Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11132746October 1, 2018
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11132316September 30, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY MY CAR STALLED AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, AS I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY I SEEN SMOKE AND THEN FLAMES WHILE CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132366September 30, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID THIS MORNING. WHILE DRIVING, I SUDDENLY GOT A WARNING MESSAGE THAT SAID "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE STOP SAFELY DO NOT DRIVE". I PULLED OVER AND SMELLED WHAT SEEMED TO BE FIRE, BUT SAW NOTHING. I CALLED MY FIANC TO LET HIM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THE CABIN STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE. I JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND POPPED THE TRUNK. THERE WERE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT OF THE HYBRID SYSTEM. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, THE CAR IS NOW SITTING IN A TOW YARD. I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I WOULD HAVE DONE OR COULD HAVE DONE TO CAUSE THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132401September 30, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2013 KIA OPTIMA SX. CAR LOSES POWER WHILE ON THE ROAD, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. CAR CAN'T BE DRIVEN PAST 20 MPH OR SO NO MATTER ACCELERATOR POSITION. CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER SEVRAL TIMES AND A CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN. DEALERSHIP CHANGED ENGINE CABLE HARNESS AND RESET COMUTER (APPARENTLY SETTINGS WERE SCRAMBLED) AND CAR THEN IS FUNCTIONAL. LAST TIME, CAR LOST POWER IN HIGHWAY AND ALMOST GOT REAR-ENDED. DANGEROUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132052September 28, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE TOO DIM. TRIED REPLACING THE BULBS, BUT NO CHANGE. CLEANED THE OUTER LENS TO IMPROVE CLARITY AND GET RID OF YELLOWING. BUT DID NOT HELP. THE OUTER LENS LOOKS JUST FINE. WHEN I REMOVED THE ASSEMBLY TO CHECK IF THERE'S ANYTHING WRONG INSIDE, I WAS SHOCKED. THE PROJECTOR BOWL HAD CAUGHT RUST ON BOTH SIDES, THUS CAUSING POOR REFLECTIVITY AND LOW LIGHT ON THE ROAD. TURNS OUT EVERY 2006/2007 OPTIMA OWNER HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I FOUND THIS OUT WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE TO PURCHASE A NEW ASSEMBLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132062September 28, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR . WHEN THE DEALERSHIP REMOVED THE DOOR TO LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THEY FOUND WHERE THE PLASTIC WHEEL AND WIRES THAT HELP THE WINDOW GO UP AND DOWN HAD BROKE THEY FELT IT WAS A MALFUNCTION VERY COSTLY TO REPLACE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132028September 27, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
BOUGHT APRIL/MAY 2014, BY DECEMBER 2014 THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. ELECTRICAL: BUTTONS DON'T WORK FOR PROPER FUNCTIONS (VOLUME UP WILL TURN VOLUME DOWN, CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ONE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THEN IT'S SUPPOSED TOO & AC STOPPED WORKING) WHILE IN MOTION OR STOPPED BUT WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF THAN BACK ON IT RESETS TO NORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11131492September 25, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. SMITHTOWN KIA (726 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD, ST JAMES, NY 11780, (631) 724-8008) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11131563September 25, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIGHT HAND, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11131603September 25, 2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE CAR WAS PARK IN THE HOUSE AND WHEN I GET BACK I SAW A LONG CRACK ON THE WINDSHIELD SO I CHECK THE SURROUNDING IF THERE IS SOMETHING FELL ON IT BUT THERE'S NO EVEN AN IMPACT ON IT IT'S JUST CRACK FROM THE TOP OF THE WINDSHIELD UP TO THE MIDDLE CENTER. IT'S A BRAND NEW CAR SO HOW WILL THE WINDSHIELD GET CRACK LIKE THAT. I ASK AROUND TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD AND MOST OF THEM TOLD ME THAT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW VEHICLE LIKE MINE AND THEY EVEN ASK THE DEALER IF IT'S AVAILABLE AND THEY SAID IT WILL TAKE ABOUT A MONTH TO HAVE IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11131111September 24, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT ABOUT 11PM WITH MY GIRLFRIEND 6MO OLD SON MY 6YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND NIECE I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 70MPH WHEN THE WHOLE CAR SHOOK AND WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE MY GIRLFRIEND SAID WHAT DID YOU HIT I WAS NOT SURE THEN WITHIN ABOUT A MILE THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD I PULLED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I HAVE GEICO INSURANCE SO I CALLED THEM FOR A TOW TRUCK AFTER BEING ON THE PHONE WITH THEM FOR ABOUT 45 MIN I WAS THEM CONNECTED TO THE POLICE WHO SAID THEY WERE NOT OPEN AT THIS TIMEI AFTER HANGING UP THE PHONE I CALLED GEICO BACK WHO TOLD ME THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A TOW TRUCK THAT WOULD COME GET US FROM WHERE WE WERE AFTER ABOUT 2 HRS THEY TOLD US THAT A TRUCK WAS COMING BUT THE BABY CAN'T RIDE IN THE TRUCK SO I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO COME FROM PORT SAINT LUCIE FLORIDA PICK UP MY GIRLFRIEND AND THE KIDS WE FINALLY MADE IT HOME AT AROUND 4:30 AM THANK GOD EVERYBODY IS OKAY BUT THIS SITUATION COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE I WAS SURE THAT I HIT SOMETHING AND I HAVE FULL COVERAGE SO NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AFTER SENDING MY CAR TO BEV SMITH KIA IN FT PIERCE FLORIDA THEY TOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT I MAY HAVE HIT BUT A BEARING HAD PREMATURELY FAILED AND THREW A ROD THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR THERE IS ABOUT A 3 IN HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE SO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT COVER THE CAR THEY HAD NOT EVEN LOOKED AT THE CAR AND KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON KIA HAS A RECALL ON A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS A HYBRID AND IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AT THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH KIA FOR OVER A MONTH THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO HELP ME A I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB WITH THE SAME ISSUES. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR EVEN KILLED! THIS IS UNSAFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE DRIVING NOTE MY CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 THOUSAND MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130766September 22, 2018
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY FAULTY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE CAR TRAVELING AT NO MORE THAN 55 MPH. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXTREME KNOCKING WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THEN MY CAR STARTED DRIFTING AGAIN WITH WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND EXHAUST. NOW KIA IS SAYING THAT THE ENGINE IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS NOT BEING SERVICED FOR A RECALL ON THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT IS A HYBRID, YET NON-HYBRID KIA CARS HAVE A RECALL FOR IT. THIS IS THE SAME THING. WHAT A DISSERVICE! KIA NEEDS TO QUIT MAKING CARS ALTOGETHER IF THE INTERNAL WORK HAS NO ENDURANCE. I'M STILL PAYING ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS CAR IS A DANGER, WASTE, AND DISSERVICE. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN NOTED IN REFERENCE TO THE SAME THING. WHAT IF THE CAR EXPLODED? THEN WHAT? THIS CAR COULD HAVE HARMED ME OR OTHERS. PLEASE RECALL THE ENGINE AND ANYTHING ELSE THIS CAR HAS THAT IS UNMANAGEABLE OR UNHEALTHY. THE OPPORTUNITY COST IS PISSPOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130802September 22, 2018
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH VEHICLE AT APPROXIMATELY 86,400 MILES, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. VEHICLE SENSING DEVICE INDICATES ON PASSENGER WHETHER WEIGHT IS ENOUGH TO TURN AIR BAG ON OR OFF. DEALER SHOWED AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INDICATED ONLY AIR BAG THAT WAS AFFECTED WAS PASSENGER SIDE. NOT SURE IF THIS IS CORRECT, THAT CLOCK SPRING FAILURE ONLY AFFECTS DEPLOYMENT OF ONE AIR BAG. SUBSEQUENT PROBLEMS THUS FAR IN TWO WEEKS SINCE TAKING TO DEALER: CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS NOT WORKING, TRIP COMPUTER AND ECO CONTROLS ALSO FAILED ALL CONTROLS ARE LOCATED ON STEERING WHEEL. CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DENIED COVERING REPLACEMENT OF PART AS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT COVERED THIS FAILURE AND CLAIM THEIR ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PART FOR VIN NUMBER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130673September 21, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BODY PAINT IS PEELING ON HOOD AND REAR BUMPER ; KIA DEALER SAID KIA ONLY WARRANTS THE PAINT JOB FOR ONLY 3 YEARS. I AM CONTENDING KIA KNOWS THIS AND IS DECEIVING ITS CUSTOMERS FROM DAY 1; UNACCEPTABLE !
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130426September 20, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMPS DID NOT ILLUMINATE FAR ENOUGH AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE FOR IT TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CHROME REFLECTIVE TAPE WAS BEING BURNED OUT, WHICH RESULTED IN INSUFFICIENT LIGHT BEING REFLECTED. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST SINCE THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THAT COMPONENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130261September 18, 2018
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (EVERGREEN KIA, 9205 S WESTERN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60643, (800) 556-5223) WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT UPDATED 11/19/18*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129876September 17, 2018
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WOULD CLICK WHEN TURNING. THE BEGINNING OF THE TURN WAS NOT SMOOTH.NOW THE STEERING COLUMN RATTLES WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129888September 17, 2018
AIR BAGS
MY AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ILLUMINATED FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND MY HORN ISN'T WORKING AS WELL CRUISE CONTROL AND OTHER STEERING WHEEL BUTTONS NOT WORKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129587September 14, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DURING THE FAILURE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, REMOVED THE OIL CAP, AND NOTICED SMOKE. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AS SMOKE ESCAPED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129393September 13, 2018
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING MAKES NOISE AND RATTLE. CONTACTED KIA DEALER IN FREMONT AND KIA CORPORATION ABOUT THE ISSUES. NO RESPONSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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