Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10398730May 3, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS UNABLE TO BE LOCKED FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE . THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD COST $200 AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER FIVE YEARS OLD, HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. UPDATED 06/10/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398461May 2, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V183000, SUSPENSION: FRONT WAS RELATED TO THE CORROSION ON THE FRONT SUB FRAME OF HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO SPRAYED AN UNDER COATING ON THE BOTTOM TO COVER THE RUST, CORROSION AND REPLACED THE SUB FRAME. AFTER ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HE FOUND THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE FUEL WELL COVERED WITH RUST AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,400.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10398938April 27, 2011
STEERING
WHEN I BOUGHT THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX I WENT AROUND THE BLOCK AND CAME BACK TO THE KIA DEALER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT IT AND I LEFT. I CAME BACK A WEEK LATER FOR THE SAME ISSUE SO DEALER DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY SENT A DISTRICT MANAGER TO LOOK AT IT. LATER ON KIA SENT A DISTRICT TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT AND RE-DO THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I UNDERSTOOD BY OTHER KIA DEALERS THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397151April 22, 2011
SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 05/25/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397172April 22, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHETHER USING THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB OR USING THE KEY TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO CLIMB THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396939April 20, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA LS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN WAS INOPERABLE. THE SUN VISORS WOULD NOT REMAIN IN THE CLOSED, UPRIGHT POSITION AND THE DRIVER SIDE CHILD DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT UNLATCH. IN ADDITION, THE SAFETY LOCK FOR THE TRUNK WOULD DETACH AND CAUSE THE TRUNK TO OCCASIONALLY FLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD CONSTANTLY BREAK DOWN AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO SENT HER TO A SECOND DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10397675April 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN
ON 4/11/11, WE WERE DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD GONE FOUR MILES FROM OUR HOUSE, WHEN WE THOUGHT WE HAD HIT A DEER! THE CAR MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND AND LURCHED VIOLENTLY, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, FRIGHTENING US BOTH. THE LURCHING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT IT MAY WELL HAVE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE CRASHED. WE THEN FOUND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT OF OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX. WE BOUGHT THE KIA NEW AT O'BRIEN AUTO PARK IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, ON 1/8/11. THE CAR HAD 3600 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS WAS OUR FIRST KIA PURCHASE, AND WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE SHOCKED BY THIS DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE! WE VERY EASILY COULD HAVE HAD TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES FOR US AND OUR FELLOW COMMUTERS. WE ARE NO LONGER CONFIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. WE FIND THIS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY AND ASKED KIA TO REPLACE OUR VEHICLE WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE. KIA REFUSED, BASICALLY SAYING 'WE DON'T OWN IT ANYMORE'. THEY DID REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396858April 19, 2011
STEERING
2011 KIA OPTIMA PULLS TO LEFT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATE NOTHING IS WRONG AND IT IS WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECS. THE CAR WILL CHANGE LANES IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU HAVE TO HOLD TENSION ON THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT IT WILL STAY STRAIGHT. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND BY THE TIME I GET TO WORK MY ARM HURTS. THIS CAR IS A DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO ANYTHING MORE FOR ME. I SURE HOPE THIS GETS LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES BECAUSE OF THIS. IF SOMEONE WOULD LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A SECOND THE CAR COULD CROSS OVER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395520April 11, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR TO LOCK. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE REOPENED. THE CONTACT WOULD ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AND SUGGESTED THAT THE DOOR BE UNASSEMBLED AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,703.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10395237April 8, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V067000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY). THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE REPAIRS WERE MADE PRIOR TO THE CONTACT OWNING THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE ALSO FAILED TO START INTEMITTENTLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME AND FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396149April 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2006 KIA OPTIMA JUST STOPPED RUNNING YESTERDAY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET. IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT ON, NO STUTTERING, ETC.), I WASN'T ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO NOT HIT ME. I'M A 67 YEAR OLD, DISABLED WOMAN WHO WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THAT BUSY STREET FOR A HALF AN HOUR UNTIL MY CAR COULD BE TOWED. UPON DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, A MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A CRANK SENSOR (AS WELL AS AN OXYGEN SENSOR). AS HE SAID, "WE REPLACE A LOT OF THESE ON THIS MODEL CAR". AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, ONLINE, READING BLOGS FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS, I'VE FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I'VE HAD. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS WAY BACK FROM A TRIP. THE SENSOR JUST GOES OUT AND THE CAR DIES RIGHT WHERE IT IS, AND EVEN IF IT CAN BE STARTED AGAIN, IT WILL ONLY RUN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND DIES AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SCARY PROBLEM. AND VERY EXPENSIVE ALSO. IF KIA KNOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394217April 4, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE PASSENGER SIDE DOORS AND THE LOCK WOULD NOT RELEASE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10394045April 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2009 KIA OPTIMA LX WHEN I GO TO BRAKE AROUND 20 MPH IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING HARD CAUSING ME TO JERK IN THE SEAT. IT DOES THIS ALL THE TIME I DO FEEL THIS IS THE TRANSMISSION AND I AM TAKING IT TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393812March 31, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MANUAL BRAKE SHOULD ALWAYS BE APPLIED IN A MANUAL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 626.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393818March 31, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED A FEW MOMENTS AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE NOR COULD THEY DUPLICATE IT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED TO HER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,093. UPDATED 05/03/11*LJ UPDATED 07/08/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393698March 30, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, ALL OF THE DOORS WOULD LOCK INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK ALL DOORS EXCEPT THE DRIVERS DOOR WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHEN UNLOCKING THE DOOR WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY FOB OR MANUALLY WITH THE KEYS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ACTUATOR AND THE LATCH FOR THE DOOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393590March 29, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I CAN'T OPEN MY DOOR!! MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR REFUSES TO OPEN, FROM INSIDE OR OUT! I TRY TO UNLOCK IT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND WHEN I PULL ON THE LATCH, IT LOCKS THE DOOR AGAIN, AND IT WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, SOMETIMES RELOCKING THE DOOR ON ME. IT WAS WORKING JUST FINE BEFORE THEN, AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN IT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING, NOTHING HAPPENED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. ONLY THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IS AFFECTED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THIS CORRECTED AS OF YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393634March 29, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE MARCH 2011, SHE NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,600. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 05/11/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393067March 28, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS BECAME DEFECTIVE AND WOULD SPORADICALLY CAUSE HER TO BECOME LOCKED INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WOULD OFTEN HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF THE WINDOWS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,677 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393036March 27, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY KIA OPTIMA 2006 HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS: BAD OXYGEN SENSOR, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, AND MOST RECENTLY- WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. KIA SAYS MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A KIA DEALER A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE GEARS QUIT SHIFTING, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED SIX HEADLIGHTS AND THREE TAIL LIGHTS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON! PLEASE ASK KIA TO EXTEND THEIR CURRENT RECALL AS, OBVIOUSLY MORE CARS ARE AFFECTED THAN THEY ARE REPORTING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima