Kia Optima Complaints (2007)

167 consumer complaints on file.

#10702105March 27, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK , NECK AND LEFT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. ....UPDATED 04/08/15 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10701871March 26, 2015
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME CORRODED PREMATURELY DUE TO SALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AGGRESSIVELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME AND THE FRAME WERE CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,599. UPDATED 6/25/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10701885March 26, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, KEEP REPLACING BULBS, EXACT BULBS REQUIRED BY KIA. ALTERNATING EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR THE PASSENGER. BESIDE THIS PROBLEM, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO LOW THAT AT NIGHT I HAVE BEEN RUNNING WITH HIGH BEAMS ON FOR OVER A YEAR NOW; ON-COMING CARS DON'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERED BY THE HIGH BEAMS. USUALLY HIGH BEAMS CAUSE ON COMING VEHICLES TO FLASH THEIR HIGH BEAMS, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH FIRESTONE, THEY TESTED THE BULBS AND BELIEVE IT IS ELECTRICAL. SINCE REVIEWING YOUR ON-LINE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, WE'D EXPECT A RECALL BY KIA! WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, AT NO COST, INSTEAD OF IT BEING OUR EXPENSE. I HAD SEVERAL CHEVY CAMARO FOR YEARS, NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ONLY RECALLING HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED ONE OR TWICE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669072December 30, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA AND IT HAS TERRIBLE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. PER FORUM DISCUSSIONS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653369November 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHTS COM ON WITH NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS MY ISSUE NOT THEIRS. I HAVE FILED PREVIOUS TIME AND YET NO ANSWER FROM ANYONE. KIA OWNER ARE BEING LEFT OUT ON THESE RECALLS ON AIR BAGS. THEY HAD IN THE PAST RECALLS ON THE SAME ISSUE. AIR BAGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639814September 29, 2014
ENGINE
MY HUSBAND AND I USED A PREMIUM OIL FILTER (NOT KIA), AND A FEW WEEKS LATER HAD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP UP THE STREET AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE WE USED AN OIL FILTER THAT WAS NOT KIA, THE FILTER CAUSED METAL IN THE ENGINE WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT TO ME IN 6 YEARS, NOT ONE PIECE STATED THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO USE A KIA OIL FILTER. THE SHOP THAT I ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO HAD TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND STATED THAT THERE ARE BULLETINS OUT THAT ARE ONLY AROUND 2 YEARS OLD. WHILE SPEAKING WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO GO TO A KIA DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHICH STATED THE SAME THING. NOW, THE KICKER, THEY WILL NOT HELP IN FIXING THE ENGINE BECAUSE I AM OVER THE 100,000 MILE MARK. ON TOP OF THAT, I AM NOW CHARGED A TOW BILL AND MORE DIAGNOSTIC FEES ON TOP OF WHAT I ALREADY PAID IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR EITHER (SINCE THEY REQUIRED THE CAR TO BE AT A DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE). I CALL THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS LADY THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALL UNTIL I CALL THE 800 NUMBER AND TELL THEM I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE OR I WILL BE GOING TO THE LOCAL MEDIA AS WELL AS ANY SOCIAL MEDIA AVENUE I CAN. THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WILL ALSO NOT HONOR THE "ENGINE FOR LIFE" THAT I SIGNED UNLESS I CAN PROVIDE ALL RECEIPTS FROM THE LAST 5 YEARS ON ANY MAINTENANCE THAT I DID ON THE CAR OUTSIDE OF A DEALER (AIR FILTER, ETC). I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MARRIED AND THE ACCOUNT CLOSED. AND - WHO KEEPS THEIR RECEIPTS FOR 5 YEARS ON AIR FILTERS?? THIS IS NOT ONLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR A LOYAL CONSUMER, BUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT YOU "AGREED" TO AND SIGNED UPON PURCHASE NOT BEING HONORED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638154September 22, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS TRAVELING 25 MILES AN HOUR ON A ROAD AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AT A RED LIGHT. THIS HAPPEN ONCE BEFORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. LUCKY THEY CAR IN FRONT OF US RAN THE RED LIGHT TO KEEP US FROM HITTING THEM. BUT ON THE 8TH OF THIS MONTH MY SISTER USED MY CAR FOR HER DRIVERS TEST, SHE TRIED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR HER TEST. THE MAN TESTING HER SAID IT DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX THIS. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM SHOULD FIX IT OR REPLACE THE CAR. THIS COULD CAUSE A WRECK THAT COULD KILL OUR FAMILY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631283September 6, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631170September 5, 2014
EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIME'S IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629865September 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TODAY THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT FROM A SPEED PF 65 TO 20 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE. I SUDDENLY TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS TO LET THE CARS BEHIND ME KNOW THAT THEIR WAS A PROBLEM. THANK GOD I WAS HIT AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER ON THE RAMP. I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BUT IN HOUSTON (THIS LABOR DAY) NO ONE IS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CAR SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO AUTO ZONE. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODES APPEARED. I WAS TOLD ONLY KIA CARRIES THE PART. I WAS SO SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND I DON'T WANT TO EVER BE IN THAT POSITION AGAIN BECAUSE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. I WAS READING COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL WEBSITES AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. IT'S SAD THAT KIA HASN'T OF YET ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS THIS WAS WAKE UP CALL FOR ME I CAN HONESTLY SAY I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY LIFE WHEN MY CAR DROPPED DAWN FROM SPEEDS OF 65 TO 20. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LOSING POWER BUT IT WOULD QUICKLY REGAIN POWER BUT NOTHING OF THIS INSTANCE. VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT FOR THE SAKE OF MY CHILDREN THAT WERE PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/FAULTY-THROTTLE-POSITION-SWITCH-355 I JUST RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THEY RELEASED A BETTER PERFORMING PART BUT OTHERS ARE STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT PART. KIA COULD OF AT LEAST NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN MANY OF US FINDING OUT THE HARD WAY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. THE NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629866September 1, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR FAILS TO STAY UPRIGHT LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO POOR THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD AT NIGHT. IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE ROAD LEADING OUT PROVIDES LITTLE TO NO LIGHT AND I WOULD CONSTANTLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE BRIGHT ON TO BE ABLE TO SEE INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS. BOTH ARE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY HURT. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT NO FURTHER ACTIONS HAVE BEEN INITIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629137August 28, 2014
AIR BAGS
NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA ON AIR ISSUES AND THEY FALL DEAF EARS. CAR WITH LESS THAN 100, 000 MILES AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. IT SEEMS THAT KIA HAS NO CONCERN ON AUTO SAFETY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY DIES FROM THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626391August 19, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618855August 4, 2014
VISIBILITY
BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS WILL NOT STAY UP. THEY HANG DOWN MAKING IT UNABLE TO SEE THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618146August 1, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT STARTED SMOKING AND A SMALL FIRE FROM ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. I PURCHASED THE CARE BRAND NEW IN 2007 AND HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE INCLUDING NEW TIRES. THIS CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT IT WAS LATE AND NO TRAFFIC. I THE WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALER. THE SAID THE ENGINE IS SHOT. I TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER, THEY SAID THERE IS A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE. REPAIR COST $7,000. THE CAR ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT. I'M APPALLED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617525July 18, 2014
AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE INDICATOR STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. KIA DEALERS WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE US THAT PASSENGER WAS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT PROPERLY, AND NEEDED TO SIT A CERTAIN WAY FOR IT TO WORK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610169July 13, 2014
AIR BAGS
BACK WHEN THE CLOCK SPRING HAD A RECALL WE HAD IT FIXED, SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON THEY TOLD US IT WAS UP TO US TO REPAIR WITH A COSTLY BILL. OUR STATE INSPECTION RAN OUT AND THE CAR WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. THEY RAN DIAGNOSIS AND IT CAME BACK TO THE OCS SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WILL COST ME $1800. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN THE SAME YEAR RANGES ON THE RIO. I WOULD BET THEY USED THE SAME BRAND AND SENSOR IN PROBABLY ALL THE CARS IN THESE YEARS, SO WHY ONLY RECALL ONE MODEL ? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS DUE TO THEM HAVING ONE RECALL OUT ALREADY. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED WHEN RIO OWNERS DON'T FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608939July 8, 2014
AIR BAGS
LIGHT TURNED ON FOR AIR BAG WHILE TURN VEHICLE ON. NO ACCIDENT. CALLED KIA ON THIS ISSUE. AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SC0094. AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE SORRY BUT THAT CAMPAIGN IS OVER. SO THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN ON AIRBAG SAFETY. UPDATED 3/18/2015 *JS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606703June 28, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM,WAS REPORTED TO KIA AT THE TIME AND THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME, KIA WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THEY JUST TOLD ME TO PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I FEEL LIKE KIA SHOULD TO REPLACE THEM AT THERE COST NOT MINE, THE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS ARE $360.00 A PIECE. WE HAVE TRIED RESTORING THEM AND HAVING THEM ADJUSTED THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM { FEELING HOPELESS }. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588601May 15, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR. I PUT THE BRAKES ON BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE SPEED. THIS IS ALL HAPPENING GOING IN REVERSE. I CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING NEXT TO THE PARKING LOT. THE FLOOR MAT WAS SEATED PROPERLY AND YES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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