Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11075073February 26, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CROWLEY KIA (223 BROAD ST, BRISTOL, CT) WHERE THE ENGINE WAS DEEMED DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11074399February 22, 2018
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING ON FREEWAY "65 MPH AND ABOVE" THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN THE 12:00 POSITION CAUSING THE CAR TO SWERVE FROM THE PRESSURE APPLIED TO CORRECT DRIFT . IT STEERS FINE IF YOU CONSTANTLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH. IT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR DRIVING STRAIGHT AND MAKING MINOR STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS. WHEN IT BREAKS LOOSE IT CAUSES YOU TO SWERVE WHICH COULD END UP CAUSING A CRASH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11074148February 21, 2018
ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING SOUND WITH SMOKE COMING FROM ENGINE. PULLED OVER AND TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND NOT LONG AFTER ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. FOUND OUT AFTER THE FACT THAT CAR HAD RECALL ON IT. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY DID NOTHING TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11074182February 21, 2018
STEERING, SUSPENSION
ON AUGUST 17TH , 2017 AFTER MAKING A BROKEN U TURN, I DROVE MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA ONTO A ROAD AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, TO FLOW INTO TRAFFIC, AND HIT A CURB THAT I BELIEVED I WAS CLEAR OF. I SUFFERED WHIPLASH AND SEVERE PAIN FROM MY ACCELERATOR FOOT UP TO MY SHOULDERS AS BOTH HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE HAD TO TAKE OFF MANY DAYS TO REST SINCE THEN. AFTER A VISIT TO THE DEALER WHERE I REPORTED THE ACCIDENT, THE REP SUGGESTED THAT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE A FRONT CAMERA. AFTER THE ACCIDENT I BEGAN TO HEAR AND FEEL NOISE AND EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, AND TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO DISCOVERED THE FAULTY PART, THE FLEXIBLE COUPLER AND RECOMMENDED I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALLED PART THAT CAUSED ACCIDENT REPLACED. I HAD HAD MY SUSPICION'S AS TO WHY THE CAR HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN MUCH BY THE PREVIOUS OWNERS, AND THAT THE INACCURATE NAVIGATION MAY HAVE CAUSED THEM TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, THAT WAS NEVER REPORTED. I BELIEVE I HAVE CASE AGAINST THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURE, FOR MY PAIN AND SUFFERING. AS A TBI SUFFERER THIS LAST EVENT IS CAUSING MAJOR COMPLICATIONS; AND NOW DIZZINESS, DEPRESSION, UNCERTAINTY AND HEADACHES HAVE RETURNED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11073845February 20, 2018
ENGINE
I RECENTLY STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FORM THE ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING. I WORK AT LEXUS OF AUSTIN AND HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SUFFERING FROM A CONNECTION ROD FAILURE. THE SOUND KEPT GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER, I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO SOUTHWEST KIA IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX. THEY ALSO DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING A CONNECTION ROD FAILURE. I WOULD NEED A NEED ENGINE. THE CAR IS A 2012 WITH ONLY 71,000 MILES. I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER SO THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. THE ENGINE SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE KIA OPTIMA RECALL COVERS ON THE NON-HYBRID ENGINES. KIA PAID FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. I STILL HAD TO PAY $2,681 OUT OF POCKET. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES ONLINE OF PEOPLE WITH THE HYBRID ENGINE AND CONNECTION ROD FAILURES. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY KIA THAT WHEN THEY DRAINED THE OIL, THE OIL HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN IT. THE SAME SYMPTOM AS THE RECALL ENGINES. KIA MUST BE FORCED TO ADD THE HYBRID ENGINES TO THEIR RECALL. THE PARTS ARE FAILING FROM THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLED PARTS. I DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO ARGUE WITH KIA OVER THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE I NEEDED MY CAR BACK ASAP IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO WORK. I SHOULD BE REFUNDED THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AND KIA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THE HYBRID ENGINES THAT ARE THE SAME YEAR AS THE GAS ENGINE RECALLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073752February 20, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHEN DECELERATING, THE CAR JERKS AT EXACTLY 35 MPH WHETHER IM ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY AND THIS HAPPENS . I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY HAVE EVEN DROVE MY CAR THEMSELVES AND FELT THE SAME THING THAT I WAS FEELING AND ALL THEY SAY IS THAT WITHOUT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THRER IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT AND I JUST HAVE TO "LIVE" WITH IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT CAUSES ANY ACCIDENTS OR WORSE DEATH. I SPENT WAY TOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS CAR FOR IT TO BE HAVING THESE ISSUES. BRAKES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY FEATURE NOT A SAFETY HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073765February 20, 2018
