Kia Optima Complaints (2015)

1,022 consumer complaints on file.

#11172747January 29, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR IS USING OIL BUT ITS NOT LEAKING OIL BUT EVERYTIME I GET A OIL CHANGE ITS OLNY A QUART IN MY CAR MAYBE. I HAVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH TO MAKE SURE I HAVE OIL IN MY CAR CAUSE IT STOPPED ON ME AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME THEY PUT OIL IN IT A LIL LATER AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. BUT NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OIL INDICATORS COME ON I NEED TO KNOW WHY AND WHY IS THIS OIL BURNING OFF MY ENGINE AM I IN ANY DANGER IF MY CAR CATCHING FIRE?? PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW CAUSE THIS HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH IT JUST BURBS THE OIL UP I DONT KNOW WHY?? PLEASE IF U COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172780January 29, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WOBBLED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REDDING KIA (888-778-5635, LOCATED AT 418 E CYPRESS AVE, REDDING, CA 96002) AND KEPT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE YOKE IN THE STEERING BOX WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS BACK ORDERED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED TO RETURN THE LOANER VEHICLE BECAUSE HER VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND PROMISED TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172019January 25, 2019
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BRAKES DID NOT WORK CAR SHUT OFF HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR IN NEVER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT TOTAL LOSS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171544January 23, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING THE ROAD WHEN OUT OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE STOPS AND SOMETIMES TURNS ON ON ITSELF,ITS SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE LOCKS AND THE CARS STOPS SUDDENLY.IT ALSO HAPPENS AND I TURN ON INTERSECTIONS,WHEN I ACCELERATE TO GAIN SPEED IT TURNS OFF AND I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR ON NEUTRAL AND TURN IT ON. ON ALL OF THESE OCCASIONS MY FAMILY TRAVELING WITH ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171301January 22, 2019
ENGINE
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 70. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE FIRE. YOU CAN SEE THE BURNED SQUARE SHAPE ON THE HOOD WHICH SHOWS THE DESTRUCTION UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11171144January 21, 2019
ENGINE
ON JANUARY 15, 2019 MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FIRST THEN TIRED TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK SO SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD POPPED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11170569January 17, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IMPROPER SEALING OF COOLANT RESERVOIR THAT HAS SLOWLY LEAKED ONTO THE HECU UNIT AND HAS FRIED THE HYBRID BATTERY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165944January 8, 2019
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL MY SON AND I WAS RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM! AND THE CAR STARTED SMOKING WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WE CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD ONLY TO SEE FIRE! WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RUNNING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SCARED FOR OUR LIFE'S. SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE OR RIDE INSIDE OF ANY VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165714January 3, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED UP, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AND ONLY SMOKE REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND STATED THAT THE EXHAUST HAD BURST AND OIL LEAKED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163409December 26, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL HIGHWAY IN MY KIA OPTIMA (WHICH HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT TO A DEALER. BARRY HENDERSON, THE REPAIR SHOP MANAGER, SAID THERE IS A POSSIBLE WIRING ISSUE AND IF THE WIRING IS OKAY, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPAIR SO THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HYMAN BROTHERS KIA IN MIDLOTHIAN, VA. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR AND HARD COPIES OF ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS HAVE BEEN PLACE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AS PROOF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163527December 26, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH APPROX 68,000 MILES. GOING UP HILL UP A RAMP TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY AROUND 40 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE OIL AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND CAR COASTED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE INTO SHOULDER AS I COULD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. SAT ON THE ON-RAMP FOR QUITE A WHILE PARTIALLY BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HAD SOME NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS PASSING AND HONKING AT ME. TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP SAME MORNING. TECH BELIEVES MY ENGINE HAS SEIZED BUT NO OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A LOANER CAR AT NO CHARGE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND HOPE KIA WILL REPLACE MY ENGINE AT NO COST AND BUY MY CAR BACK. I AM SCARED OF THE VEHICLE FIRES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THESE ENGINES FOR OTHER PEOPLE. MY CAR GAVE ME NO FAILURE WARNING UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163271December 24, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON DECEMBER 5, 2018 MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN AN INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL I HAD BATTERY POWER, ALL OF THE GA RESTART IT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL I HAD BATTERY POWER, ALL OF THE GAUGES WOULD A CYCLE BACK-AND-FORTH WHENEVER PUSHING THE START BUTTON,HOWEVER IT WAS JUST LIKE THE GAS MOTOR WOULD NOT FIRE. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT IT SHOWED A LOT OF CODES, AND THEY WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO DECIPHER THEM AND WOULD NOTIFY ME WITH RESULTS LATER. AFTER ABOUT FIVE HOURS I WAS CALLED BACK AND TOLD HER THAT THE BATTERY ON THE CAR WAS DEAD AND IT WOULD NOT TAKE A CHARGE. PLAY THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE BATTERY ON THE CAR WAS THE ONLY THING NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE NEW REPLACEMENT WAS $400. UNABLE TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR A 12 V BATTERY I TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR A WEEK TO ARGUE THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD WHEN IT WENT OUT AND GETTING NOWHERE I FINALLY BOUGHT A $200 BATTERY, AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. I AM MEDIATELY TRIED TO START THE CAR.... IT DID THE SAME THING IT DID AFTER IT DIED A WEEK PRIOR. I AM FORM THEM AFTER GIVING THEM THE KEY TO THE CAR BACK AND I NEED NEW BATTERY AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. A NOTHER WEEK WENT BY AND FINALLY I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WAS TAKING THE BATTERY I PURCHASED OUT TO PUT A KIA BATTERY IN THE CAR TO SEE IF IT WILL START (WHICH THEY SAID THAT ALLOWED THE CAR TO START). THEN STATED TO ME THAT AFTER IT STARTED THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL CODES ON IT AND IT HAD A BED SAFETY FUSE. I WAS FIVE MINUTES FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHENEVER I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS SO I'LL STOP BY NEARLY AS I HUNG UP THE PHONE. WHEN I WALKED IN I WALKED STRAIGHT TO THE CAR WHICH WAS IN THE GARAGE AND LOOK AT MY BATTERY THAT I PURCHASED WAS STILL IN THE CAR, HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED AND I STARTED THE CAR. SUCCESSFULLY. I WAS STILL TOLD COULDN'T TAKE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162973December 21, 2018
ENGINE
CAR USED TO COMMUTE 50 MILES EACH DAY TO WORK AND BACK. ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL (A QUART EACH WEEK). KIA DEALER SAID ENGINE IS BLOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162210December 18, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LOU FUSZ KIA (1025 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST LOUIS, MO, 63132). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE CHANGED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161482December 14, 2018
ENGINE
AROUND 55,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING LOW OIL AND HAVING TO ADD OIL, SHORTLY I HEARD SOME RATTLING UNDER THE HOOD. AT THIS TIME I ALSO STARTED TO NOTICE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY SAYING I DID NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPER OIL CHANGES. I OFFERED PROOF OF ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND THEY STILL DENIED TO FIX IT. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE FIX THEY SAY NEEDED TO BE DONE SO I JUST DECIDED I WOULD JUST ADD THE EXTRA OIL TO THE ENGINE EVERY WEEK HOWEVER AROUND 63,000 THE ENGINE BLEW. NOW CURRENTLY THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM AWAITING TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT ISSUE ON THIS CAR AND I EXPECT THEM TO FIX MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11156407December 5, 2018
STEERING
THE STEERING HAS BECOME DIFFICULT, JERKY, STICKS AND REQUIRES MUCH EFFORT TO CONTROL. THIS OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS BUT OF COURSE IS MORE PREVALENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. KIA INDICATED THAT THE MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING IS DEFECTIVE AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SIMILAR ISSUES MULTIPLE TIMES. AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY KIA IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR DEATH TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE KIA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN GOOD FAITH TO US AS A LOYAL CUSTOMER. KIA CLAIM # IS 12961775. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT JIM BUTLER KIA IN CHESTERFIELD MO AWAITING AN ESCALATION TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME, MOST LIKELY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW, BUT HAS RECENTLY BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE AND MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11156012December 4, 2018
ENGINE
HAD OIL CHANGED AND A MONTH LATER NOTICED THE CAR MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND SKIPPING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY. HAD THE OIL RECHECKED AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF OIL. FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE OIL PLACE FORGOT TO PUT OIL IN. HOWEVER, IT WAS LATER DETERMINED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE VALVE WAS GONE IN THE ENGINE AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE AT 130,000 MILES IN A 2015 KIA OPTIMA LX. THE CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 BUT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11155486December 2, 2018
ENGINE
VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE GOING DOWN THE HEY AT 60 MPH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WAS DIOGNOSED. KIA COMMISSIONSERS WAS NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11153415November 23, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS JUST SHUT OFF. THIS IS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, AND WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. STILL HAVE NO LUCK GETTING IT RESTARTED AFTER BEING TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11151729November 15, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED MY CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES A LOT WHEN IT IS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT OR WHEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IDLING IT USED TO BE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE CAR WAS RUNNING IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima