Kia Optima Complaints (2008)

144 consumer complaints on file.

#11267367October 9, 2019
AIR BAGS
KIA RECALLED OPTIMAS UP UNTIL JANUARY 2008 FOR FAULTY CLOCK SPRING. I HAVE A KIA OPTIMA THAT WAS BUILT IN MARCH 2008. I JUST PAID ALMOST 500.00 TO REPLACE THE CLOCK SPRING BECAUSE MY MONTH AND YEAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. WHY DID KIA STOP THE RECALL AFTER JANUARY 2008 WHEN THERE WERE STILL 2008'S WITH CLOCK SPRING ISSUES. I STARTED MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I HAD A BAD CLOCK SPRING. I'M SURE THESE THINGS DO NOT WEAR OUT BEING THEY ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11256489September 18, 2019
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS WAITING TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED IN THE VEHICLE, HE SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL; HOWEVER, THE GEAR FAILED TO ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY AAA TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. GREENWAY KIA OF RIVERGATE (1536 GALLATIN PIKE N, MADISON, TN 37115, (615) 860-9888) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233205July 18, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT CONTINUED TO MOVE WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SONS KIA (100 SONS DR, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253, (678) 619-1393) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING); HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CLAIMING THAT THE SHIFTER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232743July 17, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN PARK THE CAR ISN'T RECOGNIZING THAT THE CAR IS PARKED CAUSING IT TO CONTINUE TO ROLL. ONCE THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART AND THE GEARS WILL NOT SHIFT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11206633May 9, 2019
ENGINE
I BOUGHT MY KIA OPTIMA IN 2009, IT WAS 1 YR OLD AT THAT TIME. I HAD TO REPLACE MY TIMING BELT IN MARCH OF 2017 AND I AM HAVING TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. IT IS MAY OF 2019. MY CAR ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161480December 14, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2008 KIA OPTIMA FUEL PUMP BODY FAILURE. THE PUMP BODY CRACKS AND THE COMPUTER SETS EVAPORATED. LEAKAGE CODE. WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OF THESE FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.THIS SHOWS A PATTERN OF DEFECTS AND IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS IF THIS CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE FUEL WILL BURST OUT OF THE TANK AS A RESULT THIS FUEL SENDER CRACKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112693July 25, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2008 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHICH RESULTED IN VEHICLE CRASH. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11103720June 25, 2018
POWER TRAIN
MY HUSBAND WENT TO WALMART TO DROP OFF A MOVIE. WHEN HE CAME OUT HE SAW ONE OF THE EMPLOYEES HOLDING THE CAR FROM BEHIND BECAUSE IT WAS ROLLING BACK. MY HUSBAND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF AND THE CAR STILL ROLLED BACK. WHEN HE GOT IN THE CAR AND TURNED IT ON THE HEAD BOARD SHOWED IT WAS ON 'N'. NO CHECK ENGIN LIGHT OR ANY OTHER WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. THE SHIFT GEAR WAS STUCK ON N. AND IF MANUAL BRAKE IS NOT ON THEN THE CAR WILL ROLL BACK. YOU CAN MOVE THE GEAR STICK IN CAR TO PARK OR DRIVE BUT THE ACTUAL CAR IS STUCK ON N. SHIFT GEAR WILL NOT CHANGE FROM N. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE WALMART EMPLOYEE STOPPING OUR CAR THAN IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALOT WORSE BY CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS BEHIND IT OR EVEN RUNNING OVER SOMEBODY CAUSING A FATALITY!!! CALLED KIA COMPANY TO REPORT IT BUT THEY DENIED IT BEING RELATED TO THE RECALL THAT SHOWS ONLINE ON KIA OPTIMAS 2006-2008. THEY TOLD ME ONLY SPECIFIC OPTIMAS HAVE THAT RECALL. WE HAVEN'T EVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH OUR CAR SINCE WE BOUGHT IT NEW IN 2008. WE HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED IT AND TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. THIS IS A FIRST FOR OUR CAR AND THIS INCIDENT WE HAD WITH OUR CAR IS THE SAME DESCRIPTION AS THE RECALL. WE FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD COVER THIS COST DUE TO IT BEING A MANUFACTUER ERROR. THE RECALL STATES ' INCORRECTLY INSTALLED CABLES HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO COME LOOSE FROM THE TRANSMISSION, DISABLING THE SHIFTER. IF THE CABLE COMES LOOSE, A CAR IN PARK WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR WHILE A VEHICLE ALREADY IN GEAR WOULDN'T SHIFT TO REVERSE, NEUTRAL OR PARK. IF A CAR WAS PARKED AND ACCIDENTALLY LEFT IN GEAR, AND IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT APPLIED, THE CAR COULD POTENTIALLY ROLL AWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY.' KIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND STOP SAYING ONLY SPECIFIC VEHICLES HAVE THE RECALL. WELL MY CAR DID!! ITS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA AND HAD THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPEN THATS ON RECALL. HELP!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11099510June 4, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
