Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10143300November 21, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2003 KIA OPTIMA WITH 70,000 MILES JUST BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED TOTALLY UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. FIRE STARTED SOMEWHERE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT PER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE PRIOR TO INCIDENT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR PASSENGERS AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141962November 7, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE, CLOCK SPRING, AIR BAG HARNESS CAMPAIGN, AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT, AND TITIAN PIN PLUG CONNECTOR FOR DSAB. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136032October 6, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND WAS PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HERS. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT HER WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE WAS SMASHED. THE HOOD, TRUNK AND THREE OF THE FOUR DOORS WILL NOT SHUT. THE CONSUMER STATED LOWER BACK WAS STRAIGHT WHERE IT SHOULD BE CURVED. SHE WAS NOT SURE THE EXTENT OF HER INJURIES. SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE. HER SEVEN YEAR OLD STEP DAUGHTER WAS ALSO IN THE VEHICLE AND SHE HAD A BRUISE AND WAS SORE ON HER RIBS. *AK *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10138555October 4, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A CAUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE SOUND FROM THE AIRBAG HAD GIVEN THE DRIVER A HEADACHE. THE CAUSE WAS STILL UNKNOWN. *SC . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10137572September 26, 2005
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
WHILE CHANGING A FLAT TIRE, THE JACK WHICH WAS PROVIDED WITH THE VEHICLE BENT AND COLLAPSED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO CRASH ONTO THE GROUND. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128318September 16, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT: ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE OWNER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED UP AN INSTRUMENT TO THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON, AND IS ON AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IF IT OWNER PAYS. OWNER DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD PAY SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN ACCIDENT IN A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER DOES NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF ACCIDENT. *NM *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135692September 7, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE KEY DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. ALSO THE REMOTE IS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 7-2001. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE PART. THERE ALSO WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE GEARS TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT SENSOR FOR THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP RECENTLY REPLACED THE REAR SENSOR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135721September 7, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IMPACTING A FIXED MEDIAN CURB. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP IDENTIFIED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER REMARKED THAT THE FRONT SUSPENSION APPEARED TO HAVE BOLTS MISSING. THIS WAS INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED BY THE BODY SHOP. IN THEIR DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, THEY FOUND THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM TO BALL JOINT BOLTS WERE MISSING AND THE 2 HOLES WERE ROUNDED OUT IN A WAY THAT WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE BOLTS FALLING OUT. THE BOLTS FALLING OUT CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE THEREBY CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH KIA MOTORS AMERICA. THEY REQUIRED THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR MYSELF TO PROVIDE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THEIR CAR WAS AT FAULT. AFTER SUBMITTING THE REPAIR ESTIMATE AND PICTURES FROM BOTH THE SCENE AND FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, KIA MOTORS AMERICA AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT. THE REPAIR SHOP MANAGER COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WOULD MAKE A DETERMINATION WITHOUT EVER LOOKING AT THE CAR. ACCORDING TO JENNIFER AT KIA, THE COMPLAINT IS CLOSED AND I HAVE NO FURTHER RECOURSE OTHER THAT TO CONTACT A LAWYER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS IT WILL BE SHOWN AS A CLAIM AGAINST MY INSURANCE POLICY AND THEN CAUSE MY RATES TO INCREASE. I FEAR THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE PRESENT ON OTHER 2004 KIA OPTIMAS OR OTHER MODELS THAT BOTH KIA AND HYUNDAI MAKES. *JB UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135179September 2, 2005
AIR BAGS
ON 8/27/05, ABOUT 1:30 P.M. ROBERTA SEALS WAS INVOLVED IN A SEMI-HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN 85 CHEVY BLAZER TRAVELING APPROXIMATLEY 35-40MPH. ROBERTA WAS AT AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN. THE OTHER DRIVER HAS ADMITTED TO NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO HIS SPEED OR THE ROAD, HAVING REACHED DOWN FOR HIS CELL PHONE. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO THROW ROBERTA'S 2005 KIA OPTIMA APPROXIMATLEY 150 FT. INTO THE FRONT YARD, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STREET. THE IMPACT OCCURED ON THE RIGHT-SIDE FRONT BUMPER, RESULTING IN THE FRONT BEING SHOVED, ACCORDIAN STYLE, TOWARDS THE DRIVERS WINDOW. THIS IMPACT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO THROW ROBERTA INTO THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A MINOR BUMP TO APPEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF HER HEAD, BECAUSE THE AIRBAG IN THE VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY. ROBERTA WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. SHE SUFFERS FROM CONTUSIONS AND SPRAINS ON BOTH OF HER KNEES, HER GLUTOS MAXIMUS AND RIGHT ARM. HER RIGHT ARM IS STILL SWOLLEN AND IN A SPLINT AND SLING AT THIS TIME. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS TIME TO THE VEHICLE. OUR MAIN ISSUE IS WITH THE AIRBAG NOT HAVING DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10132459August 11, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
DT: THE CALLER STATED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE, AND DID NOT HAVE THE PART TO FIX IT. MANUFACTURER SAID DID NOT HAVE THE PART ANYWHERE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131554August 4, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
