Kia Optima Complaints (2015)

1,022 consumer complaints on file.

#11422806June 29, 2021
ENGINE
Engine oil consumption is extremely high with no leaks and caused damage to the engine. Causing car to quit and lose power. I have been doing my oil changes correctly.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422480June 27, 2021
ENGINE
While driving 55MPH on highway vehicle suddenly stalled. I was able to coast to the shoulder on the right. I was not able to restart vehicle. Vehicle left on highway to be towed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422316June 25, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owned a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled and failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and diagnosed as an engine failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer and the dealer informed the contact that they needed the maintenance history receipts. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 98,978.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11422213June 24, 2021
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Electronic stability control activates (flashing light on dash) inappropriately; when not actually experiencing a traction issue. Most often occurs when accelerating from a stop at an intersection with any type of “dip” or unevenness between the roadways, such as lip from driveway to street. When it activates in these situations the engine power reduces significantly resulting in little to no torque and the vehicle is unable to properly accelerate. This becomes very dangerous when pulling onto roadways with through-traffic, as it is not possible to clear the intersection in the anticipated timeframe had the electronic stability control had not improperly engaged. My common reaction when this happens is to provide more acceleration, which the vehicle responds to once the roadway becomes even and results in an instant burst of engine power. This causes the tires to spin, reduced ability to control steering and a total loss if in a turn.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11420898June 14, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I was driving my car on the street going about 35-45 mph when all of a sudden with no warning my car stopped completely. It had to be towed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11420505June 10, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Front low beams continue to be very dim. Cannot see a few feet in front of the car at night. Have replaced bulbs but nothing seems to work. Is consistent with other complaints of the same, noted with NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11420100June 8, 2021
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
When I drive my car it smells just like it is burning or melting in the motor, it comes thru the vents and smells awful. It has only smoked a couple of times when I have turned it off. I have had it looked at but at first they couldn't find the problem. The second time I had it checked out they said that the changed the HECU on my car but it still smells like it is burning. It has been doing it for about 3 months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11420196June 8, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My vehicle pearl white paint started peeling on both sides of my front window and now is peeling on my hood. I have filed 2 complaints with my dealership that took pictures and the first one was expired they said cause of covid. It's been several months now and still haven't heard about my 2nd request. It's peeling really bad and it's ridiculous that Kia isn't trying to fix this problem. My hood is starting to get rust spots where the paint has peeled. I'm very upset and frustrated with this problem. I really need to get my car repainted.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11419991June 7, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I’ve completed the recall on Saturday it took them less then a few minutes even though the invoice said 0.00hrs. I showed that I had brake fluid leaking and the car smokes but was told to come back if things got worse. Saturday night I was driving to the house with my fiancée and the car started slowly if down, the check engine light came on. Then the car shut off in the middle of the highway after a while it just cut back on and smoke all the way to the house. If there was someone behind me I would have cause a accident but it not within my control. My car has randomly shut off while driving and a while later coming idling again, today making the 5th time with in 3days
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11419701June 4, 2021
ENGINE
2015 Kia Optima approximately 120xxx miles, daily driver Regular maintenance on vehicle. Engine failed as I was driving to doctor appointment. No warnings, no fluids leaking, no irregular gauge readings, no lights. Vehicle had to be towed to nearest dealership. Confirmed engine failure, failed bearing test. Contacted Kia Motors Consumer related to failed engine. No update on engine repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11419272June 1, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2015 Kia Optima, Snow White Pearl paint is peeling off hood, and rails around windshield.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418462May 25, 2021
ENGINE
I had 2 incidents with my cars engine not even a year apart! I got my car 8/1/2020 on 10/03/2020 I had a blinking engine light come on. I got it towed to the Kia dealership and they told me they were going to replace my engine because their is recall.. well they didn’t they ended up running a “test” and the engine light “came off” and they gave me my car back. Now we’re back again with another engine problem on 5/20/2021 my engine light, oil light and battery came on! Luckily I pulled over in time because shortly after my car seized and then didn’t start! My pap came to get me and checked my oil and there was none in there! I just got an oil change and every time I get an oil change I run out of oil and coolant and windshield fluid so fast and get it replaced in between oil changes it’s ridiculous! I definitely think it had something to do with the recall on my engine I’m still waiting for a diagnosis on my car and it’s been 5 days since I’ve had my car towed to Kia with no answers still!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418494May 25, 2021
