Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11039544October 25, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STARTED TO SMOKE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND, SHORTLY AFTER, IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TOO LATE TO SALVAGE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT, BUT A REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11039679October 25, 2017
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
BEGINNING IN SPRING 2017 MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX TURBO (I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW, ONLY OWNER) BEGAN STUTTERING WHILE IN MOTION (AS IF SOMEONE WERE PUMPING THE BRAKES). THE CAR STALLS AND DIES AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS AND NEEDS RESTARTED. IT ALSO STALLS AND DIES WHILE IN MOTION, MOST DISTURBING IN HIGH SPEED, HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS AND AT 70 MPH HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WILL BE TRAVELING ON HIGH SPEED INTERSTATES AND THE CAR JUST DIES AND I HAVE TO HOPE I HAVE ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO SAFELY GET OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT USUALLY GOES ON AND OFF AT LEAST FOUR TIMES IN BETWEEN EACH SERVICE ATTEMPT. IT HAS BEEN ANALYZED AND GIVEN ATTEMPTED REPAIRS BY A KIA DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES SINCE LATE MAY 2017 (SEE ATTACHED RECORDS), BUT THE STALLING AND STUTTERING PROBLEMS PERSIST. I PICKED UP THE CAR FROM ITS LAST SERVICE ON 10/18/17 AND THE SAME PROBLEMS BEGAN MANIFESTING AGAIN. THIS IS NOW THE FIFTH TIME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS (UNKNOWN) AND IT SEEMS KIA'S SERVICE HELP LINE FOR MECHANIC ASSISTANCE DOES NOT EITHER. THE MOST RECENT TIME THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, KIA SENT OUT A NATIONAL SERVICE SPECIALIST TO INVESTIGATE THE CAR, TO NO AVAIL. 1) 5/31/17 - REPLACED MAP SENSOR (I PAID $600 AND IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM) 2) 6/30/17 - TESTED GROUNDS AND REPLACED CONNECTIONS 3) 7/25/17 - REPLACED TURBO AND INTERCOOLER SYSTEM 4) 10/12/17 - REPLACED ENGINE COMPUTER 5) UNKNOWN - STILL PROBLEMATIC - ASKING FOR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FROM KIA THE CAR HAS 91,410 MILES AND IS STILL COVERED UNDER THE 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THIS CAR IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT STALLS AND DIES OUT IN HIGH SPEED, HIGH TRAFFIC INTERSECTIONS AND ON FREEWAYS WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH. KIA OBVIOUSLY DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11039683October 25, 2017
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
I GOT CAR ACCDINET AND THREE AIRBAG JUST POP OUT SO THAT MEANT NEED REPLACE?
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#11039318October 24, 2017
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
ON SEPTEMBER 28TH MY HUSBAND WAS IN A ACCIDENT WHERE HE TURNED A CORNER AT 8MPH AND HIT THE REAR END OF A BOAT ON A TRAILER. THE WHOLE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS CRUNCHED AND THE CAR IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS AND WAS TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS NEVER WENT OFF AND IF I WERE IN THE CAR WITH MY TWO SMALL CHILDREN THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT STORY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11039405October 24, 2017
ENGINE
ON 10/24/17, WHILE DRIVING ON CR 46 IN SORRENTO HEADING HOME AT 1800 HRS, MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA LX COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN AT 55 MPH FOR NO REASON. LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PUT EMERGENCY FLASHERS IMMEDIATELY AND PULL TO THE SIDE REDUCING SPEED AND COMPLETELY STOP THE CAR. AFTER THAT, WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR. WAITED A FEW MINUTES AFTER INSPECTION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. NO INDICATION NOR ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF TROUBLE. WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE MY DRIVE AT A MUCH LOWER SPEED AND FLASHERS ON AS A PRECAUTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11036027October 24, 2017
STEERING
CONSTANT KNOCKING / CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE SEEN ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE KIA BRAND IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING COUPLER???? ATTACHING A PIC I FOUND ON A WEBSITE. IT HAS BEEN "KNOCKING" FOR OVER A YEAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11035592October 23, 2017
ENGINE
VEHICLE RECALLED UNDER SC147 ON JULY 13,2017. NEW ENGINE RECEIVED BY DEALER WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25. LAST UPDATE I RECEIVED ON OCTOBER 20TH FROM KIA CORPORATION WAS NEW MOTOR INSTALLED HOWEVER COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO RUN. SOME COMPRESSION TESTING INDICATES THAT THE NEW MOTOR INSTALLED WAS BAD. I REQUESTED KIA TO PROVIDE ME WITH A NEW CAR WITH SIMILAR SX LIMITED AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE. KIA DEALERSHIP HAS NOW HAD MY VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. ONLY UPDATES I RECEIVE IS IF I CALL KIA CORPORATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11035780October 23, 2017
ENGINE
WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING WHEN THE EV WASN'T WORKING, JUST ENGINE. I COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE WITH THE EV AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHICH STATED IT WAS THE RODS KNOCKING AND HE KNEW ABOUT THE KIA ENGINE RECALL SO HE ASKED ME TO FIND OUT IF MINE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, APPARENTLY THE KIA ENGINE RECALL DOESN'T INCLUDE MY CAR ONCE I GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER. ITS DISTURBING TO KNOW THAT IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE IN THE SAME RECALL BUT THEY SAY ITS NOT...HOW DO I GO ABOUT MAKING SURE ITS NOT REALLY COVERED?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11035830October 23, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 219,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11035203October 20, 2017
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11034469October 19, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON WEDNESDAY MORNING DRIVING TO MY WORK THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WAS A BIG SOUND ,THIS EXPLOSION TERRIFIES ME AND THANKS GOD I DIDN'T LOST IT THE CONTROL OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY I DROVE TO THE RIGHT SIDE TO STOP THE CAR AND TRYING FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED.I SAW BIG HOLE AT THE SUNROOF ,I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO . I CALLED TO MY INSURANCE AND EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPEN IF I NEED TO CALL TO POLICE FOR THIS INCIDENT,THEY SAID IS NOT NECESSARY BUT WE NEED TO KIA DEALER BECAUSE COULD A FACTORY PROBLEM. KIA SAID BRING THE CAR TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION.IS ONE WEEK ALREADY AND I DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWER . I BEEN SEARCHING SAME OTHERS COMPLAINTS AND I FOUND IT KIA HAD A LOT OF SIMILAR SITUATION THIS EXPLOSION PUT ME IN A VERY RISK SITUATION COULD BE CRASHED OR HIT OTHERS CARS AND IN RISK OTHERS LIVES. I NEED SOME HELP TO CLARIFY MY CASE AND HELP OTHERS PEOPLES . I HOPE NHTSA IS INTEREST TO RESOLVE THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11034639October 19, 2017
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DUE TO A RECALL, I HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED BY KIA PATTERSON IN JULY OF 2017. ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AFTER GETTING IT BACK, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. NATURALLY, I CONTACTED KIA PATTERSON REGARDING THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I'M NOW BEING TOLD THAT IT MAY BE A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG OR CLOCKSPRING, BOTH OF WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL KIA VEHICLES HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FATE WITH NO RESOLUTION. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL INTO THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED MODELS YET IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION IS SO HIGH AT THIS POINT AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THESE PROBLEMS. UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL HAVE TO DO SO UNTIL I AM ABLE TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED. SHAME ON YOU KIA!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11034053October 17, 2017
STEERING
THERE IS PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND A CLICKING SOUND. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1350
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11034145October 17, 2017
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IT STALLS AT LOW SPEED AND STALLS AT HIGH SPEED PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. AND MOTOR MAKES ALL KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE RATTLES WHEN COLD. AND RUN POORLY WHEN COLD. HAD A TOTAL OF 4 RECALLS AND HAVE NOT HAD IT A YEAR. HAD IT SENT TO KIA OF CHATTANOOGA WHEN I FIRST GOT IT FROM EDD KIRBY OF DALTON,GA AND ALL THEY DONE WAS PUT 600 MILES ON IT. AND DID NOTHING TO IT. THEN IT WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF DALTON,GA FOR THE REST OF THE RECALLS BUT NOTHING WAS FIXED ALL THEY DONE WAS SERVICED THE CAR. THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. IT IS GOING TO END UP GETTING SOMEONE KILLED OR BADLY HURT. I AM ABOUT READY TO CALL A LAWYER AND CHANNEL 3 NEWS OF CHATTANOOGA, TENN. IF YOU CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION YOU MAY TALK TO MY HUSBAND [XXX] AT ANYTIME. ('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
