Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11246476August 26, 2019
ENGINE
THE VIN DID NOT GET THAT THIS IS AN OPTIMA HYBRID, WHICH ISN'T IN THE RECALL, SC145, BUT HAS SIMILAR SYMPTOMS, ONLY KIA OPTIMAS. DRIVING AT 75MPH, I TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO GET AROUND A CAR AND I FELT/STARTED HEARING ROD KNOCK. AT IDLE THE SOUND IS WORSENED ONLY BECAUSE I'M NOT GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I'M WORRIED THAT THE ENGINE COULD HAVE SEIZED AND CREATED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS ROD FAILURE AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP. THE CAR HAS 116,000 MILES AND IS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. THEY DON'T WANT TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT PART OF THE RECALL PROGRAM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246507August 26, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN ON AUTOMATIC MODE, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THEY COME BACK ON AFTER A MOMENT, BUT SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT COME BACK ON UNTIL YOU TURN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH FROM AUTOMATIC TO ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING, IN BOTH DAY AND NIGHT CONDITIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246258August 25, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE CONTINUED TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT OVER A 5 MONTH PERIOD. I WAS STOPPED THE OTHER DAY BECAUSE MY BRAKE LIGHT AND TAIL LIGHT WEREN'T WORKING. I REPLACED THE LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WASNT EFFECTIVELY WORKING BUT THE TURN SIGNAL WAS WORKING. NOW TODAY THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL ARE WORKING BUT MY LIGHT THAT MAKES THE CAR VISIBLE AT NIGHT ISN'T AND MY YELLOW LIGHTS ON THE HEADLIGHTS ONLY WORK WHEN I PRESS THE BRAKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246278August 25, 2019
ENGINE, STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON THEN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE BATTERY DISCHARGE KEPT POPPING UP ON THE DISPLAY THEN WENT OUT. ABOUT 10 MINUTES FURTHER, I LOST POWER STEERING. I MANAGED TO GET TO BASE EVEN THOUGH I RAN A RED LIGHT AND STOP SIGN BECAUSE THE CAR STARTED SPURTTERING AND FEELING LIKE IT WAS GETTING READY TO STALL. ONCE I MANAGED TO GET TO A PARKING LOT, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT BUT I STILL HAD DASH LIGHTS. ALL THE ERROR LIGHTS CAME ACROSS MY DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE BATTERY TO ADVANCE, THEY SAID IT WAS LOW. THEY CHARGED IT AND SAID IT NEEDED REPLACED. THE BATTERY INDICATOR WAS STILL LIT SO I TOOK IT AND THEY CHECKED THE ALTERNATOR AND SAID IT WAS DEAD. I TOOK IT AND HAD IT REBUILT. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK OK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11246227August 24, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE GAS PEDDLE STOPS WORKING AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATES AS YOU ARE IN MOTION. AFTER STEPPING ON THE PEDDLE A FEW TIMES IT BEGINS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245965August 23, 2019
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE LIGHT PLUS TRIANGLE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF PART WAS REPLACED LIGHT STAYED OFF FOR 1 DAY CAME BACK ON AND LOSSES POWER I HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC KEEP TAKING TO DEALERSHOP THEY CLAIM RHEY ARE QAITING ON QORS FROM MANUFACTURERS NO WORD FOR 2 MONTHS NOW THEY HAVE BEEN DODGING MY CALLS BY PUTTING ME ON HOLD OR DROPPING MY CALLS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245776August 22, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER WAS TOLD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THERE WAS SMOKE EMITTING FROM THEIR VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO NORTHSTAR MITSUBISHI PARTS (41-05 34TH ASTORIA, NY 11101) AND AWAITING KIA INSPECTOR FOR A DIAGNOSES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245881August 22, 2019
STEERING
