Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11418309May 24, 2021ENGINE
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
- #11418340May 24, 2021AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that after he purchased the vehicle from the dealer, he noticed that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer tried to repair the air bag failure however, they were unsuccessful and informed the contact that the vehicle did not need the air bags since it had seat belts and there were many vehicles on the road without air bags. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle was previously involved in a collision. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Fort Collins Kia (2849 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525) and diagnosed that the air bag wirings were faulty and if the contact was involved in a crash, the air bags would not deploy. Fort Collins Kia (2849 S College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525) advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the original dealer since it was a safety failure, and to contact the NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417865May 20, 2021ENGINE
Knock sensor part failure placing vehicle into limp mode, causing loss of power while on interstate.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417872May 20, 2021ENGINE
I have had my vehicle for 3 years. I have never has any problems with this vehicle. Almost two months ago, my vehicles engine seized while I was driving on the highway with my four children in the vehicle. I had the vehicle towed to Clay Cooley Kia in Irving, Tx. They went on to tell me that they have to fix the other recalls with the vehicle before they could summit anything about my engine which also has a recall on it. After 30 days of having my vehicle, they told me that they could not cover the recall on my engine because I have a salvage title. I was told by their own employee, that it should not matter if my vehicle has a rebuilt title or not. They are being very rude to me and refusing to get me over to higher people at the company as a result.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417916May 20, 2021STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2013 KIA Optima Pearl White Paint peeling and chipping off all around the windshield. May now cause rust and future instability to vehicle frame which could make it dangerous.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417917May 20, 2021ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 1 mph, the vehicle started overheating then there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. Upon investigation, it was found that the radiator had a hole on the right side. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer and was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417706May 19, 2021ENGINE
Car engine died while leaving stop sign. Towed to a mechanic, they said the motor was seized & it seemed to be a recall issue so had it towed to Kia dealership. Waited a few days & never heard anything so called the dealership & they said it was a recall issue but they were denying it. Called corporate, confirmed it was a recall, still denied replacing the engine
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417561May 18, 2021ENGINE
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 Kia OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE, SHE STARTED TO HEAR A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE WHEN SHE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND WAS SERVICED UNDER AN UNKNOWN ENGINE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED 3 WEEKS AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR. THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,466.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417589May 18, 2021ENGINE
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
- #11417690May 18, 2021FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
There is a strong gas smell from the car when I am driving. There is an open recall for certain cars of this year, make, and model, but my Vin specifically does not qualify for the recall. The recall is for a possible fuel line leak, which sounds exactly like what I have right now.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417478May 17, 2021ENGINE
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS ENGINE FUNCTIONALITY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11417499May 17, 2021FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The low pressure fuel hose from the gas tank to the fuel pump located under the engine cover is leaking fuel. The vehicle was inspected by a Kia Dealership to determine the cause of the fuel leak. My safety and the safety of others were put in jeopardy due to the possibility of a fire or explosion from the leaking fuel line. The smell of gasoline was detected prior to the inspection from the Kia dealership
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416530May 14, 2021ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE RATTLES AND SHAKES IT HAS A BURNING SMELL/GAS SMELL. IT CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. LOOSES OIL.OIL AT LOW LEVEL BEFORE DUE. THIS MAKE AND MODEL IS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. IT HAS A KNOWN HISTORY OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. WHY WERE CONSUMERS ALLOWED TO BUY THIS CAR. PROBLEMS ARE ACTIVE AND ONGOING. STARTED ABOUT A YEAR OR CLOSE TO A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. IT IS A LEMON . THE DEALER WANTS TO DIAGNOSE THE ENGINE, BUT THEY ALREADY KNOW THE ENGINE IS NO GOOD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416566May 14, 2021VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 45 MPH. THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE BEGINNING TO COME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT HAD GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE TO ADD OIL TO THEIR VEHICLE EVERY 100 MILES. THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (VALLEY HI KIA 14644 VALLEY CENTER DR, VICTORVILLE, CA 92395; 877-305-9865). THE VEHICLE HAD TOO HIGH LEVELS OF THE OIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE OIL AND CHANGED THE CRANK SENSOR. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT ROD BARRING MATERIAL WAS FOUND IN THEIR OIL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE FAILURES PERSIST TODAY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416612May 14, 2021ENGINE
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITH THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) FOR WHICH THE VIN WAS INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEAN MCCRARY KIA OF HATTIESBURG (603 BROADWAY DR, HATTIESBURG, MS 39401) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO SERVICE THE RECALL DUE TO THE ECU NOT BEING UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,744.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416649May 14, 2021ENGINE
VEHICLE IS BURNING OIL VERY FAST AND REVING UP UNCONTROLLABLY. WAS INFORMED LAST SUMMER OF A RECALL ON ENGINE. TOON VEHICLE TO KIA AND THEY CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE ENGINE WAS BURNING OIL WAY TOO FAST. VEHICLE WAS BURNING OIL ALMOST COMPLETELY EMPTY IN ONLY 1,000 MILES. WHEN I FINALLY TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO HAVE KIA UPHOLD THE RECALL I WAS TOLD THAT THEY UPDATED THE RECALL 2 DAYS BEFORE MY APPOINTMENT AND THEY WOULD NO LONGER FIX MY ENGINE DESPITE DISCOVERING THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREME OIL CONSUMPTION MALFUNCTION. HAVE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE AND WAS TOLD BY KIA TO CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IF I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR DECISION. HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE SINCE LAST SUMMER AND KEEP BEING TOLD THAT THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US SOON. RECEIVED A CALL TODAY SAYING THAT I COULD PAY TO GET A NEW ENGINE AND THEN WHEN THEY FINALLY MAKE THE RECALL THEY WOULD PAY ME BACK IF THEY COULD PROVE THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE OF KIA
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416224May 12, 2021ENGINE
ENGINE OIL IS ALWAYS LOW EVEN AFTER ONE HOUR FROM TOPPING IT UP.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416342May 12, 2021ENGINE
MY 2016 KIA OPTIMA IS USING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES.THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND CONFIRMED THE CAR WAS USING THAT MUCH OIL AND IT WAS NORMAL OIL USE ACCORDING TO KIA.I TOLD THEM I DIDN'T AGREE THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MAN AGREED IT WAS A LOT OF OIL TO USE BUT SAID HE HAD TO GO BY KIA'S GUIDELINES AND I COULD FILE A COMPLAINT ON THE KIA WEBSITE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH KIA AND WAS CONTACTED 3 WEEKS LATER AND TOLD THE SAME THING THAT 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES WAS WITHIN KIA SPECIFICATIONS.THE CAR IS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILES EXTENSION WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS DONE ALL OIL CHANGES
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416055May 11, 2021ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND I HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11416104May 11, 2021ELECTRICAL 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