Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10990482May 18, 2017
ENGINE
MY KIA OPTIMA HAS 50,000MILES . I WAS DRIVING 70MPN ON THE HIGHWAY, KIA ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK VERY QUIETLY AND SHUT DOWN . LOST MY POWER STEERING . LUCKY CARS DIDN'T CRASH INTO ME CAUSE I HAD LITTLE BABY IN THE CAR. DROVE TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY.CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOUSE. MECHANIC CAME OVER TO MY HOUSE AND TOLD ME MY ENGINE IS TOASTED. SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR COUPLE MONTHS CAUSE IT NEEDS NEW ENGINE. CANT AFFORD NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10986008May 16, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10981870May 15, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR
2008 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEM WITH IGNITION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION WOULD STICK, THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE BACK ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/15/2017 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985718May 15, 2017
STEERING
MY CAR RECENTLY STARTED MAKING AN ODD CLICKING NOISE IN THE STEERING. IT GETS INCREASINGLY LOUDER AND VIBRATES TO THE POINT THAT YOU CAN HEAR ANYTHING OVER THE NOISE. I WAS TOLD IT MIGHT BE AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE BUT THE MECHANICS INSIST IT DEFINITELY IS NOT ALIGNMENT RELATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985721May 15, 2017
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
APPARENTLY MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE BECOME COMPLETELY USELESS. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED A YEAR AGO AND WAS ASSURE THAT IT WAS JUST CLOUDY HEADLIGHT COVERS AND THEY WOULD "BUFF" THE LIGHTS BEFORE I TOOK IT HOME. SEVERAL TRIPS LATER I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE LIGHTS ARE SO DIM I'VE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE AND TOLD THAT MY LIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. LUCKILY BOTH TIMES I WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE PROOF THAT THE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN WORKED ON AND WAS NOT TICKETED. I HAVE CHANGED TO TWO DIFFERENT BRIGHTER BULBS AND STILL ITS USELESS. I CAN ONLY DRIVE MY CAR AT NIGHT WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON. WHAT A WASTE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985861May 15, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BACK UP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY NOT SHOWING PICTURE WHEN IN REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME AND HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE KIA FORMS FOR MANY YEARS. IT APPEARS THAT THE CAMERA IS THE ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985610May 14, 2017
STEERING
VEHICLE TENDS TO STEER ITSELF AND CAN AT TIME OF FREEWAY SPEEDS BE HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE IN A STARING LINE. VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL CAN GET STIFF AND WITH AND MOVEMENTS THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OVER CORRECT ITSELF. WHILE GOING DOWN A FREEWAY OR LONG STRAIGHT AWAY THE VEHICLE TENDS TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS BEING HELD TIGHT ON ONE PLACE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985111May 12, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985144May 12, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 77 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY FLAMES. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985410May 12, 2017
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A CITY STREET (35MPH) WHEN I WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER CAR MAKING A TURN IN FRONT OF ME AND WE COLLIDED. I T-BONED HIS CAR AND MY AIR BAGS DIDNT GOT OFF. MY CAR STALLED COMPLETELY AND NOTHING ABOUT THE VEHICLE SAFETY EQUIPMENT REACTED TO THE CRASH. THE SYSTEM (CLUSTER AND SCREEN) DIDNT SHOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN ANY IMPACT AND THE CAR WAS READY TO DRIVE. I REPORTED THIS TO KIA OF DOWNTOWN LA (THE DEALER) AND KIAUSA CORPORATE WHERE THEY OFFERED TO CHECK THE CAR OUT AND SEE IF THE CAR REACTED THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. AT THE END OF THEIR INSPECTION THEY CLAIMED THAT MY CAR DID WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSE TO AND DIDNT DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AS THE CAR DETERMINED THAT IS DIDNT NEED TO. I ASKED WHY DIDNT THE CAR SHOW ANYWHERE THAT THERE WAS IMPACT AND IF THE SENSORS EVEN DETECTED ANYTHING AS THERE WAS NO MESSAGED ANYWHERE. THEY CLAIM IT DOESNT SUPPOSE TO. A FEW WEEKS AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED I STARTED GETTING MESSAGES IN THE CLUSTER "CHECK AIR FLAP SYSTEM". TOOK IT BACK AND FOURTH TO THE DEALER WHERE I FINALLY OPENED A BBB CLAIM. IN MY CLAIM I ALSO REPORTED A DELAY REACTION WHEN ACCELERATING AND WAS TOLD THAT HYBRIDS WORK THAT WAY AND THE RESPONSE TIME IS SLOWER THAN REGULAR GAS CARS. THE PROBLEM IS WHEN TURNING AFTER A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR DOESNT MOVE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TAKES OFF. OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR WONT TURN OFF, AND ASKS ME TO SHIFT TO P (PARK) WHEN IT IS IN PARK. WHEN THAT HAPPENS I AM FORCED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAVE TO "RESET" THE CAR TO FORCE IT TO TURN OFF (NO ACTUAL SOLUTION BUT TO UNPLUG THE BATTERY AND PLUG IT BACK IN IS WHAT THEY DO) ACCORDING TO KIA I CANT PROVE THAT THE AIRBAGS DONT WORK AS I AM NOT AN EXPERT AND SAME WITH THE DRIVE TRAIN. UNFORTUNATELY THE ONLY WAY OF FINDING OUT IS IF THIS CAR IS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985446May 12, 2017
ENGINE