STICKY FEELING IN THE STEERING AT ANY SPEED. TAKES A LITTLE MORE THAN NORMAL FORCE TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL IN ANY DIRECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245928August 22, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE I WENT ON THE HIGHWAY THE ACCELERATION FELT VERY SLUGGISH AND HAD A HARD TIME SPEEDING UP TO THE SPEED LIMIT. THE CAR ONLY GOT WORSE AS I WENT ON A STREET AND IT FELT AS THOUGH IT DID NOT WANT TO GO, LIKE IT LOST MOST OF ITS POWER. TURNS OUT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE BUT I FEEL THAT MY CAR SHOULD BE UNDER A NEWER RECALL BUT ISN'T, AS SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T EVEN ON. SOMEHOW THE CAR WAS OUT OF OIL WITH NO LIGHT COMING ON TO INDICATE THAT AND RECENTLY ABOUT A WEEK AGO OIL WAS PUT IN, AND WEEKS PRIOR OIL WAS PUT IN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245384August 21, 2019
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE, ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, WILL SHIFT UNEXPECTEDLY FROM FIFTH GEAR INTO FOURTH VERY ABRUPTLY AND DRAMATICALLY. THERE IS ALSO A LAPSE IN TIME WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE GAS TO ACCELERATE AND WITH FOR IT TO DOWN SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR OR BEYOND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245388August 21, 2019
ENGINE
LAST MONTH, I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN MY ENGINE AND IT WAS BONE DRY. THIS WAS THE REASON FOR MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY SAID THEY DO KNOW WHY BUT IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE LAST TIME I RECEIVED AN OIL CHANGE THEY PUT IN THE WRONG OIL. THEY ASSURED ME AND I MADE SURE THEY PUT IN THE CORRECT OIL AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF. A MONTH LATER I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE JERKED AND IT WENT DOWN TO 40. THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE AND WAS STRUGGLING. I CHECKED IT IN THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AGAIN. BEING THAT I HAD NO OIL STAINS ON MY DRIVEWAY I WAS CONVINCED THAT IT WAS NOT LEAKING AND THE OIL WAS BURNING OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245248August 20, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE ACCELERATING VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER EVEN THOUGH GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THERE WERE NO RPMS SHOWING AT ALL NO MATTER WHAT SPEED I WAS DRIVING. CAR WOULD ACCELERATE UNTIL ENGINE POWER LOST, I WOULD LET OFF THE GAS, CAR WOULD SHIFT HARD AND THEN I COULD ACCELERATE AGAIN UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO NEXT GEAR. SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN. ALSO, WHEN THIS OCCURRED, I LOST ALL AIR CONDITIONING COOLING. FAN WOULD BLOW BUT NO COLD AIR.. DROVE FINE PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING AND DROVE FINE AFTER CAR SAT OVER NIGHT. HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE ISSUE BUT HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES SHOWING NO RPM, BUT TRAVELLING/ ACCELERATING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245253August 20, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD, THE STEERING MADE AN ABNORMAL TAPPING AND KNOCKING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WORLD CAR KIA SOUTH (7915 INTERSTATE 35 ACCESS RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78224, (210) 305-5658) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,389.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245360August 20, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
2015 KIA OPTIMA TURBO.. I WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IN DOING SO, I REALIZED MY VEHICLE WAS NOT ACCELERATING AND WHEN I LOOKED DOWN, ALL OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON ON THE DASHBOARD. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER JUST MAKING IT OUT OF THE LANE OF APPROACHING TRAFFIC. ONCE ON THE SHOULDER, I PLACED MY CAR IN PARK TURNED EVERYTHING OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. I THEN SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. FRIGTHTENED THAT IT MIGHT CATCH FIRE, I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. AGAIN THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I THEN CALLED FOR A WRECKER. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP THAT SAME DAY. DID NOT FIND OUT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP AND THEY WERE WAITING TO SEE IF KIA WAS GOING TO APPROVE REPLACING THE ENGINE. WAS TOLD I SHOULD HEAR SOMETHING BY TOMORROW. STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. DETAILS TO FOLLOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11245030August 19, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR HAS ONKY 64804 MILES AND MY ENGINE IS LOCK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11244735August 18, 2019
