Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11173074January 30, 2019
ENGINE
ON THE MORNING OF 10/10/18. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON A CLEAR, STRAIT, HIGHWAY ROAD AT ABOUT 45 MPH. SHE HEARD A NOISE THEN LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR. SHE COASTED TO THE SIDE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LOOSING POWER, THE WHEEL LOCKED ON HER. ON THE GROUND WAS TONS OF FLUIDS. A WRECKER WAS CALLED. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND HIS WORDS WERE "THE BARRING WENT THROUGH THE MOTOR." I HAD TO FIND ANOTHER MOTOR TO PUT IN MY CAR. THE PICTURES WILL SHOW THE DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11173153January 30, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 73,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172960January 29, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PROJECT ENOUGH LIGHT, WHICH MADE DRIVING DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172989January 29, 2019
ENGINE
MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A RECALL FOR HESITATION/LOCK UP IN NOVEMBER 2017. NOT LONG AFTER REPLACEMENT THE NEW ENGINE BEGIN TO HESITATE LIKE THE OLD ENGINE. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO THIS, BECOMING WORSE. IT IS USUALLY A DOUBLE HESITATION. IN OTHER WORDS THE CAR HESITATES SLIGHTLY, STARTS MOVING THEN HESITATES AGAIN MORE SERIOUSLY. THE LAST TIME IN DECEMBER, 2018 THE CAR DID THIS I WAS MAKING A TURN. IT WAS SERIOUS TO THE POINT THAT AN ONCOMING CAR HAD TO STOP. THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE FIRST ENGINE. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THIS CAR. THE CAR HAS 34,000 MILES BUT ONLY 5,000 ON THE REPLACED ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172747January 29, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR IS USING OIL BUT ITS NOT LEAKING OIL BUT EVERYTIME I GET A OIL CHANGE ITS OLNY A QUART IN MY CAR MAYBE. I HAVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH TO MAKE SURE I HAVE OIL IN MY CAR CAUSE IT STOPPED ON ME AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME THEY PUT OIL IN IT A LIL LATER AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. BUT NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OIL INDICATORS COME ON I NEED TO KNOW WHY AND WHY IS THIS OIL BURNING OFF MY ENGINE AM I IN ANY DANGER IF MY CAR CATCHING FIRE?? PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW CAUSE THIS HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH IT JUST BURBS THE OIL UP I DONT KNOW WHY?? PLEASE IF U COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172780January 29, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WOBBLED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REDDING KIA (888-778-5635, LOCATED AT 418 E CYPRESS AVE, REDDING, CA 96002) AND KEPT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE YOKE IN THE STEERING BOX WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS BACK ORDERED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED TO RETURN THE LOANER VEHICLE BECAUSE HER VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND PROMISED TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172469January 28, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE DAY I WENT TO PUMP GAS AND IT IS SPITTING THE GAS BACK AT ME, I ONLY GOT TO PUT IN LIKE $1.80. WENT TO ANOTHER GAS STATION, SAME THING, IT WILL NOT LET ME PUMP GAS INTO IT. I TRY THE NEXT DAY AND I GET A LITTLE BIT OVER $2.00. I CALLED KIA, TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP AND A CANISTER, WITH LABOR COST ME $1436.76. MY DAUGHTER GETS GAS THE FIRST TWO TIMES AFTER THIS SERVICE AND LETS ME KNOW IT IS STILL SPITTING OUT GAS TOWARDS THE END OF FILLING UP. SO THE NEXT TIME (WHICH WAS A MONTH AFTER SERVICE) I GO TO FILL THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY IT KICKS THE GAS BACK OUT. I TRY PUMPING LIKE A SECOND OR TWO SECONDS OF GAS AT A TIME, THE GAS IS BUBBLES UP AND IT LITERALLY TAKES ME ALMOST 20 MINUTES TO PUMP $27 IN THE TANK. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE KIA STORE AFTER GAS TRIP NUMBER TWO AND HE THEN SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS NEW. SO AT THIS POINT I FEEL HELPLESS!! AND I AM NOT SELLING THIS CAR TO GET OUT OF IT TO BURDEN SOMEONE ELSE. I ALREADY SEE THINGS ONLINE THAT SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME JUST DRIVING THIS KIA WITH OTHER ISSUES REPORTED. NOW I HAVE A FUEL ISSUE, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A SINGLE DAUGHTER AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172549January 28, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12631362. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,105.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172606January 28, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN A HCS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. I HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED. THE KIA DEALER SAID THE SAFETY FUSE OF 125 HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH A 150 SAFETY FUSE AS WELL AS THE NEW BATTERY, $897 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED KIA WHY THEY DIDN'T RECALL THE 125 SAFETY FUSE, THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172645January 28, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,861.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172019January 25, 2019
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BRAKES DID NOT WORK CAR SHUT OFF HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR IN NEVER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT TOTAL LOSS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171774January 24, 2019
ENGINE
