Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11210573May 29, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I'VE BEEN HAVING CAR PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR FOR A OVER A YEAR, THE STEERING WHEEL GET STUCK, MY BRAKES WASN'T WORKING GOOD, SO I GOT NEW BREAKS, HOWEVER MY CAR STILL DOESN'T MAKE A QUICK COMPLETE STOP, I'M ALSO HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, MY HEADLIGHTS BULB HAVE TO BE CHANGED ONCE A WEEK, I ALSO HAVE TO CHANGED MY OIL EVERY WELL, TODAY MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING ON A ENGINE, IT'S BEEN THERE FOR OVER THREE MONTHS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210657May 29, 2019
ENGINE
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY STARTED TO MAKE A WEIRD NOISE. AS I ACCELERATED TO GET OVER TO EVENTUALLY PULL OVER MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. AS I OPENED THE HOOD YOU COULD DEFINITELY TELL THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE I LOOKED ONLINE AND THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210649May 29, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS TRAVELING EAST ON A 4 LANE ROAD AT 45 MPH. AS I WAS PASSING THRU A GREEN LIGHT, A WESTBOUND VEHICLE MADE AN ILLEGAL LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING ME TO "T-BONE" HIS VEHICLE. ALL OF HIS AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.....NONE OF MINE DID. THE CAR WAS REPAIRED, SURPRISINGLY; YET I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. I SUSTAINED CERVICAL AND LUMBAR SPINE INJURIES, AS WELL AS A SEVERE WHIPLASH AND CONCUSSION. I AM UNABLE TO WORK, DUE TO SURGERY THAT WAS NECESSARY. I JUST NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAR IS SAFE?? I WAS ALSO IN A SIDE COLLISION THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT; TWO YEARS AGO,WHERE SOMEONE HIT ME, AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AT THAT PARTICULAR ACCIDENT,I WAS STATIONARY; AT A STOP LIGHT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11210268May 28, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET LESS THAN A MILE FROM MY HOME, THE CAR STALLED JUST BEFORE THE INTERSECTION. I COULD NOT RESTART THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO OIL OR CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING. I COASTED TO A PARKING SPACE AND CHECKED THE BATTERY. ALL THE LIGHTS WORKED BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THEY CHECKED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE CAR. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT 50,000 MILES AND THE CAR HAS 56,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER 60,000 MILES SO THE WARRANTY SHOULD STILL BE GOOD BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT THEY DID NOT GIVE ME A LOANER CAR BECAUSE KIA REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE ENGINE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE ECU LOGIC UPGRADE (KSDS) WHICH THEY INSTALLED IN SEPTEMBER 2018 ALONG WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT, THEY ARE USING ANY EXCUSE SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210330May 28, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED. LOU FUSZ KIA (1025 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63132, (314) 595-4900) STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER FOUND NO RECORD OF A PREVIOUS RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210179May 27, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN SMOKING ... THE VEHICLE BECAME IMMOBILIZED I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE. THE CAR TURNED ON AFTERWARDS BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. WITHIN SECONDS THE BATTERY SHUTDOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210207May 27, 2019
ENGINE
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON, WE COASTED OF THE ROAD. NO WARNING, NO ENGINE LIGHT NO OIL LIGHT, NOTHING. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED HOME. ENGINE SEIZED UP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210053May 26, 2019
ENGINE
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA SX BURNS EXCESSIVE OIL AND PRODUCES EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE. THE DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY TOLD ME I HAD A FAULTY EXHAUST CONTROL VALVE. AFTER I REPLACED THAT VALVE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM(S) PERSISTED. AT MY LAST SERVICE VISIT, THE DEALERSHIP SIMPLY TOPPED-OFF THE OIL TO GET THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHTS TO GO OFF. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, I SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE REMAINED. THE ONLY TIME THE EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE DISSIPATES IS WHEN MOST OR ALL OF THE OIL HAS BURNED OFF. (THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT A SECOND DEALERSHIP SIMPLY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE PROBLEM.)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210065May 26, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
HYBRID WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON INDICATING THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY VEERED TO MY LEFT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER, AS THE CAR HAD ALREADY DIED, AND I WAS MOVING ONLY ON MOMENTUM. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAITED A WHILE, AND THE CAR RESTARTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT AWAY LATER THAT DAY. THIS WAS A SATURDAY, AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO AND ALSO ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR AS I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. MY CAR DID NOT START IN THAT INCIDENT, AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THE SECOND TIME WAS AGAIN THE SAME SCENARIO, AND IT DID RESTART. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY MADE ANCILLARY UPDATES, WHICH DIDN'T HELP. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS ADAMANT THAT THEY FIX IT BECAUSE THEY WERE AT RISK OF SERIOUS LIABILITY BECAUSE I WAS BEING PLACED IN EXTREME DANGER. FURTHER, IT BROUGHT ABOUT MUCH ANXIETY KNOWING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR IS STILL WITHIN THE 100K WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY ARGUED WITH ME ABOUT IT ONLY TO CONCEDE LATER THAT, IN FACT, IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209961May 25, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ELECTRICAL INTERIOR LIGHT TURN ON WHEN YOU LEAN ON THE ARM REST ALSO GOT A OIL CHANGE AND THE OIL LIGHT WILL NOT RESET CAUSE THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE OIL PRESSURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209537May 23, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT , IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES AND PER SOUTHWEST KIA THE ENTIRE KIT WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED. AND IT'S ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT HAS THE ISSUE. THE DATE REFLECTS THE MOST RECENT TIME IT'S HAPPENED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209586May 23, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE RIGHT PASSENGER HEADLIGHT WON'T WORK I CHANGED THE LIGHT BULB AND IT'S COMPLETELY OFF. AT FIRST WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE BULB THE LIGHT FLICKERED AND I THOUGHT THAT IT MIGHT'VE NOT BEEN PUT ON ALL THE WAY OR IT MIGHT'VE BECAME LOOSE. BUT THEN IT WENT COMPLETELY OUT CAUSING A ROAD HAZARD AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS LIGHTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. IT ALSO HAS CAUSED ME TO BE PULLED OVER BY MANY POLICE WHEN I SHOULDN'T BE GOING THROUGH THIS OR ANYONE'S ONE ELSE THAT IS GOING THROUGH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH KIA. THIS FIRST OCCURRED WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY COULD'VE BEEN A BAD SITUATION. IT COULD BE A BAD WIRING AS I READ FROM OTHER REPORTS BUT KIA HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. THIS SITUATION SHOULD BE COVERED BY KIA AND NO ONE SHOULD PAY AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ACCIDENTS COULD OCCUR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209163May 22, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY ON A SUNDAY EVENING ON MAY 19, 2019 IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, MY SUNROOF (SPECIFICALLY, THE MIDDLE PANEL OF THE THREE GLASS ROOF PANELS ON THE KIA OPTIMA SX 2013) SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING CRACKED, LETTING OFF AN EAR-PIERCING POP. I DROVE TO A SAFE PLACE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, HEARING PIECES OF GLASS FALL OFF OF MY CAR INTO THE LANE BEHIND ME. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, AND FORTUNATELY, THE FABRIC SUN SHADE UNDERNEATH WAS CLOSED, SO I WAS SPARED FROM THE SHOWER OF GLASS AND INJURY OTHER CAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED DURING THIS EXPLOSION OF GLASS. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND NO DEBRIS, AND I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SMOOTHLY PAVED ROAD. WHEN I INSPECTED THE SUNROOF, THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE GLASS PANEL AND THE BROKEN GLASS AROUND THE HOLE WAS POINTING UPWARD INTO THE SKY. THE ENTIRE GLASS PANEL WAS SHATTERED BUT STILL IN PLACE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS OR A ROCK INSIDE THE SUN SHADE UNDERNEATH THAT COULD EXPLAIN THE HOLE. IT WAS ALTOGETHER EERIE AND VERY FRIGHTENING AND TRAUMATIZING, AND I WAS GRATEFUL I WASN'T KILLED BY ANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS UNSAFE SUNROOF EXPLOSION. I AM IN PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, AND I HAVE MADE A CLAIM WITH BOTH MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO, WHO HAS NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN ACKNOWLEDGING THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT), AND WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. KIA ALSO HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, AND NONE OF THE KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES OR MANAGERS I'VE SPOKEN WITH (SIX OF THEM) HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209167May 22, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209204May 22, 2019
ENGINE
A RECALL WAS ISSUED TO ME BY KIA IN 2017 WHEN WE HAD THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TOTALLY REPLACED. ON MAY 16, 2019 MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN PASSERBY'S WERE HONKING AND FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT HIM. HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, WHEN HE LOST STEERING, AND BREAKS. HE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WHILE MOVING AND THEN THE CAR EXPLODED, A TOTAL OF 3 SEPARATE TIMES BEFORE FIRE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON SCENE. FIRE REPORT AND INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209257May 22, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE FROZE UP AND LOCKED. WE SMELT A STRONG BURN ODOR. MECHANIC CHECKED FUSES AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS WIRING OR POSSIBLY THE MOTOR BUT TURNS OUT THE STARTER WENT BAD. THE BURN SMELL CAME FROM THE COIL WIRE ON THE STARTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209258May 22, 2019
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE THE RESIDENCE, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO CLASSIC KIA CARROLLTON (2920 N INTERSTATE 35E, CARROLLTON, TX 75007), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209354May 22, 2019
ENGINE
CAR STOPPED WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH A TOLL. TRIED GETTING A JUMP TO START IT. MOTOR WOULD NOT TURN OVER .STARTER HAD A STEEL EVERY TIME TRYING TO START IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209045May 21, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MAIN HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME 1/2 BIGHTNESS SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. HIGH BEAMS DONT THE ISSUE, HAVE REPLACED BULBS THREE TIME IN LAST TWO YEARS, DEALERSHIP STATES THEY CANNOT SEE THE ISSUE. BUT THE CHROME REFLECTORS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS HAS PEELED COMPLETELY OFF. THIS MAKE DRIVING AT NIGHT DANGEROUS BECAUSE I HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS ALL THE TIME. I HAVE THROUGHLY RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND GOVERNMENT WEBSITES. THIS ISSUE STARTED ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11208566May 20, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
INTERMITTENTLY CAR WILL SHUDDER (JERK FORWARD AND SLOW, JERK FORWARD AND SLOW) MANY TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING, EITHER FROM A STOP OR WHILE ACCELERATING FROM LOW SPEEDS (LESS THAN 45MPH) IT SEEMS POSSIBLE GEAR CHANGING IS NOT SMOOTH. AND CAN BE DANGEROUS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AS CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO KIA WHO REPORT THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR WHEN THEY TEST DROVE IT. PROBLEM SEEMS WORSE WHEN IT IS HOT OR COLD OUTSIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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