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON SUNDAY 02/11/2018 MY CAR DIED GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY DOING 70MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO A SAFE PLACE CAR IS A 2014 KIA AND HAS 46,763 MILES ON IT. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. IT'S ALSO PART OF THE RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED 10/04/2017, 17V224. CALL KIA 3 TIMES ON 02/19/2018 FIRST TIME I WAS SAYING THAT MY CAR STILL WASN'T FIXED FROM THE LONG BLOCK THAT WAS REPLACED ON THURSDAY THAT WAS STILL MAKING FUNNY NOISES AND THAT THERE WAS A SWEET BURNING SMELL. WAS TOLD BY THE 1ST PERSON I TALKED TO GIVE IT TIME AND IT WILL WORK ITSELF OUT. THAT SWEET SMELL WAS THE OIL BURNING OFF OF THE ENGINE THAT THEY JUST REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. I CALL BACK NOT EVEN AN HOUR LATER TO SAY MY HEAT STOPPED WORKING THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC RUN ON IT AND THEN IT WILL COST ME $99 AND IF THEY DETERMINE WASN'T PART OF THE ENGINE WORK THEY HAD JUST DONE. THAT PERSON MADE A 10 A.M. APPOINTMENT FOR 2/20/2018. SINCE MY HEAT WASN'T WORKING I HAD TO KEEP USING MY WIPERS AND FLUID, BECAUSE THE DEFROST WASN'T WORKING. WHEN HOME I WENT TO PUT MORE WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID IN THE CAR I NOTICED THAT THEY DID NOT PUT COOLANT IN THE CAR WHICH IS NEEDED TO COOL THE ENGINE SO IT DOESN'T SEIZED UP STALL OR BLOWUP. SO WHEN THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE THEY DIDN'T PUT COOLANT IN THE CAR WHICH IS NEEDED. SO NOW I'M HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO KIA SO THEY CAN MAKE SURE THAT THIS ENGINE ISNT SHOT NOW ALSO. THAT'S ALSO THE REASON THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING I'M SURE. I'VE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR SINCE I GOT IT BACK ON 02/15/2018 WITH NO COOLING PROBABLY DRIVEN IT 20 HOURS SINCE I'M A LYFT DRIVER. SO AFTER THEY PUT IN A REPLACEMENT LONG BLOCK BECAUSE OF THE RECALL THIS THURSDAY 02/15/2018 THEY DIDN'T PUT COOLANT OR ANTIFREEZE IN THE CAR SO II BLEW THE NEW ENGINE AND ALSO MESSED UP MY STARTER. HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 02/19/2018
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073815February 20, 2018
STEERING
I HAVE NOTICED THAT AS I AM DRIVING ON THE THE INTERSTATE THAT MY STEERING IS STICKING, THIS TOO ME IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND THIS SHOULD BE NOTED AS A SAFETY CONCERN, THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE T TURNS DEADLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073629February 19, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW FROM THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND IT HAS NEED THE SAME REPAIR ON THE SAME PART 3 TIMES (THE CLUTCH). THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2006 KIA OPTIMA IS A VEHICLE DEFECT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073324February 16, 2018
SUSPENSION
A REPUTABLE AUTO SHOP NOTICED. WHY MY STEERING WAS NOT CORRECT. BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH INTEGRATED BALL JOINT IS CAUSING THE STEERING TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE AND NOT EVEN AN ALIGNMENT CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. BOTH CONTROL ARMS WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073025February 15, 2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 6:20 P.M IN THE SLOW LANE AT 65 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER OR AROUND HER THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE KICKED UP A ROCK OR DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD. SHE WAS ALSO NOT PASSING UNDER AN OVERPASS OR BRIDGE. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND WAS NOT PHYSICALLY HURT IN THE INCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS A PANORAMIC SUNROOF AND THE MOVING PART OF THE GLASS SUNROOF SHATTERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072840February 14, 2018
POWER TRAIN