RECALL ON FUEL CUT VALVE WAS INSTALLED AT 33,000 MILES ON VEHICLE - AT 77,000 VEHICLE FAILED - FOUND OUT FROM ANOTHER DEALER (GREYSTOKE) THAT RECALL FUEL CUT VALVE HAD BEEN INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130843August 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS, STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT: 2002 KIA OPTIMA LX. THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THE LIGHTS WILL START TO FLICKER, AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER AND SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 80-90 DEGREES AND AT LONG DISTANCES THIS PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN. THE DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BATTERY TWICE, THE ALTERNATOR TWICE, THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS, AND THE MAIN COMPUTER FOR THE VEHICLE. THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THE POWER WENTOUT ON 7-14-05. THIS CAUSED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO RUN A STOP SIGN , AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING BOTH VEHICLES TO BE TOTALED. THE BRAKES WENT OUT AS A RESULT OF THE POWER OUTAGE, AND COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS NO STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OVERHEATING. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL FAILED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED BOTH BATTERIES TO PREVENT FIRE FROM HAPPENING. WHEN THEY DID THIS IT DELETED ALL THE CODES THAT WOULD HAVE TOLD DEALER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THERE WAS BATTERY ACID ALL OVER THE COMPUTER, THEY STILL WERE UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SINCE PURCHASE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE KIA MANUFACTURER AT LEAST TEN TIMES, COMPLAINT NUMBERS FOR THE FIRST WAS 24306, ON 7-18-03, AND THE LAST WAS ON 9-13-04, COMPLAINT . 56482. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THEY SAID THEY WANTED A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10130335July 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DT: WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 75 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. ALSO, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE CURVE. THEN OWNER CALLED DEALERSHIP WHO WAS SUPPOSE TO PICK UP VEHICLE UP BUT DIDN'T SHOW UP FOR ABOUT 4.5 HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND WAS LEFT AT THE SHOP. THE NEXT DAY OWNER CALLED TO CHECK ON THE VEHICLE, NOTHING WAS DONE . THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. CURRENTLY, THE OWNER WAS WAITING FOR THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER'S FAMILY SUFFERED HEAT EXHAUSTION BY WAITING OUTSIDE, AND HIS SON BECAME ILL DUE TO HEAT EXHAUSTION. THE OWNER HAS NOT CONTACTED KIA. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130003July 25, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THIS CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS THAT COME ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR AT NIGHT.THE PROBLEM I HAD WAS WE COULD NOT TURN ON THE HIGH BEAMS WHEN USING THIS FEATURE.MY DEALER SHOWED ME THEY ALL DO THIS.I HAD TO SLOW WAY DOWN BECAUSE OF THIS UNSAFE FEATURE. WE HAVE HAD OTHER CAR WITH THIS SAME FEATURE AND WE COULD ALWAYS USE THE HIGH BEAMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128422July 12, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DT: PERIODICALLY THE DOORS ON THE CONSUMER'S 2003 KIA OPTIMA LOCK ON THERE OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE NEVER LOCKS THE DOORS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY WAITING FOR PARTS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT OFFERED INFORMATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. THE CONSUMER STATED HE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND IT STARTED APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AGO. HE ALSO STATED THAT THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IF THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKED, THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO LOCKED. HE HAS TO WORK THE KEY OVER AND OVER. WHEN HE TURNS THE KEY IT FEELS LIKE IT IS OPENING AND THE LOCKS WILL START TO GO UP INSIDE AND THEN IT LOCKS BACK. 8NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128180July 9, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY CAR WAS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE SITE OF IMPACT WAS ON THE LEFT FRONT END BUT SUBSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE SEVERAL PHOTO'S OF THE CAR, WHICH WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER. MY CONCERN IS IF THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THIS CAR REGARDING THE AIRBAGS. A CLOSE MALE FRIEND, WHO WAS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER FOR CHYSLER, COULD NOT EXPLAIN/UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIRBAGS FAILED. PLEASE HELP ME GET TO THE BOTTOM IS THIS MATTER.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10126773June 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, TIRES:SIDEWALL
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2004 KIA OPTIMA AND PAID IN FULL. I PURCHASED FOR THE 10 YR WARRANTY AND EXTENDED WARRANTY I BOUGHT. THE A/C HAS ALWAYS OVERHEATED , CAR SEATS IN THE LOCKED POSITIONMOVING WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THEIR POSITION, LOCKS MALFUNCTIONING WHEN NO ONE IS TOUCHING THEM, TRANSMISSION JUMPING. VARIOUS OTHER PROBLEMS. THE BIG BELL ROAD KIA IN PHOENIX, LOCATED AT 2121 EAST BELL ROAD,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126226June 22, 2005
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV), LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
03/06/02 PURCHASED A OPTIMA KIA 2001, STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 2/6/06. PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG, ENGINE, AND LOCKS FROM THE DATE OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. CAR BROUGHT IN FOR AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM 14 TIMES SINCE 2002 TO PRESENT DATE 2005 AND STILL NOT FIXED AS WE SPEAK. ENGINE BROUGHT IN 6 TIMES, AND LOCKS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TOO. LAST TIME SERVICE ON AIRBAG WAS 6/5/05 LIGHT BACK ON. KIA KNOWS THIS CAR CAN NOT BE FIXED AND REFUSE TO GIVE ME A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY 11 YEAR OLD SON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126277June 22, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
DT: CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY , 2005 AND THE BRAKES SQUEALED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND HAD SOME REPAIR DONE, INCLUDING THE FRONT BRAKES. HOWEVER REAR BRAKES SQUEALED. DEALER CLEANED REAR BRAKES AND ADJUSTED THEM TWICE. ON LAST TRIP TO DEALER HE STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND CONSUMER WOULD JUST HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE SQUEAL. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE REAR BRAKE PROBLEM, AND DEALER STATED THEY COULD PUT NEW BACKING ON BRAKES FOR $269, BUT THIS MAY NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124269June 6, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN HE LOCKS THE DOORS ON VEHICLE IT WILL NOT UNLOCK.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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