Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11485265September 19, 2022
STEERING
Two thefts of my 2019 Kia Optima in less than one year; 9/12/2021 and 7/30/2022 due to Kia's negligence in fixing a very obvious security flaw and lack of engine immobilizer. I have spent approximately $2,500 of my own money between insurance deductibles and replacing items that were stolen from my vehicle in addition to the actual vehicle theft. The thefts caused over $13,000 of damage between the two claims, and surely have depreciated the value of my car significantly. Thousands of Kia customers are negatively affected by this negligence, and we are being punished and violated for owning compromised vehicles. I feel incredibly unsafe driving my vehicle anywhere knowing full well it could be stolen at any moment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11485308September 19, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
my fuse box melted , because of a burnt out fuse , too many electrical components made this fuse box melt and could have potentially started an electrical fire which could result in a crash and it could end up way worse maybe even death. I took my car to the service lane at kia and my service agent let me know that multiple cars are having this same problem where their fuse box burnt out . Its obviously a problem with a lot of kia optimas because i saw about 30 other kia optimas out in the parking lot waiting to be serviced and now ive been waiting two months for my car to get serviced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11485326September 19, 2022
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, smoke was coming inside the vehicle. The contact had to stop the vehicle and turn off the vehicle, when the contact restarted the vehicle, he saw flames coming from the windshield wipers. While opening the hood of the vehicle to see where the flames were coming from, the contact burned his hands. Medical attention was not required. The vehicle burst into flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The vehicle was towed to a repair facility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11485371September 19, 2022
SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
While driving around hand 35 miles per hour, I felt like the vehicles emergency brake came on. I had warning lights for AUTO HOLD, CHECK BRAKES, STABILITY CONTROL, E- BRALE, vehicle self diagshows electronic brake system Check ABS/ESC condition. Breaks feel tighter and car doesn't brake as before plus you could feel the stability system not working. This has occurred 6 times in the last 2 weeks
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11485068September 18, 2022
AIR BAGS
On sept 1st I was in an accident. I hit a parked car. My car was totaled. I suffered a fractured sternum and possible concussion. All of airbags failed to deploy. PALO ALTO POLICE RECORD,22-02889
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11484578September 15, 2022
STEERING
While driving there is a ticking noise in the steering column and it shakes badly. This make the vehicle a little less controllable. 2 Certified mechanics believes it is a coupling or possibly a U joint at the bottom of the steering column. No lights on the dash and no other symptoms prior to this issue. This problem started about on or about September 5th 2022. This occurs during low and higher speeds of travel.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484596September 15, 2022
ENGINE
While driving the vehicle on a two lane highway passing an eighteen wheeler the car engine suddenly died prior to overtaking the truck. Very difficult and dangerous especially since the vehicle behind me followed to overtake the truck at the same time. This was a very uncomfortable situation especially since in the meantime there was oncoming traffic heading in the opposite direction that had to drive on the grass shoulder to avoid a head on collision since I had difficulty merging into now much faster moving traffic that was stacked up behind the eighteen wheeler. The reason the engine died was because it locked up due to oil starvation due to a known manufacturing defect that should have been covered by the extended warranty that was put into place from to a lawsuit from NHTSA. The vehicle is a 2013 Kia Optima with 60k miles. According to Kia customer care the extended warranty wont be honored because the car was previously involved in a collision to the right rear corner of the vehicle that took place years ago and thousands of miles ago. The service advisor advised against purchasing a used engine because they are all bad and they will all fail sooner or later and wants almost $6000 to replace the engine.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484604September 15, 2022
ENGINE
My engine locked up while I was driving. I turned onto my street, luckily close to my home and the car stopped accelerating. I pulled over and turned the car off and it would not turn back on. My car is now undriveable, and it only has 105,000 miles on it. This could have put my safety at risk, imagine if I were going 50mph rather than 10-15mph. I had a mechanic take a look at it and he could not get the crank shaft to turn. Through his assessment, he said I will need a replaced or repaired engine. He offered me get another opinion, but he was pretty certain on the issue. Prior to this, the check engine light came on for less than a day back in June. I contacted my dealership and since it went off, nothing progressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484676September 15, 2022
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
When headlight switch is set to automatically come on, the light will sometimes randomly turn off. No warning or indicator on the dash appears showing that they are off. Technicians are unable to reproduce the issue in the shop. Have recommended replacing the entire headlight switch on the turn signal stick.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484708September 15, 2022
ENGINE
While driving on the freeway vehicle began to knock. Pulled off the freeway into a dealership. Dealer said there was little oil in the engine despite having an oil change less than 1000 miles prior. Engine burned through 5 quarts in less than 1000 miles. No oil lights or check engine lights on causing engine failure and need for a new engine. Told vin does not fall under the endings oil consumption recall of similar model/year.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484367September 14, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Every window in my car has come off track within a 3months time period . The motor steady runs in the door and the window will not move up or down.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484505September 14, 2022
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle went into Limp Mode. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was diagnosed as a faulty knock sensor that needed a software update. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that after receiving the vehicle from the dealer the vehicle was slow to accelerate and the vehicle was driving sluggishly. The contact stated that the vehicle needed to be taken back to the dealer to be diagnosed and repaired. The contact related the failure to the Kia Consent Order with NHTSA; however, the 2018 Kia Optima was not included. The contact stated that the remedy was not sufficient to remedy the vehicle failure. The manufacturer was notified and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 62,709.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484326September 13, 2022
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
2015 Kia Optima Hybrid HEV system. Months after purchasing the vehicle two different lights would come on the engine. One is the HEV warning light and the other is a flashing “Turn off engine and check HEV system”. The first time it happened the vehicle turned off. It was towed to Kia, 02/2020. They change some sensor and sent me on my way. 3 weeks later the HEV warning light came on again so it was towed to Kia for the 2nd time, 03/2020. This time they said they could not recreate the issue. A month later the light came on again and again but since the light never stayed on, I kept getting told by Kia that I’d have to take it in when the light stayed on. 01/2021 the light came on again, with the flashing warning and the vehicle turned off, mid-drive. It was towed to a mechanic shop near me, where they replaced the wiring harness completely, but a month later the same light came on again. Over the course of the year, the warnings kept turning up and time and time I kept getting told they needed the light on at the dealer so they could determine with the codes, what is wrong. 07/2022, light came on as I was merging on to the freeway and the car shut off. I was able to make it turn on and make it home safe. The next day I towed it to the shop where they replaced the wiring harness and they stated they could not touch it further since the codes they got where “High voltage battery” codes and a specific tech is the only one when could work on it. I took it to Kia where it stayed 33 days. They changed a part. Two days later the HEV light came on again, so I took it back. They kept it one day, drove it 60 miles and they could not recreate the issue. I got it back on Saturday, 5 miles out the light came back again and again. I took video. Called Kia and now the car is back at the dealer while they try and figure out the issue. I’m scared for my life. The car gives no warning when it decides to shut off. Wheel locks on the times it does turn off. HEV system is no good.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484355September 13, 2022
ENGINE
This car has developed P0010 code which stands for "A" Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit/open bank 1. Car idles roughly, shifts weirdly and has less power than before. I found that there is a TSB from KIA for the same issue but only for cars made in South Korea in 2016, mine was built in Dec. 2015 in Georgia plant so it doesn't qualify for this TSB and I'll have to pay out of pocket to fix this issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484140September 12, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
Sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving down the road. The glass is pushing outward like it was broken from the inside of the car. Nothing hit the care at the time, there was a loud explosion sound and then cracking sounds after that.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11483989September 12, 2022
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated that the oil level warning light was illuminated. The contact also noticed that while following while his wife was driving the vehicle, a blueish color smoke would emit from the tailpipe. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where he was given an estimate for an oil consumption test. The contact then took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they confirmed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact attempted to notify the manufacturer of the failure but received no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11484063September 12, 2022
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Hello I've been having my car for a year I told the dealership the problem but it seem as they don't want to fix it My car wouldn't go over 60miles and also my engine just locked up this doesn't make sense when they know these problems are a recall on this type of vehicles
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11483762September 10, 2022
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I was driving on the highway, and knocking noise came out form the engine. The engine began to lose power, and I had to immediately to pull over the car. This car has a theta II engine, and had gone bad due excessive connecting rod bearing damage. I brought the car to a dealership, and confirmed this is the case. The engine only has 77k on it, and will need replacement. These engines are not safe, and should be replaced by dealerships.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11483764September 10, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNKNOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11483785September 10, 2022
ENGINE
Rod bearing knocking noise. Vehicle stopped running when slowing down. Car is available for inspection. No warning lights come on. The rod bearing can pierce the engine and cause oil to leak and then a fire. Problem first identified by Monroe and then another independent when the car died in front of his shop- both confirmed this is a known issue with kias- but since ours is a 2010 it is not covered under the current recall for the same issue in years 2011 to 2013. I spoke with cooper Kia in Utica as I was looking for support with this issue and was told by Mike Digiovanni to call a lawyer. On a later call to Pat Stacey he said they don’t work for Kia and he stated that the salesman said I came in threatening to call a lawyer- not true- I was advised to call one. I had gone in explaining that I was upset as I thought this was a safe car for my 17 year old to travel in between college and work and it’s the same issue as the 2011-2013 recall
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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