Kia Optima Complaints (2013)
1,443 consumer complaints on file.
- #11164276December 31, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL AND CYLINDER NUMBER TWO WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11163584December 26, 2018ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THEN JUST CUT OFF. I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO KIA WICH TOLD ME IT WAS THE PULLEYS FROZE UP AND SHREDDED THE BELT. NOW KIA JUST REPLACED MY ENGINE FROM THE RECALL. NOW I ALWAYS HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND I TAKE IT TO THE SAME PLACE EVERYTIME NOW WHEN THEY CHANGED THE ENGINE THEY SAID I WOULD NEED A NEW ALTERNATOR BUT THAT WAS IT. NOT TO MENTION I JUST HAD IT AT KIA FOR A OIL CHANGE AND A FREE INSPECTION. WHICH THE INSPECTION STATED NOTHING ABOUT THE BELTS OR PULLEYS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INSPECTED. SO THAT IS TWICE THEY MISSED A WORN OUT IDLER PULLEY. NOW THE MECHANIC I HAD LOOKING AT IT TOLD ME IT WAS SO WORN THAT IT BROKE OFF AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY THEY MISSED IT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11163163December 23, 2018ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.THE AAA DRIVER SAID THE STARTER BUT THE FIRESTONE SAID THE MOTOR SEIZED UP.THIS HAPPENED 3 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS THIS IS VERY HORRIBLE ME AND MY CHILDREN HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AT ALL OR MONEY FOR A PROBLEM KIA OVER LOOK .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11162037December 17, 2018STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WASHER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11161877December 16, 2018STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WOBBLING AND CAUSING SLACK FOR NO REASON. BEARING OR BOLT HAS GONE OUT. DOLLAR PART WILL COST 350 TO FIX HAS TO BE DONE BY DEALERSHIP UNSAFE AND RIDICULOUS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11161453December 14, 2018ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE BEEN HAVING REPEATED ISSUES FOLLOWING THE KIA THETA II ENGINE RECALL REPLACEMENT (SC147) SINCE JUNE 2018. MY CAR IS PRACTICALLY NEW WITH 53K +/- MILES, PURCHASED NEW, AND HAD ALL THE RECOMMENDED AND REQUIRED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. I TOOK MY CAR TO RICK CASE KIA (DEALER CODE:GA083) TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED MIDSUMMER 2018. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PERSISTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) ISSUES FOR THE SAME ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC CODE(P2191). EACH TIME I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR RESOLUTION, TECHNICIANS GIVE ME DIFFERENT REASONS FOR WHAT THEY "THINK" COULD BE THE ROOT ISSUE. THUS FAR, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO BAD GAS, AN O2 SENSOR GONE BAD, A LEAK, HISTORY CODE FROM ANOTHER DEALER NOT CLEARING THE RECALL, AND NOW A FUEL KIT WILL BE REPLACED. IT IS MY ASSUMPTION THAT IF KIA TECHNICIANS TRULY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS I WOULD NOT HAVE SO MANY REPEATED TRIPS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. TO THIS DATE(DECEMBER 14TH 2018) THEY STILL HAVE NOT PROVIDED A CLEAR RESOLUTION. IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS SURROUNDING KIA VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY OPTIMA, CATCHING ON FIRE AND ENGINES RANDOMLY BLOWING UP THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS AN IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION.IT IMPACTS MY SAFETY AS THE VEHICLE OWNER AND THOSE DRIVING AROUND ME. I HAVE EXPRESSED HOW UNCOMFORTABLE I AM DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE CURRENT STATE (WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON) AND MY CONCERNS ARE BEING DISMISSED. I AM TOLD THAT IT IS NOT A DRIVABILITY ISSUE AND I CAN DRIVE IT AWAY WITH THE LIGHT ON. IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE WHY THAT IS NOT A COMFORTING DIAGNOSIS AS I HAVE BEEN BACK ABOUT 6-7 TIMES NOW. I AM CURRENTLY MAKING ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE/ESCALATE THIS WITH THE KIA CORPORATE OFFICE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE PROACTIVE I AM SEEKING HELP!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11156396December 5, 2018EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEAD LAMPS POINT AT THE GROUND AND MAY LIGHT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. KIA SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, BUT THE LIGHTS WORKED WELL WHEN WE BROUGHT THE CAR, AND WHEN THIS HAPPEN IT WAS ONE LAMP AT A TIME, DRIVERS SIDE FIRST AND THEN PASSENGERS SIDE ABOUT A MONTH LATER. I REPLACED THE BULBS WITH NO HELP, AND THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENTS FOR THE LOW BEAMS AND THOSE ARE THE LAMPS WITH THE ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11154496November 28, 2018ENGINE
