Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11165556January 7, 2019
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
TRAVELING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, APPROACHED SLOWING/STOPPED TRAFFIC. ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BUT ROADWAY WAS SLIPPERY, ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE HAD TO RESORT TO PUMPING BRAKES AND STEERING TO AVOID ACCIDENT. WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. NON OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COMPARTMENT INTRUSION INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164801January 7, 2019
AIR BAGS
MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FENDER BENDER. I WAS STATIONARY IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND.A FEW DAYS AFTER, I NOTICED THE AIRBAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON AND REAR SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK. PRIOR TO THE FENDER BENDER I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG OR SEAT BELT. A MINOR INCIDENT CAUSED MY AIRBAG TO MALFUNCTION AND I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND NOW ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164837January 7, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON WHEN FIRST STARTED IT UP LAST FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164861January 7, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED INVESTIGATION NUMBER: DP18003. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164928January 7, 2019
STEERING
WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING COLUMN GETS STUCK AND CLICKS.IT PREVENTS YOU FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND MAKES IT UNSAFE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE WHEEL.IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165465January 6, 2019
ENGINE
I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE ENGINE RECALL THE DEALER SAID IT PASSED NO NEED TO FIX. A MONTH LATER I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR GAUGES WENT CRAZY AND ENGINE SEIZED. I SAW SMOKE AND POPPED THE HOOD. I THAN SAW A FIRE IGNITE INSIDE THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS BURNT UP. I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH KIA VEHICLES STARTING ON FIRE FOR NO REASON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165394January 5, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS HAS OCCURRED ON 3 TIMES SO FAR. I WAS AT A GAS STATION FILLING UP THE TANK, THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR WAS IN PARK, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, AND MY CAR DOOR WAS CLOSED. WHEN I FINISHED GETTING GAS, I TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND IT WAS LOCKED. ALL DOORS WERE LOCKED. I WAS 20 MILES FROM HOME FORTUNATELY SOMEONE WAS AT HOME TO BRING A SPARE KEY FOR ME TO OPEN THE TRUNK, PUSH THE REAR PASSENGER SEATS DOWN AND CLIMB THRU TO THE FRONT TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THE SAME SCENARIO OCCURED THIS PAST WEEK WHEN I HAD GONE OUTSIDE TO WARM UP MY CAR BY TURNING ON THE DEFROST FOR THE FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS. ONCE AGAIN, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND I CLOSED THE DOORS. ONCE THE CAR WAS WARM, I TRIED TO OPEN THE DOOR AND IT WAS LOCKED. I HAD TO GO IN THE HOUSE TO GET THE OTHER SET OF KEYS, OPEN THE TRUNK PUSH THE BACK SEATS DOWN AND CLIMB THRU THE TO THE FRONT, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND UNLOCK THE DOOR. THIS LAST OCCURENCE WAS ONCE AGAIN AT A GAS STATION, THIS TIME IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT, IT WAS 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND HAD TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE FROM MY HOUSE BRING THE SPARE KEYS. THE QUESTION I HAVE FOR MYSELF IS, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO IF NO ONE IS AT MY HOUSE TO BRING THE EXTRA KEY. SURELY, I DONT PLAN TO BRING TWO SETS OF KEYS WITH ME. EVERYTIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE KIAOFDAYTON SERVICE CENTER, I AM TOLD THEY CANNOT RECREATE THE ISSUE. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING. IN EVERY INSTANCE THE CAR WAS IN PARK, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING, AND THE DOORS WERE UNLOCKED WHEN I HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK IN, I COULD NOT BECAUSE THE DOORS HAD LOCKED BY THEMSELVES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165178January 4, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT REFLECTED TO THE ROAD FROM THE HEADLIGHTS IS VERY LOW AND CREATES VISIBILITY ISSUES AT NIGHT AND IN THE RAIN. THIS IS DUE TO THE REFLECTIVE COATING USED IN THE HEADLIGHTS BEING OF POOR QUALITY AND BURNING AWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165223January 4, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STALLED RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A TELEPHONE POLE. I HAD JUST MADE A TURN & THE CAR WENT DEAD. STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. NOW MY CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED NOT TO MENTION THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY FIANC WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A FRACTURED HIP.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11165647January 3, 2019
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH SO I PULLED OVER AND MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR IT STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT NOT BEFORE THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11165714January 3, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED UP, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AND ONLY SMOKE REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND STATED THAT THE EXHAUST HAD BURST AND OIL LEAKED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164453January 2, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, A KNOCKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE KNOCKING SOUND BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED DUTCH MILLER KIA OF CHARLOTTE (704-247-7124, LOCATED AT 7725 SOUTH BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28273) AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164460January 2, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
