Kia Optima Complaints (2011)

628 consumer complaints on file.

#11000658June 22, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE BARNES CROSSING KIA DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY DUE TO PARTS BEING ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10995834June 19, 2017
ENGINE
2011 KIA OPTIMA RECENTLY WENT DEAD. WHILE DRIVING ROUGHLY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED UP WITH NO WARNINGS; NO LOUD NOISES, NO POPS. 99K MILES ON THE CAR AT THE TIME OF ENGINE FAILURE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEN NOTIFIED ME THAT THE ENGINES HAD BEEN RECALLED, APRIL 2017. FIRST, THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CONDUCT AN INSPECTION, REQUIRED BEFORE SECURING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE RECALL. SO I AM PATIENTLY WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE NO VEHICLE TO COMMUTE TO WORK. MY INSURANCE COVERAGE DOES NOT AFFORD RENTAL VEHICLES IN THE EVENTS OF MECHANICAL FAILURES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992783June 2, 2017
ENGINE
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS I WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND THE LIGHT WAS ABOUT TO TURN RED, SO AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION MY CAR'S ENGINE JUST COMPLETELY STALLED ON ME AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE WHILE MY CAR WAS SLOWLY ROLLING THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME. THIS HAPPENED TO ME A SECOND TIME AGAIN WHILE I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC THERE WAS NO LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS POSTED ON THIS PARTICULAR ROAD AND MY CAR JUST LOST POWER WHILE I WAS STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN MOTION, WHICH CAUSED ANOTHER DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ME AND THE OTHER DRIVERS WHERE THEY EITHER HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BRAKES OR QUICKLY CHANGE LANES TO AVOID HITTING MY STALLED CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992691June 1, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTING RODS FOR THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS VERIFIED BY THE KOONS KIA OF WOODBRIDGE VIRGINIA DEALER. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE MANUFACTURER WHO HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO MAKE THE DEALER REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED CASE NUMBER: K3368562. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992489May 31, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 197,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992322May 30, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOUGHT 2011 KIA OPTIMA USED WITH 75K MILES ON IT. DID NOT REALIZE IMMEDIATELY THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT BEING REALLY DIM. I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND CALLED THE KIA DEALER AND MENTIONED MY ISSUE AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID IT WAS PROBABLY A WIRING ISSUE OR A GROUND ISSUE AND THAT IT PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT WITHOUT THE HIGH BEAMS ON. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT VISIBILITY IS GOOD WITH HIGH BEAMS ON, WHEN SWITCHING TO LOW BEAMS FOR ONCOMING CAR, YOU ARE DRIVING BLIND, HOLDING THE WHEEL STEADY AND HOPING YOU STAY ON THE ROAD UNTIL THE ONCOMING CAR PASSES AND YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN YOUR HIGH BEAMS BACK ON AGAIN. TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND HE TESTED THE ELECTRICAL, GROUND AND BULB AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES. UPON PUTTING A SCOPE INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WHERE THE BULB GOES, HE FOUND A PILE OF CHROME SHAVINGS SO THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTIVE HOUSING DETERIORATED. ONLY WAY TO REPAIR IS TO REPLACE WHOLE HEADLIGHT UNIT ASSEMBLY. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE, REALIZED THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THIS SAME ISSUE ON THIS MODEL OF CAR FOR MULTIPLE YEARS NOW. OWNERS BEWARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND DON'T LET PEOPLE RIP YOU OFF BY CHARGING YOU TO GO DOWN THE WRONG/ELECTRICAL PATH TO FIX. POTENTIAL BUYERS BEWARE: IF YOU HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED AT A DEALER IT CAN COST BETWEEN $500 AND $800 AND IT MAY ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT IS AN ISSUE AGAIN. SEEMS LIKE THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BY KIA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992076May 29, 2017
POWER TRAIN
WHEN DRIVING MY KIA, AS I APPROACH A STOP AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS, THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD - ALMOST AS IF A CAR IS HITTING US FROM BEHIND. IT IS FORCEFUL AND HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. NOW, AFTER ONLY 5 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR HAS SERIOUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE STREETS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992097May 29, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS OR ALMOST USELESS AT NIGHT. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE REFLECTIVE PAINT USED BURNS OFF AFTER A COUPLE YEARS OF USE. I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT IT MEETS THE ILLUMINATION STANDARDS OF THE NATIONAL TRAFFIC AND SAFETY ASSOCIATION. I LIKE HAVING 2 WEAK FLASH LIGHTS TAPED TO THE HOOD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10991598May 25, 2017
ENGINE
ENGINE FAILED SUDDENLY WHILE OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10991653May 25, 2017
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN PRIMACY MXV4 TIRES, SIZE: P215/55R/17 93B (NA). WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER LANE TO REMOVE THE TIRE. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WAS CALLED AND ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH REPLACING THE TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WITH THE SPARE TIRE. DUE TO THE FAILURE OCCURRING IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRIVEN TO A SAFE ZONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A FRED BEANS FORD OF MECHANICSBURG DEALER LOCATED ON 6320 CARLISLE PIKE, MECHANICSBURG, PA 17050 WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE EXPERIENCED A PREMATURE BLOW OUT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE RIM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRE COULD BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE RIM WAS AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO MAIL IN THE DEFECTIVE PARTS ALONG WITH PICTURES, RECEIPTS, AND OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10990815May 21, 2017
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TAKING MY EXIT WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF I MANAGED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I TRIED TO START THE CAR BACK ON BUT FAIL TO DO SO. I GOT A MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND TOLD ME THE ENGINE SEIZED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10990664May 19, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY KIA WAS MAKING A WHISTLING NOISE ON AND OFF FOR AWHILE THEN MY OIL LIGHT WOULD FLICKER SO I FIGURED I NEED AN OIL CHANGE. GOT MY OIL CHANGED AND THEN THE CAR STARTED MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE AND WOULD GET WORSE WITH ACCELERATION AND WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME ACCELERATING. IT WOULD JOLT AND VIBRATE AND MAKE KNOCKING AND FLAPPING NOISES. TURN ON MY ROAD TO GO HOME AND LOST POWER. MY CAR SLOWLY CAME TO A STOP I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. MY ENGINE, BATTERY, OIL, AND EPS LIGHT CAME ON. I TRIED STARTING IT UP AND WOULD COME ON FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AND THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF BUT MY RADIO AND WINDOWS STILL WORKED. MY AC WAS ON BUT NOT COOLING. ALL THE CABIN LIGHTS WORK STILL BUT MY BRAKE ARE STIFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10990673May 19, 2017
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOGO WHEN I PRESSED THE GAS IT STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISES AND SMOKED CAR CUT OFF WOULD NOT CRANK SHOP SAYS ENGINE FAILURE BEARINGS AND RODS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985718May 15, 2017
STEERING
MY CAR RECENTLY STARTED MAKING AN ODD CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. IT GETS INCREASINGLY LOUDER AND VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN HEAR ANYTHING OVER THE NOISE. I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE BUT THE MECHANICS INSIST IT DEFINITELY IS NOT ALIGNMENT RELATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985721May 15, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
APPARENTLY MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME COMPLETELY USELESS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED A YEAR AGO AND WAS ASSURE THAT IT WAS JUST CLOUDY HEADLIGHT COVERS AND THEY WOULD "BUFF" THE LIGHTS BEFORE I TOOK IT HOME. SEVERAL TRIPS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE LIGHTS ARE SO DIM I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE AND TOLD THAT MY LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN WORKED ON AND WAS NOT TICKETED. I HAVE CHANGED TO TWO DIFFERENT BRIGHTER BULBS AND STILL ITS USELESS. I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. WHAT A WASTE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985861May 15, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BACK UP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY NOT SHOWING PICTURE WHEN IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME AND HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE KIA FORMS FOR MANY YEARS. IT APPEARS THAT THE CAMERA IS THE ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985446May 12, 2017
ENGINE
2011 KIA OPTIMA. ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALMOST CRASHED. SWERVED OFF THE ROAD, IT MADE A FUNNY NOISE UNDER THE CAR AND THEN I HAD NO CONTROL AND THE ENGINE DIED. I JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE OIL WAS BLACK. IT SUCKED UP ALL THE OIL CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. VERY DANGEROUS. NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL OR LETTER ANOUT THIS. TWO WEEKS IN THE AHOP AND STILL NO ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984620May 10, 2017
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ON COUNTRY ROAD, VEHICLE JUST STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC GARAGE AND HE FOUND THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN KEPT UP ON THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD BEEN RUNNING WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984463May 9, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED AND SMOKE WAS SEEN UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO A POSSIBLE FUTURE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,255.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984225May 8, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROD BEARINGS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS AN UPCOMING RECALL, AND THAT THE RECALL NOTICES WOULD BE SENT IN MAY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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