IT STARTED AS A METAL TO METAL CLICKING SOUND. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME SAFELY. THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN I TRIED TO START IT THE CAR RATTLED AND SHUT OFF ON IT'S OWN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11154347November 27, 2018ENGINE
ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. ENGINE EXPLODED, CAR WAS IN GULFED IN SMOKE AND FLAMES. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GOT OUT AS FAST AS I COULD. TOTAL BURN DOWN AND TOTAL LOSS OF MY CAR IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. I HAVE VIDEO AND PICTURES
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11153194November 22, 2018ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY WHEN MY ENGINE JUST LOCKED UP. HAD MY CAR PICKED UP BY A TOW TRUCK AND FOUND THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR, AND THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR WAS COATED IN OIL. HAD NO INDICATIONS THERE WAS ANY TROUBLE BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED. IMAGE ATTACHED SHOWS UNDERCARRIAGE COVERED IN OIL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11150370November 9, 2018HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "HYBRID FAILURE" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA STORE EAST (7301 NEW LA GRANGE ROAD, LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY 40222, (502) 425-1234) WHERE THE RELAY AND ECU BATTERY WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A FAULTY FUSE BLEW OUT WITHIN THE HYBRID MOTOR. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPLACED THE RELAY WITH AN INCREASED VOLTAGE FROM 125 AMPS [WATTS] TO 150 AMPS [WATTS]. THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11150648November 9, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I THOUGHT MY KEY FOB STOPPED WORKING I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT TESTED AND THEY SAID IT WAS FINE. THEY SAID IT HAD TO BE THE WIRING IN MY CAR FOR MY ALARM SYSTEM. ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO I WAS GOING TO GET INTO MY CAR. I PUT MY KEY IN THE DOT UNLOCKED IT PULLED MY DOOR OPEN AND MY CAR ALARM STARTED GOING OFF. I TRIED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET IT TO TURN OFF. FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 3 MINUTES IT JUST STOPPED. NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN UNTIL A WEEK AGO. SAME SCENARIO. THEN 2 DAYS AGO SAME SCENARIO. I'M READ ONLINE IT'S A COMMON ISSUE PEOPLE HAVE AND I'M WONDERING IF IT'S RELATED TO THE CAR FIRE THING AND WIRES SHORTING OUT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11145298November 5, 2018AIR BAGS
FIRST OFF THIS IS MY DAUGHTER'S VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED THINKING IT WAS A SAFE VEHICLE FOR HER. WHEN HERE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE AIR BAG RECALL SHE KEPT GETTING THE RUN AROUND AT THE DEALERSHIP IN ALABAMA. I WENT AND GOT HER VEHICLE TO BRING IT HOME TO GA TO HAVE IT SERVICED. WELL THEY SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND WHEN I GOT MY CAR AND NOTICED THE LIGHT WAS ON I WAS TOLD OH THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL BECAUSE THE RECALL ISSUE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE LIGHT COME ON. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO FIND OUT THE ISSUE. I ASKED WHY SINCE THEY ALREADY HAD THE CAR IN THE BACK AND ITS AN AIRBAG ISSUE AND THEY SAID OH WE WOULD HAVE TO PULL THE CAR APART. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND FINDING OUT IT IS THE CLOCK SPRING I CALLED KIA I SPOKE WITH SOMEONE OVER THE PHONE AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IN AT 2PM BECAUSE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED AND THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT AND ONCE THEY DO THAT THE CAR WOULD BE GOOD TO GO. ONCE I GOT THERE I WAS TOLD SORRY THAT THEY MISSPOKE AND DIDNT HAVE ALL MY INFORMATION THAT THEY ONLY HAD MY VIN NUMBER. WELL HOW THE HELL YOU GOT MY VIN NUMBER WITHOUT GETTING ALL MY INFORMATION. THIS IS SO NOT RIGHT AS YOU KNOW THAT THE CLOCK SPRING HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER KIAS. I WAS CHARGED ALMOST $400.00 FROM KIA TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11145299November 5, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11144487October 31, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER KIA OF HUNTINGTON (1720 EAST JERICHO TNPK, HUNTINGTON, NY 11743) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO WASTE GATE VALVE SOLENOID FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 12523258 WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11144006October 30, 2018ENGINE
