Kia Optima Complaints (2011)

628 consumer complaints on file.

#11171719January 23, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE THE LAST RECALL FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT, DONE IN AUGUST 2017. HIGH BEAMS ARE INSUFFICIENT, AND THE NORMAL BEAMS ARE VERY DANGEROUS -- DOESN'T APPEAR THAT HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171348January 22, 2019
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE CONTACT. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT AND HIS PASSENGERS SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11166761January 13, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AT 40MPH WHEN I SAW LIGHT SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I PULLED OVER TO GET MY TWO KIDS AND MYSELF OUT OF THE CAR SHORTLY AFTER WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD I THEN CALLED 911 FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO COME PUT THE FLAMES OUT WHEN THEY FINALLY DID THE WHOLE CAR WAS BURNT TO A CRISP
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164837January 7, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON WHEN FIRST STARTED IT UP LAST FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165178January 4, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT REFLECTED TO THE ROAD FROM THE HEADLIGHTS IS VERY LOW AND CREATES VISIBILITY ISSUES AT NIGHT AND IN THE RAIN. THIS IS DUE TO THE REFLECTIVE COATING USED IN THE HEADLIGHTS BEING OF POOR QUALITY AND BURNING AWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165647January 3, 2019
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH SO I PULLED OVER AND MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR IT STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT NOT BEFORE THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164569January 2, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING / HEAR CLICKING SOUND WHILE MY DASH BOARD FLICKERS AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED AND IN MOTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164319December 31, 2018
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ENGINE FAILURE..BOUGHT IN 2013 W 14,000 MILES.CURRENTLY HAS 68,000.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR.KIA WOULD ONLY PAY FOR 1 SPARK PLUG.THEN,L PAID TO HAVE A NEW FI SYSTEM PUT IN.L WAS NEVER REIMBURSED.DEC 20,DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY W MY KIDS AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING.THEN,THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH WEIRD SMELLS OF GAS AND BURNING.TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NO ISSUE.TOOK IT BACK AGAIN ON DEC 21,BUT NO TECHS AVAILABLE.DEC 23,L WAS DRIVING MY KID TO WORK,ENGINE SHOOK,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHED AND A BIG BOOM.CAR WAS GOING 5MPH WHILE IT WAS CLICKING.L GOT IT TOWED(AFTER KIA MOTORS HAD THE AUDACITY TO TRY TO MAKE ME PAY FOR A [email protected],BUT L REFUSED)THRU MY INSURANCE CO.AS THE CAR SAT,A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE,WE THOUGH THAT IT WAS CATCHING ON FIRE.CALLED KIA MOTORS....OMG,THE WORST.L JUST GOT A RENTAL TODAY AND APPROVED FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS.MY BROTHER BOUGHT HIS OPTIMA BRAND NEW IN 2003 AND SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2 MONTHS.KIA CONTINUES TO NOT RESOLVE HIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AND L AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT,LET ALONE HAVE MY KIDS IN IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163679December 27, 2018
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNSET KIA OF BRADENTON (4770 14TH ST W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941) 752-1000) WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND PASSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN SPUTTERING PRIOR TO THE TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LACK OF OIL, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND METAL SHAVINGS WHILE CONDUCTING THE TEST AND THE CHECK OIL INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE ADDITIONAL RECALLS WERE DISCOVERED. THE UNKNOWN DEALER FOUND A DETERIORATED CLAMP THAT CAUSED THE HOSE TO BECOME LOOSE AND THE ENGINE TO JOLT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE DETERIORATED CLAMPS ON THE INVOICE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS GUSHING FUEL. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE INITIAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163367December 25, 2018
STEERING
THERE'S A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING . FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND ON THE FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM . IT APPEARS TO BE A PLASTIC COUPLER IN THE STEERING MOTOR THAT DETERIORATES CAUSING A METAL ON METAL GRINDING. I NOTICED THIS WHILE TURNING AT AT STREET CORNERS OR CHANGING LANES ON HIGHWAY. NHTSA NUMBER: 10090941. THIS APPARENTLY HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE . WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY INFO WAS INCLUDED .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161886December 16, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HAVE BEEN SLOWLY GETTING SO DULL THAT IT IS GETTING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I COMMUTE OVER 100 MILES A DAY AND LEAVE AT DARK AND GET HOME AT DARK. SO ALL MY DRIVING IS NEEDING MY HEADLIGHTS. I STARTED NOTICING THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND JUST THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE GETTING OLD. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT NEW SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR BULBS AND I ALSO BOUGHT A SET OF SYLVANIA ULTRA. THAT DID NOT HELP. I ENDED UP EVEN TRYING TO CHANGE MY BULBS AND CONVERT OVER TO LED HEADLIGHT BULBS. I DID ALL THE WORK AND CONVERSION AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. COME TO FIND OUT IT'S NOT THE BULBS THAT ARE THE ISSUE, BUT THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS THE ISSUE. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WHICH IS REALLY TERRIBLE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM FAULTY MANUFACTURING JUST SO I CAN SEE AND BE SAFE WHILE DRIVING. BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING THE WAY MY CAR IS RIGHT NOW. I FEEL KIA SHOULD BE FIXING THE ISSUE AND SUPPLYING A HIGHER QUALITY HEADLIGHT HOUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161379December 14, 2018
STEERING
THE STEERING COUPLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BADLY WHEN STOPPING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11153889November 29, 2018
AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION
2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11154484November 28, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE STARTER, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE MOTOR WAS LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11154184November 27, 2018
ENGINE
THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A NON-COLLISION/SPONTANEOUS FIRE. THERE WHERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF CAR DEFECTS. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON A CITY ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEKALB COUNTY GA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND TOOK A REPORT. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT MOTOR INSTALLED BY KIA WITH A WARRANTY. THE NEW MOTOR HAD APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151671November 15, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN MOTION AROUND 25 MPH. I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST STALLED ON ME WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO PULL OVER ,CUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A MIN. AFTER 5 MINS, IT STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT THERE WAS STILL LACK OF ACCELERATION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11150291November 9, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11145206November 4, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CARS HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO GET DIMMER AND DIMMER TO WHERE A DRIVER CAN BARELY SEE 10 FEET IN FRONT OF THEM. I HAVE CALLED KIA REGARDING SOLUTIONS AND ALTHOUGH THEY STATE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THERE AREN'T ANY PERMANENT ALTERNATIVES. I HAVE TO USE MY HIGH BEAMS AT NIGHT TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11144984November 2, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOONS KIA OF WOODBRIDGE (703-494-3333, LOCATED AT 14208 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191) AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11143070October 26, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE BECAME SO DIM IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I THOUGHT MY NIGHT VISION WAS FAILING, UNTIL A FRIEND RODE WITH ME AFTER DARK AND ASKED IF MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. WHEN WE COMPARED THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE COMPARED TO HERS, THE DIFFERENCE WAS STUNNING. I HAD ALREADY HAD THE HEADLAMPS REPLACED IN 2015, BUT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AT LEAST A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP., AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE REFLECTORS BEHIND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE DIMNESS. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THIS, AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOT WEAR AND TEAR. THIS WAS A DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHEN I HAD THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES REPLACED, I REQUESTED THE OLD ONES AND I HAVE THEM IN MY POSSESSION. ONE PHOTO SHOWS THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR IN A PARKING RAMP NEXT TO ANOTHER CAR WITH ITS HEADLIGHTS ON. MY CAR IS ON THE LEFT. YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL THE LIGHTS ARE ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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