Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10807337November 29, 2015
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, TIRES:VALVE, EQUIPMENT
WHINNING IN THE FRONT END, BRAKES ARE GRABBING AND AND THUMPING IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP. BRAKES GRAB AND SOMETIMES GOES TO THE FLOOR. AND PULLS TO THE LEFT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807144November 27, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807227November 27, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 85 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WENT INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS KILLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A POLICE IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
1
#10806436November 24, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE BEING INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AXLE HAD FRACTURED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION ON THE MOTOR MOUNT BRACKETS. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 236,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10806344November 23, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR JUST QUIT RUNNING. HAD TO PULL TO SHOULDER AND USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. CAR TOWED, FIRST REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THEN TOWED TO KIA DEALER WHO WOULDN'T REALLY COMMIT ON CAUSE. BLAMED SLUDGE ON MOTOR. HAVE SERVICE RECORDS. REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10795305November 22, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CAN BARLEY SEE 2 FEET AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DARK. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 62000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790646November 16, 2015
STEERING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAMS ARE NOT ILLUMINATING.. THE REFELECTIVE PAINT INSIDE HAS BURNED OFF AND I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH OUT MY HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 2 FEET IN FRONT OF MY CAR. THE STEERING ON MY CAR STARTED THIS CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES WHEN I GO OVER THE SMALLEST BUMP ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO WEARING OUT MY TIRES AND CAUSING MY CAR TO PULL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790730November 16, 2015
AIR BAGS
I WAS TRAVELING 65MPH WHEN A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THE FRONT IN WAS CRUSHED IN AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT RELEASE. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE FORCE IMPACT OF THE DEER THE AIRBAG SHOULD HAVE CAME OUT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790745November 16, 2015
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S MOTHER WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE STEERING ABILITY FAILED AND PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S MOTHER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, PENDING THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,500.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790123November 13, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE, WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING AND CAN'T GET IT TO OPEN. I HAD TO CRAWL TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AFTER GETTING HOME TO GET OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790243November 13, 2015
STEERING
THE STREERING WILL PULL TO EITHER SIDE ESPECIALLY AT 55MPH OR BETTER. MADE SEVERAL CALL TO THE DEALER IN MEDIA AND THEY DON'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM. TOOK THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE IN BEDFORD OHIO AND THE CLAIMED THERE IS NO PROBLEM,
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789895November 12, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY FOR THE AIR BAG WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE VEHICLE WAS ONE MONTH OUT OF THE COVERED DATE. UPDATED 03/01/16.*JB *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789786November 11, 2015
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AIRBAG- WE STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS NOT WENT OFF (OTHER THAN WHEN THE CAR IS SHUT DOWN). AFTER RESEARCH DISCOVERED THAT AN AIRBAG FAILURE WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL, BUT ONLY FOR OPTIMA'S MANUFACTURED FROM SEPT 2005 FORWARD. THIS ONE WAS MANUFACTURED A FEW WEEKS PRIOR, YET HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER A GOOGLE SEARCH, THE ISSUE CAN BE FOUND ON OPTIMA'S WITH A MANUFACTURE DATE AS FAR BACK AS APRIL OF 2005. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO ALL 2006 MODELS. DRIVER DOOR LOCKS- WHEN THE DOOR IS LOCKED, IT WILL NOT UNLOCK WITHOUT A LOT OF PLAYING WITH THE FOB OR USING KEY AND 'GETTING LUCKY' TO GRAB THE HANDLE AT THE CORRECT TIME WHILE DOING SO, OTHERWISE IT LOCKS BACK IMMEDIATELY UPON PULLING THE HANDLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ON 2 LEVELS. 1-IF FOR WHATEVER REASON YOUR TRAVELS TAKE YOU THROUGH ROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS, THE ABILITY TO LOCK THE DOORS COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE IF YOU COME ACROSS THE WRONG PEOPLE. HOWEVER, YOU CAN NOT LOCK THEM BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE CAR CATCHES ON FIRE OR YOU NEED TO ESCAPE THE VEHICLE QUICKLY, THE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK SO YOU CAN OPEN IT LEAVING YOU TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. AFTER PERFORMING A SEARCH ON GOOGLE, THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE WITH THE LOCK ACTUATOR AND IS EFFECTING OPTIMA'S DATING BACK TO THE 2002-2003 MODELS. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES SERIOUSLY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH BY KIA. EITHER ISSUE IS SETTING UP A SCENARIO THAT WILL RESULT IN THE DEATH OF THE DRIVER, IF A SEVERE ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789825November 11, 2015
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE HITTING SEVERAL TREES IN MY KIA OPTIMA, GOING ABOUT 45MPH, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AND FROM LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE OF THE CAR, THEY ALSO THINK THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED, NO THANKS TO THE AIR BAGS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789284November 9, 2015
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
AFTER 60,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING OR WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED THREE TIMES BY REPLACING A MAIN FUSE. EACH TIME IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED, THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PROBLEM, THE DOOR WILL LOCK AFTER THE DRIVER EXITS THE CAR. SOMETIMES, THE KEYS HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789435November 9, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. LUCKILY, I SAFELY MADE IT TO THE FAR SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY ONLY TO FIND THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE STARTER IS ALSO FRIED. I HAVE SEEN FOUR COMPLAINTS SO FAR OF 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND AM SURE I WILL FIND MORE. THAT SEEMS LIKE TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE THAT IT HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY WITH THESE MODELS AND THERE ISN'T ANY SORT OF RECALL. NO BREAKS AT 70 MPH IS PRETTY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY ATTORNEY AND HOPE THIS MANUFACTURER WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789068November 8, 2015
STEERING
UNSAFE LOOSE STEERING. I FIRST NOTICED THIS ISSUE WHILE DRIVING ON I75 SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY CAR IN JUNE OF 2012. THE CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT, WHEN CORRECTED, IT THEN PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR VICEVERSA. IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THIS CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALER ABOUT 4 TIMES (DURING EVER SERVICE VISIT) THEIR RESPONSE IS ALWAYS THE SAME: "THE CAR IS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS, WE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT" I DISAGREE BUT COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TODAY, 3 YEARS LATER, IT'S WORSE, I HEAR A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. THIS SITUATION HAS ESCALATED TO SEVERE. I FEAR FOR MY LIFE WHEN DRIVING THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788891November 6, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAMS ARE VERY DIM. THE FOG LIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD BETTER THAN THE LOW BEAMS. I REPLACED THE LOWBEAM BULBS WITH SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR ULTRA BULBS WHICH ARE VERY BRIGHT IN MY OTHER CAR, THEY STILL ARE VERY DIM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788533November 5, 2015
STEERING
SUDDENLY AT 89,000 MILES THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CAUSED A SEVERE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT A SPEED OF 50 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF PLAY AND A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STANDING OR MOVING. THE CAR IS A 2011 CAR PURCHASED IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER OF 2011 SO IT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788142November 3, 2015
AIR BAGS
FOR A LONG TIME, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON. WE HAVE TAKEN THE KIA TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS. EACH ONE SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG AND TURNED OFF THE WARNING LIGHT. BOTH DEALERSHIPS SAID THAT, IF YOU PUT A CELL PHONE ON A KIA CAR SEAT, THAT WILL SET OFF THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT EVEN THOUGH NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR SEAT. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WHENEVER WE START THE CAR AND STAYS ON THE ENTIRE TIME, UNTIL WE TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE LIGHT TURNED OFF DURING REGULAR SERVICE DEPARTMENT HOURS. THIS MEANS THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT, BECAUSE, IF IT'S ON ALL THE TIME, WE WILL NEVER KNOW WHEN WE DO HAVE AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. SINCE OUR FORD AND OUR HYUNDAI NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WHEN WE PUT A CELL PHONE ON THE CAR SEAT, THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FLAW IN THE KIA AIR BAG WARNING SYSTEM. BECAUSE YOUR FORM ONLY ALLOWS ONE DATE AND MILEAGE ENTRY, I WILL TELL YOU THAT WE TOOK OUR KIA TO KING KIA ON 09/26/2014, WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS 68,239, AND TO HERSON'S KIA ON 10/21/2015, WHEN THE MILEAGE WAS 71,649. SO KIA HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/18/15*LJ *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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