Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11184670March 6, 2019
STEERING
MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA IS MAKING THE SAME KLUNK NOISE AS MY PREVIOUS KIA OPTIMA 2012, BUT THE 2014 DOESN'T HAVE A RECALL ON THE SAME ISSUE AS MY PREVIOUS OPTIMA HAD. BUT IT'S THE SAME NOISE WHEN I TURN THE STEARING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11184454March 5, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING THE VEHICLE NO WARNING SIGNS OR LIGHTS. ENGINE SHUTS OFF. TAKE TO A MECHANIC THE MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. REPLACE THE MOTOR. DRIVE THE CAR FOR 1 MONTH MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH TIMES LIKE WAS EMPTY WHEN ROUTINE OIL CHANGES WERE DONE AT 3,000 MILES. A CAR DOES NOT BURN OIL OVER A 30 DAY PERIOD CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. A FAULTY PRODUCT DOES. KIA SHOULD RECALL THE ENGINES IN THIS YEAR AS WELL. THE PROBLEM OBVIOUSLY IS EXTENDED PAST 2014.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183904March 4, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ( ATLANTA WEST KIA, DOUGLASVILLE, GA) FOR AN OIL CHANGE, TIRE ROTATION, ETC. I WAS NOTIFIED WHEN I CHECKED IN THAT THERE WAS A COMPUTER RECALL FOR AN UPGRADE OF THE COMPUTER/ELECTRONIC SYSTEM. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD DO THAT WHILE PERFORMING THE OTHER SERVICE WORK. 3 WEEKS AFTER THE OIL CHANGE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THE CAR SUDDDENLY LOST POWER AFTER A BIG PUFF OF WHITE SMOKE AND LOUD NOISE. I WORKED MY WAY OVER TO THE NEST EXIT AND PROCEEDED TO TURN AROUND TO GO BACK HOME. NO WARNING/ENGINE/OIL LIGHTS CAME ON DURING THIS TIME. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND NEVER RETURNED MY CALL, WITH NO RESULTS. WE CHECKED THE OIL THE CAR WAS 3 QUARTS LOW. CONTINUE TO NOTIFY THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR NEEDED 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERYTIME I CHECKED IT WEEKLY. LET ME REINTERATE THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE BEFORE I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE IN NOV 2018. I CALLED KIA CORP. THEY INFOMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECASUE I HAD 68K ON THE CAR. THEY ASKED ME TO HAVE IT TOWED IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. NOW THEY WANT ME TO PROVIDE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS. THE SERVICE RECORDS WAS IN THE KIA DEALERSHIP SYSTEM AS I HAVE USED THAT DEALER (PRIOR OWNER) FOR MOST OF MY WORK. I AM NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SERVICE RECORDS. AT THIS POINT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. KIA HAS RECALLED EVERY YEAR BUT 2015 - APPARENTLY THEY THINK THEY GOT IT RIGHT IN 2015 SINCE THE MOTOR WAS BUILT IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. THE ENGINE I S PRACICALLY GONE AND I HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 4 YEARS. I PURCHASED BAND NEW OFF THE LOT 9/2015. I FEEL LIKE THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO ADD THE 2015 KIA OPTIMA TO THE ENGINE RECALL LIST BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT EITHER BY THE CAR STOPPING IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC OR CATCHING ON FIRE. DOOR HANDLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTIUES TO STICK AND THE DORR WILL NOT OPEN FROM OUTSIDE OR INSIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183935March 4, 2019
ENGINE
FOR THE 2ND YEAR, MY KIA WOULD NOT START IN 32 DEGREE WEATHER IN BIG BEAR, CA. THIS IS AN ANNUAL TRIP & TOOK MY KIA.THE LIGHTS, RADIO ALL TURN ON BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. I HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL NOON FOR THE SUN TO WARM UP THE CAR & THEN IT'S BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP & HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CANNOT FIND ANY MALFUNCTION & NEVER HEARD OF ANYONE EXPERIENCE WHAT I HAVE. THERE ARE MANY FORUMS WITH KIA OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME, BUT CANNOT GET A FIX OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. IT'S BEYOND FRUSTRATING WHEN THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 40K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183965March 4, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 70MPH AND ENGINE JUST STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT COASTING. GOT TO SHOULDER. PUT CAR IN PARK, ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CALLED TOW, THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. HUNG UP, CALLED 911 FOR POSSIBLE FIRE. AFTER HANGING UP WITH 911, SMOKE BEGAN COMING THROUGH VENTS. GOT OUT OF CAR, SAW SOME FLAMES THROUGH GRILL, CALLED 911 BACK AND TOLD WAS DEFINITELY ON FIRE AND WITH MINS ENTIRE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183699March 2, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR HAS BEEN PERFECTLY FINE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE HAD IT. UP UNTIL YESTERDAY MORNING ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK I NOTICED MY CAR WAS STARTING TO RUN HOT ON MY WAY HOME.I BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST SHOP AND THEY CLEARED THAT IT WAS IN FACT MY MOTOR AFTER THEY CHECKED EVERYTHING AND NOW MY VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE ... I ALWAYS KEEP UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND CONTINUOUS MAINTENANCE ON MY VEHICLE EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT . THE MECHANIC ISN'T UNDERSTANDING WHAT HAPPEND AND IS ASSURING ME THAT THEY MAY BE A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE . SO NOW I AM HERE ..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183369March 1, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE DOING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. A COUPLE OF MILES IT DID IT AGAIN. I THEN PLACED MY FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY CAR DROVE FINE. AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE STOPPER WAS WORN. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT WHILE YOU ARE ACCELERATING AND THE BRAKE STOPPER IS BAD, IT CAN CAUSE YOUR CAR TO GO INTO A SAFETY MODE BECAUSE IT THINKS YOU ARE BRAKING AND ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS AFFECTS THE POWER AND CAN CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183431March 1, 2019
ENGINE
SHORTLY AFTER CROSSING OVER TRAIN TRACKS I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND OBSERVED SEVERAL LIGHTS ON AND THE RPM WAS AT 0. I ROLLED TO A STOP AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY LATER TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THEY SAID THEY ARE FILING A CLAIM WITH KIA TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I PREVIOUSLY GOT A LETTER FROM KIA THAT INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP UPDATE THE ECU SO THAT THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIMP. THE CAR WAS AT 101000 MILES WHEN THE BREAKDOWN OCCURRED. HOPEFULLY KIA REPLACES THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183117February 28, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE
"TAKATA RECALL". MY KIA HAS BEEN RECALLED SEVERAL TIMES, THE MOTOR HAS BEEN RECALLED TWICE. THE SECOND TIME, I HAD MY FAMILY WITH ME GOING TO ARKANSAS, AND THE CAR STALLED AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST HIT US. I HAVE LOST WAGES FROM WORK, LOST TIME WAITING TO GET MY VEHICLE FIXED, IT HAS CAUSED STRESS AND ANXIETY AND RIGHT NOW I JUST GOT THREE MORE RECALL LETTERS IN THE MAIL. THESE CARES ARE UNSAFE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. I WANT KIA HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND TO GET THESE DANGEROUS CARS OFF THE STREETS BEFORE SOME GETS KILLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183175February 28, 2019
AIR BAGS
THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN 2 FRONT END COLLISIONS BOTH AT DIFFERENT RATES OF SPEED. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. IT WAS FIXED BOTH TIMES BY PROFESSIONAL SHOPS AND INSPECTED BY A KIA CARLOTTA WHERE THEY CLEARED CODES ON FAULTY AIR BAGS AND TOLD ME IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. I WANT THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO FURTHER. I HAVE CHILDREN AND NEED MY AIR BAGS TO WORK.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183213February 28, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ORIGINAL HID HEADLIGHTS BECAME DIM TO THE POINT IT FAILED A VIRGINIA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAS DIMINISHED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183310February 28, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CADILLAC CONVERTER IS GATHERING SOOT BUILD UP ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE. NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IS CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT TO STAY ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182875February 27, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING 02/23/2019 6:05 PM PST ENGINE/VEHICLE MILEAGE: 151,409 FUEL/GAS GAUGE SHOWS ONE QUARTER FULL WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL (VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND ENGINE IDLING) ON A CITY STREET, ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING(S). FIRST TIME EVER HAPPENED. ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS COMPLETED BY A KIA DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182680February 26, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
ENGINE MISFIRE IN CYLINDER # 1. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE, CHECK ENGINE (P0301) ILLUMINATED. IGNITION COIL WAS MELTED NOW CAR DOES NOT START. ENGINE FAILURE. THIS HAPPENED ON A SHORT TRIP TO THE STORE LIMPED THE CAR BACK HOME. KIA REFUSES TO RECALL THIS OPTIMA ENGINE BECAUSE ITS A HYBRID ALTHOUGH IT HAS FAILED AND HAS BEEN RECALLED ON MULTIPLE SAME YEAR KIA OPTIMAS DUE TO METAL DEPOSITS IN THE ENGINE FROM FACTORY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182325February 25, 2019
ENGINE
