Kia Optima Complaints (2014)

622 consumer complaints on file.

#11142207October 23, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING THE START PUSH BUTTON, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY START. OCCASIONALLY, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO JIGGLE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MATHEWS KIA, 595 EAST MAIN ST, CARTERSVILLE, GA) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. *DT UPDATED 11/29/18*JB *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11141533October 20, 2018
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR YOU CAN SMELL A RUBBER BURNING SMELL COMIMG FROM THE AIR VENTS. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING IT THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11139148October 9, 2018
ENGINE
FIRE! MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE HIGHWAY. FIRST, I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THEN, SMOKE QUICKLY FILLED MY CABIN. I PULLED OVER LOST STEERING AND BRAKES, PUT CAR IN PARK. GOT OUT LOOK BEHIND ME. SEE SPARKS ON GROUND. GET IN CALL 911 AND WITH IN SECONDS MY CAR SNAP, CRACKLED, AND POPPED AND FLAMES ENGULFED MY VEHICLE. I GRABBED MY PURSE AND RAN. I HAD TO WATCH MY CAR BURN. I AM VERY THANKFUL I MADE IT OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11133275October 4, 2018
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND GLASS SHATTERED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED GOSSETT KIA AT 901-328-8177 (LOCATED AT 1900 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128) AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, FILED A REPORT, AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW-UP WITH THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132973October 2, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF SMOKE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF POLICE OR FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BAILEYS WRECKER SERVICE TOW LOT WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11132028September 27, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
BOUGHT APRIL/MAY 2014, BY DECEMBER 2014 THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. ELECTRICAL: BUTTONS DON'T WORK FOR PROPER FUNCTIONS (VOLUME UP WILL TURN VOLUME DOWN, CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ONE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THEN IT'S SUPPOSED TOO & AC STOPPED WORKING) WHILE IN MOTION OR STOPPED BUT WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF THAN BACK ON IT RESETS TO NORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128796September 11, 2018
ENGINE
WHEN I TURN THE KEY IN THE BATTERY STARTS BUT THE ENGINE DOES NOT. I LEARNED THAT THE WAY TO TURN IT ON WHEN IT DOES THIS SITUATION I HAVE TO PRESS THE BREAK AND THEN MOVE THE SHIFT CHANGER AND WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS I TRY TURNING THE STARTER AND THE ENGINE THEN STARTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11123046August 28, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK, THE REAR, RIGHT SIDE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN OR CLOSE PROPERLY. I ALSO NOTICED, BEFORE THE DOOR ISSUE, THAT THE CAR SEEMED SLUGGISH GOING UPHILL, AND IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS GOING THROUGH GAS, A LOT QUICKER. A FEW WEEKS AGO, WHILE PARKED, MY CAR BATTERY HAD DIED. I HAD NO WARNING, AND WAS 4 HOURS FROM HOME. LUCKILY IT WAS ABLE TO BE JUMP STARTED. NOW, WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR, IT WON'T START. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN DRIVE, THEN BACK IN PARK, BEFORE IT WILL START. NOW WHEN I START THE CAR, MY GAS GUAGE DROPS TO BELOW, WHAT I HAD WHEN I PARKED. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, IT WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO NORMAL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11121559August 22, 2018
ENGINE
CAR STALLED ON ME AS I WAS DRIVING. NOW MAKES CYCLIC NOISE WHEN I DRIVE. I DON'T DRIVE IT AT ALL HAD MECHANIC CHECK IT AND HE SAID I NEED A NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11119478August 12, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TAKATA RECALL'. WHEN DRIVING 70 MILES THE CAR GETS UNCONTROLLABLE AT TIMES SO YOU HAVE TO LOWER YOUR SPEED , WHEN PARKED AN I PUT MY FOOT ON BRAKE THERE'S A TICKING NOISE AN YOU CAN FEEL PRESSURE . THE ENGINE HAS BEEN TICKING A LOT MORE AM HESITANT I KNOW A LOT OF COMPLAINTS HAS BEEN MADE ON THE STEERING AN IT'S GETTING OUT OF HAND ! THE CAR IS NOT SAFE ON THE HIGHWAY COULD RESULT IN CRASH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11115845August 5, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF I-25, GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND RUSH HOUR. I WAS ABOUT 40 MIN FROM HOME STILL ON MY EVERYDAY COMMUNTE. I AM SEEING VERY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS ME AND MY FAMILY IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION DAILY AND KIA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THERE CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE SAME (OR VERY SIMILAR) ISSUE ON THE RECALL ON THE GAS VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE. WE SHOULDN'T WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED FIRST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114670July 30, 2018
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A & B AUTO SALES (100 MARSHALL ST N, BENWOOD, WV 26031, (304) 233-1480) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114392July 29, 2018
ENGINE
I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THE RECALL NOTICE ON THE ENGINE OF MY VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11114218July 27, 2018
ENGINE
S A SINGLE, FULL-TIME WORKING MOTHER TO TWO YOUNG CHILDREN, I WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT IN TIME TO BRING MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA SXL TURBO IN FOR THE ENGINE RECALL TEST; MY CAR'S ENGINE DECIDED TO CROAK ON ME FORTUNATELY A BLOCK FROM MY HOME. MY CAR WAS TOWED IN TO THE LOCAL KIA ON MAY 19, 2018. AS OF PRESENT DAY, I AM STILL WITHOUT AN ENGINE AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN A DIFFERENT ETA ON THE ENGINE EVERY TIME I CONTACT KIA. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN IN TOUCH WITH A MEMBER OF THE ESCALATION TEAM (AS HIGH UP AS I CAN GO). AS OF TODAY, SHE HAS CHANGED MY ETA TO THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST WHEN I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE THE LAST WEEK OF JULY. I AM MEDICALLY DIAGNOSED WITH CHRONIC MIGRAINES AND EXTREME PHOTOPHOBIA AND HAVE A VALID AND LEGAL TINT PRESCRIPTION FOR MY VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. MY PRESCRIPTION ALLOWS ME TO WARRANT WINDOW TINT THAT IS OTHERWISE ILLEGAL WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION DUE TO MY CONDITION. I HAVE STRESSED THIS MEDICAL ISSUE TO KIA EVERY TIME I CALL BUT THAT DOES NOT HELP SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF GETTING AN ENGINE HERE. MY MEDICATION (IMITREX AKA SUMATRIPTAN) CANNOT BE SAFELY TAKEN MORE THAN JUST A FEW TIMES PER WEEK BUT I HAVE KEPT A MIGRAINE AT LEAST 4 DAYS OF EACH WEEK SINCE I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR DUE TO DRIVING IN A VEHICLE OTHER THAN MY OWN. MOST WOULD SPECULATE THAT WEARING SUNGLASSES WOULD BE A FIX ALL TO THIS PROBLEM; IT IS NOT. I AM NOW AFRAID THAT AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHILE DRIVING THIS LOANER VEHICLE, I WILL GET A SUDDEN MIGRAINE AND END UP HAVING AN ACCIDENT AND HARMING MYSELF, MY TODDLER, MY FOURTH GADER, OR OTHERS. WHAT UPSETS ME MOST IS KNOWING THAT KIA/HYUNDAI PUMPS OUT BRAND NEW VEHICLES DAILY WITHOUT KNOWN ENGINE PROBLEMS BUT THEY CANNOT PRODUCE ENGINES FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE RETURN OF OUR PERSONAL VEHICLES. PLEASE HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113500July 25, 2018
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS HEADING NORTH BOUND, CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 55 WHEN MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA THERA II MOTOR STARTED MAKING A GRINDING SOUNDS, LOST COMPLETE POWER AND STALLED OUT. CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON ANYMORE, A TEXAS STATE TROOPER AND SMALL TOWN COP HELPED ME PUSHED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE BAY. LUCKILY NO ONE GOT HURT BUT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSE AND I HAVE A FEELING KIA IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND. THE THETA II DOES HAVE AN OPEN RECALL. THE MOTOR WAS CHECKED TWICE AND PASSED BOTH TIMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11113426July 24, 2018
STEERING
I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS (PURCHASED OCT. 2017). A FEW WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED MORE AND MORE THAT THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY ABOVE 55 OR 60 MPH. ( WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR STARTS TO DRIFT SLOWLY, I TRY TO RE-ADJUST THE STEERING AND WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, NOTHING HAPPENS. I TURN A LITTLE MORE AND IT OVER-REACTS MAKING ME DRIFT WAY INTO THE OTHER DIRECTION. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE ON THE FREEWAY IN THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY AROUND BIGGER VEHICLES) I TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE FIRST SUGGESTED THAT IT NEEDS A 'STEERING WHEEL UPDATE' SINCE IT HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING. THAT DID NOT SOLVE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO TWO OTHER DEALERS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THIS UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM AND SO THEY CANT FIX ANYTHING ON IT. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY NEED TO DRIVE IT FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES OR SO, ON THE FREEWAY AND ABOVE 55/60 MPH. THEY SAID THAT THEY STILL CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. - - AFTER CALLING KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS MULTIPLE TIMES AND FLING A REPORT, THEY TELL ME TO TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERS BUT STILL NO SOLUTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111819July 17, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PUSH TO START BUTTONS ON KIA OPTIMA'S ARE NOT TURNING ON THE CARS ENGINES. I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE AMONG KIA OPTIMA OWNERS. THE CAR WILL BE TURNED OFF AND PARKED, YOU WILL GO TO PUSH THE BRAKE AND START THE CAR AND YOU WILL GET NOTHING FROM THE ENGINE. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL WORK BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN ON. PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED "HACKS" TO FIX THE ISSUE SUCH AS WAITING IT OUT OR A CLEVER ONE IS TO PUT YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE MOVE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK 2 TIMES AND THEN PUSH THE START BUTTON AND THE CAR HOPEFULLY WILL START. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM PROGRESSIVELY GETS WORSE OVER TIME. I WAS IN THE WAITING IT OUT STAGE NOW I AM IN THE GEAR SHIFTING STAGE. ALL JOKES ASIDE THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR A CAR THAT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE MARKET FOR 4 YEARS. SIMPLY GOOGLE "KIA OPTIMA WON'T START," TO SEE MORE PEOPLE WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS MYSELF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11109492July 4, 2018
ENGINE
RECEIVED PAPER THAT I HAD ENGINE RECALL FOR METAL SHADINGS AND SEIZESING ENGINE TOOK CAR TO DOWN TOWN KIA DEALER AND TOLD THEM I HAD SEEN PIECES OF METAL SHADING ON MY OIL AND THEY SAID NO IT'S FINE ....2 MONTHS LATER MY ENGINE SEIZED ON ME NOW THEY DONT WANNA DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I PASSED OVER 100,000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11105204July 2, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HORNE KIA (1465 E MOTORPLEX LOOP, GILBERT, AZ 85297, (480) 725-5220), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 12749792. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11105076July 2, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OFF. TO PREVENT THIS, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,863.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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