AIR BAGS
My daughter was in a collision, going about 40 MPH, and the airbags did not deploy, she is very lucky that the windshield did not bust otherwise she would have been hurt.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418309May 24, 2021
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the engine failing. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V519000 (Service brakes, Hydraulic) in January of 2019. The contact was relating the failure to the recall. The contact was unable to service the recall because the dealer was behind on work. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11417589May 18, 2021
ENGINE
I was driving in rush hour traffic I'm my 2015 kia optima when it just cut off while I was driving almost causing me to hit another car. Unsure of what was happening I had it towed to akin and bobs auto repair. They inspected the car and it needs a new engine. I had not had any issues with car before. Now I see there is a recall that is causing issue like I experienced that day.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11416104May 11, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER ALM KIA SOUTH (4310 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 261-8409) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WAS GAIN TAKEN TO ALM KIA SOUTH TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415918May 10, 2021
ENGINE
EVERY SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA FROM THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN WOODSTOCK GA I HAVE NOTICED A STRANGE SMELL LIKE BURNING OIL IN THE ENGINE I COULD SMELL IT INSIDE MY VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AS WELL .ALSO THE ENGINE ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE RUNNING HOT AND CERTAIN DAYS IT TOOK NUMEROUS TRYS TO MAKE THE CAR START .ALSO MY LIGHTS WOULD CONSTANTLY FLICKER INSIDE THE VECHILE .I HAVE PAYED OFF MY KIA AND SOLD IT NOW BUT I RECEIVED A LETTER STATING I WOULD BE BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOMEKIND OF COMPENSATION EVEN AFTER IT WAS SOLD I'D LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS I LOST THE FIRST LETTER I WAS SENT SO PLEASE LET ME KNOW ALL MY OPTIONS HERE THANK U AND GOD BLESS MY MY CAR WAS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA I BEGAN FINANCING THE VECHILE THROUGH ALLY ON 12/04/2018 IT WAS PAID OFF 10/31/2019 ALSO I KEPT HEARING A KNOCKING SOUND THE WHOLE TIME I DROVE MY VEHICLE COMEING FROM MY ENGINE AS WELL AS A BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415185May 4, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 75 MPH, WHEN SHE SLOWED DOWN TO 50 MPH TO SWITCH LANE THEN ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 2 MORE MILES BEFORE IT WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THEN CONTACTED A KIA DEALER AND WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V519000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO PARKWAY FAMILY KIA (22555 US-59, KINGWOOD, TX 77339) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE RECALL. THE DEALER THEN SENT THE DIAGNOSTIC FINDINGS TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR APPROVAL HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE DEALER THAT BECAUSE THE CONTACT HAD NOT DONE THE MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT UPGRADE: VPI1802 (ENGINE) THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE HONORED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NEVER RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT UPGRADE BECAUSE IT WAS SENT TO AN OLD ADDRESS THAT SHE NO LONGER LIVED AT. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER UNREPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414888May 3, 2021
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND SUDDENLY IT'S STOPPED I TRIED TO TURNING IT BACK ON BUT IT WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO A NEARBY AUTO SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE AND THEY COULDN'T TOUCH IT. HE ALSO SAID IT SMELL LIKE SOMETHING BLOW UP IT SMELLED LIKE SMOKE. THE NEXT DAY I HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. THEIR MECHANIC AND CUSTOMER REP ARE TELLING ME BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO THE RECALL ON TIME THE CAR WOULD NOT BE COVERED AND I HAD TO PAY $7008.00 OUT OF POCKET EVEN THOUGH I NEVER GOT A NOTICE FOR A RECALL. IN THEIR SYSTEM THEY HAD A DIFFERENT ADDRESS, AND WERE ABLE TO UPDATED MY ADDRESS AND STILL TOLD ME I WAS LIABLE BECAUSE THERE ARE WAYS OF CHECKING FOR RECALLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414760May 1, 2021
ENGINE
MY CAR IS RAPID LOSING OIL IN BETWEEN REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUT OIL IN WEEKLY AND THERE NOT HAS THERE EVER BEEN ANY LEAKS. THE OILD IS BURNING OFF WAY FASTER THEN IT SHOULD BURN. SO ON TOP OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I HAVE TO PURCHASE OIL ON TOP OF IT. THE TIMING CHAIN IS SUFFERING DUE TO THE ENGINE GOING DRY WAY TOO FAST. THIS IS A RECALL ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR SOMEONE UNAWARE OF THIS TYPE OF ISSUE. THE OIL TURNS BLACK QUICKER THEN IT SHOULD AS WELL. MY MECHANIC SAID YOU ALL NEED TO REPLACE THESE RIGHT AWAY OR SOMETHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN. IT HAS TAKEN A YEAR FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO REPORT THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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