THERE IS A RECALL ON OUR 2014 OPTIMA ON THE ENGINES. WE DID THE INITIAL RECALL CHECK WITH OUR DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DEBRIS IN OUR ENGINE; AS IT PASSED ACCORDING TO THEM. THEN DEC 2018 WE GOT AN OIL CHANGE AND OUR DEALERSHIP DID AN UPGRADE RECOMMENDED BY KIA...OUR ENGINE SHOWED FAILURE..CODED THE CODE THAT INDICATED A NEW ENGINE WAS REQUIRED. KIA FORCED OUR DEALERSHIP TO PUT A HARNESS ON THE SYSTEM. OUR ENGINE FAILED AGAIN JAN 23, 2019..STILL NO ENGINE. KIA IS NOT APPROVING A NEW ENGINE YET...STILL WORKING OUT THE ISSUES. CAR LOSES ALL POWER....IN STALE MODE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171804January 24, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONTACT NOTICED CAR WAS MAKING A WEIRD SOUND, CONSUMER'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED EVERY TIME CONTACT PRESSED THE GAS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS SERVICED FOR PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WITHIN WEEKS OF THE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS IN A LIMP MODE AND IT FAILED TO OPERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHAKER'S KIA (1230 MAIN ST, WATERTOWN, CT 06795, (860) 417-0900) WHERE IT REMAINED FOR OVER A MONTH. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED BY THE CONTACT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH OLD ENGINE COMPONENTS LIKE THE SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY, ETC. THE DEALER ADVISED DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE WIRING PENS WERE WET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172010January 24, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY CAR BEGAN TO SMELL LIKE GAS WHEN DRIVING AND MY CAR STARTED JERKING, AND MAKING A WEIRD NOISE..SO I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT SMELLED LIKE FUEL THROUGH MY AIR VENTS WHILE DRIVING, AND WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD TO LOOK UNDER IT WITH MY BOYFRIEND THERE WAS A LEAK, AND IT WAS SPEWING OUT FUEL OUT OF THE PUMP. WHAT WAS THE SCARIEST PART ABOUT IT IS THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR ANY THING THAT TOLD ME THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK WE HAD TO FIND OUT FOR OURSELVES. I HAD CALLED KIA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT BASICALLY WAS A BRAND NEW CAR WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER ORIGINAL WARRANTY SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I HAD TO BUY THE PART MYSELF WHICH COSTED ME AROUND 500 DOLLARS, THEN I HAD TO BUY A FUEL LINE WHICH WAS ANOTHER 50, THEN GET IT REPLACED WHICH COSTED ME ANOTHER 200. I WAS EXTREMELY UPSET BECAUSE IT WAS BASICALLY A BRAND NEW CAR DOING THIS.. AND I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY TROUBLES. I WAS OUT OF WORK, COULDN'T DRIVE MY VEHICLE, AND HAD TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. IT WAS THE MANUFACTURES FAULT. I AM GLAD I CAUGHT IT WHEN I DID AND PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY CAR BOYFRIEND AND I COULD HAVE BURSTED INTO FLAMES. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET. I AM NEVER BUYING ANOTHER KIA AGAIN UNLESS THEY REIMBURSE ME FOR THE TROUBLES THEY HAVE CAUSED ME AND MANY OTHERS. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY KIA NOW KNOWING THAT ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN TO IT, OR THAT MY FUEL PUMP MAY GO OUT ANOTHER TIME. THE ENGINE IS DEFINITELY FAULTY AND IT HAS CAUSED ME AND MY BOYFRIEND FEAR, AND ANXIETY. WE ARE SCARED TO SEE WHAT MAY HAPPEN NEXT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171544January 23, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING THE ROAD WHEN OUT OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE STOPS AND SOMETIMES TURNS ON ON ITSELF,ITS SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE LOCKS AND THE CARS STOPS SUDDENLY.IT ALSO HAPPENS AND I TURN ON INTERSECTIONS,WHEN I ACCELERATE TO GAIN SPEED IT TURNS OFF AND I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR ON NEUTRAL AND TURN IT ON. ON ALL OF THESE OCCASIONS MY FAMILY TRAVELING WITH ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171662January 23, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS AT A STOP AND WHEN THEIGHT TURNED GREEN I LET OFF MY BRAKE PEDAL AND LIGHTLY PUT PRESSURE ON MY GAS PEDAL WHEN THE CAR QUICKLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND I HAD TO APPLY MY BRAKES AS TO NOT HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE A FEW OTHER TIMES BUT ALWAYS ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON CRUISE CONTROL. IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU CAN DUPLICATE FOR A SHOP TO SEE AS IT'S COMPLETELY RANDOM WHEN IT HAPPENS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171719January 23, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE THE LAST RECALL FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT, DONE IN AUGUST 2017. HIGH BEAMS ARE INSUFFICIENT, AND THE NORMAL BEAMS ARE VERY DANGEROUS -- DOESN'T APPEAR THAT HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171301January 22, 2019
ENGINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 70. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE FIRE. YOU CAN SEE THE BURNED SQUARE SHAPE ON THE HOOD WHICH SHOWS THE DESTRUCTION UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171348January 22, 2019
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT AND HIS PASSENGERS SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11171483January 22, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN UNION NJ ON SEPTEMBER 25 2018. I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY NEXT PASSENGER DOING UBER. WHEN I GET TO THE STOP LIGHT LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM THE CUSTOMER I START SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I ACCELERATE THE CAR SO I CAN LOOK FOR A SAFE SPOT TO GET OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I TOOK A RIGHT INTO THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE VEHICLE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE! THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER MINUTES WITHIN THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE AND CALLED THE FIREFIGHTERS. POLICE CALLED BACK UP AND ANOTHER PATROL OFFICER CAME. FIREFIGHTERS CAME IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND TURNED THE FIRE OFF. THE VEHICLE IN TOTALED, EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE BAY BURNED. THE POLICE CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND SETON TOWING INC CAME AND TOOK THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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