CAR BURNING THROUGH OIL EVERY 20 DAYS TO THE POINT THE OIL IS COMPLETELY EMPTY. STARTED A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST ON OCTOBER 1, 2018. OIL LIGHT CAME ON BY OCTOBER 20, WPQ8. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP ABOUT OIL LIGHT HOWEVER THEY STATED I MUST WAIT 30 DAYS AND DO NOT TOP OFF CAR WITH OIL. I DECREASED DRIVING THE NEXT 10 DAYS TO PREVENT DAMAGE. I WENT BACK AFTER OVER 1,000 MILES AND 30 DAYS ON OCTOBER 30, 2018 TO KIA DEALERSHIP IN CHAMBLEE, GA. WAS ONLY GIVEN A OIL CHANGE AND ADDITIVE. CAR DEALERSHIPS STATED THAT THIS IS HOW MY CAR IS AND I WILL NEED TO FREQUENTLY DO OIL CHANGES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11144208October 30, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES PER HOUR MY VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING OUT THE REAR END AND LOST ALL POWER. WHEN I PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED, FLAMES CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD. MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. ONCE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE CAPTAIN SAID IN HIS EXPERIENCE THIS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. KIA ALSO HAS CLAIMS ABOUT SPONTANEOUS FIRES IN SEVERAL MODELS INCLUDING MINE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE FACTORY IN THE OIL CAUSING A FIRE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11143580October 28, 2018ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TODAY MY CAR CUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING. THE DISPLAY READ HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING. IT THEN PROCEEDED TO SAY FOR ME TO PULL OVER AND STOP DRIVING THIS HAPPENED TO ME 3 TIMES OVER THE WEEKEND AND I'VE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINT ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM I ALSO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND THAT WAS A WASTE BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER THAT WAS SERVICED IT HAPPENED AGAIN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11142750October 25, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON SEPTEMBER 16, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 930AM, WHILE ON DUTY AT WORK(CORRECTION OFFICER) MY KIA OPTIMA GDI 2013 WENT UP IN FLAMES IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB.. I WAS NOT PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE. I HAD ALREADY BEEN ON DUTY 530AM THAT MORNING. ONCE I MADE IT TO THE SCENE MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY ALMOST BURNT TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT LABELED IT AS A ELECTRICAL FIRE, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR THE BURN FROM THE INSIDE OUT, STARTING FROM THE ENGINE. I HAD SEVERAL PERSONAL ITEMS OF MINE BURNT IN THE FIRE AND ALSO WORK EQUIPMENT THAT WAS LOST IN THE FIRE. SINCE THE INCIDENT I'VE SUFFERED MENTAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DISTRESS. I'M A SINGLE MOTHER AND I DEPENDED ON MY CAR TO GET ME WHERE I NEEDED TO GO. THINGS HAVE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING AND HARD. I'M SEEKING HELP FROM KIA MOTORS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11142272October 23, 2018ENGINE
WHILE DIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA SX. ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH STATED FLASHING WHILE DRIVING I PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY MY DAUGHTER AND I SEEN SMOKE COME FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND I THEN SEEN A REFLECTION ON THE GROUND IT WAS 9PM AT NIGHT. THAT'S WHEN MY DAUGHTER AND I WALKED AS FAR AS WE COULD ON THE HWY AND CALLED THE POLICE. I HAVE CALLED KIA NATIONAL FILED A COMPLAINT I HEARD FROM SOMEONE ONCE AND HAVENT HEARD FROM ANYONE ELSE SINCE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2018.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0