THE AXLE AND WHEEL BROKE OFF AND FLEW INTO 2 PARKED CARS. IT TOTALED OUR CAR.MY HUSBAND HAD JUST TURNED OFF OF A BUSY STREET TO A SMALL STREET. HE WAS GOING ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR. HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE AIRBAGS WENT OFF. HE GOT PUT OF THE CAR AND SAW WHAT HAPPENED. HIS AXLE AND WHEEL BROKE OFF AND FLEW INTO THE 2 PARKED CARS. KIA IS NOT COOPERATING AT ALL AND THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ON THE SAME MODEL, BUT DIFFERENT YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072914February 14, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THE HYBRID ENGINE SEIZED WITH LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEEN SEVERAL HYBRID ENGINES THAT HAVE SEIZED, BUT KIA HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072760February 13, 2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. I TOOK TO MARTIN KIA IN NEWARK DELAWARE FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID THE CODES WERE C1259 AND C1260 AND THAT I NEED TO HAVE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY REPLACED BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE MY CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. (I DID STRIKE A SMALL DEER, BUT DAMAGE WAS COSMETIC TO LEFT FRONT FENDER AND DID NOT AFFECT STEERING OR DRIVABILITY, AND WAS REPAIRED IN A PROFESSIONAL BODY SHOP). THE ESC DID NOT COME ON UNTIL MONTHS AFTER MY ACCIDENT. DEALER WOULD NOT CERTIFY THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION, NOR DID THEY OFFER ANOTHER LESS EXPENSIVE REPAIR SUCH AS JUST REPLACING SENSORS. THEY WANTED AN ESTIMATED $1370 TO HOLD MY SAFETY HOSTAGE. SINCE THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEW EPISODES OF INSTABILITY WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. I NOW LEAVE ESC OFF WHEN WEATHER IS BAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072656February 13, 2018
POWER TRAIN
TAKING A LEFT FROM A STOP AT MAYBE 5 MPH , AND THE RIGHT FRONT AXLE BROKE IN HALF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE (RECALL #SC139).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072699February 13, 2018
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON NOW AND I'M WONDERING IF THATS A PROBLEM, I DON'T WANT TO BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT DEPLOYS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072137February 11, 2018
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE IS GETTING STUCK ON ELECTRIC MODE AND NOT SWITCHING OVER TO GAS AND LOSING POWER. HAVING TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND BACK ON THE RESET IT. CAR ONLY HAS 2500 MILES. TAKING BACK TO DEALER ASAP. WAS DRIVING ON MAJOR INTERSTATE 70 MPH ERROR MESSAGE FROM CAR SAID TRANSMISSION ERROR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072196February 11, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING CAR SHUT OFF AND HYBRID BATTERY WENT DEAD. IS SAYS 'HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND DO NOT DRIVE'. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE LOCKED UP. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINS ON THIS AND I WON'T PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE WHEN KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072077February 10, 2018
ENGINE
TURBO AND TURBO OIL RETURN LINE IS DEFECTIVE. LEAKS OIL AND OVER HEATS ENGINE. DEALERSHIPS ADMIT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THEY'VE SEEN DAILY WITH THE SX MODELS BUT REFUSE TO ADDRESS IT UNTIL A RECALL COMES OUT. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, IT CONSTANTLY LEAKS OIL. WHENEVER IT IS PARKED, IT LEAKS OIL. IT'S ONLY FROM THE TURBO FEED LINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11071675February 8, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
'TAKATA RECALL' I'M CURRENTLY BUYING A KIA OPTIMA 2012 AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND HAD MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE AT KIA OF ORANGE. THEN I DID FULL SERVICE WHICH I PAYED 600$ OR SO AND AFTER THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS, I WENT TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE AND MY BOYFRIEND GOT OFF TO GET TOOLS FROM THE HOUSE IT TOOK HIM TEN MINUTES TO COME BACK. THE CAR WAS ON AND I WAS WINDOWS UP AND AC ON WHEN HE CAME OUT HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE FRONT LEFT LIGHT. IT GOT ON FIRE AND WE WERE SCARE FOR OUR LIFE'S AND WE MANAGE TO RUN AROUND AND FIND ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP WE HAD WATER AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ELECTRICAL SO IT WAS MELTING PLASTIC UNTIL WE MANAGE TO FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE I WAS CALLING 911 WE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. SECOND OF ALL WE FIX IT INSURANCE COVER. WE CALL KIA THEY TOLD US OUR INSURANCE HAD TO PAY IT. SO WE DID NEXT I TOOK IT TO GET MAINTENANCE UPDATE AND OIL CHANGE, WE TOOK FOR A DRIVE TO CHINO HILLS CALIFORNIA AND THEN THE CAR TURN OFF BY IT SELF ON THE FREEWAY I WAS 65 SPEED LIMIT AND MY STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I COULD OF LOST MY LIFE. I MANAGE TO MOVE IT SLOWLY TO THE SIDE AND IT WAS ON FIRE WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD SOMETHING WAS BURNING AGAIN. A SHERIFF HELP US TURN IT OFF WITH HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE ENGINE HAD BLEW UP A WROT BLEW MAYBE BECAUSE OF NO OIL OR IDK I'M NOT MECHANIC THAT'S WHY I TAKE IT TO KIA. I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB RIGHT AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T WANNA COVER IT, NOW I'M CARELESS AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER TO FEED AND I NEED HELP TO GET THIS OUT THERE IF ANYBODY HAS THE SAME ISSUE PLEASE MAKE THIS GO VIRAL. HIGHWAY 91 EAST
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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