Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11203303April 24, 2019
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL LOCKS WHILE DRIVING. INITIALLY HAPPENED 1 YEAR AGO WHILE DRIVING. HAD TO USE SEVERE FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, WHO SAID THEY DID SEE SOMETHING ON DIAGNOSTICS; HOWEVER, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY COULD NOT FIX THE CAR. THEY KEPT & DROVE THE CAR. THEY CHECKED THE COUPLING UNIT & CONTACTED KIA HOTLINE BUT STILL COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, SO THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. ON APRIL 14TH, WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE, THE WHEEL AGAIN LOCKED UP. I JIGGLED THE WHEEL AND IT RELEASED, SO I PULLED OUT & PROCEEDED TO DRIVE. I REACHED THE END OF MY STREET & WANTED TO TURN & COULD NOT MOVE THE WHEEL. LUCKILY, I WAS STILL IN MY DEVELOPMENT WITH A 25MPH ZONE, SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHEN I STARTED IT AGAIN, I COULD MOVE THE WHEEL, SO I RETURNED IT TO PARKING SPOT & HAD IT TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON APRIL 15TH. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR 8 DAYS, DROVE IT FOR 340 MILES & STILL COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, SO THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME & SAID IF THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEY CANNOT FIX IT. SO I AM NOW DRIVING A CAR IN FEAR THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN & POSSIBLY WHEN ON A HIGHWAY & AT HIGHER SPEED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203391April 24, 2019
ENGINE
I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CADILLAC CONVERTIBLE ON MY CAR I HAVE GOTTEN IT REPLACED IN YEAR 8/2018 IT HAD BROKEN DOWN IN THE INSIDE OF MY MOTOR NOW IT'S 2/2019 AND IT HAS LOST POWER AGAIN AND MAKING THE SAME NOISE AS IF PINS ARE BEING THROWN AROUND IN MY MORTOR.I HAVE TOOK MY CAR BACK TO KIA TO TRY AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM BUT THEY ARE TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY 3000 DOLLARS BECAUSE AFTER THEY FIXED THE PART IT CAME OFF WARRANTY. I TOLD THE MAN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAD DODGE TO FIX MY CAR AND NOW A COUPLE MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM ACCRUE AGAIN AND KIA WELL NOT FIX IT BUT TELLING ME NOT TO DRIVE MY CAR THAT IM STILL PAYING A CAR NOTE FOR HMMMM. WHEN THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED I WAS TRAVEL NURSE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH I HAD TO COME OFF MY TRAVEL JOB BECAUSE I WAS SCARED MY CAR WAS GOING TO AHUT DOWN ON ME BECAUSE WILL ACT AS IF ITS GOING TO SHUT OFF ALL THE TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203438April 24, 2019
POWER TRAIN
WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD BETWEEN 20 - 25MPH THE HYBRID WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH OVERHEAD VOICE STATING TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY FURTHER. IN THE PROCESS OF PULLING OVER THE CAR PROCEEDED TO LOSE ALL POWER. ELECTRICAL WITHIN CAR (LIGHTS, RADIO, ETC.) REMAINED ON BUT CAR WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE AND ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF. THE CAUSE OF THE POWER LOSS IS STILL UNKNOWN, HOWEVER, WE WERE RUNNING ON HYBRID POWER AT THE TIME. THIS, WITH THE HYBRID MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203488April 24, 2019
STEERING
THE PROBLEM: IN AFFECTED KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES, A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE DRIVERS MAY FEEL A 'NOTCHY' OR "CLUNKY" SOUND OR 'SLIPPING' CONDITION WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS BELIEVED BY OTHER KIA OPTIMA OWNERS AND OR MECHANICS WHO MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO EITHER A SOFTWARE GLITCH IN THE OPTIMA'S ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM OR A FAULTY POWER STEERING MOTOR ASSEMBLY, U-JOINT IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY, OR THE STEERING COUPLER. OWNERS ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY KNOWN RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BUT MECHANICS BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAULT IN THE KIA OPTIMA YEARS 2011-2014.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203496April 24, 2019
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ARAPAHOE KIA (9701 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112, (720) 262-9111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A COMPUTER UPDATE WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203527April 24, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
AFTER BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE A LEFT TURN THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE ACCELERATION CUT OUT AND THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING/ CRANKING NOISE. I ROLLED TO A STOP JUST PAST THE INTERSECTION (LUCKILY NO ONE HIT ME) AND HAD TO TURN THE CAR COMPLETELY OFF. IT RESET AND EVERYTHING BEGAN WORKING AGAIN AFTER RESTARTING IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203093April 23, 2019
STEERING
CANNOT CONTROL STEERING. SEEMS TO WANT TO HOLD IN THE 'CENTER' POSITION. WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE STEERING, LEFT OR RIGHT, I GET A 'STICKY' OR 'DEAD SPOT' IN THE STEERING WHEEL. A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR, THE DEALER REPLACED THEW STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE IT WAS 'UNDRIVEABLE', NOW A FEW YEARS LATER, THE PROBLEM IS RECURRING. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT 'STICKY' STEERING FOR KIA OPTIMAS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203134April 23, 2019
ENGINE
I OWN A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE ISSUE, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MILES FROM HOME ON A FAMILY TRIP. I NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERING WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, AND ALSO SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION AND CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK OTHER THAN SOME BURNT OIL RESIDUE. THE STRONG BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE OPENING. I IMMEDIATELY ADDED OIL AND HAVE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT EVER SINCE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAVE LEARNED OF THE MANY PROBLEMS THAT KIA OWNERS ARE HAVING WITH THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES. THE DEALERSHIP CONDUCTED A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND DETERMINED THE CAR IS LOSING A LITTLE OVER A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES OR SO, BUT ISN'T LEAKING ANYWHERE. I HAVE READ MANY OF THE STORIES OF ENGINE FAILURES AND FIRES CAUSED BY THIS AND I DO NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE ON THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY. THIS CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 107,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT BE GOING THROUGH OIL LIKE THIS WITH SO LITTLE MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT COVERS THIS AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED DESPITE ALL OF THE TROUBLE KIA OWNERS ARE HAVING. I DON'T TRUST THE CAR ON THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. THANK YOU!