Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11192681March 30, 2019
SUSPENSION
I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE LOWER CONTROL ARM INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD AND CV AXLE 2 TIME BECAUSE PARTS ARE CHEAP AND SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF FORCE SUCH AS HITTING A CURB CAUSES MASSIVE SUSPENSION DAMAGE. BOTH TIMES CAR WAS RUNNING UNBER 20 MILES AN HOUR AND HIT A CURB AND IT DESTROYED SUSPENSION. SECOND TIME TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL AND ENDED UP HITTING GUARD RAIL AND SAME THING DESTROYED SUSPENSION.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11192250March 28, 2019
ENGINE
THE ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL 10 MONTHS AGO WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 170,000 MILES IN IT. THAT IS, THE OIL GOES BELOW THE LOW MARK WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 800 MILES AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, AND KEEPS GOING DOWN TO THE EMPTY LEVEL WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 1,200 MILES. I ALSO HEAR OF RATTLING-LIKE SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE TO CHECK AND ADD OIL EVERY 500 MILES. I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE MAY LEAD TO THE FIRE ON THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT KIA RECALLED REGARDING THIS SIMILAR ISSUE FOR MANY OTHER CARS. I DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF LEAKING WHEN I CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES THE FLOOR IN A SPOT WHERE I PARKED. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WAS RELATED, BUT THE ENGINE DIED, ABOUT 4- MONTHS BEFORE I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING OIL, WHEN I DROVE UP HILL. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN THAT AREA, AND WHAT A TECHNICIAN SAID IS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE OR PUMP. THEY CHARGED $700 FOR THIS JOB.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11192273March 28, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD AN EXTREMELY LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER'S REMEDY FOR THE KNOCK SENSOR DETECTION TEST (CAMPAIGN NUMBER PI1803 - (KSDS)) FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REPAIR. SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BY CAR PROS KIA GLENDALE (400 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204, (818) 745-1400), THE NOISE CONTINUED. THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO OTHER DEALERS: KIA OF ALHAMBRA (1247 W MAIN ST, ALHAMBRA, CA 91801, (626) 478-1012) AND COVINA VALLEY KIA (626 S CITRUS AVE, COVINA, CA 91723, (626) 736-4275) FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11192295March 28, 2019
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING ON I45 IN PFLUGERVILLE DOING A U TURN TO GO WEST BOUND. HEARD A LOUD BAND LIKE SOMETHING "FELL OUT" OF THE CAR. PULLED OVER AND THE CAR STARTED TO SHOOT SPARKS AND FLAMES. I WAS WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER AN SOME FRIENDS SO WE ALL JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. MY MOM PICKED US ALL UP AND TXDOT STAYED WITH THE CAR WHILE MY MOM GOT A TOW TRUCK. MY MOM CALL INSURANCE AND HAD THE CAR TO HER MECHANIC AND WHEN THEY STARTED IT UP IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO SHOOT FLAMES AND SPARKS. THEY FOUND A HOLD IN THE ENGINE. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED IT AND HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT ON A 60K MILE CAR. KIA HAS SO MANY RECALLS AND THIS CAR MAKE MODEL AND YEAR WAS IN THE RECALL ABUT NOT THE VIN NUMBER. SOUTHWEST KIA IN AUSTIN TOOK FOREVER TO "INVESTIGATE." THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO SAY THAT IT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS BUT RATHER JIFFY LUBE LEFT A RAG IN CAR THAT GOT SUCKED THROUGH THE DIPSTICKS AND WRAPPED AROUND THE CRANK SHANK. I HAD DRIVEN FROM TEXAS TO ARIZONA TO COLORADO AND BACK TO TEXAS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS BEFORE THIS. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF THIS RAG FROM PRIOR MECHANICS THAT LOOKED AT IT BEFORE KIA DID THEIR INVESTIGATION. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THIS IS A FAULTY ISSUE WITH KIA AND THEY ARE TRYING TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ENGINE CATCHING FIRE. THEY ARE RECALLING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CARS FOR ENGINE FIRES. WHEN DEALING WITH KIA NOW THEY ARE HOSTILE AND CALL IT AN "ALLEGED FIRE." THEY ARE NOW SAYING AN ADJUSTER NEEDS TO LOOK AT IT BUT THAT WAS OVER A WEEK AGO. NOW THEY ARE SAYING THE CASE MANGER FOR RECALLS IS ON VACATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191947March 27, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON CODE READS HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. WHEN STARTING THE CAR IT IS VERY SLUGGISH AND HAS FLUTTERING RPMS FOR THE FIRST 10 15 MINUTES WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IS JERKY AND HESITANT TO ACCELERATE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A ACTIVE RECALL ON THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP BUT MY VIN IS NOT LISTED UNDER THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS LISTED ON THE ENGINE RECALL. WAS TOLD I DID NOT NEED A NEW ENGINE BUT WAS GIVEN AN OIL CHANGE ABS NEW OIL PAN AND THE PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11192069March 27, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON OCTOBER 15, 2018, I PURCHASED FROM PEP BOYS FOUR GOODYEAR ALL SEASON 205/65R16 TIRES. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD A TIRE PUNCTURE AND FLATTEN IMMEDIATELY AS A RESULT OF VERY LITTLE MEASURABLE SIDE IMPACT WITH A CURB. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS MATTER ONLINE I HAVE DETERMINED THAT OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS GOODYEAR STYLE TIRE. I HAVE WRITTEN TO GOODYEAR CEO RICHARD KRAMER THREE TIMES (SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS) AND GOODYEAR'S RESPONSE TO DATE HAS BEEN LACKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191555March 26, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH,THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND THE HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF ORANGE (714-602-1301, LOCATED AT 210 W KATELLA AVE, ORANGE, CA 92867) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REQUESTED THE CONTACT TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT PROVIDED THE INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,287. *DT *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191562March 26, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND POWERED DOWN. THE CONTACT'S SON PULLED OVER IN FRONT OF A STORE. WHEN HE OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE BUSINESS OWNER OF THE STORE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE WITH A WATER HOSE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT THE FIRE HAD ALREADY BEEN EXTINGUISHED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BECK & MASTEN KIA (25503 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77377, (281) 539-1111). THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,400. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191606March 26, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
IF I PUSH THE PROXIMITY IGNITION BUTTON ACCIDENTLALLY THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN, NO BRAKES, NOT POWER STEERING. I AM WONDERING IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN WHEN I AM TRAVELLING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE ME ANY SATISFACTIOON..."TOLD ME NOT TO PUSH THE BUTTON" AND "TRADE IT IN ON A 2019." SOME MAKES WILL NOT SHUT DOWN IF GOING OVER 5 PMH UNLESS THE BUTTON IS PUSHED TWICE. OTHERS, YOU MUST HOLD THE BUTTON. I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING IN THE MANUAL AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS NO HELP. THERE HAVE BEEN DEATHS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM ACCORDING TO SOME WEBSITES. I CAN'T TEST THE CAR MYSELF. WAS HOPING THE DEALER WOULD OR TELL ME THE SITUATION WITH THE BUTTON AND SPEED. CAN YOU HELP ME?>.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191680March 26, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE OIL LEAKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191747March 26, 2019
STEERING
MY STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED AND NOTHING WILL HELP UNLOCK IT. IS THERE A RE CALL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191262March 25, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
'KIA PEARL WHITE PAINT RECALL' I HAVE HAD MY KIA OPTIMA FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. I AM FROM THE SOUTH AND I DROVE IT UP NORTH A FEW WEEKS AGO AND ICE AND SNOW GOT ON MY CAR AND MY PAINT HAS STARTED PEELING. IT'S $2,000 TO GET THE HOOD AND THE DRIVERS SIDE PANNEL FIXED AND ALL KIA TOLD ME IS THEIR PAINT WARRANTY ENDED IN 2016. I DID NOT EVEN OWN THE CAR AT THAT TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THE WAY THEY PAINTED THE CAR. NO 2014 CAR SHOULD BE LOSING PAINT FROM DRIVING UP NORTH FOR A FEW DAYS. I ALSO CALLED KIA AND THEY STARTED A 'CASE' THEY TOLD ME TO SUBMIT A QUITE. I SUBMITTED THE NEXT DAY AND A FEW DAYS LATER THEY SAID THEY DECLINED MY REQUEST AND THEIR REASON WAS BECAUSE THE PAINT WARRANTY ENDED IN 2016. ALL PEARL WHITE PAINT CARS NEED TO GET THEIR CARS COMPLETELY REPLANTED. IF THIS IS NOT A COMMON CASE PLEASE GOOGLE THE PAINT ISSUES ON THIS CAR. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN BEFORE BUYING THE CAR. (3 PHOTOS ATTACHED)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191408March 25, 2019
ENGINE
OUR CAR BEGAN EXHIBITING A CLACKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING THAT WOULD WORSEN WITH ACCELERATION. WITHIN 1-2 DRIVES, IT QUICKLY PROGRESSED TO BE QUITE LOUD AND CONSTANT, SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. WE WERE INFORMED THAT OUR ENGINE HAD THROWN A ROD AND WOULD NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. WE ARE JUST OUTSIDE THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY AND BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012 (YES, THE YEAR AFTER THE MODEL DATE, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE PRICE BREAK IN BUYING OLD STOCK), SO IT IS STILL A FAIRLY YOUNG ENGINE TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IT APPEARS OTHER NON-HYBRID KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS FROM THE SAME YEAR ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOTHING ON THE HYBRID VEHICLES, DESPITE THAT WE WERE ALSO TOLD THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11191131March 23, 2019
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN I AM TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT IN MY LANE. IT'S TRICKY TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED. THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T MOVE FREELY TO PERFORM SHORT STEERING CORRECTIONS. YOU DON'T NOTICED THIS IN THE TURN BUT ON STRAIGHT ROAD DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190643March 22, 2019
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
SOUNDS LIKE PIECES OF METAL WAS LEFT IN THE ENGINE DURING THE TIME OF MANUFACTURING AND WAS NEVER TAKEN OUT ,THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING, I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO GET CHECKED , THE DEVICE AT KIA OF ESSINGTON OF PHILADELPHIA SAID IT WAS A GRINDING SOUND ON THE BOTTOM END OF THE ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190661March 22, 2019
ENGINE
AROUND THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR. THEY DID A RECALL ON THE ENGINE ADJUSTMENT AND THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND THE ENGINE FAILED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO KIA NAPLETON CARMEL/INDIANAPOLIS THIS WAS FEBRUARY 11TH I BELIEVE. WITHIN TEN MINUTES THE OPERATIONS PERSON CAME BACK AND SAID THEY HAD A RENTAL COMING TO PICK ME UP. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DO TO WHATEVER THEY DID TO THE CAR IN THE RECALL. I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS FOR AWHILE, I WAS GOING TO PURCHASE THE CAR AT THE END OF THE LEASE. THE LARGE WARRANTY IS JUST ABOUT UP IN TIME, AND SHOULD ANYTHING OCCUR OUTSIDE OF THE POWER TRAIN, IT IS ON ME. THAT MEAN IF IT TAKES MONTHS OR WEEKS TO FIX THE CAR, I NEED TO LEASE A CAR AND WAIT FOR THE PART. I BECAME VERY IRRITATED ON THE 15TH DAY OF WAITING. THAT WAS NOW ALL MOST A MONTH AGO. KIA NAPLETON HAS NOW HAD THE CAR FOR A TOTAL OF FIVE WEEKS AND NOT ENGINE IN SIGHT. ENTERPRISE TOLD ME MY RENTAL WAS EXTENDED TO APRIL 14TH WHICH KIA MOTORS IF PAYING. I HAVE COMPLAINED FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO KIA LEASE, TO KIA MOTORS AND BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. A LOT OF RUN-AROUND. FINALLY, THEY HAVE ISSUED A LETTER TO PERMIT ME TO PAY $19,040 TO BUY OUT THE LEASE OR AROUND $11,000 TO FIND A NEW LEASE OR JUST $3,000 FOR MY TROUBLES AND KEEP THE CAR. MY WORRY IS IF SOMETHING ELSE GOES WRONG, WHAT IF I AM WAITING FOR FIVE WEEKS OR LONGER FOR A PART TO ARRIVE FROM ASIA, AND WHAT IF IT HAPPENS ON THE OPEN ROAD. I WANT KIA TO TAKE ME OUT OF THE LEASE WITHOUT DAMAGES TO ME. I AM NOT PLEASED TO HAVE HAD KIA DESTROY THEIR OWN ENGINE AND NOW MAKE IT MY PROBLEM. KIA HAS CONTINUALLY REFERRED ME BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS AND ONE INDIVIDUAL TOLD ME TO CONTACT MY OWN INSURANCE AGENT. THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE ME THAT THE CAR WILL FAIL IN SOME FORM FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE LEASE WHICH IS JUST AROUND 16 MONTHS OUT. I TOOK THE LETTER FROM KIA OVER TO NAPLETON K
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190987March 22, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX CONTINUOUSLY SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE DONE BASIC MAINTANCE AND NON HAVE SOLVED THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AMONGS OTHER INVOLVING ME AND MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190396March 21, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
MY CAR HAVE BEEN READING MECHANISM ERROR ON THE RADIO FOR 6 MONTHS. RECENTLY MY LIGHTBULB WENT OUT THEN THE OTHER,, I DIDN'T HAVE 100 A PIECE SO I USED HIGH BEAM NOW ONE OF THOSE OUT. MY BACKSEAT INTERIOR LIGHT OUT WHICH ALL IS FINE I'M ASSUMING JUS NEED REPLACEMENT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I SAW SMOKE THEN A LOUD POP MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP,, BRAKES IN ALL I BARELY MADE IT OFF THE ROAD THE WHEEL WAS SO TIGHT. I GET OUT TO A EXPLODED TIRE TORE UP BUMPER AND FENDER. EPS ENGINE LIGHT ALONG WITH A FEW OTHERS ARE ON. I GET MY CAR TOWED GET THE CRACKED RIMMED FIXED AND PROCEEDING TO FIX BUMPER AND FENDER BECAUSE I NATURALLY ASSUMED BAD TIRES. TODAY I'M DRIVING AGAIN I SUDDENLY SEE SMOKE THEN THE ENTIRE CAR SHUTS DOWN. I'VE TRIED A BOOST EVERYTHING CAME ON EXCEPT THE ENGINE. I TRIED PUTTING THE KEY IN THE SIDE COMPARTMENT STILL NOTHING. ALL LIGHTS ARE ON,, ON THE DASHBOARD ENGINE TIRE PRESSURE ETC. I REALLY CAN'T SAY WHAT'S THE PROBLEM BUT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED. I'M LOSING MONEY AND MY CAR. I'M WITHOUT A CAR AS OF NOW.!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190393March 21, 2019
ENGINE
CAR SEEMS LIKE IS BURNING OIL AND ALSO OIL LEVEL IS GOING DOWN PRETTY QUICKLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190475March 21, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I RECENTLY REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT IT KEEPS READING MY KEY IS NOT IN VEHICLE WHICH MY KEY WILL BE INSIDE THE CAR, I'LL HAVE TO PUT MY KEY IN THE COMPARTMENT IN GLOVE BOX, IT USE TO WORK BUT AFTER EVERYTHING SHUTDOWN YESTERDAY IT WON'T START AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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