Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10901907August 27, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
STOPPED AT RED LIGHT AND CAR SHUT DOWN. CHECKED UNDER HOOD WHICH HAD SMOKE COMING FROM IT. GROUND WIRE WAS MELTED. OFFICER WAS CONTACTED AND HELPED PUSH CAR TO SAFETY. TOW COMPANY WAS CALLED AND CAR WAS LOADED WE ROAD WITH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER. HALF WAY TO DESTINATION, THE CAR WAS SMOKING HEAVILY. WE PULLED OVER AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THERE WERE FLAMES. WE USED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND THE FLAMES GOT WORSE. CAR BURNED WITH TOTAL LOSS. TOW TRUCK PARTIALLY BURNED. ..UPDATED 10/04/16 *BF *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10898068August 23, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10897840August 23, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 16 YEAR OLD JUST PURCHASED A 2002 KIA OPTIMA SEDAN ON SATURDAY 8/20/2016 FROM A USED CAR DEALERSHIP. VERY FIRST CAR, HIS OWN EARNED SAVINGS. UPON FINALIZING THE PAPERWORK, WE LITERALLY WALKED OUT THE DOOR & IMMEDIATELY WERE UNABLE TO UNLOCK HIS DRIVER'S DOOR WITH THE KEY FOB. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, NOT RUNNING, PARKED IN ALL INSTANCES IN REGARDS TO THIS COMPLAINT. COINCIDENTALLY, IT WORKED PERFECT FOR OUR TEST DRIVE. I DO ALSO HAVE SIGNED DOCUMENTATION STATING THE CAR LOT DOES NOTHING TO THE CAR ELECTRONICALLY, MECHANICALLY OR OTHERWISE AS WELL IF NEEDED. I WAS HOPEFUL IT WAS THE KEY FOB BATTERY, BUT IT'S BEEN REPLACED & STILL NOT WORKING. WE'VE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH ALL THE LOCKS SINCE & NO SUCCESS TO UNLOCK WHEN NEEDED. HE USES THE DRIVER'S SIDE THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE TIME, BUT ALL WITHOUT WARNING WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WITH NO RHYME OR REASON. HE'S HAD TO CRAWL OVER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET IN EVERY TIME. MY NIGHTMARE AS ANY PARENTS IS GOD FORBID A FIRE START OR HE ACCIDENTALLY GOES INTO A BODY OF WATER & IS TRAPPED. I REALIZE IT'S AN OLDER CAR BOUGHT USED, BUT I SEE THERE ARE DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE LOCKS, NOT JUST ON YOUR SITE. EVEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT THAT WAS MYSTERIOUSLY "VOLUNTARILY DISMISSED" BY THE PLAINTIFF IN 2015. CASE NO. [XXX] FROM WHAT I CAN SEE. WHERE IS THE RECALL? WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE ONE ISSUED? WE DON'T HAVE THE FINANCIAL CAPABILITY TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT IS ALREADY BEEN UNCOVERED YET AMAZINGLY NO ONE IS REQUIRED TO REPAIR? NOR DO I FEEL WE SHOULD HAVE TO. ANOTHER POINT TO NOTE IS EVERY SINGLE VIN # I'VE SEEN COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, ARE IN VERY CLOSE NUMERICAL SUCCESSION WITH OURS. I HAVE TO SAY IT SEEMS VERY UNLIKELY IT'S SHEER COINCIDENCE. I UNDERSTAND COMPANIES NEED TO GUARD THEIR "BOTTOM LINE" BUT WHAT COST? I SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME & FEEDBACK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10896699August 17, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS 2011 KIA HEADLIGHT BULB WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE LIGHT QUIT WORKING. WAS INFORMED THAT LIGHTBULB MELTED AND ENTIRE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT FOR BETTER LIGHTING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10896238August 16, 2016
ENGINE
2011 KIA OPTIMA. SERVICED AS REQUIRED. APPROX 120,000 MILES. ENGINE STARTED MAKING KNOCKING NOISES AND SEIZED. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD METAL SHAVINGS WERE IN THE MOTOR AND NEED NEW MOTOR. AFTER INVESTIGATING ON LINE, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MOTORS. ALSO, KIA MOTORS WERE BUILT IN THE SAME PLANT AS HUNDAI AND THOSE MOTORS AS WELL HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND WERE RECALLED! WHY HAS KIA NOT RECALLED THESE MOTORS KNOWING THERE IS AN ISSUE? OUR MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO GET A MOTOR FOR A DODGE AT HIS SHOP WITH NO ISSUE, BUT WHEN HE CALLED TO GET A MOTOR FOR THE KIA OPTIMA - NONE TO BE FOUND! CALLED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NONE EITHER, ALL ON BACK ORDER....WHY??? THIS IS VERY OUT OF THE ORDINARY, AND I WISH THAT SOMETHING WOULD BE DONE TO GET KIA TO RECALL THESE MOTORS AND MAKE IT RIGHT WITH THE BUYERS. WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED MY NHTSA? MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THIS CAR WHEN IT SEIZED IN TRAFFIC ON A BUSY STREET IN THE CITY, AND AFTER READING OTHERS THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE! GIANT SAFETY ISSUE!!!!!!! SEVERAL CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST KIA, GUESS IT IS TIME TO JOIN IN ON THAT!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10896275August 16, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN MANUALLY UNLOCKING THE POWER DOOR LOCKS, THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY LOCK AGAIN AND WILL GO INTO A LOOP OF UNLOCK-RELOCK, WHETHER USING THE MANUAL DOOR LOCK OR THE POWER LOCK SWITCH (THE RELAY CLICKS BUT NOTHING HAPPENS WHEN USING THE SWITCH). THIS HAPPENS ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895919August 15, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DID NOT REGISTER WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10896020August 15, 2016
STEERING
GEAR OR BEARING DEFECTIVE IN STEERING COLUMN .EXCESSIVE MOTION , PLAY AND NOISE WHEN OPERATING VEHICLE . CONTACTED DEALER BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY RECALL REGARDING THIS PROBLEM . DEALER SERVICE DEPT. QUOTED REPAIR TO BE APPROXIMATELY 300 DOLLARS . WHEN IS KIA GOING TO RECALL VEHICLES WITH THIS MALFUNCTION ?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895808August 14, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVERS DOOR LOCK WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE AT ALL & ONLY 10%OF THE TIME FROM OUTSIDE WITH KEY. PULLED FUSE ON ACTUATORS & LOCK CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION. CAN NOT EFFICIENTLY GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. HAVE TO SLIDE OVER CENTER TO REACH PASSENGER DOOR TO GET OUT. I AM 6'4" SO THIS IS A REAL SAFETY HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895227August 12, 2016
AIR BAGS, STEERING
TOOK 2009 KIA TO DEALERSHIP, TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2016 BECAUSE OF AIR BAG ILLUMINATION. WAS TOLD IT WAS TWO THINGS. THE OCS MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. KIA ISSUED A RECALL ON THE 2008 OPTIMA FOR THIS VERY SAME ISSUE (CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY). THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WE DID, HOWEVER, RECEIVE A LETTER FROM KIA REGARDING THE OCS MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. UNFORTUNATELY, KIA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. PRICES FOR REPAIR? OVER $1,500. THESE TWO ITEMS ARE CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE REPAIR THESE SAFETY ISSUES. THESE ISSUES DID NOT OCCUR BECAUSE OF MISUSE - THEY ARE OCCURRING AND HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF KNOWN DEFECTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895290August 12, 2016
ENGINE
WHEN IDELING THE ENGINE WOULD START SPUTTERING. MECHANICS SAID IT NEED AN OIL CONTROL VALUE AND IT MAY FIX IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT, BECAUSE I COULDN'T PRODUCE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS. I TOOK THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT AS SOON AS I GOT IN THE CAR THE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. ONCE I GOT THE CAR HOME AND DROVE IT FOR ONE DAY THE CAR WOULD BE RUNNING AND JUST SHUT OFF.WHEN TURNING OR IDELING. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER KIA MECHANIC THEY PUT IN THE OIL CONTROL VALUE (SOME HOW IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY). THE MECHANICS SAID IT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW KIA IS SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AND KIA WILL NOT REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAID SINCE I COULD NOT PRODUCE ALL THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE RECORDS THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I CALL KIA CORP, AND ESP WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. AT THIS TIME I FILLED A COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION. I HAVE GOTTEN A HOLD OF A NON-KIA MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS HEARD THE KIA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895317August 12, 2016
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, RATTLES, AND CLICKS WHEN TURNING. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. GOING OVER ANY THING THAT IS NOT LEVEL (EX. RAILROAD TRACKS, SPEED BUMPS ETC) CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO RATTLE AND SHAKE ALSO EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT SPEEDING. IT WILL OCCUR IN MOTION AND EVEN IF THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, AND OFF. I AM NOT REALLY SURE WHAT THIS ISSUE IS OR WHAT REALLY CAUSED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895332August 12, 2016
ENGINE
ENGINE IS BLOWN, THE ENGINE BLOCK HAS SNAPPED OFF AND PIECES ARE BANGING AROUND IN MY ENGINE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895447August 12, 2016
STEERING
I TOOK MY CAR TO GET A OIL CHANGE AND THE GUY THAT WAS MOVING THE CAR WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT THE STEERING. HE STATED THAT I NEEDED TO GET IT SERVICED AT THE KIA DEALERSHIP ASAP. THE STEERING SEEMS TO BE CLICKING AND WHEN I HIT A SMALL DIP OR POTHOLE IN THE ROAD IT CLICKS AND SOUNDS LIKE THE WHOLE FRONT END IS COMING OFF. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY WITH THE VEHICLE WHICH I THINK IS CRAZY. I COULD SEE IF IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I DID I WOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT REPAIR. HOWEVER THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'M REALLY THINKING ABOUT TRADING IN THIS VEHICLE AND MOVING ON TO SOMEONE WHO DOES TAKE CARE OF THEIR CARS AND CUSTOMERS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895023August 11, 2016
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. RECEIVED LETTER FROM KIA IN JULY 2016 THAT IT WOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THIS ISSUE. IT STATED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN AND HAVE IT CHECKED AND THAT IF ANY PROBLEMS IT WOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF. IN REALITY, THAT IS NOT TRUE. ONLY IF YOU PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD THESE KNOWN AIR BAG ISSUES BE HANDLED BY KIA. THE COST TO REPAIR? $1,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895026August 11, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD - STARTED AROUND 60,000 MILES. SHIFTS HARD FROM SECOND GEAR TO FIRST GEAR - AROUND 20 MPH. TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE SYSTEM (COMPUTER) UPGRADE IN JANUARY OF 2014 ($500) -- THIS FIXED THE ISSUE FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. TOOK IT BACK IN JANUARY OF 2015 ($500) FOR ANOTHER SYSTEM (COMPUTER) UPGRADE. IT FIXED THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TOOK IT BACK TO KIA AND THE DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I ASKED THE TECH IF HE COULD GUARANTEE ME THAT THIS WOULD STOP THE ISSUE. HE TOLD ME HE COULD NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT INSTALLING A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD STOP THE HARD DOWNSHIFTING ISSUE. IT DOWNSHIFTS SO HARD THAT YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895021August 11, 2016
STEERING
STEERING COLUMN HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVEN'T HAD THE VEHICLE A GOOD FIVE MONTHS YET!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895163August 11, 2016
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND THE WHEELS SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND IT CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND AN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE EMITTED INTO THE CONTACTS EYES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE BODY AND LACERATIONS TO BOTH EYES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/23/16*LJ *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10894804August 10, 2016
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY AND IT STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE THEN THE CAR JUST DIED AND WHEN IT DID IT MADE A LOUD POP AND WOULDN'T START.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10894859August 10, 2016
STEERING
INHERENTLY BAD ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING COUPLER. BROKEN WILE STILL RELATIVELY LOW MILAGE. MAKES A VERY BAD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN STEERING AND GOING OVER BUMPS AND CAUSES STEERING WHEEL TO WOBBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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