Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11190506March 21, 2019
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A HYBRID SAFETY WARNING LIGHTING UP. IT GOES ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE POWERS DOWN TO 25 MPH. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM WHEN DRIVING SPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190519March 21, 2019
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN FAILED TO SOUND. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. ALSO, SINCE THE AIRBAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED THE FOLLOWING NO LONGER WORKS: HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, ECO, RESET AND TRIP, ELECTRIC WINDOWS ARE SPERATIC; MEANING WHEN YOU GO TO ROLL WINDOWS UP THEY START TO ROLL UP 1/4 OF THE WAY THAN THEY ROLL DOWN. *BF..*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190560March 21, 2019
AIR BAGS
2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON INDICATED PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DIAGNOSIS IS AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT FAILURE. WE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. I NOTICED THERE ARE RECALLS FOR 2011 - 2012 OPTIMA HYBRID AND 2011 - 2013 OPTIMA VEHICLES, AMONG MANY OTHERS BY HYUNDAI AND KIA. 2013 OPTIMA HYBRID MAY ALSO BE AFFECTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190606March 21, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190621March 21, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND WITHIN THE CABIN, GLASS SHARDS THEN BROKE AWAY FALLING INSIDE VEHICLE AND OUTWARD ON INTERSTATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190226March 20, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. IN 2017, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING METAL DEBRIS THAT WAS LEFT IN THE ENGINE, WHICH CONSTRICTED OIL FLOW TO THE VITAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A PINGING AND KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE'S OIL CHANGED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11189905March 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THERE WAS EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, THE OIL LIGHT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER (OSSETT KIA SOUTH, 2680 MT MORIAH RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38115, (901) 328-8173) WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, BUT THE VISIBILITY WAS STILL POOR. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITHOUT THE PART BEING REPLACED. THE FAN ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED A REPAIR PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR THE STEERING COUPLER AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER STRAIGHT. ALSO, THE SUN ROOF AND MOON ROOF GLASS HAD A CRACK GOING DOWN TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE IT MET THE WINDSHIELD. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING DUE TO THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE STEERING FAILURE, HEADLIGHT FAILURE, AND MOISTURE IN THE REAR CAMERA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190052March 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR. SECONDS LATER, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED AND FLAMES ROSE FROM THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190134March 19, 2019
STEERING
TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER (NOV16 60523 MILES) BECAUSE THE STEERING HAD A STICKING ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. A TSB WAS PERFORMED AND IT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD BE A 50/50 COST AS IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. ON 18 MAR 2019 WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO STICKING. IT WAS JUST OVER 2 YEARS AND 13677 MILES AGAIN THEY TOLD US IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS GOING OUT AS IT CONTROLS THE STEERING OF THE CAR AND AS WE CAN TELL YOU HAS CAUSED SOME OVER STEERING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS AND ADDITIONAL PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO RESPOND TO THE STEERING INPUT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11190135March 19, 2019
ENGINE
ISSUES WITH THE ENGINE- THETA II ENGINE SINCE 2015 (PREVIOUS OWNER LIZ REPORTED). I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MARCH 2018 AND SENT IT IN KIA A MONTH LATER. LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED DIDN'T APPROVE IT BECAUSE IT WAS A PREVIOUS PROBLEM (2015 ) OVAL DEALERSHIP TOLD ME ENGINE IS CONSUMING OIL AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHERE THE OIL IS GOING. IT BLOWING SMOKE AND NOT DRIVABLE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP (ANCIRA KIA) SINCE JANUARY AND KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN PAYING MY RENTAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11187475March 18, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WITHIN A SHORT PERIOD OF OWNING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE HESITATED AND SUDDENLY SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT ISSUED ANY ENGINE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11189793March 18, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON MARCH 7, 2019, MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. SHE PARKED THE CAR IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT AND REALIZED THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THANK GOD SHE IS PHYSICALLY OKAY, AND NO ONE ELSE WAS INJURED. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS, ANOTHER CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS, AND A THIRD CAR WAS DAMAGED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NO FAULT OF THE MOTORIST, RATHER PRODUCT MALFUNCTION. ANY SUGGESTIONS WELCOME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11187212March 16, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH NO OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED. THERE WAS A SOUND LIKE A GUNSHOT AND THEN A RUSH OF AIR INTO THE DRIVER/PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THANKFULLY I HAD THE INTERIOR SHADE (PANEL) CLOSED AND WAS NOT RIDDLED WITH BROKEN GLASS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11187007March 15, 2019
ENGINE
HELLO MY KIA ENGINE SEIZED ON THE HIGHWAY I GET ROUTINE OIL CHANGED AND MAINTENANCE DONE THAT I COULD PROVE ON MY CAR THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA NON HYBRID HAS THIS RECALL ON THE ENGINE . KIA DID NOT INCLUDE THE HYBRID ENGINES BUT MY HYBRID ENGINE IS THE SAME ENGINE IN THE RECALL AS THE NON HYBRIDS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11186700March 14, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OFF AFTER I TURN OFF MY CAR. SOMETIMES THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND BACK LIGHTS POPS ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. THE SLIPPERY WHEN WET LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND I HAVE TO USE THE BRAKES TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE CAR MOVES VERY SLOWING AND STALLS. SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING THE CAR LOOSES POWER. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TWICE AND THE CAR JUST LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THIS WAS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. NOW THE CAR HAS NO POWER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11186739March 14, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
FRONT LOW BEAMS VERY DIM, CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT. HAVE TO USE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO SEE, WHICH IS DANGEROUS TO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ ON VARIOUS FORUMS THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE DUE TO A DEFECT AND THAT THE COST IS UPWARDS OF $2K TO FIX WHEN THIS IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE COVERED DUE TO MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11186816March 14, 2019
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS. IT CURRENTLY HAS 1600 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED ONCE AND I AM STILL EXPERIENCING STUDDERING AND SHAKING. HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT ON 3/15. EVEN HAVE KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE INVOLVED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11186866March 14, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
EVAPORATIVE GAS FUMES INSIDE AND SMELLS LIKE SOMETHING IS BURNING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11186541March 13, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY CAR RANDOMLY CAUGHT FIRE AT 10:30 PM WHILE IT WAS ALREADY SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY SINCE 7 PM. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS NOW MELTED ON MY DRIVEWAY PAVEMENT. PUTTING MY FAMILY AND MY HOUSE AT DANGER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11186571March 13, 2019
STEERING
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRAVEL SAFELY IN A LANE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL CONSTANTLY NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED IT VEERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THE STEERING FEELS LIKE IT HAS A FLAT SPOT IN STEERING THAT WON'T STAY STRAIGHT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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