Kia Optima Complaints (2013)

1,443 consumer complaints on file.

#11066004January 31, 2018
STEERING
THE STEERING IS BAD. IT'S BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. WHEN IT'S WINDY MY CAR IS ALL OVER THE PLACE IT'S HARD TO STEER. I HAVE TO ALIGN IT EVERY YEAR. I TOOK IT FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME 1220.50 TO CHANGE THE MDPS STEERING WHEEL COLUMN. MY STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT CENTER RIGHT. I'VE ALREADY ALMOST HAD A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE STEERING WHEN IT'S WINDY AND ALSO ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S UNSAFE AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT OUT FOR A NEW MDPS STEERING WHEEL COLUMN.. I LOVE MY CAR BUT IT'S UNSAFE. IT'S HAPPENS WHEN IT'S WINDY OR WHEN I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. I SEEN ONLINE THERE IS A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. I FEEL IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR SOMEONE'S GOING TO LOSE THEIR LIFE IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11063148January 16, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE MPG HAS DECREASED FROM 38-40 MPG TO 30 MPG SINCE I HAD THE FUEL INJECTION SERVICE PERFORMED. THE DEALER OFFERS NO HELP. WISH I NEVER HAD IT DONE.....I GET SUDDEN SURGES OF ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. SINCE THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THE DEALER STATES THEY CANNOT HELP ME. THE NEWEST ISSUE IS WHEN TURNING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN IN THE CAR TO LOW IT KICKS ON THE AC. THIS TOO IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. I ACTUALLY SHOWED THE SERVICE MANAGER THE PROBLEM YESTERDAY AND WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE MORE THAN 6 TIMES, FIRST HE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL, THEN SAID HE WOULD CHECK IN TO IT. SCHEDULED AN APPT TODAY FOR FOLLOW UP AND IT IS NOT ACTING OUT TODAY. HE SAID I CAN PAY TO HAVE THE MECHANICS CHECK IT OUT BUT SINCE IT IS INTERMITTENT HE DOESN'T THINK HE CAN HELP ME. EVEN THOUGH HE WITNESSED IT YESTERDAY, HE SAYS SORRY. THEY TREATED ME LIKE I WAS MAKING ALL THIS STUFF UP. THE DEALERSHIP IS THE LAST PLACE I WANT TO SPEND MY DAY, ESPECIALLY SPENDING THIS KIND OF MONEY. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUES WITHOUT ANY ANSWERS. THEY ARE LOSING A CUSTOMER !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056286December 24, 2017
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD, JERKY, HESITATES, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, THIS HAPPENS ON AND OFF, HAVE TO STOP AND RESTART CAR SOMETIMES, THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR YEARS, NO SOLUTIONS SO FAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11056023December 22, 2017
ENGINE
I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 2013 WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR STARTED USING OIL AND MOTOR HAD A LITTLE BIT OF A TICK SOUND.. CHECKING THE OIL EVERYDAY BECAUSE NONE OF THE LIGHT IN THE CAR CAME ON AND IT BEING NEW I GOT A RECALL SO I MADE APPOINT EVERYTHING THE RECALL LISTED MY CAR WAS DOING.. THEY SAID IT PASSED TEST. BUT ME KNOWING SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT ABOUT IT DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM.. 4 MONTHS LATER I'M GOING DOWN HIGHWAY AND ENGINE JUST QUITS ON ME SO I COAST IN CLOSEST PLACE AND PUT CAR IN PARK.. TRYING TO START THE CAR IT WOULD NOT CRANK AND BRAKES LOCKED. TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAS LOOKED AT MY CAR AND ITS THE MOTOR.. BUT KIA IS WANTING ME TO SPEND THE MONEY I DON'T HAVE AND THAT'S THERE FAULT TO FIX MY CAR..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11055932December 21, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID WITH FAULTY HEADLIGHTS THAT HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT/FAILED OVER 10 TIMES STARTING 3 MOS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. AFTER 1/2 YEARS AND 4 FIXES, INCLUDING COMPLETELY REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT PACKAGE, I FILED THE LEMON LAW PAPERWORK (I PURCHASED IN APRIL 2013.) IN NOV OF 2014. I WAS TOLD THEY GET A FINAL FIX. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT SYSTEM AGAIN. THEN, IN DEC 2015, MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN & HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED AGAIN. KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN RUDE TO ME AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD COMPLETED THE FINAL FIX A YEAR BEFORE. I HAVE PHONE VIDEOS (WITH WITNESSES) FROM YEARS AGO, 11/18/14, 1/25/16, 3/18/17, 3/27/17, 4/8/17 AND 12/10/17. MOST OF THE TIMES I HAVE BEEN OUT AND HAVE HAD TO DRIVE HOME IN DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. I LOVE MY CAR BUT HATE THE DANGEROUS ISSUES. KIA HAS MADE ME FEEL AS THOUGH I'M NOT IMPORTANT, MY SAFETY IS A NON-ISSUE AND THAT THEY FIX IT EVERY TIME, BUT IT IS NOT TRULY FIXED IF I HAVE HAD 6 MAJOR REPAIRS OVER 4 YEARS. I'VE BEEN AT THE POINT OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN OVER THE STRESS AND FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND OF LETTING KIA BULLY & CONVINCE ME I DO NOT QUALIFY TO GET MY CAR REPLACED. I AM