LOCKED OUT OF CAR AUTOMATICALLY WHILE KEY IS IN THE CAR ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (JULY 2018), I WAS EN ROUTE AND STOPPED BRIEFLY, GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH IT RUNNING WHILE THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE CAR. AS SOON AS I CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR DOORS LOCKED ME OUT AUTOMATICALLY. THIS WAS INCONVENIENT AND CAUSED MUCH DISTRESS BECAUSE I WAS AWAY FROM HOME PICKING UP MY INFANT CHILD FROM PRESCHOOL, AND DID NOT HAVE THE SECOND KEY AVAILABLE. THIS WAS ALSO EMBARRASSING AS MY PHONE ALSO WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE (DECEMBER 2018), I USED THE REMOTE START TO START THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER I PUT MY INFANT CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT AND CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF AND ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. MY KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR WITH MY CHILD. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS COLDER THAN 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAD TO WAIT OVER 30 MINUTES TO GET MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. THIS IS NOT JUST CONCERNING, IT IS NEGLIGENT FOR THE MANUFACTURERS OF THIS CAR TO PUT UNSUSPECTING CAR OWNERS IN THIS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE POSITION. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I THOUGHT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND MANY ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS SIMILAR TO MINE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME OWNER AWARENESS ISSUED ON HOW TO RECTIFY THIS AND RESOLVING THIS ALL TOGETHER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164569January 2, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING / HEAR CLICKING SOUND WHILE MY DASH BOARD FLICKERS AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED AND IN MOTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164319December 31, 2018
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ENGINE FAILURE..BOUGHT IN 2013 W 14,000 MILES.CURRENTLY HAS 68,000.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR.KIA WOULD ONLY PAY FOR 1 SPARK PLUG.THEN,L PAID TO HAVE A NEW FI SYSTEM PUT IN.L WAS NEVER REIMBURSED.DEC 20,DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY W MY KIDS AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING.THEN,THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH WEIRD SMELLS OF GAS AND BURNING.TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NO ISSUE.TOOK IT BACK AGAIN ON DEC 21,BUT NO TECHS AVAILABLE.DEC 23,L WAS DRIVING MY KID TO WORK,ENGINE SHOOK,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHED AND A BIG BOOM.CAR WAS GOING 5MPH WHILE IT WAS CLICKING.L GOT IT TOWED(AFTER KIA MOTORS HAD THE AUDACITY TO TRY TO MAKE ME PAY FOR A [email protected],BUT L REFUSED)THRU MY INSURANCE CO.AS THE CAR SAT,A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE,WE THOUGH THAT IT WAS CATCHING ON FIRE.CALLED KIA MOTORS....OMG,THE WORST.L JUST GOT A RENTAL TODAY AND APPROVED FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS.MY BROTHER BOUGHT HIS OPTIMA BRAND NEW IN 2003 AND SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2 MONTHS.KIA CONTINUES TO NOT RESOLVE HIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AND L AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT,LET ALONE HAVE MY KIDS IN IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164198December 31, 2018
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11164276December 31, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL AND CYLINDER NUMBER TWO WAS MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163679December 27, 2018
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED AN UNKNOWN RECALL NOTIFICATION REGARDING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SUNSET KIA OF BRADENTON (4770 14TH ST W, BRADENTON, FL 34207, (941) 752-1000) WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TESTED AND PASSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE HAD BEEN SPUTTERING PRIOR TO THE TEST. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO LACK OF OIL, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE RECENTLY HAD AN OIL CHANGE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY DID NOT FIND METAL SHAVINGS WHILE CONDUCTING THE TEST AND THE CHECK OIL INDICATOR WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENGINE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO STATED THAT A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE ADDITIONAL RECALLS WERE DISCOVERED. THE UNKNOWN DEALER FOUND A DETERIORATED CLAMP THAT CAUSED THE HOSE TO BECOME LOOSE AND THE ENGINE TO JOLT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE DETERIORATED CLAMPS ON THE INVOICE. WHEN THE CONTACT RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS GUSHING FUEL. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED THE FAILURE AND FOUND THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY THE INITIAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163409December 26, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL HIGHWAY IN MY KIA OPTIMA (WHICH HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT TO A DEALER. BARRY HENDERSON, THE REPAIR SHOP MANAGER, SAID THERE IS A POSSIBLE WIRING ISSUE AND IF THE WIRING IS OKAY, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPAIR SO THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HYMAN BROTHERS KIA IN MIDLOTHIAN, VA. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR AND HARD COPIES OF ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS HAVE BEEN PLACE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AS PROOF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163527December 26, 2018
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH APPROX 68,000 MILES. GOING UP HILL UP A RAMP TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY AROUND 40 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE OIL AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND CAR COASTED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE INTO SHOULDER AS I COULD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. SAT ON THE ON-RAMP FOR QUITE A WHILE PARTIALLY BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HAD SOME NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS PASSING AND HONKING AT ME. TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP SAME MORNING. TECH BELIEVES MY ENGINE HAS SEIZED BUT NO OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A LOANER CAR AT NO CHARGE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND HOPE KIA WILL REPLACE MY ENGINE AT NO COST AND BUY MY CAR BACK. I AM SCARED OF THE VEHICLE FIRES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THESE ENGINES FOR OTHER PEOPLE. MY CAR GAVE ME NO FAILURE WARNING UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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