Kia Optima Complaints (2011)

628 consumer complaints on file.

#11115903August 6, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND BLACK SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE PRESSURE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, EXITED THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT USED A TOWEL AND A BOTTLE OF WATER TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, BUT ARRIVED AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (COURTESY KIA OF BRANDON, 9205 E ADAMO, TAMPA, FL 33619) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR AN EVALUATION PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS OK TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CASE NUMBER: 12673181 WAS OPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114216July 27, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
STRONG SMELL OF RAW FUEL NEAR LEFT REAR (DRIVER SIDE) OF VEHICLE WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE EXCEEDS 100 DEGREES. THE SMELL IS NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AFTER DRIVING. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENDERSON KIA FOR SERVICING. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113611July 25, 2018
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. CAME TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT. PROCEEDED TO GO ON GREEN AND ON A MAIN BUSY ROAD MY CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AND ALL MY LIGHTS CAME ON IN MY VEHICLE. AS I PULLED OVER ONTO A SIDE STREET MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMELL LIKE IT WAS BURNING. MY CAR WOULD NOT START BACK UP.. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO 2 DIFFERENT SHOPS. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON A NEW ENGINE AND WE HAVE BEEN FOR OVER 2 MONTHS NOW. GETTING VERY AGGRAVATED AS NOBODY CAN TELL ME WHEN MY CAR WILL BE DONE. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING ME THEY CANT FIND AN ENGINE FOR IT. WHICH I FIND A LITTLE RIDICULOUS. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO TELL ME SOMETHING OR PAY ME BLUE BOOK VALUE FOR MY CAR AND KEEP IT. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT AS THIS A RECALL ON MY CAR THAT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ALL OVER WITH THEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113473July 24, 2018
STEERING
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTED TURNING ON IN APRIL 2018 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET CAUSING THE STEERING TO LOCK AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. HAD TO PULL OVER TURN CAR ON AND OFF. LIGHT TURNED OFF AND CAR WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY AGAIN. LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON AND OFF BUT RECENTLY STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY. TOOK IT TO KIA AND WAS TOLD IT WAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION OF THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY (SEE PAPERWORK). IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112227July 18, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,018.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110820July 11, 2018
STEERING
THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE FIRST HEARD IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO WHERE THE STEERING BOX FLEXIBLE COUPLER IS BRAKING APART INSIDE THE STEERING BOX. IF THIS WAS NOT FIXED IT COULD BE A TOTAL FAILURE TO WHERE YOU COULD LOSE YOUR STEERING ALL TOGETHER. KIA IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS FIXING IT FOR FREE. WHY ISNT THIS LISTED ON YOU SITE AS A RECALL AS SOMEONE'S LIFE COULD BE IN JEOPARDY OVER THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110627July 10, 2018
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING,STEERING COLUMN STARTS RATTLING. GETS WORSE GOING OVER BUMPS. HAD STEERING COLUMN REPLACED 11 MONTHS AGO. THIS WEEK 7/1/8, THE COLUMN STARTED RATTLING AGAIN. MECHANIC STATED IT MIGHT BE A COUPLING IN THE COLUMN GOING BAD AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11105344July 3, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (DORAL KIA, 10155 NW 12TH ST, DORAL, FL 33172, (305) 520-5592)AND WAS AWAITING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11105145July 2, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO ENGINE OIL. THE ENGINE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF SOUTH AUSTIN (5306 S IH 35 FRONTAGE RD, AUSTIN, TX) WHERE IT PASSED AN INITIAL ENGINE INSPECTION PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED AND OIL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT FURTHER EVALUATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED, WHICH REQUIRED THEM TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FOLLOW THE DEALER'S TESTING PROCEDURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11105079July 2, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS PRODUCED VERY LITTLE LIGHTING. THE CONTACT CALLED JEFF WYLER FAIRFIELD CADILLAC KIA NISSAN AT 513-682-2500 (LOCATED AT 5815 DIXIE HWY, FAIRFIELD, OH 45014) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11104942July 1, 2018
