Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10553555November 23, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PER NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 13V114 I TOOK MY 2009 KIA OPTIMA TO KOONS KIA IN WOODBRIDGE ON 11/21/2013 TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE'S STOP LAMP SWITCH. THE NEXT DAY I NOTICED THAT AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES FOR THE FIRST TIME THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED AND REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER I HAVE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN THE OFF POSITION. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON. BOTH OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS AROSE AFTER THE 11/21/2013 STOP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553337November 22, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CRUISE CONTROL IS INOPERATIVE. THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME ON, BUT YOU CANNOT "SET" THE CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER KIA MAKES AND MODELS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. AS FAR AS I CAN RESEARCH, THERE IS NOT A FUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553479November 22, 2013
STEERING
10549868 CONTINUED: ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THE STEERING PROBLEM FOLLOWS. WHEN I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT, BACK AND FORTH EVER SO SLIGHTLY, ALL WORKS FINE. STEERING IS EASY AND TAKES LITTLE FORCE TO CORRECT. IF ONE WAS TO MEASURE THE REQUIRED FORCE, IT WOULD BE SLIGHT, LETS SAY 2 UNITS. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN STATIONARY FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS, AND I TRY TO MAKE A MINOR CORRECTION, THE FORCE REQUIRED IS MUCH GREATER, LETS SAY 12 UNITS. SO WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR IS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT OF LANE. MAKING THE CORRECTION, OVERCOMING THE STUCK FEELING, THE CAR STARTS TO DRIFT TOWARDS THE LEFT OF LANE. THIS BACK AND FORTH PROCESS NEEDS TO BE CONTINUOUSLY PERFORMED, HOWEVER, AS SPEED INCREASE, THIS PROCESS HAS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, CAUSING FATIGUE IN THE ARMS AND WRISTS AND MAKING THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE QUITE STRESSFUL. IT?S AS IF THE STEERING ASSIST OF THE ELECTRIC PS MOTOR GOES TO SLEEP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STATIONARY, THUS THE ADDED FORCE REQUIRED WHEN MAKING A MINOR CORRECTION IS TO WAKE THE MOTOR UP. I AM TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WITH THESE TWO DESCRIPTIONS OF THE STEERING PROBLEM. THEY WILL HAVE THE CAR FOR 4DAYS AT LEAST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10553040November 20, 2013
TIRES
RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL NOTICE REGARDING MY KIA OPTIMA TIRES, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13T009. YOKOHAMA TIRE CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN 7.50R16RY215 TIRES MANUFACTURED 01/01/2006 THROUGH 08/01/2011. *TR I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WITH TIRES MADE BY HANKOOK/KUMHO/NEXEN TIRES. ARE THESE PART OF A RECALL? THE DEALER FUCCILLO KIA, 404 NE PINE ISLAND, CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA, 33909 WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR SAYS HE IS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. ARE MY CAR TIRES PART OF A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552800November 18, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. FUSES ARE GOOD. KIA DEALER WANTS 95$ TO LOCATE PROBLEM AND MUCH MORE TO FIX WHATEVER MAY BE WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552822November 18, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT MADE A CONTINUAL NOISE UNTIL BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY MAKE THE NOISE EVEN WHEN STOPPED UNTIL I PUSHED ON THE BRAKES. THE ESC LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT WERE ON AND WOULD OCCASIONALLY TURN OFF WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HULLMAN'S FORD FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I WAS NOTIFIED THAT THE VEHICLE HYDRAULIC ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT WAS FAULTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552323November 15, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BECAME ENTRAPPED IN MY 2005 KIA OPTIMA WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE LOCK. ITS BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE. WHILE ITS DANGEROUS TO KEEP IT