Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11229765July 6, 2019
ENGINE
STATIONARY AT STOP LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE CAME ON AND CAR DIED. IMMEDIATELY WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON ALL SIDES OF THE CAR WITH A CHEMICAL BURNING SMELL. SMOKE CONTINUED FROM UNDER THE HOOD APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229839July 6, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING TODAY ON INTERSTATE 20 IN SOUTH CAROLINA AT 70 MPH AND CAR JUST SUDDENLY CUT OFF. HAD TO WAIT 31/2 HOURS FOR TOW THROUGH KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE IN 95 DEGREE WEATHER. CAR WILL NOT START, HAD BATTERY CHECKED BUT CAR WON'T DO ANYTHING, ALL DASH LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, RADIO ALL WILL COME ON BUT THE ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER TO CRANK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229489July 4, 2019
ENGINE
HAVE TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR EVERY 300 MILES. CAR IS BURNING OIL EXTREMELY FAST. AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE MAY SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. HAS BEEN THAT WAY EVERY SINCE MY PURCHASE IN APRIL OF 2018.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229286July 3, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE DRIVERS SIDE RUNNING LIGHT WENT OUT ONE DAY AND MY CAR ALERTED THAT IT WAS OUT. I CHANGED THE BULB AND THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE FUSE APPEARED OK, HOWEVER I REPLACED IT JUST TO BE SURE. THERE WAS STILL NO CHANGE. CHECKED THE POWER TO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND I HAVE POWER ALL THE WAY UP UNTIL IT ENTERS THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THEN THERE IS NO POWER TO THE RUNNING LIGHT ONLY. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED FOR A WHOPPING $360.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229290July 3, 2019
ENGINE, SEAT BELTS
IN 2017 WE HAD THE KIA TOWED TO SELMA KIA MOTORS BECAUSE OF THE RECALL OF THE ENGINE,BECAUSE OF SHAVING IN THE ENGINE AND OUR TURBO WENT OUT AND WAS BURNING.THE CAR STOP ON US IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET WE COULD OF DIED THAT DAY. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE ENGINE WHICH TOOK TWO MONTHS. THEY FINELY PUT THE NEW ENGINE IN. APRIL 2019 THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN, THEY TOLD US THERE WAS SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN AND THE TURBO WAS OUT ALSO, THAT WAS ANOTHER DEFECTED ENGINE. THEY ALSO TOLD US WE HAD ANOTHER 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. WELL THEY CALLED US AND SAID THAT THE CORPORATE OFFICE IN IRVINE TOLD KIA IN SELMA NOT TO FOX THIS CAR. WHAT IRVINE CORPORATEOFFICETRIED TO DO TO US WAS BLACK MAIL US,THEY SAID IF THE GIVE US $12 HUNDRED DALLAS THAT WE CANT GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,THE MANUFACTURING PLANT,TV OR ANY OTHER CONSUMER DEPARTMENT. WE REFUSE, THIS TYPE OF THING GOING ON. PEOPLE LIVES OR BEING TAKING BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTED CAR. WE PAID $30,000 DALLAS FOR THAT CAR, THAT'S CLEARLY A DEFECT CAR. WE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OFFICE ONCE AGAIN AND 20/20. IT SEEM KNOW MATTER WHAT THERE IS NO HELP OUT HERE FOR THE HARD WORKING CONSUMER I'M A VETERAN ALSO, THIS IS HOW THE COUNTRY TREAT US WE FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY. I NEED YOUR INPUT ON THIS SITUATION AS ASAP. SINCERELY, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229373July 3, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN GOING OVER 40 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO FLIP OVER. YOU CANNOT TOUCH THE BRAKES OR THE GAS WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING AS IT CAUSES THE HAZARD TO HAPPEN MORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228890July 2, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
ON 6/07/19 WHILE TRAVELLING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING ABOUT 65 MPH, 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 95,000 MILES), HOWEVER I AM STILL UNDER THE 10YR/100,000 MILES WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP VIA MY INSURANCE COVERAGE. AFTER THE ASSESSMENT I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN MAIN HYBRID FUSE. CHARGED $201.24 TO REPLACE THE FUSE. I PRESENT THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN 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
