Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11218885June 10, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR STARTED TO FLASH. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CALLED AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA OF WEST NYACK (250 N ROUTE 303, WHITE PLAINS, NY 10994) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER EVER SINCE APRIL 22, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11219062June 10, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE I CAN SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE OF THE CAR. THIS STARTED ON THE LATTER PART OF LAST YEAR. I CONTACTED MY THE CENTER THAT SERVICES MY CAR. TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE ASKED THEM TO CHECK FOR THE SMELL. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY DIDN'T SMELL ANYTHING. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE THE HAVE IT CHECKED. I HAVE SCHEDULED TO HAVE MY CAR SERVICED ON JUNE 18 AND I WILL BE PAYING TO HAVE IT RUN THEM. CURIOUS IF THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. I HAVE BECOME VERY INSECURE IN DRIVING MY CAR. WHAT ELSE CAN I DO IN THIS CASE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11219131June 10, 2019
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR A MONTH AGO AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO WORK IN IT AS A LYFT DRIVER BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP MORE THAN I'VE DROVE IT IT MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE AND I'M NOT SAFE IN THE VEHICLE I DID A HISTORY CHECK ON IT AND COME TO FIND OUT THEIR ARE A BUNCH OF RECALLS ON IT CAN ANYONE HELP ME PLEASE?I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND HIGHWAYS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218787June 9, 2019
ENGINE
A BEARING IN THE MOTOR OR SOMETHING GAVE OUT AS I WAS DRIVING. I AM UNABLE TO START IT AND KEEP IT STARTED. I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE CEASED UP. IT ONLY HAS LIKE 126000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218652June 8, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE BURNING OIL. KNOCKING WHEN ACCELERATING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218043June 5, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TAKARA RECALL VEHICLE POWER DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING 45 MPH ON A CITY STREET THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN MOTION THEN POWERED BACK UP WITHOUT ME TURNING THE IGNITION.WAS A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218096June 5, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED BEFORE STALLING. SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT THE A VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HIS 3 CHILDREN WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE WITH A RENTAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218102June 5, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE UNDER AN UNKNOWN RECALL FOR THE ENGINE SEIZING BUT SHE WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT HER VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THE RISK OF A FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. *BF *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217688June 4, 2019
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOAD CLUNKING NOISE. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND DID NOT RECEIVE EITHER RECALL LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217754June 4, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES WERE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO KIA OF BEDFORD (440-735-4000, LOCATED AT 18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217975June 4, 2019
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL ENGINE OIL IS BURNING AWAY AND THE REPLACEMENT OF OIL IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. USED TWO QUARTS IN LAST 7 DAYS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217436June 3, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
SHARK FIN ANTENNA SNAPS OFF, ONLY 4TINY SCREWS HOLD IT ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217506June 3, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON MAY 31 2019 MY KIA OPTIMA 2016 CAUGHT FIRE RANDOMLY AND WITHIN 4 MINUTES WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT TOTALED MY CAR AND DAMAGED SOME EQUIPMENT AT SONIC DRIVE IN WHERE I HAD PULLED IN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217423June 2, 2019
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HWY WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND. VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217236June 1, 2019
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND NOTICED MY CAR HESITATING TO GO OVER 20. LIKE IT WAS ABOUT TO CUT OFF MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEPT BLINKING ON AND OFF. I TOOK IT UP TO AUTO ZONE NEAR ME AND A CODE READ MY ROD BEARING IS DEFECTIVE. I HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, IT GOT LOUDER AS I DROVE THE CAR ON THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217041May 31, 2019
SEAT BELTS