AIR BAGS
PURCHASED 2019 KIA OPTIMA EX ON 4/27/2019 FROM A KIA DEALERSHIP IN HAGERSTOWN,MD. AFTER RESEARCH ON THIS WEBSITE WE FIND OUT THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION FOR AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON THIS VEHICLE IN CRASHES. THIS INVESTIGATION WAS INITIATED BEFORE THE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE. HOW IS A DEALERSHIP ALLOWED TO SELL A VEHICLE WITH A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE? A DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE TO LET THE PURCHASER KNOW BEFORE THEY BUY THE VEHICLE. WE WOULD HAVE NEVER PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IF WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11244770August 18, 2019
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE FREEWAY AND WHEN THE SPEED HIT 60MPH THE CAR STALLED AND ALOT OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXAUST. THE CARD BEHIND ME HAD TO SLOW DOWN. I MANAGED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. I TURNED IT ON AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON ANYMORE AND THE CAR MADE SMOKE. I CALLED COMUNITY KIA ON BAYTOWN AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A BAD PCV VALAVE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I PAID FOR IT AND THEY REPLACED IT AND AS I DROVE OFF HOME THE CAR KEPT DOING THE SAME AND STALLING. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO DO AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. THE FIRST TEST MY CAR WAS LOW 2 QUARTS AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. "IT LOST 2 QUARTS BUT WE DONT KNOW WHERE ITS GOING" I TOLD HER IT DIDNT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE I DIDNT WANT IT TO CATCH FIRE AND SHE SAID THE CAR WAS FINE. THAN I DROVE IT 600 MILES AND THE CAR THREW A WHOLE LOT MORE SMOKE AND THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE AND THE SMOKE I CLAIMED WAS COMING OUT WAS NOT. THAT THE TECHNICIANS TURNED IT ON AND DROVE IT DID NOT SEE ANY SMOKE. I SHOWED UP TO THE DEALER AND TURNED IT ON AND SMOKE CAME OUT AND PRESSED ON THE GAS AND A HUGE CLOUD CAME OUT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE. SO NOW THEY WANT ME TO GET A NEW ENGINE AND SAY ITS BECAUSE I FAILED TO DO THE OILCHANGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11244831August 18, 2019
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH ON INTERSTATE I REALIZED MY CAR (IT HAD BEEN SET ON CRUISE CONTROL) WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE NOTHING HAPPENED REALIZED IT HAD COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. PULLED TO SHOULDER. FIRST TIME RESTARTING FAILED SECOND TIME I STARTED AND HIT THE GAS IT STARTED UP BUT HAD A TERRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND AND CAN BARELY ACCELERATE. DROPPED OFF AT KIA DEALERSHIP. IT'S SUNDAY SO WAITING TO HERE BACK TOMORROW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11244694August 17, 2019
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
MY DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR. HER AIR BAGS DID NO DEPLOY AND HER SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11244324August 16, 2019
POWER TRAIN
I STARTED THE CAR, WHICH APPEARED NORMAL, ABOUT 10 MINUTES INTO MY TRIP, THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY WAS FLASHING, " CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, STOP VEHICLE AND TURN OFF ENGINE " A DINGING BELL WAS GOING OFF, I WAS STARTLED BY IT, SO I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND STOPPED I LET CAR SIT FOR A MINUTE THE TRIED TO START IT AGAIN. NO LUCK. THE NAV SCREEN SHOWED MOTOR CONTROL UNIT, ISSUE. ASKED ME TO SEND A REPORT, THEN CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. ROADSIDE SHOWED UP TOWED ME TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, THEY CALLED ME 1 PM SATURDAY AFTERNOON. SAYING THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO DIAGNOSE IT,ABS PUT ME IN A LOANER CAR I DID NOT HEAR ANYTHING FROM THE DEALER MONDAY THEY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. I STOPPED BY AND WAS TOLD THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR ONLY HAD 56K MILES ON IT. I PICK UP THE CAR ON FRIDAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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