Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11111316July 14, 2018
POWER TRAIN, STEERING, SUSPENSION
PROBLEMS START IN 2012 ENGINE RECALL IN 2017 WAS REPLACE,STEERING RECALL IN 2018 STEERING COUPLING WAS REPLACE HOW EVER MY RACK AND PINION WAS AFFECTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. WE CALL THEM IN 2012 REGARDING THE STEERING WHEEL WITCH THEY DIDN'T FIX AT THAT TIME WHICH CAUSED RACK AND PINION TO WEAR OUT. WE WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALER SHIPS REGARDING THIS CAR AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THIS CAR IS STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS AND WE WANT THE MANUFACTURE TO EITHER GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK OR FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS CAR IS A HAZARD TO OUR FAMILY, IF SOMETHING IST DONE SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IN THIS CAR!!! . THIS CAR STOP ON US IN TRAFFIC SOMEONE COULD OF GOTTEN HURT ,AAA HAD TO PULL THIS CAR TO THE SELMA DEALER SHIP AT THAT TIME. ON THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL SIDE TO SIDE THAT'S DANGEROUS. FROM 2012 UNTIL NOW THIS CAR IS STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THIS LEMON.WHY DON'T SOMEONE HELP THESE CONSUMERS OUT HERE WITH THESE PROBLEM ON THE KIA. I NEED HELP AS ASAP. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111163July 13, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111216July 13, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UPON FILLING UP THE CAR THE GAS NOZZLE NEVER SHUTS OFF UNTIL GAS (A LOT OF GAS) IS POURING OUT OF THE TANK. EVEN TRYING TO FILL IT UP ON YOUR OWN HOLDING THE HANDLE IT POURS OUT WHEN FULL. LEAVES GAS EVERY WHERE DOWN THE CAR SPRAYING THE PERSON PUTTING THE GAS IN. RUINING THE PAINT ON THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110921July 12, 2018
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM AND THE FORWARD COLLISION BRAKING SYSTEM DID NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY TWO FEET BEHIND ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CONTACT WAS NOT WARNED OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND THE SYSTEM DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN NECESSARY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MORITZ KIA FORT WORTH, 8501 I-30 WEST, FORT WORTH, TX) WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111022July 12, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE PAINT PILLING OFF THE CAR TOOK IT TO KIA THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T DO NOTHING THE PAIN PILLS SO BAD THIS A FIVE YEAR CAR IN IT LOOK LIKE 15 YEAR OLD CAR COST ME 2800 TO GET THE CAR PAINTED I KNOW THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT ON THE PAIT IN KIA DON'T WANT TO ADMIT IT I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED KIA NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110703July 11, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BACKUP CAMERA DOES NOT ACTIVATE ON THE NAVIGATION SCREEN WHEN WE PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS OFTEN BUT NOT EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110718July 11, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, BOTH HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PARKWAY FAMILY KIA (22555 US-59, KIRKWOOD, TX 77339, (281) 312-6200) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE BULBS BURNED OUT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,278.
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
#11110417July 10, 2018
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
BOUGHT A BRAND-NEW 2015 KIA OPTIMA IN FEBRUARY 2016 - 2.5 YEARS AND 34,000 MILES IN, IT DIED ON ME WHILE GOING 70MPH ON I85N IN ATLANTA IN MORNING RUSH HOUR. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND NO WARNING SIGNS WHATSOEVER - I WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATE AROUND A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH LIT UP - THE ENGINE WAS DEAD AND I WAS COASTING. COULD NOT GET OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO TRAFFIC, SO HAD TO PUT IT AS FAR TO THE LEFT AS I COULD, WHICH ENDED UP HALFWAY IN THE HOV LANE - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WOULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY ALL OF MY SERVICES AND OIL CHANGES HAD BEEN DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (RICK CASE KIA IN GWINNETT, GA). SO THEY HAD NO WAY TO TRY TO WIGGLE AROUND THE WARRANTY. I AM SEEING THIS EXACT ISSUE BEING DESCRIBED AT THE EXACT MILEAGE RANGE FOR DOZENS AND DOZENS OF 2015 KIA OPTIMAS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. IT APPEARS THAT KIA AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE GETTING AROUND PAYING FOR WHAT OBVIOUSLY IS AN ENGINE DEFECT BY ASKING THAT THE DRIVERS PROVE THEY HAD THE OIL CHANGED BY PRODUCING RECEIPTS FOR EVERY SERVICE. WHEN/IF THEY CAN'T, KIA IS NEGATING THE WARRANTY AND ASKING THE DRIVER'S TO PAY $7K-8K FOR A NEW ENGINE. IT'S DESPICABLE. MY DEALERSHIP COULDN'T GET AROUND THE WARRANTY SINCE I HAD DONE EVERY RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS AM THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WILL BE REPLACED (NOT BEFORE TRYING TO MILK MONEY OUT OF ME BY TRYING TO BLAME THE ISSUE ON A FAULTY BATTERY FIRST, WHICH WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY). KIA ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ON THEIR 2011-2014 AND 2016 OPTIMAS, AND EXCLUDED THE 2015 MODELS. IT'S PAINFULLY OBVIOUS THAT THE 2015 OPTIMAS ARE ALSO DEFECTIVE, AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
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
#11110086July 8, 2018
STEERING
THERE IS A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. HAD TIE RODS INSPECTED AND ARE FINE. NOISE IS COMING FROM INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. IT POPS WHILE MOVING OR STATIONARY.. IT POPS EVERY TIME YOUR CHANGE DIRECTION. NOISE RADIATES FROM INSIDE DASHBOARD. CHECKED U JOINTS AND THEY ARE TIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110139July 8, 2018
ENGINE
