPLACE , AS I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE 4 WAY WHILE IN MOTION I HEAR AND FEEL A SUDDEN JOLT TO MY VEHICLE AND I SKID TO A STOP THANK GOD IT HAD JUST WENT THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND DID NOT GAIN ANY SPEED. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND GLANCED UNDERNEATH THINKING THAT I HAD HIT SOMETHING, INSTEAD I NOTICED THAT MY MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION WHERE NO LONGER CONNECTED TO MY VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE BUT THEY WHERE LAYING ALMOST ON THE GROUND. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR MY DAUGHTER. MY VEHICLE WAS ONE ON THE LIST THAT HAD A RECALL ON THE MOTOR THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR WAS INSTALLED AROUND MARCH OF 2017. IT HAS NOT SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF TROUBLE UNTIL THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252838September 3, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
EVER SINCE I HAD MY CAR SERVICED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO MY CAR HAS BEEN SLUGGISH AND ACCELERATION HAS WEAKENED, ALSO I'M GETTING POORER GAS MILEAGE. THE RECALL THAT WAS FIXED HAS GREATLY REDUCED THE PERFORMANCE OF MY VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252934September 3, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE RPMS DROPPED TO 0 AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED BRIEFLY AND THEN TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE UP TO 20 MPH BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND MULTIPLE UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY KIA (LOCATED AT 7849 MALL PKWY, LITHONIA, GA 30038, (678) 374-3820), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PEP BOYS WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252997September 3, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR IS KNOCKING AND WONT GO OVER LIKE 35MPH WITHOUT SHAKING AND KNOCKING SOUNDS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252722September 2, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WHILE DRIVING, AS I DECREASE MY SPEED, SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL EXPERIENCE JERKING AND THEN SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THIS HAS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND TRAFFIC HAS SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH OR LESS AND WHILE APPROACHING A LIGHT OR CROSSING AND INTERSECTION AND TRAFFIC IS SLOWING DOWN. WHILE THE CAR IS AT STEADY SPEED, AT 20 - 40 MPH THE CAR JERKS AS I'M TRYING TO MAINTAIN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. MY CAR HAS HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OR REMEDY THE ISSUE. MY LAST TWO INCIDENTS WERE 8/21/19 FREEWAY WHILE IN THE FAST LANE NEXT TO THE CARPOOL LANE AND NOW 8/29 ON CITY STREET. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS ON MARCH 3,2019 (HAD A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT WHICH STILL DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252705September 1, 2019
ENGINE
ENCLOSED IS A LETTER WITH A DETAILED COMPLAINT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252716September 1, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BLINKING, THERE IS A NOTICEABLE DECREASE IN POWER, AND IT JERKS OUT OF FIRST GEAR. TOOK IT TO AUTOZONE FOR A FREE DIAGNOSTIC WHICH WAS P1326. ALL FLUID ARE IN ORDER. MILAGE IS 123,000. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING HE FR WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252616August 31, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AC AIR CONDITIONING UNIT: WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE SINCE DAY 1. WHEN UTILIZING AC AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DURING HOT TEMPERATURES, FAN BEGINS TO BLOW HOT AND HUMID AIR EVEN AT THE LOWEST TEMPERATURE SETTING. THIS HAS OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE TIME WE HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY ALWAYS STATE THAT THE UNIT IS WORKING AS IT IS DESIGNED. THEIR ONLY SOLUTION IS TO BRING IT IN EACH TIME IT HAPPENS, WHICH IS ABSURD SINCE IT SOMETIMES HAPPENS AFTER THEY ARE CLOSED. WHEN I ASKED TO DIAGNOSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THAT CORRELATES WITH THE AC UNIT, THEY STATE THAT I WOULD NEED TO AUTHORIZE THE WORK AND THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE. IT COULD TAKE 2 OR 4 HOURS. AT MECHANICAL RATE, THAT WOULD BE AROUND $500. THE MOST RECENT EVENT WAS ON AUGUST 28, 2019 WHEN THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 88000 MILES. I WILL TAKING IT BACK FOR WARRANTY ISSUE ON THE CLICKING OF THE STEERING AND WILL HAVE THEM DO THEIR BASIC DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE A TEAR OWN WOULD BE AT MY COST. BECAUSE I MAINTAIN MY CARS TO KEEP THEM BEYOND 100K MILES, I AM CONCERNED AT THE COST OF AN AC UNIT THAT HAS SHOWN TO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WAS WILLING TO LIVE WITH LOOSE STEERING ISSUE, BUT THIS IS MORE PROBLEMATIC SINCE MY WIFE IS IN MENOPAUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252630August 31, 2019
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY AND AS I CAME TO A RED LIGHT THE CAR DIED AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. TONIGHT I WAS IN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH CAR LOST POWER AND ENGINE MADE TERRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252455August 30, 2019
ENGINE
I OWN A 2013 KIA OPTIMA MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THEN AFTER A FEW TRIES IT STARTED UP. THEN IT DID IT AGAIN. MY CAR WOULDN'T START. MY CAR WOULD STALL OUT. THEN IT STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE NEXT DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. MY ODOMETER JUST HIT OVER 100,000 A FEW WEEKS BEFORE. I MADE AN APPT AT A KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL NEXT WEEK. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. I JUST PURCHASED IT. NOW I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE KIA RECALL SC147 & NHTSA RECALL 17V224000 ON BEARINGS THAT LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE & THAT CAN LEAD TO METAL IN THE OIL. AND IT CAUSES A KNOCKING NOISE. I AM POSITIVE THIS IS WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY CAR. I HOPE THE KIA DEALERSHIP WILL FIX MY CAR NEXT WEEK THAT'S THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT THEY HAVE. I HOPE I CAN GET A CAR LOANER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252065August 28, 2019
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON IN MY CAR FOR AWHILE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252103August 28, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONING. BRAKE LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME RENDERING CRUISE CONTROL AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL INOPERABLE. LOSS OF POWER IN ENGINE AS IT THINKS BRAKES ARE APPLIED MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. ROOT CAUSE IS BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER (KIA PART 32876-36000) DEVELOPING A PUNCTURE HOLE OVER TIME MAKING THE BRAKE SWITCH BELIEVE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. KNOWN ISSUE ON OTHER KIA MODELS. BELIEVE THE SORENTO ALREADY HAVE A RECALL FOR SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11252131August 28, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE I HAVE THE SWITCH IN THE AUTO MODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH HIGHWAY AND BACK ROADS. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR BUT THEY FAILED TO FIND THE PROBLEM AND SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE SITUATION. THIS PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT VISIT BUT HAS SINCE STARTED UP AGAIN. I ALSO RECENTLY STARTED EXPERIENCING A NEW PROBLEM WHERE THE PARKING LIGHTS WILL GO ON BY THEMSELVES WHILE THE CAR IS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE ENGINE OFF OVERNIGHT. THE LIGHTS THEN GO OFF BY THEMSELVES SEVERAL HOURS LATER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11251886August 27, 2019
ENGINE
UPON ACCELERATION THE MOTOR SEIZED AND STARTED SMOKING. I HAD TO QUICKLY APPLY THE BRAKES AND GET OFF THE INTERSTATE DUE TO AN 18 WHEELER BEING RIGHT BEHIND ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246591August 26, 2019
ENGINE
ON JULY 26 2019 I TOOK MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA IN THE VALLEY HI KIA FOR A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN AND PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO THE ECU. ON 7/29/19 MY VEHICLE MIL LIGHT BEGAN TO BLINK AND THE CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 65MPH. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. ON 8/2/19 PICKED UP CAR. ON 8/7/19 THE MIL LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING AND VEHICLE WENT INTO LIMP MODE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS GIVEN A RENTAL. ON 8/13/19 REC'D TEXT VEHICLE WAS DONE. ON 8/21/19 SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN EACH TIME I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES MY CAR AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY AS WELL AS MINE DUE TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ. MY VEHICLE IS STILL AT VALLEY HI KIA TO THIS DAY 8/26/19. TODAY KIA TEXTED ME THAT THEY ARE ORDERING PARTS AND NOW REPLACING THE KNOCK CENSOR AND REVIEWING A NEW CAMPAIGN THAT JUST CAME OUT. WAS TOLD AT LEAST A WEEK MORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246341August 26, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT WORK ON MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THEY DON'T WORK IN MOTION OR SITTING STILL. IHAVE TO KEEP HIGH BEAMS ON AT NIGHT. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL KIA VEHICLES, YET THE PROBLEM ISN'T BEING ADDRESSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246343August 26, 2019
ENGINE
ON AUG 2ND I WAS DRIVING THRU UTAH ON MY WAY TO TN. I CAR STARTING HAVING SOME SPUTTERING/HESITATION ISSUES WHEN GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I THERE WAS NO WARRING ON MY INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. ALL ELECTRONICS (AC, RADIO, ETC) WERE WORKING FINE. I CONTINUED ON AND SHORTLY THERE AFTER MY CAR STARTED NOT ACCELERATING AT ALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR FREEWAY. I HAD NO POWER AT ALL. STILL NO WARRING ON THE PANEL. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND BARELY MADE IT TO A SIDE STREET NEAR A GAS STATION. I WAS ALMOST HIT DUE TO THE FACT I COULDN'T ACCELERATE MY CAR. I PRELIMINARY INSPECTION OF THE CAR BY A MECHANIC REVELED THAT I HAD A BLOWN MOTOR. I GOT IT TOWED FROM THE MECH SHOP TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND BEGAN WORKING WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. AT PRESENT I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND NOT PART OF KIA'S MOTOR ISSUES. HOWEVER I ALWAYS GET MY OIL CHANGED WITH FULL SYNTHETIC OIL AND A KIA OIL FILTER. THIS IS DONE ABOUT EVERY 5K MILES. ADDITIONALLY I HAD KIA DO THE 90K MILE RECOMMENDED SERVICE ON THE CAR. THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE ISSUE AND SO FAR KIA HAS REFUSED TO FIX OR ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR POOR MANUFACTURING OF THIS TURBO GDI MOTOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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