PUTTING MY SAFETY FIRST NOT TO MENTION THE EMOTIONAL STRESS, INTERFERENCE WITH MY WORK, PUTTING FAMILY & FRIEND'S SAFETY AT RISK. NEVER KNOWING IF AND WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN & HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN TOLD TOO MANY TIMES THIS IS THE LAST FIX! I DON'T LIKE CONFLICT AND HAVE PUT MY FAITH IN KIA TOO MANY TIMES AND PUT MY FAITH IN THEM OVER MYSELF. I'M DONE BEING THE NICE PERSON. I HAVE HAD MELTDOWNS OVER THIS, ARGUMENTS WITH MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER OVER THIS, INTERFERENCE WITH MY WORK, BEEN STRANDED OUT OF TOWN BECAUSE OF THIS! KIA TOLD ME TODAY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY CAR AT THIS TIME. I CANNOT GO ON LIKE THIS ANY LONGER. I NEED YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11054227December 12, 2017
ENGINE
TL-CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA..... MARCH 31, 2017 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 BEARING WEAR MAY RESULT IN ENGINE SEIZURE BEARING WEAR MAY RESULT IN THE ENGINE SEIZING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 MANUFACTURER KIA MOTORS AMERICA COMPONENTS ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED 618,160 SUMMARY KIA MOTOR COMPANY (KIA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2011-2014 OPTIMA, 2012-2014 SORENTO AND 2011-2013 SPORTAGE VEHICLES. MACHINING ERRORS DURING THE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PROCESS MAY CAUSE PREMATURE BEARING WEAR WITHIN THE ENGINE. REMEDY KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, AND REPLACE THE ENGINE IF NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 20, 2017. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542. KIA'S NUMBER FOR THIS RECALL IS SC147. CONTACT ADVISED TO CONTACT KIA AT 800-333-4542
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11052755December 6, 2017
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
"TAKATA RECALL" MY ENGINE STARTED SHAKING AND THE CAR STOPPED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051892December 2, 2017
POWER TRAIN
WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR WHILE ALREADY MOVING, IN ORDER TO PASS OR GET ON THE A HIGHWAY THE ENGINE WILL REV UP VERY HIGH BUT THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN SPEED. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND I FIRST REPORTED IT TO THE DEAL IN 2014. THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT GET IT TO DO IT AND BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO CODE TO GO BY, CAN DO NOTHING. NOW THE CARE HAS ONLY 500 MILES LEFT ON THE WARRANTY. I RECENTLY REALIZED THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION AS I WAS ENTERING THE TURNPIKE WHERE CONSTRUCTION WAS TAKING PLACE. THERE WAS LITTLE ROOM FOR ERROR AND LITTLE TIME TO SEE WHO WAS COMING. I SAW A SEMI COMING BUT KNEW IF I ACCELERATED I COULD GET ON IN TIME. I PUSHED DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THIS HAPPENED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF AND PUT IT BACK ON AND FORTUNATELY IT KICKED IN. NO ONE WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS A DEFECT OF THE CAR IF I WAS HIT BY THE SEMI. I AM HEARING FROM OTHERS THAT THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD WARN OTHERS NOT TO TRUST THIS MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051644December 1, 2017
ENGINE
THE ENGINE REVS WHILE IDLE PERIODICALLY AND THE ENGINE REVS STILL WHEN U LET GO OF THE GAS. I BELIEVE THIS CAR WAS AFFECTED BY KIAS LATEST RECALL... AND CAUSES ISSUES WITH ME BEING ABLE TO BRAKE AND SUCH CUZ THE CAR ENGINE REVS WHEN THE GAS ISNT BEIN TOUCHED. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051469November 30, 2017
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL HAS A CATCH OR NOTCH SOMETIMES IN COLD WEATHER WHEN TRYING TO TURN THE WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051199November 29, 2017
ENGINE
ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT BEGAN HAVING SOME CLICKING SOUNDS IN THE ENGINE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT COMPLETELY TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT START. I GOT IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID THERE WAS METAL PIECES IN THE OIL WHICH CLOGGED OIL FLOW AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051026November 28, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE TURBO LINES LEAK AND I'VE RESEARCHED AND FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11048835November 27, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, MY SUNROOF EXPLODED AND BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NOTHING HIT THE SUNROOF. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME AND THE CLOTH SHADE WAS BACK SO THAT WE COULD SEE THE SKY WHILE DRIVING. GLASS SHATTERED AND FELL ALL OVER ME (THE DRIVER) AND MY PASSENGER AND ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11048397November 25, 2017
STEERING
