Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11406115April 2, 2021
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT YET DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER BOWIE KIA LOCATED AT 16620 GOVERNOR BRIDGE RD, BOWIE, MD 20716 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405961April 1, 2021
ENGINE
I LOANED MY CAR TO MY SON A FEW MONTHS AGO AND HE SAID THERE WAS NO OIL SHOWING ON THE DIPSTICK. HE ADDED OIL AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO ADD OIL REGULARLY TOO SINCE THEN. I'VE ALWAYS HAD TOYOTAS IN THE PAST AND COULD "ALWAYS" DEPEND ON THE OIL LEVEL STAYING SAFE BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. I HAVE 148,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I KEPT CARS IN THE PAST WITH DOUBLE THAT MILEAGE WITH NO ENGINE PROBLEMS. I STILL OWE $4,000 ON MY CAR AND NEED TO KEEP IT A LONG TIME. THE KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME MY CAR WOULD HAVE TO BE KNOCKING IN ORDER FOR THEM TO HONOR THE RECALL. I'M SURE IF MY SON DIDN'T CATCH THE PROBLEM THAT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T BEEN KNOCKING SOON. THE PRODUCTION DATE OF MY CAR FALLS IN THE AFFECTED DATES LISTED ON RECALL # 17V-224. IS THERE ANY WAY TO GET MY ENGINE REPAIRED THROUGH THAT RECALL? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405789March 31, 2021
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO GARDEN GROVE KIA (13731 HARBOR BLVD, GARDEN GROVE, CA 92843) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE ENGINE FAILING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS RELATING THE ISSUE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE). THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT VEHICLE HAD TO MANY MILES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 290,00.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405889March 31, 2021
AIR BAGS, SUSPENSION, LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING
I WAS REPAIRING BRAKELINES, WHILE OBSERVING UNDER CARRIAGE I NOTICED SUSPENSION RUST, FRAME. LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THIS IS ONE. I INCLUDED SCREENSHOT OF PROOG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405448March 29, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY KIA HAS A LONG ACCELERATION LAG. IT IS SO DANGEROUS TO OPERATE THIS VEHICLE. WHEN I PRESS GAS PEDAL VEHICLE DOESN'T ACCELERATE RANDOMLY, SOMETIMES ACCELERATE BUT SOMETIMES NOT. I DON'T HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS SHOW UP. NO CODES. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS WARM NEVER WHEN COLD. WHEN WARMER OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE THE MORE OFTEN I FEEL THIS ISSUE. LAST MY VISIT TO THE KIA DEALER DOESN'T RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID NO CODES NO DIAGNOSIS. IN MY POINT, THIS IS A SOFTWARE OR CONTROL MODULE ISSUE. READING A LOT OF FORUMS I FOUND THAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ACCELERATION LAG PROBLEM. ALSO, I'M FEELING THAT THIS ISSUE IS A SERIOUS CONCERN THAT CAN CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405477March 29, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2016 KIA OPTIMA HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHTS. THEY ARE TURNING OFF BY THEMSELVES WHILE DRIVING. TODAY WAS A CLOSE ONE FOR ME, IT WAS 9:10PM AND I WAS GOING ABOUT 50MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I HAD TO BREAK RAPIDLY, I COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS CAR, AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE FOR OTHER OWNERS. I ASKED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP ABOUT FIXING THE HEADLIGHTS, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS GOING TO COST $400 AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS BEING A DEFECTIVE ISSUE WITH OTHER OWNERS. I AM NOT GOING TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, EVERY EFFORTS SHOULD BE MADE TO MAKE THIS A NATIONAL RECALL ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405204March 28, 2021
POWER TRAIN
KIA OPTIMA EX 2012 WITH 57000 MILES TRANSMISSION IS STUCK ON R (REVERSE) AND IT DOESN'T RELEASE EVEN WITH THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE ENGAGED. THE BACKUP CAMERA IS ON, BRAKE IS VERY STIFF, THE CAR IGNITION CAN BE ON/OFF BUT DON'T STARTS THE ENGINE. DASH AND SHIFTER INDICATOR SHOWS R AND IT DOES NOT CHANGE TO ANY OTHER STATUS. VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405236March 28, 2021
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WHEN COLD THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD INTO FIRST AT ABOUT 20 MPH. ALMOST AT SOMETIMES FEELING LIKE I HAVE BEEN HIT FROM THE BACK. MY NECK HAS STARTED HURTING FROM WHIPLASH. THIS IS A VERY HORRIBLE PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IN STATES WHERE ROADS BECOME WET, ICY, AND COVERED WITH SNOW, THIS CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE/ POSSIBLY DEATH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405102March 27, 2021
ENGINE
ENGINE DEVELOPED ENGINE KNOCK AND LOW COOLANT. STILL RUNS BUT NOT NORMALLY. I CAN BE REACHED AT [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405106March 27, 2021
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SUSPENSION
BRAKES SQUICK EVEN AFTER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT AND HAS A SLOWER RESPONSE TIME THEN USUAL AND CAUSED A REAR END ACCIDENT, COOLING AND HEATED SEATS STOPPED WORKING ON THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH I MET OWNERS OF MY EXACT CAR SAID THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THEM, AND THE PASSENGER SEAT CONTROLLERS DOESN'T WORK TO OPERATE ADJUSTABLE SEATS! THE SUSPENSIONS HAS BEEN BAD EVERY SINCE THE RECALL ON THE ENGINE; FOR SOME REASON IT WAS GIVING BACK TO ME WITH THAT PROBLEM FROM KIA DEALERSHIP. BACK-UP CAMERA IS MALFUNCTIONING FOR YEARS NOW AND CAR DOESN'T EVEN BEEP WHEN GETTING TOO CLOSE TO OBJECTS/OTHER VEHICLES ANYMORE EITHER FOR YEARS! I'M JUST FINDING OUT ABOUT THE PROCESS, RECALL LAWS AND RIGHT TO AN INVESTIGATION.*DT*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
5
Deaths:
0
#11405165March 27, 2021
ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MY CAR KIND OF SPUTTERED AND SHUT OFF...NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS...REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STARTER TO NO AVAIL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404939March 26, 2021
ENGINE
A LOCAL SHOP DIAGNOSED THE CAR AND SAID THE ENGINE SEIZED. BEFORE I BROUGHT IT TO THE SHOP A LOCAL MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BEARING(S)/ NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND SAID THAT THE ENGING IS VERY CLOSE TO SEIZING. I CALL MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THAT THERE IS ONLY 1 RECALL SHOWING ON THE KIA WEBSITE. I HAVE SCREENSHOTS OF 4 DIFFERENT RECALLS AND 1 OF THEM SAYS BEARING DEFFECT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. SO IDK IF THEY ARE TRYING TO NOT ENTERTAIN MY RECALL BUT THEY ALSO SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TOWE IT THERE AND THEY WILL DO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL THAT IS SHOWING UP ON THEIR END WHICH IS NOT THE REASON WHY THE CAR IS DOWN. LUCKILY THE CAR DIED WHEN I STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND I WAS JUST STUCK ON THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11405084March 26, 2021
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING TODAY ON 95 NORTH PHILADELPHIA! AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AND THE BATTERY LIGHTS AND OIL LIGHT DID COME ON. AND AFTER THAT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 73 NEW JERSEY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404517March 25, 2021
ENGINE
2015 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR OIL CONSUMPTION. THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404847March 25, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN YOU ACCELERATE, FOR EXAMPLE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WILL COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, ALL LIGHTS ILLUMINATING ON THE PANEL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MUST BE PLACED IN PARK AND RESTARTED. SOMETIMES IT STARTS RIGHT AWAY, SOMETIMES IT TAKES A FEW MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404203March 22, 2021
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE MOTIVE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404100March 21, 2021