STEERING
THEIR ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE ABOUT KNOCKING AND BANGING NOISES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I NOW HAVE THIS IN MY KIA OPTIMA 2011 WITH 48K MILES. WHY IS THEIR NO RECALL? IT SEEM TO ME ITS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE SO OFF THE THE DEALER I GO TO EMPTY OUT MY WALLET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11104852June 30, 2018
ENGINE
VEHICLE ENGINE JUST SHUTS DOWN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11104883June 30, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA DOWN A HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART MY CAR. THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11103004June 21, 2018
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE CONTACT CALLED CERAME KIA (11655 NEW HALLS FERRY RD, SAINT LOUIS, MO 63033) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11102543June 19, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. UPON ATTEMPTING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11102712June 19, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM TO SEE AT NIGHT. ONLINE REPORTS MENTION THE CHROME REFLECTOR INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS FAILS PREMATURELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT NOT THE HIGH BEAMS. YOU CAN SEE THE REFLECTORS ARE WHITE PLASTIC WITH NO MORE CHROME COATING. WE RARELY USED THE HIGH BEAMS SINCE WE LIVE AND WORK IN THE CITY, AND THE HIGH BEAM REFLECTORS STILL HAVE A CHROME REFLECTIVE COATING. THE LIGHT BULBS ARE VERY HOT AND MOST LIKELY BURNED OFF THE CHROME REFLECTIVE COATING. WE HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS TO SEE AT NIGHT, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES SO THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CAN BE USED TO DRIVE SAFELY AGAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11101845June 14, 2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS AND GAUGES ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF UNION CITY (4084 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (770) 964-4900), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000. *TT CONTACT STATES ON AUG 22 2018 THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11099406June 3, 2018
ENGINE
WITHOUT ANY WARNING LAMPS OR EXTRANEOUS SOUNDS OR ENGINE NOISE, TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP AND STOPPED. IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE, OIL AND BATTERY LAMPS ILLUMINATED, AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A SAFE PARKING LOT AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE TO NO AVAIL. AAA WAS CALLED AND TOLD TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP. THEIR DIAGNOSIS CONCURRED WITH MINE...THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND WAS NOT REPAIRABLE EXCEPT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11099327June 2, 2018
ENGINE, STEERING
I WAS DRIVING IN HIGHWAY IN JULY 2017. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DRIFTING AND SLIPPERY. IT WAS ABOUT 84,000 MILES IN IT. SO, I BROUGHT MY CAR IN KIA DEALER. THEY SHOWED ME WORN OUT STEERING COUPLING. I ASKED THEM TO CHANGE STEERING COUPLING ONLY BUT THEY CHANGED WHOLE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND CHARGED ME $1,402. HOWEVER, I FOUND THAT KIA EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 10 YEARS/UNLIMITED MILEAGE IN 2016. I AM NOT SURE WHY THEY CHARGED ME FOR STEERING ISSUE. I COMPLAINED KIA MOTORS AMERICA AND SENT ALL INFORMATION THAT I HAVE INCLUDING THE BILLS. THEY DID NOT RESPOND ANY LETTER YET. I LIKE TO HAVE MY MONEY BACK. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I FOUND IN MAY 2018 WAS FAST ENGINE OIL BURN OUT. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN HIGHWAY AND ENGINE OIL WARNING SIGN WAS BLINKING. SO, I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND CHECKED ENGINE OIL LEVEL. IT WAS ALMOST GONE AND SO DARK. THE DEALER JUST CHANGED ENGINE OIL A FEW MONTHS AGO AND LESS THAN 3,000 MILES DRIVEN AFTER THAT. I FILLED UP 3 QUARTS OF BLENDED ENGINE OIL AND CHECKED EVERY OTHER DAY. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER, IT LOOKS THE LEVEL OF ENGINE OIL WAS WAY LOWER (ABOUT 1 AND HALF QUARTS WERE GONE). I CALLED THE DEALER THAT THEY SAID IT WAS ONLY ENGINE OIL BURNING ISSUE NOT ENGINE FAILURE. THEY SAID IT WOULD NOT COVER BY RECALLS. I CHECKED LOTS OF COMPLAINING ABOUT ENGINE FAILURE ISSUE FROM THE INTERNET. BASED ON THAT IN MANY CASES THE ENGINE OIL BURN OUT ISSUE HAPPENED BEFORE ENGINE FAILURE. I STRONGLY THINK THAT KIA SHOULD INSTALL NEW ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALLS BECAUSE I REALLY CONCERN ABOUT ME AND FAMILY'S SAFETY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11098902May 30, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ARE USLESS. THEY ARE SO DIM YOU CAN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT AT ALL. THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima