Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10361024October 18, 2010
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS BROKE WHICH IMPAIRED HIS VISION. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS/WARRANTIES THAT WOULD COVER REPAIRS AND HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR EXPENSES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360753October 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, INTERIOR LIGHTING
MY CONCERN INVOLVES ILLUMINATION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN DRIVING ON A BRIGHT DAY, THE PANEL ILLUMINATION IS SO DIM THAT THE ODOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN WITHOUT MOVING MY HEAD ALMOST NEXT TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER GAUGES, ARE ALSO DIMLY ILLUMINATED. AT NIGHT AND ON OVERCAST DAYS, THE PROBLEM IS LESS SEVERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360722October 15, 2010
SUSPENSION:FRONT, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
AS DESCRIBED BY OTHERS DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT ON '04 KIA OPTIMA BROKE WITH 1 SHEARED BOLT AND 1 BOLT JUST FALLING OUT (RUSTED WITH NO CLEAN AREAS) THE BALL JOINT HAD 1 PART OF THE SHEARED BOLT REMAINING AND 1 RUSTED THREADED HOLE. DEALER OFFERED NO HELP OTHER THAN TO INDICATE THAT THIS WAS NOT RELATED TO THE SUBFRAME RECALL OF LAST AUGUST ('09). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360361October 13, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE EVENT THAT LEAD TO THE FAILURE WAS ME SIMPLY LOCKING THE DOOR TO MY 04 KIA OPTIMA TO GO INTO THE STORE. THE FAILURE WAS WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND WAS FORCED TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT MOST OFTEN OCCURS WHEN THE DOORS ARE LOCKED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE, (POWER LOCKS). CAN ONLY UNLOCK VEHICLE TO GET IN OR OUT THROUGH THE PASSENGER OR REAR DOORS. IT'S CONSEQUENCES WHERE DESCRIBED ABOVE. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. MY WIFE DID RESEARCH ON WHAT WAS WRONG. IT IS A LOCK MECHANISM THAT CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WHO COULD ONLY TELL ME I WOULD BE REIMBURSED IF THE EVER IS A RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS NOT YET FIXED BECAUSE OF MY RECENT NECK SURGERY. TO FIX THE ISSUE YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE DOOR PANEL. THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE FIXED BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO GET OUT OF ME VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY?????????? OR EVEN WORSE MY WIFE????????????? PLEASE HELP AND DO SOME RESEARCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359983October 11, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2003 KIA OPTIMA DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCKED AND WON'T UNLOCK. CANNOT OPEN DOOR AND I'M LOCKED IN VEHICLE. MUST CLIMB THROUGH WINDOW OR PASSENGER SIDE. KEY WILL NOT UNLOCK DRIVERS DOOR. I CANNOT LOCK THE REST OF THE DOORS TO VEHICLE IN FEAR I WILL BE LOCKED IN OR OUT FOR GOOD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10359191October 4, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2005 KIA OPTIMA DRIVERS DOOR LOCK MALFUNCTIONS. DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE OR OUT. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE MANY INTERNET REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. KIA WILL NOT RECALL OR TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE. NHTSA DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358001September 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A GAS FUME LEAK AND THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 129,548.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358083September 28, 2010
AIR BAGS
I NOTICED THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD GO OFF AND ON FROM TIME TO TIME, THEN IT WOULD JUST STAY ON. I TOOK IT IN TO THE SHOP, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SENSOR, THEY REPAIRED IT AND THE PROBLEM CAME BACK. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358084September 28, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK AND ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR IT JUST KEPT RELOCKING, THE LOCK DOESN'T OPEN ALL THE WAY IT MAKES A NOISE AND LOCKS AGAIN. I HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE MIDDLE CONSOLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I WENT AROUND TO THE DRIVERS SIDE TO SEE IF I COULD OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE, THE KEY DOESN'T TURN ALL THE WAY, IF THE OTHER DOORS ARE UNLOCKED AND YOU TRY TO OPEN FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE IT JUST CLICKS INTO THE LOCKED POSITION. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE IN A POSITION TO HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY AND CAN'T. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358116September 28, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO CLIMB THROUGH THE WINDOW TO GET OUT. THE CONTACT HAD BEEN LEAVING THE DOORS OPEN BUT AFTER A MINOR ACCIDENT, THE DOORS LOCKED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE MECHANIC AT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE DOOR LOCKS BECAUSE IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. UPDATED 12/29/10 *BF UPDATED 01/03/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357905September 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