#11228965July 2, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF NEW BERN (1715A US-70, NEW BERN, NC 28560, (252) 638-6161) AND THEY STATED THAT THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE HONORED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT TRAINED ON THIS ISSUE AND THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE VALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229016July 2, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA ATLANTA SOUTH (770-968-3400, LOCATED AT 7310 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229065July 2, 2019
ENGINE
MY BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY LOCKED UP AND GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR SO I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. I WASN'T SURE OF THE PROBLEM AT ALL. I LEFT IT THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 4HOURS BEFORE COMING BACK TO IT. I WANTED TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED BEFORE CALLING A TOW TRUCK. AFTER I HIT THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR IT BEGAN TO SMOKE IN THE ENGINE. I CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE IT BEGAN TO SHOOT FLAMES FROM THE ENGINE. ALL THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE ENGINE AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MELTED TO NOTHING. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER SAID SHE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SO BAD LIKE THAT IN AN ENGINE. THE MAN AT THE COLLISION CENTER TOLD HER THAT IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS FUELED BY GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE ENGINE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I AM JUST GLAD I WASN'T DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN IT HAPPENED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE CAN BE SITTING STATIONARY AND CATCH ON FIRE. MY CAR IS AT A TOTAL LOSS ACCORDING TO MY INSURANCE ADJUST TODAY. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH WHAT HAPPENED AND NOW I AM WITHOUT A CAR. I WANT SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY MY ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND I FEEL THAT KIA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED. THIS WAS THE FIRST CAR I HAVE EVER PURCHASED ON MY OWN AND I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD IT A YEAR AND THIS HAPPENS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228801July 1, 2019
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING BACK FROM LAKE HAVASU TO SEAL BEACH(OVER 308 MILES AWAY); 100 MILES IN TOWARDS DESTINATION, MY CAR SUDDENLY WAS STALLED; LOOSING COMPLETE POWER OF EVEN PRESSING THE SIGNAL LIGHT OR EMERGENCY LIGHT. I STILL HAD 206 MILES LEFT TO DESTINATION. STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE, NO AIR, NO POWER TO LOWER THE WINDOWS AND HEAT QUICKLY RISING TO 100 DEGREES AND TRYING TO GET BACK PHONE RECEPTION TO CALL IN FOR TOWING SERVICE. I WAS THEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH TO AAA. I WAS INFORMED THAT I WAS OVER 60 MILES FROM NEEDLES AND 78 MILES AWAY FROM BARSTOW AND AAA COULD NOT FIND A TOW TRUCK THAT COULD BE THERE LESS THAN 2 HOURS FROM THE TIME I CALLED, (TOTAL WAIT WAS 2 1/2 HRS) AFTER GOING THROUGH 2 TOW TRUCKS AND GETTING TO KIA MOTORS IN CERRITOS; I WAS TOLD THE FOLLOWING DAY THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I ASKED WHETHER THEY HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AND SERVICE TECH DID NOT WANT TO ADMIT THEY HAD ONE. I STATED TO HIM THAT I WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC AND CONFIRMING THROUGH YOUR WEB SITE THAT THEY DID HAVE A RECALL SINCE JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. SERVICE REP THEN CONFESSED THEY DID. KIA IS WAITING 2-4 WEEKS FOR MOTOR TO ARRIVE. I CURRENTLY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED A RENTAL, WHICH KIA NOW HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY IN PAYING FOR IT. I WILL INFORM EVERYONE ON HOW THIS CLAIM GOES, ONCE THE REPAIRS ARE COMPLETED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228465June 30, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
I RENTED A VEHICLE FROM FAIR/UBER UNDER A CALIFORNIA PROMOTION. IN THE UNDERSTANDING THE VEHICLE WAS UBER READY. THREE WEEKS INTO USING THE CAR SQUEEZING BRAKES LET ME TO THE AUTHORISED SHOP FOR MAINTANENCE. IT WAS INSPECTED AND WHAT WAS FOUND MADE THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE. I COULD NOT USE IT FOR ITS PURPOSE. TO DRIVE IT FOR UBER. I HAVE SNAP SHOTS OF THE CONDITION OF THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. THE SHOCKS OR STRUTS ARE ALSO SHOT AND THE COOLANT RESIVIOR WAS CLOSE TO EMPTY. THE TWO FRONT TIRES ALSO WERE RECOMENDED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY WERE CUPPING. THIS VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED PRIOR TO THERE RELEASING IT TO ME FOR ANY SAFETY ISSUES PRIOR AND WHEN THE INVOICE WAS SENT TO DONLEN, 3 TIMES, WHICH TOOK A WHOLE DAY, WAS FULLY DENIED. REFUSAL TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CAR IS STILL IN THIS CONDITION. IT WAS REMOVED FROM PEP BOYS ON MISSION GEORGE BY MYSELF. THE NEXT DAY AT 5:06 PM I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM FAIR SUGGESTING I TAKE IT TO ANOTHER APPROVED SHOP. I REALISED THAT THIS WAS NOT MY DUTY OR MY PROBLEM. I COULD JUST RETURN THE VEHICLE. I WAS I AM DONE WITH THIS COMPANY. IT WAS GOING TO BE A 3 DAY JOB IN THE SHOP. AND FAIR TOLD ME REPEATEDLY THAT THEY HAD NO ABILITY TO PREVENT ME FROM HAVING TO PAY FOR THE WEEK IT WAS DISABLED. OBSURD. I'LL ATTACH SPECS AND PICS. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228531June 30, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
24 DAYS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND IT WAS EMPTY. I'M WONDERING WHERE 5QTS OF OIL WENT IN 24 DAYS. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE LEAKS ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228387June 29, 2019
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND STARTED TO SHAKE AND CHECK ENGINE STARTED FLICKER AND HEARD RATTLING. THE CAR THEN STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND JERKING. I'VE READ ABOUT SEVERAL RECALLS INVOVLING 2011-2015 KIA'S HAVING ENGINE RECALLS BUT MY VIN HAS NOT HAD A RECALL FOR MY CAR, WHICH I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE MY IMPRESSION OF KIA IS RELIABLE UP TO THIS POINT. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL MY MAINTENANCE SUCH AS REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND PERFORMING DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO ENSURE MY VEHICLE IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND SAFELY. I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND MAKE A RECALL FOR MY ENGINE FAULTY, WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT 6K TO FIX.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223107June 28, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM/SHORTAGE IN 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE IN MOTION, DRIVER SIDE DOOR UNLOCKS, INTERIOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND OFF AND DOOR/DOORS OPEN LIGHT COMES ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223173June 28, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO QUATRO MOTORS (24820 PLYMOUTH ROAD, REDFORD MI, 48239, 313-794-9494) FROM WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO GLASS MAN KIA (28000 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MI 48034, (855) 237-2819) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11228268June 28, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING TO WORK AND ACCELERATED TO 60 AND THEN SUDDENLY ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING AND THEN IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, EVEN IF I PRESSED ON THE GAS. PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON AFTER A MINUTE AND WAS UNABLE TOO. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE BLEW DO THE BEARINGS, WHICH SEEMS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223042June 27, 2019
ENGINE
WHEN U START THE CAR THE ENGINE MISSES.IF U GIVE IT GAS IT DOESN'T PICK UP LIKE IT SHOULD.MISSING AND NO POWER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223068June 27, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BOUGHT MY 2019 OPTIMA BRAND NEW BACK IN NOVEMBER. IT IS NOW JUNE AND I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR RANDOMLY NOT STARTING ON ME. I GET THE SAME ANSWER EVERY TIME. THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, NOTHING COMES UP ON THE COMPUTER WHEN THEY PLUG IT IN. THEY SAY, "IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN, CALL US AND WELL TAKE IT IN". BUYING THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND MY PAYMENTS BEING THAT OF A RANGE ROVER, I AM EXTREMELY UPSET. TO TOP IT OFF, THE BACK WINDSHIELD IS SLIPPING DOWN. I AM OVER THIS CAR AND I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AGAIN. BUT, MY FIGHT IS NOT OVER, SOMETHING WILL HAVE TO BE DONE. IT ALSO HESITATES AT TIMES, FEELS AS THOUGH IT IS STRUGGLING TO GO. ALSO, TWO TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, THE DASH LIT UP WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING LIKE, I WAS IN A CRASH, THE EXCLAMATION POINT, ETC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223080June 27, 2019
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
MY CAR HAS TWO RECALLS AND THE CAR STOP UNSTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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