2011 KIA OPTIMA. ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALMOST CRASHED. SWERVED OFF THE ROAD, IT MADE A FUNNY NOISE UNDER THE CAR AND THEN I HAD NO CONTROL AND THE ENGINE DIED. I JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED AND THE MECHANIC SAID THE OIL WAS BLACK. IT SUCKED UP ALL THE OIL CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. VERY DANGEROUS. NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL OR LETTER ANOUT THIS. TWO WEEKS IN THE AHOP AND STILL NO ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984970May 11, 2017
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TODAY WAS THE 2ND TIME I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND MY CAR SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. I HAD NO ABILITY TO STEER, BRAKE, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. HERO CAME TO ASSIST, OPENED THE HOOD SMELLED MELTING PLASTIC/RUBBER. STARTED SPARKING, CAR TURNED BACK ON ITS OWN. CAR IS NOT AT ED VOYLES KIA IN MARIETTA GEORGIA. KIA HAS REPLACED MY ENGINE TWICE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM AT 120K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984993May 11, 2017
ENGINE
THE OPTIMA HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. WHEN THE CAR STALLS EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND IT'S IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS BEEN IN THE CAR DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC A COUPLE TIMES WHILE THIS HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE CALLED BOTH KIA CORPORATE AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE CAR IS STALLING. AFTER 3-5 WEEKS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE KIA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAVE FINALLY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984614May 10, 2017
ENGINE
TURBO CHARGER MALFUNCTION. MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ISSUE SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THERE WAS NO OTHER INDICATORS AS WHY IT FAILED. IT RESULTED IN LOOSE BOLTS, THE COMPLETE TURBO CHARGER NEEDING TO BE REPLACED, AND ALL NEW HOSES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984620May 10, 2017
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ON COUNTRY ROAD, VEHICLE JUST STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANIC GARAGE AND HE FOUND THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN KEPT UP ON THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD BEEN RUNNING WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984694May 10, 2017
ENGINE
ENGINE LOCKED UP DURRING ACCELERATION TO 40 MPH WHY MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FOUND OUT ENGINE HAS A BENT ROD. OIL AND COOLENT WHERE SUFFICINT BUT KIA WILL NOT FIX OR REPLACE. COULD OF CAUSED MY WIFE TO CRASH OR BE HIT BY TRAFFIC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984746May 10, 2017
AIR BAGS
DESPITE THERE BEING A VOLUNTARY WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE PART OF KIA FOR THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR MAT, THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE MINE BECAUSE THE CODE IT IS DISPLAYING IS NOT THE SAME AS THE CODE SPECIFIED IN THEIR VOLUNTARY EXTENSION. THE OCS MAT IN MY CAR DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AND WHEN ADULTS ARE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM REMAINS OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984430May 9, 2017
ENGINE
ENGINE FAILED IN MAY OF 2016 (ENGINE ROD FAILURE AND KNOCKING). KIA VOIDED OUR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $6000 FOR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE SAT FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR UNTIL THE RECALL NOTICE WAS LEAKED. DUE TO THE VEHICLE SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY KIA SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL ISSUES FOUND OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE. WE PAID $1497 FOR THOSE REPAIRS AND DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ONE DAY. THAT SAME DAY WE GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND "KIA OF ORANGE PARK" SAID THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR IS BAD AND WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $400 FOR REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH NO CHARGE BUT KIA IS STATING THAT OUR VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. WE MADE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR AND STILL ARE A SINGLE CAR FAMILY. WE ARE LOOKING TO RECOVER THE FUNDS SPENT ON THIS VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984463May 9, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT STALLED AND SMOKE WAS SEEN UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO A POSSIBLE FUTURE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,255.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984512May 9, 2017
ENGINE
CAR JUST STOPEVEN THED WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET IN TOWN. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS CAR DIED, NO PRIOR WARNING. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY WITH NO PROBLEMS DETECTED. KIA TECHNICIAN AT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT ENGINE HAD SEIZED. BLAMED ENGINE PROBLEM ON IMPROPER MAINTENANCE EVEN THOUGH I HAD PROOF OF REGULAR ON SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE. KIA REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY. WHEN I LOOKED UP PROBLEM ON COMPUTER FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FAULTY ENGINE DESIGN CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS FROM BEARINGS THAT CLOOGED OIL PORTSCREATING SLUDGE AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE FAILURE. KIA REPRESENTITIVES STATED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THIS PROBLEM AND AGAIN DENIED TO HONOR WARRANTY IN NEGOTIATIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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