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT. OFTEN TIMES THE ALARM GOES OFF WHEN NO ONE IS SEATING IN THE SEAT ESPECIALLY WHILE DRIVING. ALSO, WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SIT IT OVERLY LOCKS NO MATTER THE SPEED OF THE CAR, THUS CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HAVE TO UNDO AND REDO THE SEAT BELT WHILE DRIVING. THE SEAT BELT HAS ITS OWN MIND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217052May 31, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE CAN ON. I STARTED DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK, BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE WHY THIS LIGHT CAME ON BECAUSE THIS WAS/IS A NEW CAR. I HAVE LESS THAN 19K MILES ON MY CAR. AS I ATTEMPTED TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR REFUSED TO SPEED UP. THE MAX THAT I COULD DRIVE WAS 60 MPH. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. SO I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHO INFORMED ME THAT WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE IN JANUARY THAT THEY HAS PLACE A SAFTEY FEATURE ON MY CAR TO KEEP THE ENGINE FROM BLOWING UP. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THERE IS POSSIBLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE, HOWEVER, THEY ARE STARTING OUT BY CHANGING THE WIRING FIRST. I CAN NOT EXPLAIN HOW DIFFERENT THIS DRIVES SINCE THE WIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED. IT IS THE WORST DRIVE. THE CAR IS VERY LOUD IT DOES NOT PICK UP SPEED WHEN IT SHOULD AND IT DOES NOT SLOW DOWN AS FAST AS IT USE TO. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND SEEMINGLY EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIRS, THE CAR GETS WORST. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A NEW/USED KIA AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217067May 31, 2019
ENGINE
I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO HAVE THE 1803 SOFTWARE UPDATE DONE LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AGO. I WAS DRIVING BACK FROM VACATION GOING APPROX. 80 MPH THE CAR CUT OFF AND SEVERAL DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE, MY CAR WAS DECELERATING, I NEEDED TO MOVE ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD! IT IS AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE I WAS NOT HIT OR SOMETHING CATASTROPHIC HAPPENED. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DONE. HE WAS VERY TRANSPARENT AND EXPLAINED THE 1803 SOFTWARE UPDATE TO ME. IDEALLY THE CONCEPT IS TO SET THE COMPUTER SO THE ENGINE WILL SHUT DOWN TO AVOID PISTON OR OTHER PARTS TO GO THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE SOFTWARE UPDATE RAISES THE SENSITIVITY LEVEL TO DETECT AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE, NOT NECESSARILY TO CORRECT OR STOP IT FROM HAPPENING BUT WAS TOLD THE UPDATE IS DONE SO IT WILL NOT CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION TO THE ENGINE! SERIOUSLY?!! IT DID CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC SITUATION, I WAS LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN KILLED! MY CAR SITS 2 HOURS AWAY, 2 1/2 DAYS LATER AND NO ANSWERS. I CALLED TWICE, I HAVE BEEN TOLD I SHOULD HAVE SOME ANSWERS TODAY AROUND 2 PM. I ASKED HOW I WILL GET MY CAR, I WAS TOLD KIA DOES HAVE A "REUNITE" PROGRAM BUT SEEING AS IT IS W/IN THE SAME STATE IT MAY NOT BE APPROVED TO GET MY CAR DELIVERED! KIA IS JOKING, RIGHT? MY CAR (OBVIOUSLY) IS HAVING MAJOR ISSUES AND RESEARCHING ISSUES AND REPORTS ONLINE APPEAR TO POINT TO THE ENGINE. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT GOING ON RIGHT NOW? I AM GOING TO LOOK INTO THIS AND PRETTY SURE I WON'T BE PURCHASING ANOTHER KIA EVER AND WILL BE TELLING NUMEROUS PEOPLE AND SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS ABOUT THIS HORRIFIC STORY THAT COULD HAVE ENDED TRAGICALLY FOR ME. P.S. WHEN I CONTACTED KIA FOR A TOW I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 90 MINUTES, I SAT IN 98 DEGREE HEAT ON SIDE OF ROAD FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF! THANKS KIA! IMPROVE YOUR CARS AND ALL FACETS OF CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217144May 31, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
ON THE EVENING OF MAY 17, I NEEDED A JUMP AFTER WORK. I WENT HOME, TURNED OFF MY CAR BUT WAS UNABLE TO START IT AGAIN SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY. I THOUGHT I HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE NEXT DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING 65MPH ON A LOCAL INTERSTATE WITH MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR, ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, I LOST NAVIGATION & RADIO AND MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. I WENT TO TURN ON MY HAZARDS AND THOSE DID NOT WORK EITHER. I CHECKED MY MIRRORS TO MAKE SURE NO ONE WAS GOING TO HIT ME AND I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PULL ONTO THE SHOULDER. I WAS EXTREMELY FEARFUL AS I HAD MINIMAL STEERING CAPABILITY & WAS UNABLE TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF MY DISABLED VEHICLE AS MY HAZARD LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR FOR MY 3 YEAR OLD CAR. WHILE MY MILEAGE WAS AT 66,500 MILES, I DEFINITELY HAD NOT ANTICIPATED NEED TO REPLACE THAT PART OF A WHILE. DESPITE THAT, I WAS MORE UPSET THAT I LOST FUNCTION OF MY CAR AND WAS NOT ABLE TO WARN OTHER CARS WITH WORKING HAZARD LIGHTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210817May 30, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR ENGINE LIGHT KEEP COMING ON THEN IT WILL GO OFF FOR AWHILE THEN BACK ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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