Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10513456May 24, 2013
STEERING
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO COMMUTE EVERY 3 WEEKS FROM PHOENIX TO LAS ANGELES AND TRAVEL I-10. I CURRENTLY HAVE 12,000 MILES AND THE LAST 3 TIMES I MADE THE TRIP I HAVE REPEATEDLY ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING 70+MPH FROM BLITHE, AZ TO BANNING, CA. THE CAR DRIFTS, AND IS WORSE WITH WIND GUSTS, IT IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP FROM BLOWING OFF THE ROAD. ONLY WITH IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN SPEED BELOW 70-MPH IS THERE IMMEDIATE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED KIA MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED A DEALER IN THE INDIO, CA AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN ON MY NEXT TRIP TO CA. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL I MIGHT NEED ADJUSTMENT OR MAYBE THERE IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE COMPUTER INSIDE THE CAR. THEY WOULD CONFIRM THAT "ALL COMPARATIVE VALUES" ARE SET PROPERLY WITH THE "BLACK BOX." *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512997May 21, 2013
STEERING
BY READING UP ON THE KIA OPTIMA 2013 I NOW SEE THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE NUMEROUS DEATHS WILL OCCUR BECAUSE ITS CONSTANT WANDERING ON THE ROAD. IT GOES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND A STRUGGLE TO KEEP IT BETWEEN THE LINES. THE TROOPERS ARE GOING TO STOP YOU BECAUSE THEY WILL THINK YOU ARE DRUNK AND IT IS ALL THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512682May 19, 2013
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
MY HAND HELD PHONE DEVICE STOP WORKING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512335May 16, 2013
STEERING
AS VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES ABOVE 50 MPH THE VEHICLE DRIFTS RIGHT OR LEFT THEREBY REQUIRING CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTIONS. IT ALSO BECOMES A STRAIN ON MY ARM. I SPOKE TO KIA'S HQ IN CALIFORNIA AND THEY STATED THEY HAVE NOT HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. I FINALLY GOT A CASE NUMBER FROM KIA AND AM IN THE PROCESS OF TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY CAN DIAGNOSE AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512223May 15, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEATS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
1. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKS AND REFUSES TO UNLOCK. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CANNOT BE OPEN AND THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR KNOBS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ARE NOT WORKING. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, BECAUSE THE DRIVER CANNOT ESCAPE THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS ISSUE MUST BECOME A RECALL ITEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. (HAPPENED ON 05/13/2013, ABOUT 82,000 MILEAGE) 2. DRIVER SEAT (POWER) IS NOT WORKING SINCE ABOUT 52,000 MILEAGE. (AROUND SPRING 2010). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512071May 15, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
SUDDEN ACCELERATION! HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO AND AGAIN ON MAY 10TH. GOING SLOWLY TOWARDS A STOP SIGN WHILE BRAKING TO STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AND LUNGES FORWARD. STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT CAR KEEPS GOING. PUT SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE RACING AND AFTER ABOUT 2 SECONDS THE ENGINE SLOWLY DROPS TO IDLE. NO ACCIDENTS CAUSED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER ON MAY 15TH AND THEY COULD FIND NO CODES PRESENT AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512148May 15, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
2005 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE UNLOCKED THE DOORS, THEY WOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED ON ONE OCCASION, SHE WAS LOCKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR 10-15 MINUTES, BEFORE SHE WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOOR UNLOCKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511782May 13, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
POLICE OFFICER POINTED OUT MY CAR'S TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT WED NIGHT (WHILE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON). THURS, CHECKED ALL FUSES, ALL OK. DID WEB SEARCH TO FIND FUSE FOR TAIL LIGHTS. FOUND INSTEAD DESCRIPTION OF KLUDGE FIX OF REMOVING MEMORY FUSE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. REMOVED MEMORY FUSE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, PUT IT BACK IN, TAIL LIGHTS THEN CAME ON WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511798May 13, 2013
ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE, ENGINE MADE LOUD, CLANKING NOISE. PUSHED ON GAS AND NOISE GOT LOUDER AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL APPLIED. TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS AND WORKED WAY OVER TO OUTER LANE AND FINALLY TO SIDE OF ROAD. WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED WHEN HAPPENED; CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP BUT NOISE STILL OCCURRING. A WEEK LATER, INFORMED HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. WEEK LATER ENGINE, AND NOW PARTS, WERE ON BACK ORDER. FOLLOWING WEEK, INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP, KIA WOULD NOT PUT NEW ENGINE IN CAR BECAUSE OVER 5,000 MILES (ONLY 6600). A REMANUFACTURED WOULD BE USED. ASKED TO SEE CAR AND ASKED IF THEY DISCOVERED WHAT WAS WRONG. ENGINE OUT OF CAR AND COMPLETELY APART. INFORMED THE "END" PISTON BROKE. LOOKED AT PISTON, AND PORTION APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN OFF. THEY SAID THE BROKEN PART HAD FALLEN INSIDE AND WAS CAUSING NOISE. NOT HAPPY WITH KIA. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511487May 11, 2013