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203144April 23, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SOUTHSIDE KIA (9401 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225, (904) 406-7779) THREE TIMES TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203136April 23, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE FROZE DUE TO LACK OF OIL BEING PUMPED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203154April 23, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BRAKE REAR LIGHTS WENT OUT, CHANGED BRAKE SWITCH AND FUSE AND LIGHTS STILL NOT WORKING. ONLY HAVE 49800 MILES ON THE CAR. WAS ON HIGHWAY AND A MAN STOOED ME AND LET ME KNOW THEY ARE NOT WORKING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203264April 23, 2019
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL. I HAVE 2014 KIA OPTIMA EX. THE VEHICLES ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 4 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR, THANKFULLY AT A SLOW SPEED IN A SHOPPING PLAZA PARKING LOT. THE DASH LIGHTS WORK, BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT START. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A SHOP WHO FOUND THE STARTER HAD BEEN FRIED AND REPLACED IT THINKING IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NEW STARTER WAS FRIED AS WELL AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION THEY REALIZED THE ENGINE HAS COMPLETELY SEIZED. KIA WHILE HAVING RECALLS FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON OTHER KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES WILL NOT REPLACE MY ENGINE, LEAVING ME WITH A FINANCIAL MESS. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN INVOICE FROM THE SHOP AS OF YET DUE TO THE VEHICLE NOT BEING DRIVABLE AND MY ATTEMPTS TO FIND A WAY TO FUND THE REPAIRS, BUT WILL RETAIN THE INVOICE ONCE RECEIVED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202838April 22, 2019
ENGINE
NORMAL DRIVING OPERATION UNTIL KNOCKING HEARD DURING LOW SPEED. ENGINE KNOCKING GREW LOUDER UNDER ACCELERATION. VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TO MECHANIC WHO STATED AN ENGINE ROD MAY BE BEND. TOLD KIA HAS RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. KIA STATED THE VEHICLE VIN IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. NO HEAVY ACCELERATION OR USE OF THE VEHICLE IN THE PAST. NO INDICATION OF ROD OR ENGINE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202861April 22, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WAITING ON A RED LIGHT, THE KIA OPTIMA STALLED AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CABIN. WITHIN SECONDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN HAD A VERY LIMITED TIME TO GET OUT FROM THE BURNING CAR INTO SAFETY. THE BURNING CAR WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. LOCAL POLICE CORDONED OFF THE LANE TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE TIME OF THE FIRE WAS AROUND 12:30PM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202922April 22, 2019
ENGINE
THETA II ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (50-65MPH) THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. SOON AFTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE OIL LIGHT. I DID PULL OVER AND CONTACT MY LOCAL KIA DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION I WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. IT HAD BEARING DAMAGE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS... SURPRISINGLY 3 MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED FOR METAL DEBRIS / ENGINE BEARING FAILURE AND NO ISSUES WERE FOUND BY THE SAME LOCAL KIA DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202947April 22, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A DISK INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR FLAP SYSTEM SENSOR AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CASEY KIA (LOCATED AT 11999 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23606, (757) 347-8247) AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202975April 22, 2019
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AND IT SHACKS WHEN I WAS DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202726April 21, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TAKATA RECALL, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I WENT TO SPEED UP THE ENGINE SEIZED, CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER IN THE BREAK DOWN LANE ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON IT WOULD NOT FULLY TURN BACK ON, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE STARTED FLICKERING, I TRIED JUMPING MY CAR AND IT DID NOT WORK I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197287April 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THE HYBRID SYSTEM BROKE DOWN AT 85K. WAS REPLACED BY KIA AFTER THREATENING LEGAL ACTION. AT 103K. WE NEVER MISSED MAINTENANCE OR A OIL CHANGE. THE ENGINE THROUGH A ROD ON A 5 LANE INTERSTATE DOING 65MPH, BLOWING AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. PUTTING MY FAMILY OF 5 AT SERIOUS RISK. KIA WANTS 4500K OR 8000K TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ENGINE. OPTIMA ENGINES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT REASON. THE OPTIMA HYBRID ENGINES WERE NOT RECALLED DESPITE SUFFERING THE SAME FAILURES AS NORMAL OPTIMA ENGINES. JOINING THE CLASS ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197306April 19, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHICH I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY TRAFFIC TURNING RIGHT FROM A FASTER STREET. I HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER A COUPLE TRIES. I NOTICED MY ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS ON DASH TURNED RED. AFTER A COUPLE TRIES THE ENGINE STARTED AND I SEEN MY OIL LIGHT ALSO SO I THOUGHT MAYBE MY OIL WAS BAD SO I WENT AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE AND AFTER GETTING THAT COMPLETED WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY ENGINE HAS THIS KNOCKING NOISE NOW AND IT SEEMED TO GET WORSE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE OVERHEAD CAM SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT. BUT AFTER CHANGING THE OIL THE LIGHT WENT OUT. TECHNICIAN STATED THE CAR WAS A QUART LOW BEFORE THE OIL WAS CHANGED OUT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I USED THE BEST OIL AND CHANGED MY OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAVE RECORDS TO SHOW IF NEEDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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