STEERING HAS A DEAD SPOT NEAR THE CENTER AND IT FEELS LIKE IT GETS HUNG UP WHEN THE WHEEL IS TURNED EITHER DIRECTION AND IT JUMPS WHEN ALTERNATING LEFT TO RIGHT OR RIGHT TO LEFT IT FEELS UNSAFE AND JUMPY WHEELS WILL NOT EVER STAY IN A STRAIGHT CENTERED POSITION WHEN YOU TRY TO CORRECT THE JUMP IN THE STEERING OVER CORRECTS CAUSING A BACK AND FORTH JUST TO STAY IN ONE LANE THE NOISE IT MAKES IS A CLUNK AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE SITTING AT IDLE TURING THE WHEEL BACK AND FORTH EVEN ONE INCH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11047809November 21, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2017, I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. MY 2013 OPTIMA AUTOMOBILE STOPPED SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND PROCEED TO EXIT THE FREEWAY. ONCE I EXIT THE FREEWAY AND AT THE LIGHT, MY CAR STOPPED AGAIN. SO, I KNEW SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG WITH MY CAR. ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2017, I TOOK MY CAR TO GALPIN KIA IN NORTH HILLS TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED. THE DEALER KEPT MY CAR FOR 3 DAYS, THEREFORE, I HAD GET A RENTAL CAR. I THEN RECEIVED A CALL ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2017 THAT THE TEST RAN ON THE ENGINE SHOWED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. NOTE: I RECEIVED A RECALL VIA MAIL REGARDING THE AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE FOR THE OPTIMA 2013 AUTOMOBILE. DUE TO FEAR AND WORRY, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR. HOWEVER, I HAVE TO GO TO WORK, SO I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE STREETS. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN GETTING THE RECALL OF THE ENGINE PROBLEM DONE ON MY CAR, SO I CAN DRIVE MY CAR AND HAVE PEACE OF MIND IN KNOWING MY CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11047352November 19, 2017
STEERING
VEHICLE STEERING HAS BECOME FAULTY. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED WHILE PARKED OR DRIVING, IT STICKS THEN MOVES FREELY WITHOUT THE WHEELS TURNING. THIS STICKING IS ACCOMPANIED BY A KNOCKING/CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS MOST OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL FROM IT'S CENTER POSITION. I'M UNSURE OF THE CAUSE. THIS STARTED APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO (30OCT17) AND HAS PERSISTED. I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS IS GOING TO ESCALATE INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN YOU PLEASE ASSIST?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046897November 17, 2017
ENGINE, STEERING
I AM CURRENTLY STATIONED IN RAMSTEIN GERMANY WITH THE U.S. AIR FORCE. I CONTACTED KIA TO HAVE THE RECALL CHECKED AND THE WORK COMPLETED. THEY ARE REFUSING SAYING THAT SINCE I AM IN GERMANY THE RECALL DOESN'T AFFECT THEM. THEY ARE ALSO REFUSING TO HONOR MY WARRANTY. EMAIL IS THE BEST TO CONTACT ME OR VIA CELL [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11047022November 17, 2017
ENGINE
THE VEHICLE QUIT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT OTHER WARNING ON A TOLL ROAD, APPROX SPEED OF 70 MPH AT NIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO GET TO THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED DUE TO THE LATE NIGHT, I HAVE TOWED LATER, ORIGINALLY THINKING IT WAS A BAD BATTERY, THAT TURNED OUT TO BE TRUE, SO WE REPLACED THAT BATTERY WITH A NEW ONE AND IT INSTANTLY SMOKED THE STARTER, REQUIRING A NEW ONE, WHICH IT DESTROYED, AT THAT TIME FURTHER DIAGNOSIS REVEALED THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. I NOTICED LATER THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND A RECALL FROM KIA HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A REPLACEMENT. THE FIRE I NOTE IS THE ELECTRICAL FIRE FROM REPLACING THE BATTERY WITH A FRESH BATTERY, AND SINCE THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED, THE STARTER LOCKED AND CAUGHT FIRE, REQUIRING A NEW STARTER, OBVIOUSLY AFTER THE MOTOR IS FULLY REPAIRED, BUT I OWE APPROX $350 FOR THE STARTER AND $400 APPROX FOR THE ELECTRICAL FIRE, I AM UNCERTAIN OF OTHER DAMAGE CAUSED BE THE ENGINE SEIZING AT SUCH SPEEDS/
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046507November 16, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17TH AT AROUND 7 PM, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS DRIVING ON 118 FREEWAY AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH BOARD, AND THE CAR JUST TURNED OFF. SHORTLY, AFTER WE GOT OFF THE FREEWAY, WE TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER THE CAR TURNED OFF AGAIN. WE TOOK OUR CAR TO GALPIN KIA ON MONDAY IN PANORAMA CITY, CA.. THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR 3 DAYS TO CHECKED OUT THE ENGINE AND DROVE CAR 6 MILES AND DETERMINE THE CAR WAS OK. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY. PLEASE HELP US TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OVCURS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11046510November 16, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TAKATA RECALL: CAR AT 35K MILEAGE AND DISPLAYS 'HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING, SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE'. HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF DEALERSHIPS WHO STILL CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE IS. ALSO, SEEMS LIKE THE BATTERY IS DISCHARGING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE!! ISSUES HAVE YET BEEN FIXED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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