UNLOCKED, I CHOSE THAT OVER BEING LOCKED OUT OR BEING LOCKED IN. LAST NIGHT MY ELBOW HIT THE LOCK AS I PARKED. I HAD MY COWORKER COME PULL THE HANDLE WHILE I PUSHED THE UNLOCK BUTTON. WHILE IT HAS WORKED AFTER SEVERAL TRIES IN THE PAST, IT JUST WOULDN'T GIVE IN. I THEN, HAD MY COWORKER TRY THE PASSENGER SIDE AND IT POPPED. I'M NOW REDUCED TO CLIMBING OVER FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. WHILE ITS PAINFUL AND TIMELY, ITS NOT AS BAD AS CLIMBING OVER THE BACK. I'VE HAD TO DO THAT WHEN I HAD NO ONE TO CALL FOR HELP. IT'S SO DANGEROUS NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT OF YOUR CAR WHEN YOU'RE READY. ITS ALSO HORRIBLE TO THINK ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE NOT BEING THERE WHEN YOU COME OUTSIDE BECAUSE YOU LEFT YOUR DOORS UNLOCKED FOR A CAR THIEF. IF I OPEN MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AND PRESS LOCK AND CLOSE IT. I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ENTER OR USE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT BREAKING A WINDOW. IF THERE WAS A FIRE CAUSE BY SOME SORT OF COLLISION, MY CHILD AND I WOULD BE BURNED BEFORE I COULD GET TO HIM. IF ME OR A PASSENGER ACCIDENTALLY HITS THE LOCK BEFORE WE GET OUT, I'LL HAVE TO BREAK MY OWN WINDOW TO GET BACK IN. I SENT THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AN EMAIL WHICH I'M SURE WILL BE IGNORED LIKE THE MANY OTHERS SENT BEFORE ME. THIS IS SAD CAUSE MECHANICALLY THE CAR SEEMS TO RUN GREAT. THIS IS MY SECOND ONE. IF I HAD OF KEPT THAT ONE LONGER, I'M SURE I WOULD'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552403November 15, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS CAR SEVERELY HESITATES/STALLS AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT INTERSECTIONS (RED LIGHTS, STOP SIGNS, YIELD SIGNS, AND ETC). CAR HESITATES/STALLS FOR 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE ACCELERATING WHILE AT A DEAD STOP. THIS HAS CAUSES SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS AND SCARES TO MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND MYSELF. THIS MORNING, I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT ACCELERATE/RESPOND UNTIL 2-3 SECONDS LATER. THIS IS SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM, WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC INCOMING CARS CAN CLOSE THE SAFETY GAP QUICKLY IN 2-3 SECONDS. COLD WEATHER CAUSES THE CAR TO HESITATE/STALL MORE OFTEN THAN WARMER WEATHER. I URGE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND FORCE KIA TO FIND SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAUSE A FATALITY. FUEL ECONOMY IS ANOTHER ISSUE IN THIS CAR (HYBRID), I TYPICALLY DON'T GET THE ESTIMATED 35 MPG/CITY THAT THE DEALERSHIP SOLD ME ON, IT IS USUALLY 28-30 MPG/CITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552489November 15, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I BELIEVE BECAUSE OF THE OPTION OF 'AFFECTED PARTS" DOES NOT INCLUDE LOCKS/LINKAGE, IS WHY THE NHTSA IS NOT SEEING HOW 1000S ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING A LOCKED DOOR ISSUE WITH KIAS OF MANY MODELS OVER A SPAN OF 10 YEARS! MY DRIVER DOOR IS PERMANENTLY LOCKED AND UNTIL I CAN COME UP WITH $700 TO GET IT FIXED I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO SAFETY BECAUSE I CAN NOT GET IT INSPECTED!!! DUE TO SAFETY! KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551951November 12, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V156000 (AIR BAGS) BUT AS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551415November 7, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 01/07/14*LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551454November 7, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSENGER SIDE DOOR NO LONGER OPENS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. DRIVER MUST ENTER AND EXIT VEHICLE FROM PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. KIA DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR OR FIX THE PROBLEM... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550923November 5, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY NOTICED RUST ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUBFRAME RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V183000 (SUSPENSION) BUT NO REPAIR WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,615. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550498November 1, 2013
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550567November 1, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM INSIDE OR OUT. ONLY WAY IN/OUT OF THE CAR IS THROUGH 3 OTHER DOORS. CANNOT USE KEY TO MANUALLY GET IN DOOR. LATCH MECHANISM WILL NOT DISENGAGE. IF YOU ARE INSIDE THE CAR AND TRY TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND OPEN IT, IT WILL MAKE A SOUND LIKE THE DOOR HAS BEEN UNLOCKED, BUT THEN WILL RELOCK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549868October 28, 2013
STEERING
MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED HIGHWAYS AT MPH OVER 45. STEERING SEEMS STUCK NEAR STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE MINOR CORRECTION TO REMAIN IN LANE, A SLIGHT OVER CORRECTION OCCURS DUE TO GETTING PAST THIS STICKY POSITION. OF COURSE THE OVER CORRECTION REQUIRES ANOTHER SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH AGAIN MEETS RESISTANCE, AND SO THE OVER CORRECTION OCCURS AGAIN. CONTINUING THIS LEFT AND RIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE CAR IN THE LANE CREATES STRESSFUL DRIVING AT BEST, AND PAINFUL WRISTS, AT WORST ON LONG DRIVES. WHEN ENGINE OFF AND IN A QUIET LOCATION, MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL, LEFT AND RIGHT REGARDLESS OF STEERING WHEEL POSITION OR WHEEL POSITION, YOU CAN BOTH HEAR A SLIGHT SNAP AND FEEL IT WHEN OVERCOMING THE STUCK PLACE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALWAYS PRESENT, HOWEVER NOT AS NOTICEABLE IN LOCAL TRAFFIC OR WHILE ACTUAL TURNING AROUND A BEND FOR EXAMPLE. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM LAST YEAR, AND HOPEFULLY WHEN I TAKE IT IN FOR THE 20,000 MILE CHECK UP, MY MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD HELP. I DID CALL THE DEALER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, AND THEY SENT ME TO SOMEONE HIGHER UP. HIS COMMENT WAS THAT HE GETS MANY CALLS EVERY DAY ABOUT THIS, AND THAT IT'S THE WAY IT IS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549453October 25, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
IN THE CAR WITH THE DOORS LOCKED, PARKED AND DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. TRIED THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND THE LOCKS UNLOCKED AND IMMEDIATELY LOCKED AGAIN. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES. I TRIED TO ACTUALLY US THE LOCK ITSELF (MANUAL) AND DID THE SAME THING. I ALSO TRIED THE KEYLESS REMOTE AND THIS DIDN'T WORK EITHER. THE LOCKS WOULD UNLOCK THEN RELOCK IMMEDIATELY. I STARTED TO PANIC BUT LEANED OVER TO THE PASSENGER DOOR AND THE MANUAL LOOK UNLOCK JUST THAT DOOR. IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT OR IF A CHILD WERE IN THE CAR, THIS WOULD BE A HUGE PROBLEM! I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND I HAVEN'T HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT. I HAVE READ ONLINE AND MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549408October 24, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION
CAR SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. HARD TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY ADJUSTED THE STEERING FROM SPORT TO STANDARD. GAVE IT A TRY AND IT STILL CONTINUED TO HANDLE TERRIBLE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND LEFT IT FOR A FEW DAYS. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE CAR IS ACTING NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER MADE A COMMENT THAT 5 GALLONS OF GAS AND A MATCH WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN SAID HE WAS KIDDING. I DIDN'T FIND IT FUNNY BECAUSE IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR KILLS ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HATE THE CAR AND FEAR DRIVING IT. I'VE ONLY HAD IT 7MONTHS AND IT HAS ABOUT 5,500 MILES ON IT. CAR STILL DOES IT AND I'M EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547569October 10, 2013
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
DEFECTIVE TIRES - AFTER 2 FLAT TIRES IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL 4 HAD THE SAME DEFECT - BUBBLING AND SEPARATION INSIDE THE TIRE SHOULDER, AFTER APPX 17K MILES WITH PROPER INSTALLATION AND TIRE PRESSURE. WAS OFFERED THE SAME TIRES AT A REDUCED COST. DECLINED AND PURCHASED A DIFFERENT BRAND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547472October 10, 2013
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE CLUSTER PANEL, THE CODE SHOWS THAT THERE IS "HIGH RESISTANCE" IN THE DRIVER SEAT AIR BAG. THIS ISSUE WAS FIXED WHILE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT CONTINUES TO SHOW UP. I WAS TOLD I CAN REPLACE THE SEAT AND IT WOULD CORRECT THE ISSUE BUT I PICKED ONE UP AT A JUNK YARD THAT HAD THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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