Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10914406October 7, 2016
ENGINE
STARTED CAR AFTER WORK AND IT SUDDENLY STARTED KNOCKING. TRIED TO "BABY" THE CAR HOME, MADE IT 3 BLOCKS AWAY FROM WORK AND THE MOTOR BLEW UP. THE RESULT OF A PISTON SLAPPING A SPARK PLUG AND PUNCHING A HOLE IN THE BLOCK. SHOULD FALL UNDER THE WARRANTY OF THESE CARS HAVING "WEAK CONNECTING RODS" BUT SHOULD BE A RECALL INSTEAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914473October 7, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED IMMEDIATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914540October 7, 2016
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A CONNECTING ROD MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914298October 6, 2016
ENGINE
DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE LAST NIGHT AND MY CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND STALLING, A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM MY EXHAUST PIPES. I PARKED IT CALLED MY DAD AND HE TOLD ME TO CHECK THE OIL. THERE WAS BARELY ANY OIL ON THE DIPSTICK EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST GOT MY OIL CHANGED 10 DAYS EARLIER. I HAD THE COMPANY THAT CHANGED MY OIL CHECK IT OUT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNALLY CAUSING THE OIL TO BURN OFF THEREFORE IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT, I HAVE ONLY HAD IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914344October 6, 2016
ENGINE
BACK IN DECEMBER, WHILE DRIVING A 2012 KIA OPTIMA LX, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND ALL OF THE CAUTION LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. THE WAS NO TAPPING COMING FROM THE ENGINE UNTIL THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE, LOW OIL, FUEL ETC ALL CAME ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO LOCK UP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF A BUSY ROAD. I COULD NOT START THE CAR BACK UP. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY STATED THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE AND THERE WAS SLUDGE. I KNEW THAT I HAD MAINTAINED UPKEEP ON THE CAR. THEY STATED THEY WOULD NOT HONOR A REPLACEMENT ENGINE WARRANTY. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO OUR LOCAL GARAGE. THERE I HAD A USED ENGINE INSTALLED IN MY CAR FOR A TOTAL COST OF $4,300. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. IN APRIL I RECEIVED A NOTICE/RECALL IN THE MAIL FROM KIA STATING THAT THERE WAS A ROD IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP AND SHUT DOWN TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE MY CAR TO GET THAT REPLACED. I HAD ALREADY PUT A USED ENGINE IN. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO SEND ALL DOCUMENTATION TO KIA FOR PROOF OF AN ENGINE INSTALLED AND ALL LABOR AND COSTS DONE TO MY CAR OUT OF MY WALLET AND I WOULD GET REIMBURSED. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT EXCUSES AND REASONS WHY I SHOULDN'T BE RECEIVING A REIMBURSEMENT. THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON I NEED TO PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION BUT I PROVIDED A HIGHLIGHTED CHECKING ACCOUNT STATEMENT FOR PROOF OF PURCHASE OF THE ENGINE, INSTALL OF THE ENGINE, INSPECTION AND EMISSIONS, PROOF OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE AND TOWING RECORDS. THE LETTER FROM KIA CLEARLY STATES THAT I SHOULD HAVE IT REPAIRED BY THEM AND NOT ON MY OWN DIME. UNFORTUNATELY I HAD TO TAKE OUT A LOAN FOR THE ENGINE AND INSTALL AND HAD NO VEHICLE UNTIL MID FEBRUARY WHEN THE USED ENGINE I ORDERED WAS INSTALLED. I STILL TO THIS DAY AM TOLD I WILL NOT RECEIVE MY REIMBURSEMENT. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUOUSLY CALL KIA, ONLY TO BE HUNG UP ON EACH TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914117October 5, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE COULDN'T SEE GOING TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING. I TOOK HER CAR OUT IN THE EVENING TO FIND YOU COULD ONLY SEE A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. I AM AN ELECTRICIAN AND RAN A COUPLE OF TESTS ONLY TO FIND EVERYTHING CHECKED OUT. I READ IN A KIA CAR FORUM ABOUT THE REFLECTIVE PAINT MELTING INSIDE THE LOW BEAM CUP. I ORDERED AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT AND THINGS WORKED GREAT. I TOOK APART THE ORIGINAL AND SENDING A PHOTO OF THE MELTED PAINT. HERE IS A WEBSITE WITH OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2011/LIGHTS/EXTERIOR_LIGHTING.SHTML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914079October 5, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
