Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10672981January 16, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS TO 20 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS HARD BY ITSELF. CAR LURCHES FORWARD. IN RESEARCHING ONLINE, I FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF THE SAME THING. FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES, BUT MECHANIC SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. IT CAN ONLY BE THE TRANSMISSION / POWER TRAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10673104January 16, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR LEVER WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS REQUIRED WHEN SHIFTING OUT OR INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE KEY REMAINED STUCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672714January 15, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,050.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671358January 9, 2015
STEERING
IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD THE CAR ON A STRAIGHT TRACK. WILL DRIFT LEFT,WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT TO A STRAIGHT TRACK,THE STEERING REQUIRES SO MUCH FORCE TO CORRECT THAT THE RESULT IS AN OVER CORRECTION TO THE RIGHT. THIS SCENARIO REPEATS FOREVER. THE STEERING STICKS AND CANNOT BE HELD IN A STRAIGHT LINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671394January 9, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND THE ENGINE RPM'S INCREASED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671498January 9, 2015
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), SUSPENSION
HI MY NAME IS [XXX]I HAVE 2014 KIA OPTIMA LX. I HAVE THE CAR SINCE IT HAD 2 MILES AND NOW HAS 14700. WHAT IS RIDICULOUS IS THE STRUTS MAKE CLUNKING NOISE OVER SPEED BUMPS. THE CAR CHANGES LANE BY ITS SELF. YOU CAN HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL CENTER AND THE CAR GOES TO THE LEFT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT'S NORMAL. LIES ALL LIES . PLEASE TELL ME HOW MY STRUTS HAVE A SMALL LEAK BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT I THOUGHT IT WAS A NEW CAR. IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR WAS MADE POORLY AND RUSHED. I ALSO FEEL AS IF KIA IS LYING ABOUT GAS MILEAGE AGAIN. THE STEERING FEELS TERRIBLE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE HIGHWAY. THEY ARE A SAD EXCUSE FOR A CAR COMPANY AND AM COMPLETELY DISAPPOINTED WITH THEM. THE REFUSE TO HELP TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE OPTIMA STEERING I HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER WITH A 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX WITH THE SAME STEERING ISSUE. SO TELL ME HOW DO THEY HAVE THE SAME STEERING ISSUE IF THE 2014 WAS REDESIGNED. THE CAR SEEMS LIKE IT LEAKS AIR INTO THE CABIN THEY SAY OTHER WISE. I'M NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER AND WON'T BE TILL THEY PUT A RECALL FOR MPG. SUSPENSION. STEERING AND BRAKES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671024January 8, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK FROM OUTSIDE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY OR WITH BY USING THE KEY FOB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR ACTUATOR SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670461January 6, 2015
STEERING
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONS AT HIGHWAY SPEED CAUSING A SNAPPING SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND INABILITY TO HOLD A A STEADY HEADING. STEERING BECOMES STICKY REQUIRING G CONSTANT ADJUSTMENTS AS THE CAR DRIFTS FROM ONE STICKY HEADING TO ANOTHER. DEALER REPEATEDLY UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670519January 6, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT ON HOOD ROOF TRUNK HAD SPOTS IN PAINT ORANGE PEEL IN PAINT ON PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10670088January 5, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 60-65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED INDEPENDENTLY TOWARDS THE LEFT AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,682. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669952January 4, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IF THE WHEELS SLIP SLIGHTLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR LOOSES ALL POWER AND STOPS. I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SKID CONTROL MECHANISMS, BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE KIA DEALER IN DENVILLE NJ AND THEY CLAIM IT IS "NORMAL". THIS MORNING, I PULLED OUT ONTO A BUSY ROAD AND THE TIRES SLIPPED SLIGHTLY ON THE WET SURFACE. THE CAR LOST POWER AND STOPPED. I CAN CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE FOR ME TO ENTER THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669605January 2, 2015
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION FRAME ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS RUSTED AND THE TIRE WAS DISCONNECTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V183000 (SUSPENSION). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 03/02/15*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669274December 31, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 40 MINUTES WHEN I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE GOING UP A SMALL HILL AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE IN SPEED AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTED JUMPING AND THEN WOULD NOT KEEP THE SPEED I WAS AT. THE SPEED IN MY CAR KEPT DESCENDING. IT WASNT UNTIL I WAS GOING 30 MPH BEFORE I COULD GET OVER INTO THE SLOW LANE TO THEN GET IN THE EMERGENCY LANE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED FROM WHERE IT BROKE DOWN IN BAILEYTON TN TO BRISTOL TN WHICH IS ABOUT A 50 MIN DRIVE AND WAS THEN TOLD THEY WOULD NOT BE GIVING ME A LOANER CAR AND IT HADNT EVEN BEEN 1 MONTH SINCE I PURCHASED CAR.. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE WILLING TO HELP. THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT TRADE MY CAR IN FOR A DIFFERENT CAR EVEN THO THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.... GRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669072December 30, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA AND IT HAS TERRIBLE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. PER FORUM DISCUSSIONS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10669214December 30, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, STEERING, SUSPENSION
HAVING PURCHASED THE CAR ON 12/11/14 MY DAUGHTER DID NOT HAVE MUCH EXPERIENCE DRIVING THE CAR.... ON DECEMBER 27 SHE "LOST CONTROL" OF THE CAR, AND RAN INTO THE WALL ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN CHICAGO. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A DRY EVENING, AND SHE EMPHATICALLY STATES THAT SHE DOES NOT KNOW HOW SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, AND THAT IT WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE ONLY RATIONALE CONCLUSION WAS THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE HAD A TIRE BLOW OUT. THAT IS, UNTIL A FRIEND RECOMMENDED I CHECK THE WEB, AND CHECK IF OTHERS MAY HAVE BEEN OR ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. ALTHOUGH I HAD DONE MY DUE DILIGENCE WHEN RESEARCHING THE CAR E.G. RECALLS, KNOWN PROBLEMS, ETC. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THIS CAR, I DID NOT CHECK SPECIFICS SUCH AS STEERING. LONG OF THE SHORT, TWO DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND WHEN I GOOGLED STEERING PROBLEMS, THIS SITE HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2013/STEERING/STEERING.SHTML WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO SHOW UP. I WAS AMAZED TO FIND 35 COMPLAINTS IN REFERENCE TO THE SAME STEERING ISSUE. AFTER READING THE COMPLAINTS I AM I CONVINCED THAT THIS STEERING ISSUE IS THE CONTRIBUTOR TO MY DAUGHTER'S ACCIDENT. IT IS THE ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION OTHER THAN A BLOW OUT. I THINK THIS MAY BE A RESULT OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2013 OPTIMAS. I WONDER HOW MANY ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS IT IS GOING TO TAKE FOR KIA TO ADMIT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT AND DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING? IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE NEEDS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS' RECALL BEFORE A FATAL ACCIDENT OCCURS, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY .... *JS
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668706December 29, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ETERNAL SAULT PCM SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668318December 26, 2014
AIR BAGS
THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL UP TO MANUFACTURE DATE OF JAN 2008 (SC094). HOWEVER, MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURED OCT 2008 EXHIBITS THE SAME FAILURE. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE 2009 MODEL YEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10668403December 26, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR IS WITH THE DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM. IT STARTED IN APRIL WITH A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR. WHEN YOU UNLOCKED THE DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB, ALL THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK, BUT WHEN YOU GRABBED THE HANDLE OF THE DOOR TO OPEN IT, ALL THE DOORS TO THE CAR WOULD LOCK.IT COST ME $350.00 TO GET THAT FIXED. NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK, EITHER FROM THE INSIDE OR OUT. THE KEY FOB WON'T UNLOCK IT, NOR MANUALLY USING A KEY. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT I THINK KIA SHOULD BE FIXING. WHAT IF SOMEONE WAS UNABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR IN A SERIOUS WRECK, AND WAS KILLED, OR SERIOUSLY INJURED? I TALKED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP, BUT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED, BECAUSE MY WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667508December 21, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WE WERE IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA ON A TRANSITION RAMP FROM ONE FREEWAY TO ANOTHER DOING ABOUT 45 MPH. AS WE ROUNDED A TURN WE SAW 2 CARS AND A TOW TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE RAMP WE THEN HIT A PUDDLE (LAKE) THAT WENT ACROSS BOTH LANES OF THIS RAMP. THE WATER SLOWED US BY MAYBE 20 MPH WITH WATER SHOOTING ALL AROUND US. WE THEN SAW A TRUCK COMING DOWN A ON RAMP TO MERGE IN FRONT OF US HE HIT ANOTHER PUDDLE AND SPUN SIDEWAYS AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. WE PULLED UP NEXT TO HIM TO SEE IF HE WAS ALRIGHT AND MY CAR STALLED. WE COULD SMELL GAS I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM THE TRUCK AND I WANTED TO MOVE AWAY FROM HIM. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR AND HE WAS TERRIFIED AND CRYING. LUCKILY A TOW TRUCK PULLED UP BEHIND US AND BLOCKED OTHER CARS FROM HITTING US HE PUSHED US OUT OF THE LANE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE KIA DEALER I FOUND OUT THERE IS A PIECE OF (PLASTIC OR METAL I DON'T KNOW WHICH) THAT RUNS DOWN THE CENTER UNDER THE CAR, IT HOLDS THE GAS AND HYDRAULIC LINES UP FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK, THIS PIECE IS HELD IN PLACE WITH CLIPS ( NOT BOLTS OR SCREWS ) THE WATER PULLED THESE CLIPS FREE AND MY GAS AND HYDRAULIC LINES WERE PULLED DOWN, MY GAS LINE BROKE THAT WAS THE GAS I WAS SMELLING, IT THERE HAD BEEN A SPARK OR FLARE IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THIS COULD ALSO HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING IN SNOW. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID NO. SO I HAVE TO PAY $500 PLUS 5 DAYS OF CAR RENTAL. I'M 59 I HAVE DRIVEN EVERY MAKE OF CAR I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667516December 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
DRIVERS DOOR IS JAMMED LOCKED. THE REMOTE WORKS THE LOCKS MOVE WITH REMOTE AND KEY. THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON KIA FORUM REGARDING DOOR LOCKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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