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA AND TURNED A CORNER AND MY KNEE PRESSED ON DRIVERS DOOR AND THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN EVER SINCE. IT IS AN ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID DOOR WAS NOT ADEQUATELY INSTALLED. IT WAS FIXED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED A FEW MONTHS AGO BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK THE DOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10511065May 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK STARTED STICKING AND WILL NOT OPEN. NOW BOTH DOORS ARE LOCKED AND I CANNOT OPEN EITHER. THE BACK DOORS DO OPEN, HOWEVER IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO CLIMB OUT THE BACK DOOR. I DON'T KNOW HOW I WILL EVEN GET IT TO A DEALER TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510732May 6, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,900. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510837May 6, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON APRIL 25TH, 2013, I DROVE FROM THE ATLANTA AREA TO SHANNON, GA. NEAR ADAIRSVILLE, GA. I STOPPED A THE GATE PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE. BEFORE I COULD GET OUT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD SMASHING THE GATE. I HIT THE BRAKE, BACKED IT UP, PUT IT IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE AND AGAIN BEFORE I COULD GET OUT IT SURGED FORWARD. THIS TIME WHEN I BACKED UP PUT IT IN PARK I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. JUMPING FORWARD IN MY STORY, I CALLED KIA AND FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS ON RECALL. I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO SEE THE NOTICES WOULD NOT BE SENT OUT UNTIL MAY 2013. KIA. IS REPLACING THE PART BUT WILL NOT FIX THE FRONT END DAMAGE. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY. KIA RAN SOME TEST AND SAID IT SHOWED NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN DOWN AND KILLED OR IN THE HOSPITAL. ALL I ASK IS FOR THEM TO FIX THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND REPLACE THE GATE. THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR SO THE MILEAGE IS AND ESTIMATE. I DID USE CRUSE CONTROL. CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510692May 5, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I PARKED MY CAR FOR THE DAY TO GO TO WORK. AT THAT POINT IN TIME THERE WERE NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR. UPON RETURNING THAT NIGHT I FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER UNLOCK. I MUST NOW ENTER AND EXIT MY VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH A KEY, THE UNLOCK-ALL BUTTON, REMOTE ENTRY, INTERIOR UNLOCK BUTTON, OR BY TURNING THE CAR OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510392May 2, 2013
SUSPENSION
I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM GERALD KIA IN AURORA ILLINOIS. CAR PULLS LEFT THEN RIGHT. ASSUMED IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT OBRIEN KIA IN CHAMPAIGN, IL TO CHECK IT OUT ON WEDS, 5-8. MADE AP[POINTMENT ON TUESDAY, 4-30. LOOKED ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON 11,12 AND 13 OPTIMAS. THERE IS EVEN A VIDEO SHOWING THIS PROBLEM ON UTUBE. I BELIEVE I BOUGHT A LEMON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS IF YOU LOOK AWAY FOR A SECOND, YOU COULD HIT SOMEONE HEAD ON. I WANT TO GIVE THEM THERE CAR BACK. ALSO I CAN'T GET THE PART TO COME UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510236May 1, 2013
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN OUT OF NOWHERE, MY SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED!!! WHEN I CALLED KIA, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AERODYNAMICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SUNROOF TO JUST SHATTER AND THAT A ROCK OR A BIRD HAD TO HAVE HIT IT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE AERODYNAMICS HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT IT JUST SHATTERED BUT, WHATEVER. NOTHING HIT IT, IT JUST SHATTERED. IT WAS THE CRAZIEST, SCARIEST FEELING EVER. I FEEL LIKE THAT THEY THINK I'M JUST MAKING IT UP SO THAT I CAN GET THEM TO PAY FOR IT. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! BOTH MY GIRLS WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND LUCKILY MY YOUNGEST ONLY GOT A SMALL CUT ON HER LEG. THEY NEED TO FIND THE PROBLEM!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510291May 1, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS AND WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT PUSHING THE UNLOCK BUTTON AND PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE AT THE SAME TIME. IT TAKES ABOUT 5 TO 10 MINUTES TO GET DOOR OPEN USING THIS METHOD. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH COULD TRAP A PERSON IN THEIR CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10510028April 30, 2013
SUSPENSION, STEERING
WHILE DRIVE ABOVE 45MPH THE CAR WONDERS LEFT AND RIGHT, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THERE IS A CATCH IN THE STEERING MAKING IT VERY EASY TO OVER CORRECT THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT INTO KIA TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT TWICE NOW. THEY HAVE CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT, TIRE PRESSURE... THEY DROVE A SALESMAN'S CAR AND A CAR OFF THERE LOT AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE WAY THEY ALL DRIVE. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE, (ITS A WORKOUT TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD). I HAVE BEEN DOING SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET TO TRY AND FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM, WHILE DOING THIS I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE GETTING THE SAME FEEDBACK FROM THE DEALERS. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2011, 2012, 2013 KIA OPTIMA'S. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10509648April 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN BOTH FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE, SO I'VE TO GO THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE TO GET OUT AND GET IN THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10509684April 26, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT ROUGHLY 60-70MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN DECELERATING AND NOT RESPONDING WHEN THE ACCELERATION WAS PRESSED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROADS. KIA IS UNABLE TO FIND ERROR CODES OR DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE EVEN AFTER PROVIDING THEM WITH VIDEO EVIDENCE.THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE "COMPUTER GLITCHES" BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE MOST SEVERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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