WE WERE ON THE WANTAGH PKWY AS USUAL THEN WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION WHICH SOUNDED LIKE THE TIRED HAD BLOWN. WHEN ARRIVING HOME WE NOTICE THE SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED AND ALL THE GLASS WAS INSIDE OF THE ROOF. THANK GOD THROUGH OUR INSURANCE IT WAS FIXED AND REPLACED.....WE HATE TO THINK THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IF IT DOES KIA NEED TO FIX AND REPLACE IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914110October 5, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2016, I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA TO CHURCH WITH MY 2 CHILDREN. AFTER COMING UP ON A RED LIGHT I STOPPED AND THEN PROCEEDED TO GO WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN. I WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE LIGHT AND ACCELERATE UP A SLIGHT HILL AT ABOUT 35-40MPH. AFTER GOING OVER HILL, I WAS NOT ABLE TO PRESS THE GAS TO KEEP GOING AND MY BRAKES ENDED UP LOCKING UP SO I HAD TO GET IN FAR LANE IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO COAST INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR CAME ON AND CAR LITERALLY JUST CUT OFF. THANKFULLY IT WAS NOT A LOT OF CARS ON THE ROAD TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED A TOW COMPANY THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND SAID THE CAR STILL WANTED TO TURN OVER BUT SOMETHING WAS BLOCKING IT FROM STARTING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A 2ND MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND IT APPEARS THAT THE CONNECTING ROD IS THE ISSUE. I'VE MAINTAINED THE CAR WITH THE SAME MECHANIC FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS AND I HAVE A LITTLE OF 140K MILES. I'VE TALKED WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND SAID I COULD HAVE THE CAR TOWED THERE AND THEY WOULD PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST FOR ABOUT $99 AN HOUR AND IF THE ENGINE WAS THE ISSUE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE OF THE WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR 120K MILES AND THAT I MUST HAVE ALL MY PAPERWORK FOR MAINTENANCE FROM THE MECHANIC I USED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913582October 4, 2016
ENGINE
CAR STARTED SMOKING SO TO HART KIA. THEY SAID THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OIL BREAKING DOWN. SINCE I COULD NOT PROVIDE ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS, KIA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING UP WARRANTY. THE CAR ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BAD ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913596October 4, 2016
ENGINE
THE ENGINE TOTALLY LOCKED UP....WHILE DRIVING, IN MOTION, ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE TYPE HIGHWAY! VERY DANGEROUS! MANY KIA OWNERS APPEAR TO BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM ALSO. THE ENGINE IS FROZEN SOLID AND WILL NOT TURN OVER PER REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOP. THESE ENGINES ALSO ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO BUY FOR REPLACEMENT AND KIA HAS DISCONTINUED MAKING THEM AVAILABLE. THIS INDICATES LOUDLY THERE IS A PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913626October 4, 2016
ENGINE
FIRST OFF, HAD OUR KIA AT THE DEALER AT 27,000 MILES DUE TO OUR CAR NOT COMING OUT OF PARK SEVERAL TIMES. WE WOULD HAVE TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON. DEALER SAID THEY CHECKED IT AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AS WE WERE DRIVING ,OUR ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THEIR WAS A HORRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM OUR ENGINE. OUR KIA ONLY HAS APPROX. 30,500 MILES ON IT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY AND SAID WE HAD A SPUN ROD AND WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE. I COULD NOT LOCATE ALL OF OUR OIL RECORDS SO THEY REFUSE TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY. HOW DOES AN ENGINE GO THAT SOON! WE WERE CHARGED $222 FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND HAD IT TOWED HOME. I ASKED FOR AN ITEMIZED RECEIPT OF WHAT WAS CHECKED OR TAKEN APART AND HAVE YET TO RECEIVE IT. FURTHERMORE, WHEN THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER GOT TO OUR HOME IT HAD AN OVERWHELMING GAS SMELL COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND ALSO INSIDE THE CABIN. WE WERE WARNED NOT TO HAVE OPEN FLAME NEAR THE CAR. OUR HOUSE SITS CLOSE TO WHERE THE CAR WAS PARKED SO I WAS PETRIFIED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND 6 HOURS LATER, THEY FINALLY RESPONDED BACK TO ME. CAME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TECHNICIAN LEFT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE OFF AND THE VALVE COVER BOLTS. HE ALSO TOOK THE PUMP FUSE OUT. THE TECH ALSO FORGOT TO PUT THE UNDERBODY ENGINE COVER IN THE TRUNK. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR THE TOW DRIVER AND US TO KNOW ABOUT THIS! I PAID TO HAVE IT PUT BACK TOGETHER AND NOW I HAVE TO RUN BACK UP THERE TO GET OUR UNDERBODY COVER??? I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SOONER AND WHY WE HAVE ENGINE FAILURE AT SUCH LOW MILES!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913613October 4, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK 85% OF THE TIME, PREVENTING NORMAL ENTRY TO / EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE. MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS USING THE KEY IN THE DOOR LATCH ARE REQUIRED TO GAIN ENTRY THE OTHER 15% OF THE TIME. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE OF CRASH, FIRE, OR CARJACKING. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE AROUND 100K MILES. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL EVENT...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913770October 4, 2016
ENGINE
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN MAY 2016. I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE OIL CHANGE AND THE CAR HAS 40,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND I COASTED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND NO OIL WAS INSIDE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO OIL LEAKS BUT THEY WON'T PAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913773October 4, 2016
ENGINE
ON 09/19/2016 I PURCHASED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA LX FROM KIA OF CERRITOS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY BECAUSE ON 09/19/2016 I GOT HOME, PARKED IT IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE (STILL ON), AND IT SHUT OFF BY ITSELF. I TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND IT BLEW OUT WHITE SMOKE, I TURNED IT OFF IMMEDIATELY, AND CALLED KIA THIS NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 9/20/16. THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACED THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO THIS, THE CAR WAS WORKING NORMALLY, NO DASH LIGHTS, OR ANYTHING THAT WOULD SIGNAL THE CAR BREAKING DOWN, KIA OF CERRITOS IS UNWILLING TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY'RE SAYING THE COST FOR REPAIRS IS $6,585 AND KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA DECLINED THE REPAIRS, I'VE BEEN WITH THIS CAR ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913808October 4, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
VEHICLE PERIODICALLY WILL NOT CRANK AFTER SITTING. HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES RECENTLY AND DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913802October 4, 2016
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. THIS IS APPARENTLY AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 2009 OPTIMAS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10911281October 3, 2016
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
GDI ENGINE BURNS OIL, CONNECTING ROD FAILED. WHITE SMOKE, AND MAKES WEIRD NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN GETS TO 60MPH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910967October 1, 2016
ENGINE
SAME COMPLAINTS AS THE OTHERS, 85,000 MILES AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING HOME. NO CHECK ENGINE/LOW OIL LIGHT. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE SHOP'S REPORT WAS THAT THE OIL WAS LOW AND DARK, COULD NOT CRANK ENGINE MANUALLY BY HAND, ENGINE HAS INTERNAL DAMAGE AND HAS TO BE REPLACED.. $4100 IF I CHOOSE TO PROCEED. WE BOUGHT IT USED, AND ARE SOL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910892October 1, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
OEM HEADLIGHTS GO BAD. LIGHTS GOT PROGRESSIVELY DIM WITH TIME. GOT TO THE POINT I COULD BARELY DRIVE AT NIGHT. DANGEROUS! STARTED LEAVING LIGHTS ON HIGH BEAMS - NOBODY WOULD FLASH ME BECAUSE THEY WERE BARELY ADEQUATE. CHECKED VOLTAGE/GROUND WAS OK. REPLACED FACTORY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WITH AFTERMARKET UNITS - FIXED THE PROBLEM. CAN NOW DRIVE AROUND SAFELY AT NIGHT. KIA SHOULD RECALL THE DEFECTIVE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10910897October 1, 2016
STEERING
THERE AN AWFUL CLICKING/CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL WHEN YOU TURN OR HIT A BUMP/CROSS TRACKS..BEEN TOLD HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH FLEXIBLE COUPLING INSIDE STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE IS ALWAYS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS CAR ONLY HAS 100600. MILES IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IN CITY OR OTHER HIGHWAYS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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