Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11163584December 26, 2018
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT AND THEN JUST CUT OFF. I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT WOULD NOT START. HAD IT TOWED TO KIA WICH TOLD ME IT WAS THE PULLEYS FROZE UP AND SHREDDED THE BELT. NOW KIA JUST REPLACED MY ENGINE FROM THE RECALL. NOW I ALWAYS HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES AND I TAKE IT TO THE SAME PLACE EVERYTIME NOW WHEN THEY CHANGED THE ENGINE THEY SAID I WOULD NEED A NEW ALTERNATOR BUT THAT WAS IT. NOT TO MENTION I JUST HAD IT AT KIA FOR A OIL CHANGE AND A FREE INSPECTION. WHICH THE INSPECTION STATED NOTHING ABOUT THE BELTS OR PULLEYS WHICH ARE SUPPOSED TO BE INSPECTED. SO THAT IS TWICE THEY MISSED A WORN OUT IDLER PULLEY. NOW THE MECHANIC I HAD LOOKING AT IT TOLD ME IT WAS SO WORN THAT IT BROKE OFF AND THAT THERE IS NO WAY THEY MISSED IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163367December 25, 2018
STEERING
THERE'S A CLUNKING IN THE STEERING . FROM WHAT I'VE FOUND ON THE FORUMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM . IT APPEARS TO BE A PLASTIC COUPLER IN THE STEERING MOTOR THAT DETERIORATES CAUSING A METAL ON METAL GRINDING. I NOTICED THIS WHILE TURNING AT AT STREET CORNERS OR CHANGING LANES ON HIGHWAY. NHTSA NUMBER: 10090941. THIS APPARENTLY HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE . WANTED TO MAKE SURE MY INFO WAS INCLUDED .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163260December 24, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN REVERSING THE BRAKES TAKE 5 TO 10 SECONDS TO RELEASE, ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON THE ENTIRE TIME OF THIS ISSUE HAPPENING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163271December 24, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON DECEMBER 5, 2018 MY CAR SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING IN AN INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RESTART IT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL I HAD BATTERY POWER, ALL OF THE GA RESTART IT BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL I HAD BATTERY POWER, ALL OF THE GAUGES WOULD A CYCLE BACK-AND-FORTH WHENEVER PUSHING THE START BUTTON,HOWEVER IT WAS JUST LIKE THE GAS MOTOR WOULD NOT FIRE. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE NEXT MORNING I WAS CALLED AND TOLD THAT IT SHOWED A LOT OF CODES, AND THEY WOULD NEED SOME TIME TO DECIPHER THEM AND WOULD NOTIFY ME WITH RESULTS LATER. AFTER ABOUT FIVE HOURS I WAS CALLED BACK AND TOLD HER THAT THE BATTERY ON THE CAR WAS DEAD AND IT WOULD NOT TAKE A CHARGE. PLAY THEN INFORMED ME THAT THE BATTERY ON THE CAR WAS THE ONLY THING NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE NEW REPLACEMENT WAS $400. UNABLE TO PAY THAT MUCH FOR A 12 V BATTERY I TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR A WEEK TO ARGUE THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT DEAD WHEN IT WENT OUT AND GETTING NOWHERE I FINALLY BOUGHT A $200 BATTERY, AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF. I AM MEDIATELY TRIED TO START THE CAR.... IT DID THE SAME THING IT DID AFTER IT DIED A WEEK PRIOR. I AM FORM THEM AFTER GIVING THEM THE KEY TO THE CAR BACK AND I NEED NEW BATTERY AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. A NOTHER WEEK WENT BY AND FINALLY I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WAS TAKING THE BATTERY I PURCHASED OUT TO PUT A KIA BATTERY IN THE CAR TO SEE IF IT WILL START (WHICH THEY SAID THAT ALLOWED THE CAR TO START). THEN STATED TO ME THAT AFTER IT STARTED THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL CODES ON IT AND IT HAD A BED SAFETY FUSE. I WAS FIVE MINUTES FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHENEVER I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS SO I'LL STOP BY NEARLY AS I HUNG UP THE PHONE. WHEN I WALKED IN I WALKED STRAIGHT TO THE CAR WHICH WAS IN THE GARAGE AND LOOK AT MY BATTERY THAT I PURCHASED WAS STILL IN THE CAR, HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED AND I STARTED THE CAR. SUCCESSFULLY. I WAS STILL TOLD COULDN'T TAKE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163162December 23, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY TRYING TO MAKE A PASS I SUDDENLY LOSS POWER. I WASN'T ABLE TO GET THE ENGINE RESTARTED ONCE I PULLED OVER. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME ON THE SIDE OF THE I RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS HEARING A CONSISTENT KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM ME ENGINE. NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES OR ANYTHING WITH THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11163163December 23, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR JUST STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.THE AAA DRIVER SAID THE STARTER BUT THE FIRESTONE SAID THE MOTOR SEIZED UP.THIS HAPPENED 3 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS THIS IS VERY HORRIBLE ME AND MY CHILDREN HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AT ALL OR MONEY FOR A PROBLEM KIA OVER LOOK .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162973December 21, 2018