THE FRONT FRAME AND MANY COMPONENTS OF MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA HAVE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. IT CURRENTLY HAS 50,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS PRETTY MUCH ON EVERY DAY. I WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE GAS CAP, ALTHOUGH THAT NEVER REALLY CAME UP AS THE REASON, THERE WAS MORE THAN THAT- RESULTING IN MULTIPLE REPAIRS. THE O2 SENSOR HAS GONE TWICE, THE BRAKES HAVE CORRODED SO BADLY MY REPAIRMAN HAD TO HIT THEM OFF TO REMOVE THEM. I HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES SINCE THEY ALL RUSTED OUT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON AND STAYS ON AND NOONE CAN FIGURE OUT WHY. THE SILVER TRIM ON THE BACK WINDOW HAS FALLEN OFF. THE PAINT COMES OFF IN RANDOM PLACES MAKING WEIRD SPOTS OF PRIMER SHOW. THE TRANSMISSION HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT NUMEROUS TIMES BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FROM A STOP. SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE SAME HEADLIGHT GOES OUT ALMOST MONTHLY AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT IN AND FIND IN STORES. DOOR LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN, LOCKING ME IN OR OUT OF THE CAR. THE WINDOWS HAVE VERY WEAK MOTORS THAT BARELY ROLL UP OR DOWN. THIS IS A CAR I BOUGHT FROM A DEALERSHIP AND AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. I HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF IT. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR REGULAR SERVICE AND HAVE SPENT MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH ON REPAIRS WHILE STILL MAKING CAR PAYMENTS AND KEEPING FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE. I AM VERY UPSET BECAUSE THE FRAME HAS ROTTED OUT AND I WAS TOLD TO JUNK THE VEHICLE BY BILL DODGE KIA SERVICE AND THEN AGAIN BY THE GENTLEMAN DOING MY STATE INSPECTION TODAY. KIA STATES THERE IS NO RECALL CURRENTLY ON MY VIN #. I FIND THAT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE REPLACED OR ALL THE PARTS THAT HAVE CORRODED SHOULD BE COMPLETELY REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE BY KIA MOTOR CO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357116September 23, 2010
TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA LX. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH KUHMO MODEL#KH17 (NA) SIZE 205/60R16. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PURCHASED TWO FRONT TIRES DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS THE TIRES EXHIBITED TREAD WEAR PREMATURELY AND CRACKING. THE TIRES WAS PURCHASE 1/30/2010. THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH WAS 5 AND THE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS ONLY 6,300. THERE WAS NO TIRE IMPACT SUCH AS POTHOLE OR OTHER ROAD HAZARDS THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND INFORMED HIM TO RETURN THEM TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357031September 22, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THIS BECAME A RECURRING FAILURE SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR INTERMITTENTLY AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON TWO MORE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356085September 17, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD BECOME STUCK AND HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO THE MOST RECENT RECURRENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355893September 16, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, VISIBILITY
HOW MANY CONSUMERS HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE AIR BAGS IN 2007 KIA OPTIMA (MOSTLY PASSENGER) BEFORE A RECALL IS ISSUED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I'VE ALREADY BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO DEALER DURING WARRANTY PERIOD AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. WHAT IS THE POINT OF AIRBAGS IF THEY DON'T DEPLOY WHEN NEEDED? SOMEONE, IF NOT ALREADY, WILL BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE AIRBAGS, AND THOSE ARE JUST THE ONES THAT CONSUMERS TOOK THE TIME TO REPORT. WHAT ABOUT THE VISORS WITH THE DEFECTIVE INTERNAL PIECE THAT SHATTERS AND LEAVES THE VISORS IN A HANGING POSITION. THIS IS DANGEROUS!! THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND NO RECALL WAS EVER ISSUED. AGAIN, THESE ARE SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES. WHAT DOES IT TAKE AND HOW MANY COMPLAINTS AND INJURIES DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A MANUFACTURER CORRECT A SAFETY ISSUE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355699September 15, 2010
VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WHEN PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. PASSENGER VISOR BROKE AND HANGS IN LINE OF VISION. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE ON BOTH VISORS. THERE IS A DEFECTIVE PIECE USED IN THE ARM OF VISOR THAT SHATTERS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AS THE VISOR WILL NOT STAY IN UPRIGHT POSITION AND DROPS DOWN INTO LINE OF VISION. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE A COMMON COMPLAINT OF THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THEREFORE, CAN'T AFFORD TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE VISOR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED WITH STRONGER PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354626September 9, 2010
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
MY 2007 KIA OPTIMA SEEMS TO BE HAVING ISSUES WITH THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND RANDOMLY WITH THE RADIO/CRUISE CONTROL SETTING ON THE STEERING WHEEL. MY PROBLEMS DID NOT APPEAR TO START UNTIL AFTER THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2009 DUE TO THE NOISES THAT WAS COMING FROM IT. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS RECENTLY COME ON AND STAYS ON. ONE DEALER SAID THAT THE CODE THAT THEY WERE GETTING IS THAT CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED. ANOTHER DEALER STATES THAT THEY ARE NOT GETTING ANY CODES AND THE AIR BAG WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT $1200.00. THE NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN CAN STILL BE HEARD AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS THE BEARING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT THAT. THE ISSUES WITH THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL IS RANDOM AND THE DEALER STATES THAT IT NEVER DUPLICATES FOR THEM. NOW THAT THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THE ISSUES STARTED BEFORE THE WARRANTY WAS OUT AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE NOTED IN THEIR SYSTEM. KIA HEADQUARTERS OPEN UP A CASE WITH NO RESOLUTION OTHER THAN NO OF THE DEALERS CALLED THEIR HELPDESK FOR HELP OR MADE ANY CLAIMS OF MY ISSUES. THEY SUGGESTED THEY I TAKE THE CAR BACK AND HAVE THE DEALER CALL THEM AND REFERENCE THE CASE NUMBER. I HAVE CHECK TO SEE IF THERE HAS BEEN IN RECALLS ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE NOT BEEN ANY. ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER KIA OWNERS TO POST THIS SAME ISSUES ON THE INTERNET AND BASICALLY HAVE THE SAME RESULTS THERE ARE STILL NO RECALLS. JUST THE DEALERS TRY THIS AND THAT. THE OWNERS PAYING FOR WHAT SUPPOSED TO BE THE RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND IT REALLY IS NOT. THE PROBLEM MAY GO AWAY FOR A WHILE AND THEN SHORTLY RETURN. IT IS MORE LIKE GETTING THE RUN AROUND WITH WASTED TIME AND MONEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354445September 8, 2010
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE ON A SUNNY DAY HE NOTICED THAT THE GLARE FROM THE SUN WAS BLOCKING THE VIEW OF THE DASHBOARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354157September 7, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN HOT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE RADIATOR AND TUBING WERE REPLACED ; HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354058September 6, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
HI THERE, 2 WEEKS AGO MY KIA OPTIMA LX 2004 DRIVER DOOR GOT LOCKED OUT AND IT IS NOT UNLOCK ANY MORE. I CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT IS NOT UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THEY NEED TO ORDER THE PARTS AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I UNDERSTAND THIS. BUT I FOUND LOT OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND ALL OF THOSE CONSUMER GOT THE SIMILAR KIND OF RESPONSE WHEN THE CONTACT THEIR DEALER. THE QUESTION IS SINCE LOT OF CONSUMERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH SAME MAKE AND MODEL WHY THERE IS NO OFFICIAL RE-CALL. SINCE THIS IS KNOWN ISSUE WITH KIA OPTIMA 2004 WHY CONSUMER NEEDS TO PAY IF THEY DID NOT CREATE A GOOD PART OR MODEL. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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