#11033424October 15, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED ON THIS CAR. IF YOU WOULD HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE ACCELERATION THE CAR WOULD DETECT A SPINNING CONDITION AND CAUSE MAJOR DECELERATION BEING VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY IN MODERATE TRAFFIC TAKING THE VEHICLE FROM 60+ MPH TO VIRTUALLY 40 MPH WITH NO WARNING AND NO BRAKE LIGHTING TO WARN APPROACHING TRAFFIC. AFTER MANY VISITS TO KIA DEALER REMAINED UNADDRESSED UNTIL CONTACTING CORPORATE KIA AND FINDING A POSTING ON KIA OPTIMA FORUM WITH ANOTHER USER THAT HAD SAME ISSUE AND WAS FINALLY RESOLVED WITH SOME HYDRAULIC PART REPLACEMENT THAT COSTS $1,600 AND WAS BEING AVOIDED BY DEALERS. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO KIA CORPORATES ATTENTION THEY AGREED TO REPLACE WITH THAT PART WHICH DID ALMOST RESOLVE THAT ISSUE EXCEPT ON RARE INSTANCES CAR WILL STILL HESITATE WHEN ENCOUNTERING A BUMP ON ACCELERATION. AFTER THAT REPAIR HOWEVER THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOW FAILING WITH ERRATIC PULSING ON HARD BRAKING AND LESS EFFECTIVE BRAKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11033215October 13, 2017
ENGINE
STARTED HEARING MY ENGINE KNOCKING THE NIGHT BEFORE. KNOCKING STILL EVIDENT, FOLLOWED SHORTLY BY 2 ENGINE STALLS ON THE HIGHWAY! VEHICLE HAD TO SIT ABANDONED OVERNIGHT UNTIL A TOW COULD BE ARRANGED, WHICH RESULTED IN CANCELLING AN OUT-OF-STATE MOVE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11033006October 12, 2017
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
ENGINE LOCKED UP HAD A WARRANTY THEY FIXED IT AND AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK THE THE HORN DIDN'T WORK OR ANY OF MY CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED I NOTIFIED THEM AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OVER TO KIA DEALERSHIP EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AND AFTER THEY PUT THE NEW ENGINE IN EVERYTHING WENT WRONG THE ABS SYSTEM WENT OUT THE HORN STOP WORKING THE TURBO IN THE CAR WASN'T ANY GOOD MY AIRBAG AND ENGINE WAS ON AND STILL IS AND I NOTIFIED THEM AGAIN EVEN TOOK IT TO MANAGEMENT AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I'M NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER AT ALL CAN U GUYS PLEASE HELP ME. I'M A HARD WORKING MAN HAVE A FAMILY AND JUST TRYING TO HAVE A CAR THAT WE CAN ENJOY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11033101October 12, 2017
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
ELECTRICAL RACK AND PINIONS RECALL. STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11032990October 11, 2017
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION, WOUL D NOT GO FASTER THEN 15 MPH FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE THEN GAVE MESSAGE "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE, PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE." THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE, REPLACED THE HYPER-TRANSMISSION? AND THE BATTERY. DEALER HAS IGNORED REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION & ITEMIZATION OR INVOICE FOR THE ALLEGED REPAIRS AND THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT ORIGINALLY ONLY AUTHORIZED $3851.50 FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE OTHER TROUBLES WERE DISCOVERED LATER, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT POSSESSION. THE UNDERBODY OR FLAPS UNDERNEATH, FLEW OFF CAR AS CUSTOMER DROVE IT HOME UPON PICKING IT UP. DEALER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT OR FOR CRACKING BUMPER IN THE FRONT CENTER OF VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11032333October 9, 2017
POWER TRAIN, STEERING, WHEELS
TAKATA RECALL: THE TIRE LOW LIGHT ON HE DASH IS ALWAYS ON NO MATTER WHAT I DO. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY TIRES CHANGED FROM THE DEALER NEVER FROM A THIRD PARTY. THIS IS INCONVENIENT FOR ME BECAUSE THIS IS THE IDENTIFICATION FOR A LOW TIRE. SO ANYTIME I SUSPECT A LOW TIRE I HAVE TO STOP MY VEHICLE WHERE EVER I MAY BE GET OUT AND WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY TEST THE PRESSURE IN MY VEHICLES TIRES..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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