Kia Optima Complaints
7,843 consumer complaints on file.
- #11129070September 12, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (COAST TO COAST MOTORS, 8102 E 11TH ST, TULSA, OK 74112, (918) 832-9000) AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11129096September 12, 2018STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WHEN THE CAR VEERED OFF THE ROAD AND BURST INTO FLAMES. MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED UPON IMPACT WITH A TREE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 1
- #11129122September 12, 2018FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT ENCOUNTERED A VERY INTENSE ODOR OF FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING FUEL AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE. 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 FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11129131September 12, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE ( AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ) SHUT DOWN (3 TIMES) COMPLETELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY , WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS( TWICE) AND ONCE WHILE AT TOLLS. ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU TURN KEY OCCASIONALLY , ITS LIKE BATTERY IS DEAD. I BELIEVE THAT FIRST AND SECOND TIMES I WAS FLASHING HI BEAMS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER THESE EVENTS HAPPEN , THE MILEAGE GUAGE RESETS, AND CLOCK IS WRONG. ALSO NOTICE THAT THE RADIO FLICKERS,, AND OR TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. ALSO, NOT ABLE TO RESET TRIP MILEAGE, AND NOTICED THAT SHIFTER BUTTON INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT DEPRESS.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11129158September 12, 2018VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS JAMMED IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. PRESTIGE AUTO SALES (N8890 WI-57, BRILLION, WI) DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,620.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11128714September 11, 2018ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
1. DRIVING VEHICLE ON FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE BLEW. KIA REBUILT THE TOP HALF OF THE ENGINE. 2. DRIVING VEHICLE ON STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. TOOK A LOT OF STRENGTH TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. KIA RESET MAIN CONTROL UNIT TO FIX ISSUE. 3. DRIVING VEHICLE ON STREET AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AGAIN. KIA WANTS TO REPLACE MAIN CONTROL UNIT. CAR HAS PASSED THE WARRANTY BY 10K MILES. NOT COVERED.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11128768September 11, 2018ENGINE
THE ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCED WHAT OTHER KIA ENGINES HAVE. ENGINE OIL WAS EITHER BLOCKED OR RAPIDLY BURNT UP, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SPIN A ROD BEARING, THUS NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. LUCKILY I STOPPED DRIVING IMMEDIATELY, PREVENTING A FIRE; AS HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER KIA VEHICLES. SADLY, KIA IS REFUSING TO WARRANTY OR RECALL THE HYBRID ENGINES, EVEN THOUGH MANY ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11128796September 11, 2018ENGINE
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
- #11128399September 10, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING AND CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,600.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11128577September 10, 2018STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STEERING WHEEL MAKES ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS AND TURNING EVEN WHEN CAR ISN'T MOVING IT, MAKES A NOISE JUST BY MOVING STEERING WHEEL. UPDATED 10/26/18*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11128118September 7, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE PULLING INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND MADE AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DCH KIA OF TEMECULA (LOCATED AT 26799 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 268-9198) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTAINED OIL SLUDGE AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11124498September 5, 2018ENGINE
ENGINE SEIZED
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11124659September 5, 2018ENGINE
2015 OPTIMA SXL WITH 130K MILES REGULARLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL HIGHWAY MILES. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A MILD KLANKING SOUND. SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A LOUD BANG OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD AND ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. PULLED OFF THE ON THE SHOULDER AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE AND A FEW OTHER LIGHTS WERE ON. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CONTINUED TO BURN. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NO PRIOR SOUNDS OR NOISES SUGGESTING A PROBLEM. ALL KIA UPDATES OR MAINTENANCE NOTICES WERE HANDLED BY A KIA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH ALL OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE DONE BY A SHOP. HAVE HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THIS IS NOT ONLY A SURPRISE BUT A CONCERN AS THIS IS MY SECOND KIA (PRIOR ONE IS STILL OWNED).
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11124211September 4, 2018UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR STALLED OUT WHILE IN MOTION. CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL AND WOULD NOT RESTART.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11123907August 31, 2018EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS ON AT NIGHT, THE LIGHTS HAVE TURNED OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS EACH TIME THEN TURNED ON AGAIN.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11123614August 31, 2018ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN MAY OF 2018 PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11123523August 30, 2018AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11123574August 30, 2018SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AUGUST 21, 2018, WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO GOSSETT KIA MOTORS (DEALERSHIP) BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START.. THE CAR HAS A PUSH BUTTON START, WHENEVER WE TRIED TO START THE CAR BY PRESSING THE START BUTTON AND PUSHING DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WOULD NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD START FOR THEM. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME THE SAME DAY. ON THE NIGHT OF AUGUST 22, 2018, THE CAR WOULD NOT START, SAME AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. ON AUGUST 23, 2018, WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO US AUGUST 25, 2018. TODAY, AUGUST 30, 2018, THE CAR DID NOT START AND EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE PREVIOUS TWO TIMES. WE WILL HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AT THEIR CONVENIENCE. LUCKILY FOR US, EACH TIME THE CAR DID NOT START IT WAS PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. SPECIAL NOTE, ON AUGUST 2, 2018, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE REPAIR WORK. ADDITIONALLY, ONE OF THE TOW TRUCK DRIVERS STATED HE TOWED SEVERAL KIA OPTIMA'S WITH THE SAME DESCRIBED PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11123155August 29, 2018AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A WEEK AGO WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING AT 50 MPH AND HASN'T WENT OFF YET. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT WHATSOEVER. JUST CASUALLY DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD (MAY HAVE HIT A POTHOLE OR ANYTHING THAT CAUSED IT TO COME ON) SO I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF MAYBE THERE WAS A RECALL.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11123033August 28, 2018ENGINE, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DIVING AT 40 MPH. COME TO A STOP AT RED LIGHT AND ENGINE BEGINS MAKING A SLIGHT NOISE. NO WARNING GAUGES OR WARNING LIGHT GO OFF. START DRIVING TO DRIVE AGAIN AND 2 BLOCKS LATER A VERY LOUD MECHANICAL BANG AND THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. WOULD NOT RESTART. OIL LIGHT WENT OUT USING THE STARTER WHILE TRYING TO RESTART. NEVER GOT THE ENGINE RESTARTED. CAR IS NOW AT KIA OF LANSDALE AFTER I HAD TO PAY FOR TOWING. I PERFORM COURIER SERVICES TO US TREASURY DEPT AND US ATTORNEY IN PHILADELPHIA AREA. I NEED THIS CAR BACK DESPERATELY. LAST OIL CHANGE WAS 2000 MILES AGO WITH FULL SYNTHETIC OIL. ALWAYS HAVE USED FULL SYNTHETIC. WHEN I GOT THE CAR PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT THE SMELL OF OIL BURNING WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT TO MYSELF AND ANOTHER GENTLEMAN WHO STOPPED TO SEE IF I NEEDED ANY HELP. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE RECALL RELATED ISSUE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0