ENGINE
CAR USED TO COMMUTE 50 MILES EACH DAY TO WORK AND BACK. ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL (A QUART EACH WEEK). KIA DEALER SAID ENGINE IS BLOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162835December 20, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING IN A 2014 KIA OPTIMA WITH AN ESTIMATE 55,400 MILE ON IT DOWN I-285 EAST WHEN ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I NOTICE AN ODD CLICKING NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND STAYED ON, AND RPM DROPPED. I SAFELY MERGED OVER IN 4 LINES OF TRAFFIC ON SHOULDER AND TURNED ENGINE OFF. THE CAR SPUTTERED WHEN I CRACKED IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE CAR SOUNDED TERRIBLE, EXTREMELY ROUGH IDLE AND ENGINE NOISE, THEN I IMMEDIATELY TURNED BACK OFF. I CALL ROADSIDE ASSIST AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162210December 18, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LOU FUSZ KIA (1025 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST LOUIS, MO, 63132). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE CHANGED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162215December 18, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162273December 18, 2018
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, STEERING
"TAKATA RECALL"WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. I'VE HAD PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME THING SINCE 2012, FIRST THE STRING IT WOULD PULL LEFT AND RIGHT ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVE STRAIGHT. KIA SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM,NOW MY RACK AND PINION IS BROKEN,AND THAT'S BECAUSE KIA REFUSE TO FIX THAT PROBLEM BACK IN 2012 WITH THE STRING. KIA SENT US A SETTLEMENT LETTER , WHICH STATES THEY WILL PAID US $531.95 BY MEANS OF A CHECK, IT STATES IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT THIS SETTLEMENT IS A COMPROMISE OF DISPUTED CLAIMS AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE, AN ADMISSION OF LIABILITY ON THE PART OF KIA. WE DID NOT SING THAT LETTER BECAUSE KIA CARS ARE NO GOOD! AND THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS SINCE THAT LETTER WAS SENT. THEY TRIED TO BLACK MAIL US WE DIDN'T FALL FOR THE SCAM. THE COMPANY KNOW THIS CAR IS NO GOOD. IF YOU NEED THAT LETTER SENT TO YOU I CAN DO THAT TO. SOMEONE COULD DIE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM ITS DANGEROUS,I WORK IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS PROBLEM NEEDS FIXING NOW NOT LATER NOW!!!. SINCERELY, NEED THIS PROBLEM FIX *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11162037December 17, 2018
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WASHER FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161877December 16, 2018
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WOBBLING AND CAUSING SLACK FOR NO REASON. BEARING OR BOLT HAS GONE OUT. DOLLAR PART WILL COST 350 TO FIX HAS TO BE DONE BY DEALERSHIP UNSAFE AND RIDICULOUS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161886December 16, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HAVE BEEN SLOWLY GETTING SO DULL THAT IT IS GETTING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I COMMUTE OVER 100 MILES A DAY AND LEAVE AT DARK AND GET HOME AT DARK. SO ALL MY DRIVING IS NEEDING MY HEADLIGHTS. I STARTED NOTICING THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND JUST THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE GETTING OLD. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT NEW SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR BULBS AND I ALSO BOUGHT A SET OF SYLVANIA ULTRA. THAT DID NOT HELP. I ENDED UP EVEN TRYING TO CHANGE MY BULBS AND CONVERT OVER TO LED HEADLIGHT BULBS. I DID ALL THE WORK AND CONVERSION AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. COME TO FIND OUT IT'S NOT THE BULBS THAT ARE THE ISSUE, BUT THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS THE ISSUE. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WHICH IS REALLY TERRIBLE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM FAULTY MANUFACTURING JUST SO I CAN SEE AND BE SAFE WHILE DRIVING. BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING THE WAY MY CAR IS RIGHT NOW. I FEEL KIA SHOULD BE FIXING THE ISSUE AND SUPPLYING A HIGHER QUALITY HEADLIGHT HOUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161379December 14, 2018
STEERING
THE STEERING COUPLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS GONE BAD CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE BADLY WHEN STOPPING AND ESPECIALLY WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161440December 14, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PALM SPRINGS KIA (LOCATED AT 68130 KYLE RD, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234, (760) 844-7200) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,725.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161628December 14, 2018
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2012 KIA OPTIMA SX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE DASHBOARD SET ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161453December 14, 2018
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE BEEN HAVING REPEATED ISSUES FOLLOWING THE KIA THETA II ENGINE RECALL REPLACEMENT (SC147) SINCE JUNE 2018. MY CAR IS PRACTICALLY NEW WITH 53K +/- MILES, PURCHASED NEW, AND HAD ALL THE RECOMMENDED AND REQUIRED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED. I TOOK MY CAR TO RICK CASE KIA (DEALER CODE:GA083) TO HAVE MY ENGINE REPLACED MIDSUMMER 2018. SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PERSISTENT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) ISSUES FOR THE SAME ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC CODE(P2191). EACH TIME I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER FOR RESOLUTION, TECHNICIANS GIVE ME DIFFERENT REASONS FOR WHAT THEY "THINK" COULD BE THE ROOT ISSUE. THUS FAR, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO BAD GAS, AN O2 SENSOR GONE BAD, A LEAK, HISTORY CODE FROM ANOTHER DEALER NOT CLEARING THE RECALL, AND NOW A FUEL KIT WILL BE REPLACED. IT IS MY ASSUMPTION THAT IF KIA TECHNICIANS TRULY KNEW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS I WOULD NOT HAVE SO MANY REPEATED TRIPS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. TO THIS DATE(DECEMBER 14TH 2018) THEY STILL HAVE NOT PROVIDED A CLEAR RESOLUTION. IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS SURROUNDING KIA VEHICLES, SPECIFICALLY OPTIMA, CATCHING ON FIRE AND ENGINES RANDOMLY BLOWING UP THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS AN IMMEDIATE RESOLUTION.IT IMPACTS MY SAFETY AS THE VEHICLE OWNER AND THOSE DRIVING AROUND ME. I HAVE EXPRESSED HOW UNCOMFORTABLE I AM DRIVING THIS CAR IN THE CURRENT STATE (WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON) AND MY CONCERNS ARE BEING DISMISSED. I AM TOLD THAT IT IS NOT A DRIVABILITY ISSUE AND I CAN DRIVE IT AWAY WITH THE LIGHT ON. IT SHOULD BE NO SURPRISE WHY THAT IS NOT A COMFORTING DIAGNOSIS AS I HAVE BEEN BACK ABOUT 6-7 TIMES NOW. I AM CURRENTLY MAKING ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE/ESCALATE THIS WITH THE KIA CORPORATE OFFICE. IN AN ATTEMPT TO BE PROACTIVE I AM SEEKING HELP!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161480December 14, 2018
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2008 KIA OPTIMA FUEL PUMP BODY FAILURE. THE PUMP BODY CRACKS AND THE COMPUTER SETS EVAPORATED. LEAKAGE CODE. WE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OF THESE FROM A SALVAGE YARD AND ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.THIS SHOWS A PATTERN OF DEFECTS AND IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS IF THIS CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT AS THE FUEL WILL BURST OUT OF THE TANK AS A RESULT THIS FUEL SENDER CRACKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11161482December 14, 2018
ENGINE
AROUND 55,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING LOW OIL AND HAVING TO ADD OIL, SHORTLY I HEARD SOME RATTLING UNDER THE HOOD. AT THIS TIME I ALSO STARTED TO NOTICE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY SAYING I DID NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPER OIL CHANGES. I OFFERED PROOF OF ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND THEY STILL DENIED TO FIX IT. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE FIX THEY SAY NEEDED TO BE DONE SO I JUST DECIDED I WOULD JUST ADD THE EXTRA OIL TO THE ENGINE EVERY WEEK HOWEVER AROUND 63,000 THE ENGINE BLEW. NOW CURRENTLY THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM AWAITING TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT ISSUE ON THIS CAR AND I EXPECT THEM TO FIX MY CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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