MY CAR WAS OCCASIONALLY MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR THEN SUDDENLY STARTED SHAKING WHILE IDLING AND BECAME SLUGGISH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 20 MPH. I HAD TO SLOWLY DRIVE MY CAR BACK HOME, WITH VERY LITTLE ACCELERATION. I THEN TOWED IT TO A MECHANIC WHO HAD TOLD ME THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH A TURBO, AND IT WAS MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY THE LEFTOVER DEBRIS IN THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS COVERED BY THE RECALL. I CALLED KIA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, AND I WAS TOLD MY CAR PASSED THE RECALL INSPECTION A YEAR AGO, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT SHOULD BE COVERED NOW CONSIDERING I CAN NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD LOOK OVER THE CAR, BUT NOT WITHOUT IMMEDIATELY SAYING THAT THERE'S A CHANCE IT 'WON'T BE COVERED' AS IF THEY WERE ANTICIPATING TELLING ME THEY WON'T DO IT. ON SATURDAY I WAS TOLD I WOULD GET A CALL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY, WHICH I NEVER DID. I FINALLY HAD TO CALL THURSDAY, JUST TO BE ON HOLD FOR 30 MINUTES TELLING ME ITS ONLY THE TURBO AFFECTED, NOT THE ENGINE OR TURBO LINE, AND THEREFORE IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL. NOT ONLY DID THEY TELL ME SOMETHING I ALREADY KNEW, THAT THE TURBO WAS BLOWN, BUT I'M CHARGED $110 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE THAT I WAS NEVER TOLD ABOUT BEFOREHAND, TO CHECK SOMETHING THAT'S ON RECALL, NOT TO MENTION THE TOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR. I CALLED KIAS CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO JUST GAVE ME AN OH WELL THAT'S TOO BAD SORRY NO ONE TOLD YOU, I'M NOT GOING TO TRY TO HELP. I'M NOT EVEN CONVINCED THAT THEY DID ANY TESTS ON MY ENGINE, OR LOOKED INTO THE CAUSE OF THE TURBO FAILURE. MY ONLY EXPLANATION WHEN ASKING ABOUT THE CAR WAS, 'IT NEEDS A TURBO'. WHILE READING OTHER PEOPLE'S STORIES ABOUT THE RECALL, EVERYONE ELSE'S DEALER SAW THAT THE CAR COULDN'T DRIVE, REPLACED THE ENGINE AND TURBO, AND CALLED IT A DAY. I THOUGHT IF THERES A RECALL EVERY CAR GETS FIXED REGARDLESS IF IT NEEDS IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11110508July 5, 2018
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS GIRLFRIEND, WHO WAS THE DRIVER AND OWNER OF A 2013 KIA OPTIMA EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI P4 FOUR SEASONS PLUS TIRES, SIZE: 215/55/R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AND DAMAGED THE SIDE REAR QUARTER PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE TIRE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DETERMINATION OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE TIRE BACK TO SAM'S CLUB. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO SAM'S CLUB AND REPLACED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000. THE VIN AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11109691July 5, 2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2017. THE DEALER (KIA ATLANTA SOUTH, 7310 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260) STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11109492July 4, 2018
ENGINE
RECEIVED PAPER THAT I HAD ENGINE RECALL FOR METAL SHADINGS AND SEIZESING ENGINE TOOK CAR TO DOWN TOWN KIA DEALER AND TOLD THEM I HAD SEEN PIECES OF METAL SHADING ON MY OIL AND THEY SAID NO IT'S FINE ....2 MONTHS LATER MY ENGINE SEIZED ON ME NOW THEY DONT WANNA DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I PASSED OVER 100,000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11109510July 4, 2018
POWER TRAIN
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE SHUDDERS & HESITATES. I MUST ALLOW EXTRA TIME & SPACE FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INTERSECTION. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. KIA SAYS THE VEHICLE IS PERFORMING AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO. I THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED, AS I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS, SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES REGARDING THIS PROBLEM.
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
#11105400July 3, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE SPEED SUDDENLY REDUCED TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS TURNED OFF AND THE GAS MOTOR DID NOT IMMEDIATELY TURN START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (KIRBY KIA OF VENTURA, 6424 AUTO CENTER DR, VENTURA, CA). BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT
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
#11105163July 2, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, STOPPED, IN THE WEST CONSHOHOCKEN MUNICIPAL COMMUNITY BUILDING PARKING LOT, 112 FRONT STREET, WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PA. THE CAR WAS IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED. I WENT TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I PRESSED THE IGNITION BUTTON, A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN A LOUD JACK HAMMER SOUND STARTED. CAR SHOT BACKWARDS IN REVERSE AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WERE FLASHING AND A BELL RINGING. I PUMPED THE BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. IN HAD JUST BEEN TURNED OFF, AND WAS ALREADY IN PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ON. CAR WENT ON OUT OF NOWHERE, AND WENT IN REVERSE THE LENGTH OF APPROXIMATELY 25 CARS AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR.POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THEY REPORTED THE ACCIDENT AND IT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. MURRAY KIA WAS WHERE THE CAR WAS TOWED. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME IT WAS AN INSURANCE PROBLEM. NOT TRUE!! MY PASSENGER AND I WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE ROLLED INTO THE STREET AND ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND COULD BEEN KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED, OR INJURED OTHERS. THANK GOD THE PARKED CAR WAS THERE AND ONLY THEN DID THE CAR CRASH INTO IT, AND STOP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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