THE GEAR SHIFTER IS FREELY ALLOWED TO MOVE, YET THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS REGISTERING THAT THE CAR HASN'T LEFT NEUTRAL. (EXAMPLE: WHEN I PLACE THE CAR IN P(ARK), THE DISPLAY ABOVE THE ODOMETER WILL REMAIN IN N(EUTRAL). THE SHIFTER IS FREELY ALLOWED TO MOVE WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND THE BRAKE IS PRESSED DOWN AS USUAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11092281May 7, 2018
ENGINE, STEERING
FIRST THING IN THE MORING WHEN I START MY CAR UP. YOU DON'T HEAR THE KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE BUT SOON AS THE CAR GET THE ENGINE WARMED UP YOU CAN HEAAR A VERY LOUD TICKING NOISE. EVEN AS YOU DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE HIGHWAY YOU CAN STILL HEAR IT. ALSO THE STEERING IS VERY HARD TO OPERATE IT HAS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I SAID SOMETHING TO KIA ABOUT IT THEY STATED THEY DIDN'T SEE A PROBLEM. IT'S VERY HARD TO BACKED UP AND TRY TURNING THE STEERING WHILE OPERATING THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11091191May 1, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE NOISE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11089040April 19, 2018
AIR BAGS
OUR SON VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON A 1 WAY STREET AND CROSSING THE 4 CORNER INTERSECTION ON A GREEN LIGHT WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A 2018 CHEVY TRAX RUNNING A RED LIGHT. THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WAS HIT HARD, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN, 3 TIRES WERE BLOWN, THE REAR AXLE WAS BROKEN AND THE CAR WAS NOW FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. DURING THIS PROCESS HIS AIR BAGS (FRONT,SIDE) DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR PURCHASING THE VEHICLE FOR SAFETY. NOW THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH HIT HIM HAD FRONT END DAMAGE, BUT ONLY HIS SIDE AIRS DEPLOYED. BASED ON THE IMPACT AND BODY DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11048330November 25, 2017
AIR BAGS
CLOCK SPRING DONT WORK CAUSING AIR BAG LIGHT TO STAY ON
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11045297November 11, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DISENGAGE FROM DRIVE AND ROLLS AWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11019489August 25, 2017
AIR BAGS
"AIR BAG" LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURN ON. DEALER SAID THERE IS NO RECALL. CODE B1481.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11011834July 31, 2017
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING INTO MY PARKING SPACE IN THE EMPLOYEE PRIVATE PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY I STOPPED PUT MY CAR IN DRIVE TO PULL FORWARD A LITTLE THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD I TRIED THE SHIFTER IN ALL GEARS STILL NO MOVEMENT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11006137July 18, 2017
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER AILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V153000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO HER LOCAL KIA DEALER TO HAVE HER VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT INFORMED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10981870May 15, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
2008 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEM WITH IGNITION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION WOULD STICK, THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE BACK ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/15/2017 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10971860April 11, 2017
ENGINE
MY 2008 KIA OPTIMA STALLS RANDOMLY. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. THERE ARE TIMES THAT I START IT AND IT WILL STALL IMMEDIATELY AND SOMETIMES IT WILL STALL AS I AM BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE. THERE ARE ALSO TIMES WHEN I WILL BE DRIVING AND IT WILL STALL WHICH HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT PRODUCE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE THAT I AM EXPERIENCING SOUNDS VERY FAMILIAR TO THE NEWER OPTIMAS THAT HAVE RECENTLY BEEN RECALLED. THE MOST RECENT STALLING OCCURRED YESTERDAY, 04/10/2017, AND THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND ALONG WITH THE STALLING OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10895919August 15, 2016
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DID NOT REGISTER WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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