I NOTICED MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA'S ENGINE KNOCKING A FEW MONTHS AGO. I ONLY NOTICED BECAUSE I WAS PARKED AND STEPPED OUT OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ENGINE BEARINGS AND IT WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. THEY KEPT THE CAR A COUPLE OF DAYS, SAID THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT KNOCKING AND SENT THE CAR BACK TO ME. ON 2/12/19 I ONCE AGAIN WAS PARKED AND STEPPED OUT OF MY VEHICLE TO HEAR IT KNOCKING VERY LOUDLY. I TOOK OUT MY PHONE AND RECORDED THE NOISE, EMAILED KIA DEALERSHIP AND TOOK THE CAR IN THE NEXT DAY. THEY LISTENED TO THE VIDEO AND WAS ALARMED AT HOW LOUD AND BAD THE KNOCKING WAS. THEY KEPT THE CAR ABOUT 12 DAYS AND ARE NOW SAYING MY VIDEO IS NOT RELEVANT BECAUSE I DID NOT GET THE VIN # IN THE VIDEO AND THEY STILL CAN'T HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND. AT THIS POINT I'M WORRIED TO DRIVE THE CAR. I'M AFRAID THE ENGINE COULD LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING, BUT I AM ALSO NOT IN A POSITION TO BUY A NEW CAR OR TRADE. IF THEY WOULD JUST REPLACE OR REPAIR THE ITEM RECALLED THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT KIA DOES NOT WANT TO HONOR THEIR RECALL FOR ME. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE THAT MY KIDS AND I CAN USE FOR OUR COMMUTE TO SCHOOL AND WORK. I HAVE ATTACHED THE VIDEO I SENT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182373February 25, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT ****SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS IMPOSSIBLE*** FOR ME AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT'S TOO DARK TO SEE! I'VE HAD NEW LIGHT BULBS INSTALLED, ONLY TO NO AVAIL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 80K MILES. I SPOKE TO KIA'S REGIONAL REP ONLY TO FIND THAT HE HAS A POMPOUS ATTITUDE AND NO REGARD FOR CONSUMER SAFETY. HE TOLD ME THAT DESPITE SAFETY CONCERNS, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED AT 40K MILES AND KIA "CAN'T" DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OF COURSE THEY CAN, BUT HE ASSURED ME THEY WONT. I ADVISED HIM THAT ACCORDING TO THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS AT 75K+ MILES, MEANING THAT THEIR WARRANTY WOULD NEVER COVER IT ANYHOW. IT'S A CATCH 22 AND KIA APPARENTLY KNOWS THIS, ACCORDING TO THE REP. HIS SUPERVISOR, JULIE MILLER, IS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT ME WITHIN 48 HOURS. I HOPE SHE HAS MORE COMPASSION FOR HUMAN LIFE THAN HER EMPLOYEE. THIS IS MY 3RD KIA VEHICLE, AND HOPEFULLY NOT MY LAST, SINCE THEIR VEHICLES AND SERVICE HAVE BEEN GREAT UP UNTIL NOW. KIA, RECALL THIS DEFECT BEFORE PEOPLE DIE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182219February 24, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
ENGINE FAILED ON HIGHWAY AND CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182082February 23, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS COMPLAINT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY VEHICLE. IT IS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SUPER-BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS. I GET TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY THESE LATE MODEL VEHICLES WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY HEADLIGHTS (HID OR LED) WHEN THEY ARE COMING TOWARD ME. I HAVE LONG RESPECTED THE OVERSIGHT PROVIDED FOR VEHICLE SAFETY IN THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE ALWAYS TRUSTED THAT PROPER CONSIDERATIONS ARE MADE TO ENSURE VEHICLES ARE SAFE. BUT I CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME UNDERSTAND HOW THE SUPER-BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS HAVE MADE IT PAST SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS, AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REGULATED OUT OF EXISTENCE. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO DEFINE MAXIMUM LIMITS FOR HEADLIGHT INTENSITY AND EFFECTIVE LIGHTING DISTANCE THAT WOULD PREVENT THE BLINDING OF ONCOMING DRIVERS. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE ON AMERICAN ROADS, AND I'D BE SHOCKED IF IT HASN'T ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND DEATH. PLEASE RECTIFY THIS OVERSIGHT IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE THAT THE REPUTATION OF AMERICAN CAR/ROAD SAFETY IS RESTORED AND TO PREVENT NEEDLESS INJURIES AND DEATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181799February 22, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE "BATTERY LOW, HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED, PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN ENGINE OFF" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES, BUT THE ENGINE NEVER RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAVENAUGH KIA (3315 STADIUM BLVD, JONESBORO, AR 72404) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE, BUT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181796February 22, 2019
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 3:30 AM, OIL LIGHT FLICKERED OCCASIONALLY, VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, AND ENGINE EVENTUALLY STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD AAA TOW IT TO A TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SIEZED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME, PENDING DECISION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED BY A KIA DEALER UNDER THE SC147 ENGINE RECALL ON 9/22/2017 (16+ MONTHS EARLIER) AT ODOMETER 89,547 MILES AND EVIDENTLY PASSED THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE PER KIA'S TSB. I BELIEVE DEBRIS FROM THE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BLOCKED OIL LUBRICATION PASSAGEWAYS NOT ONLY TO THE ENGINE BEARINGS, BUT ALSO TO THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY KIA TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ENGINE IS OK OR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS 100% EFFECTIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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