Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11013702August 8, 2017
ENGINE
ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, MY KIA HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AND I PAID TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR JUST QUIT. I HAD IT TAKEN IN AND FOUND OUT THE ENGINE WAS RECALLED. KIA REPLACED THE ENGINE A MONTH AND HALF LATER. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK INTO THE DEAL AND THEY CLEARED THE CODES AS THEY SAID THEY WERE OLD CODES AND WAS LIKELY A FLUKE. THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I GOT AN EMAIL TODAY TELLING ME THEY HAVE WORD INTO KIA CORPROATION TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER IT BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO LOOK AT MULTIPLE COMPONENTS DUE TO PREVIOUS ENGINE FAILURE BUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE FIRST OWNER THAT I DID NOT HAVE POWERTRAIN COVERAGE BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO SEE WHAT KIA COULD DO FOR ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013714August 8, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL A SECOND ATTEMPT WAS MADE. ONCE STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANAHAWKIN KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP FAILED AND PREVENTED FUEL FROM REACHING THE ENGINE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ *BF THE DASHBOARD "CHECK ENGINE LAMP" CAME ON AND STAYED ON. UPDATED 10/4/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013712August 8, 2017
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSISTENTLY ON WHICH MEANS IT WON'T DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL AREN'T WORKING, AND STEERING WHEEL HEATER ISN'T WORKING. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS CLOCKSPRING IS WORN OUT. PREVIOUS MODELS OF OPTIMAS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY A RECALL WAS MADE. HOPEFULLY THIS GETS RESOLVES BEFORE A WRECK HAPPENS AND INJURY IS CAUSED BY THIS AIRBAG DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013742August 8, 2017
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TAKATA RECALL. CAR HAS BEEN SAYING "WARNING PULL OVER DO NOT DRIVE" ALTHOUGH I AM IN PARK IN MY DRIVEWAY, IN THE CAR WASH OR ON THE FREEWAY. TOOK INTO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES NOW AND THEY SAY DRIVE IT HERE NEXT TIME WITH THE WARNING ON BUT THE CAR FREEZES UP AND TURNS OFF WHICH RESETS THE WARNING DISPLAY! THE DEALERSHIP IS ACTING LIKE NOTHING IS WRONG. MILEAGE THIS STARTED IS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013350August 7, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO HERB CHAMBERS KIA SERVICE CENTER (BURLINGTON, MA) ON 6/22 FOR OIL CHANGE AND REPAIR OF 2 RECALL ITEMS. ON THE SUMMARY THEY GAVE ME AFTERWARDS IT SAID, "PART IS BEING ORDERED WILL CONTACT CUSTOMER WHEN PART ARRIVES" SO IT IS NOW ALMOST 7WKS LATER AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM RE MY PART COMING IN TO FIX THE RECALL ..SO I JUST CALLED THEM. THEY SAID IF THERE'S A BACK ORDER THEY SOMETIMES "CANCEL" THE ORDER AND WILL REORDER THE PART TOMORROW. WELL I AM MOVING ON AUG 31 (TO NEAR NH LINE) AND STILL DON'T KNOW IF MY PART IS ON BACK ORDER OR THEY CANCELED AND NEED TO ORDER THE PART AGAIN. WHEN I ASKED, THE LADY SAID THEY WON'T KNOW "UNTIL TOMORROW OR THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW" I ASKED IF THEY WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW FOR AN UPDATE. I THINK IT IS A CANISTER I NEED (NOT SURE - SEE PHOTO OF SERVICE SUMMARY). ANYWAY STILL WAITING (MEANWHILE GETTING LOTS OF LETTERS RE IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL SAYING MY CAR NEEDS SERVICE TO BE SAFE!)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013401August 7, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SUMMIT PLACE KIA DEALER LOCATED ON 44900 N GRATIOT AVE, CHARTER TWP. OF CLINTON, MI 4803, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LONG BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD ONLY GO WITH THE DEALER'S DIAGNOSIS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013548August 7, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MAKES RUMBLING/RATTLING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. IT IS SPORADIC BUT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM SOMETHING RELATED TO THE TIRES. IT IS HARD TO TAKE FOR A DIAGNOSE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING VIBRATING UNDER THE HOOD. I CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS INTACT. THIS ISN'T A ONE TIME THING, IT HAPPENS OFTEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013124August 6, 2017
POWER TRAIN
MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA WITH 90,000 MILES IS EXPERIENCING A HARD DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN IT DECELERATES TO ABOUT 20 MPH. IT IS SO ABRUPT, IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN APPLIED VERY RAPIDLY. THE CAR JERKS FORWARD AND IS ACCOMPANIED BY A CLUNKING SOUND FROM THE TRANSMISSION. IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS COLD AND GOES AWAY AFTER IT HAS WARMED UP. IT JUST STARTED AND I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO BE SERVICED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11012689August 3, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IT'S LOUD KNOCKING NOISES INSIDE THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11012363August 2, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL, AIR BAGS, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOP FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN INTO A PARKING LOT THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENT OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, LOCATED ON DELSEA DR, VINELAND NJ, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CABLE DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST HER WITH THE FAILURE AND WAS TO GO THROUGH THE VEHICLE WARRANTY FOR THE REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11012450August 2, 2017
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE BAY WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND HAS BEEN ENTIRELY BURNED OUT IN 5 MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11011985August 1, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOUGHT 2011 KIA OPTIMA NEW. WIFE DRIVEN TO WORK DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. RECENTLY DROVE IT AT NIGHT AND NOTICED DIM LOW BEAMS AS WELL. TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR CRANKSHAFT RECALL AND HAD THEM LOOK AT HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS. SURPRISE, WE NEED 2 NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES PLUS INSTALLATION.. ABOUT $1000+. REFLECTIVE MATERIAL MELTED/DETERIORATED. DEALER CLAIMS IGNORANCE AND TRIES TO SAY WE HIT A BUMP CAUSING ISSUE . DENY, DENY, DENY. I WON'T WAIT FOR ANY RECALL OR RESTITUTION, I'M GONNA TRADE THE PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD. BUYER BEWARE !!! BTW , WE HAVE REPLACED INTERIOR LIGHTING SWITCH AT $300+ AND ALSO A/C COMPRESSOR AT $1700. THE CAR HAS 68,000 MI ON IT AND HAS COST US $2000 OUT OF POCKET IN WHAT I CONSIDER PREMATURE FAILURES. NOT TO MENTION THE HEADLIGHT COST. NOT HAPPY WITH KIA ,,!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11012088August 1, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACTED HEARD AN ABNORMAL RATTLING AND KNOCKING NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (KIA CAVENAUGH LOCATED AT 3315 STADIUM BLVD JONESBORO, AR 72404), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011614July 31, 2017
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A PEBBLE STRUCK THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A MINOR CRACK. UPON TRYING THE CLEAN THE AREA, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD WAS STARTING TO DETACH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 24,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011693July 31, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND THEN SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011711July 31, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011760July 31, 2017
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,700.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011834July 31, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPACE IN THE EMPLOYEE PRIVATE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY I STOPPED PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD A LITTLE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD I TRIED THE SHIFTER IN ALL GEARS STILL NO MOVEMENT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011227July 28, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LANGDALE KIA DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR BECAUSE IT WOULD COST $50. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011323July 28, 2017
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WE'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT'S A FAULTY CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS A RECALL UP TO 2008 OPTIMA'S FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT THE 2009. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A KNOWN ISSUE AS I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE THAT KIA SHOULD PAY SINCE THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AN IT'S AN EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT AND SPECIAL ORDER. THE DEALER WILL NOT COVER THIS REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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