AIR BAGS
2012 OPTIMA 45,000 MILES BOUGHT IN 2013. REGULAR ON TIME SERVICE AT LITHIA KIA OF ANCHORAGE WHERE PURCHASED. AIR BAG LIGHT TRIGGERED AFTER OIL CHANGE. DESPITE WARRANTY AND EXTENDED BUMPER - BUMPER COVERAGE, HAD TO PAY $150 TO HAVE THE AIR BAG CODES READ AND RESET. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO PERFORMED A RESET FOR THE PASSENGER WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THE SRS SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. IN MY CASE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD DEACTIVATED DUE TO UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. HISTORICAL CODES THAT WERE PULLED BY THE DEALER'S KIA SRS READER SHOWED LOW POWER CODES AND THE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT MALFUNCTION. I SHOULD NOTE MY INTERSTATE BATTERY IS 1 YEAR OLD AND BOTH BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR ARE FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. MY VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL, HOWEVER KIA AND MY DEALER SKIRT FIXING THE PROBLEM BY THE FACT THAT I AM HAVING A CODING AND PROGRAMMING ISSUE AND NOT A BROKEN MODULE OR CLOCK SPRING. THE SERIOUSNESS OF A NON FUNCTIONING AIRBAG (SRS) SYSTEM IS A BIG DEAL AND A BIT SCARY. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SKIRT RECALLS UNDER TECHNICALITY AND SHOULD BE HELD FULLY LIABLE IF THE SYSTEM FAILS LEADING TO INJURY. ESPECIALLY AS METICULOUS AS MY WIFE AND I ARE ABOUT MAINTAINING OUR VEHICLES. RECALL NUMBER : SC165 THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403985March 20, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. REFLECTOR ON THE LOW BEAMS ARE PEELING AND NOT REFLECTING THE LIGHT TO THE STREET. VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. CANT SEE 6' IN FRONT OF THE CAR THUS RENDERING THE VEHICLE USELESS DURING NIGHT HOURS. KIA WONT ACKNOWLEDGE OR GO TO A RECALL. DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404026March 20, 2021
ENGINE
ENGINE HAS TOO MUCH OIL CONSUMPTION , WENT TO DO MY OIL CHANGE 200 MILES BEFORE IT WAS DUE AND THE AUTOMOTIVE PLACE TOLD ME THERE WAS NO OIL ON MY DRIP STICK. ALSO HAVE A RATTLING NOISE IN MY ENGINE WHEN I ACCELERATE. NOISE HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403846March 19, 2021
ENGINE
JANUARY 25TH MY ENGINE SMOKED A QUIT RUNNING. MECHANIC INSPECTED TRYED TO TURN ENGINE OVER BY HAND WAS SEIZED AND HAD NO CODES. TOWED TO DEALER . JAN 29TH DEALER CONFIRMS ENGINE IS SEIZED . JAN 31 CALL ENGINE TURNS OVER AND HAS THROTTLE BODY CODE AND ALSO HAS TO MANY MILES TO PERFORM SAFTEY RECALL . I WATCHED MECHANIC TRY TO TURN ENGINE OVER WITH A WRENCH AT CRANKSHAFT AND IT WOULDNT BUDGE AND MECHANIC SCANNED CAR AND IT HAD NO CODES STORED . DEALER NOW WANT ME TO PAY MONEY FOR DIAGNOSIS I SAID NO CALLED KIA CORPORATE. I EXPLAINED TO CORPORATE SAFTEY RECALL HAS NO MILEAGE LIMIT AND THEY STILL DENY REPAIR I EXPLAIN TO CORPORATE THAT I HAD CAR DIAGNOSED AND I BELIEVE THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE ME A FEE BY CHANGING DIAGNOSIS. 10 MINTUES AFTER CALL TO CORPORATE I GET A TEXT FROM DEALER MY CAR IS COMPLETED AND READY FOR PICKUP NO CHARGE . I HAVE CAR TOWED BACK TO OTHER SHOP THEY SCAN FOR CODES AND TRY TO TURN ENGINE OVER BY HAND AGAIN AND NO CODES AND ENGINE STILL SEIZED . 2 WEEKS LATER CORPORATE CALLS AND SAYS THEY WERE WRONG ABOUT RECALL AND THEY WILL BUY CAR BACK. I ASKED IF THEY COULD FIX IT AND SHE SAID YES WE WILL REPLACE ENGINE . 3 DAYS LATER DEALER CALLS ANS SAYS COMPUTERS DOWN NATIONWIDE AND CANT ORDER ENGINE . 3WEEKS LATER DEALER CALLS AND SAYS THEY HAVE TO DO TESTS ON ENGINE BEFORE THEY ORDER NEW . I CA'LL CORPORATE AND FEB 26TH SHE EMAILS ME BACK THAT THE ENGINE WAS ORDERED 2 WEEK LATER DEALER CALLS AND SAYS THEY HAVE TO DO A COMPRESSION INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK AND OIL PRESSURE REGULATOR TESTS . I ASK CORPORATE WHY THEY SAID ENGINE WAS ORDERD AND THEY REPLIED THATS WHAT THE DEALER TOLD THEM. 2 MONTHS KIA HAS HAD MY CAR AND NOT DONE RHE SAFTEY RECALL IT SEEMS THEY ARE STALLING AND TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT OF DOING IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima