Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10655425November 17, 2014
ENGINE, STEERING
I PULLED OFF A FRONTAGE ROAD ON TO THE HIGHWAY INTO A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25-30 MPH MY HAZARD LIGHTS CLICKED ON WHEN MY BLINKER WENT OFF, I REALIZED MY POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND I WAS LOOSING CONTROL. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND REALIZED MY ENGINE HAD SHUT OFF ON ITS OWN. SCARED ME TO DEATH! IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING FASTER OR GOING AROUND A TURN I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER! I GATHERED MY THOUGHTS AS TO WHAT HAPPENED, CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID TO TRY AND SIMPLY RESTART THE CAR. IT STARTED ON THE FIRST TURN W/ NO HESITATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WERE NO CODES SHOWING AND IT WAS PROBABLY JUST A GLITCH AND THEY TRIED TO SEND ME HOME IN IT! THAT IS A MAJOR PROBLEM TO ME! I BELIEVE I DESERVE AN EXPLANATION AND A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN TOLD IT PROBABLY WONT HAPPEN AGAIN, SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! AFTER SPENDING 4 HOURS AT THE DEALERSHIP THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THE CAR FOR ANOTHER FEW DAYS AND PUT ME IN A RENTAL. I PRAY THEY FIND THE CAUSE SINCE I DON'T FEEL SAFE UNTIL THEY DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10658653November 17, 2014
STEERING
VEHICLE IS HARD TO HOLD STRAIGHT AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE STEERING LOCKS INTO A POSITION AND REQUIRES EXTRA EFFORT TO TURN THE WHEEL CAUSING OVER CORRECTION. THIS CAUSES MENTAL AND PHYSICAL FATIGUE ON LONGER TRIPS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10658702November 17, 2014
STEERING
THIS IS NOT A NEW COMPLAINT AS I SEE MANY OTHERS!!!! I PURCHASED A KIA OPTIMA 2014 ON NOVEMBER 8, 2014 WITH 175 MILES. I DID TEST DRIVE BUT NOT AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH. THE FIRST TIME I DROVE ON THE INTERSTATE, AT SPEEDS 70-80 MPH, I NOTICED I WAS REALLY HAVING TO "STEER" THIS CAR. FIRST LEFT, THEN RIGHT AND NEVER STOPPING UNTIL SPEEDS DROPPED BELOW 60 MPH OR SO. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT OVER AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NEXT HIGHWAY DRIVE WAS 90 MILES EACH WAY AND THE CAR IS DEFINITELY "ALL OVER THE LANE", SO MUCH SO I ACTUALLY GOT MOTION SICKNESS AND ALMOST HAD TO STOP TO VOMIT. WHEN I RETURNED HOME AND STARTED RESEARCHING, I FOUND A SITE WWW.ARFC.ORG AND TO MY SURPRISE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE JUST NOTIFIED THE DEALER, ALTHOUGH FROM READING OTHERS EXPERIENCES, I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT KIA FIXING IT. I IMPLORE YOUR ORGANIZE TO FORCE KIA'S MANAGEMENT TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE DEATHS INVOLVED. IT IS TRULY AN UNSAFE CAR ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, WHICH SADLY, IS THE BULK OF MY DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654169November 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. YOU COULD CLICK IT AND IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IT WAS GOING TO OPEN, BUT IT DIDN'T. HAD TO DRIVE TO A KIA STORE AND HAVE THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $450. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THEY DID NOT SEEM TO THINK THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT I CAN SEE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAD MY TWO YEAR OLD GRANDSON IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING STUCK IN THE CAR. IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, I WILL SELL THE CAR. THERE SEEM TO BE A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON THIS CAR. I REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS REGULARLY (ABOUT ONCE A MONTH) AND I AM ALWAYS HAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, WHEN THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. HOW MANY OF THESE COMPLAINTS DO YOU NEED BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO GET KILLED FIRST? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654184November 11, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO MY FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I HAVE A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. I WAS AT 62,000 MILES WHEN IT WENT OUT, WHICH MEANT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD IT REPLACED AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, IT COST AROUND $800.00 TO REPLACE. NOW LESS THAT 2 MONTHS LATER I AM HAVING SOME HESITATION AND JERKING IN THE CAR. HAD THE CAR TROUBLESHOOT AND IT'S NOT THE TEMP SENSOR. THE CAR IS TOO NEW FOR THINGS LIKE THIS TO HAPPENED. ONCE I GET RID OF IT, I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA, OR WILL I ALLOW MY FAMILY AND FRIEND TO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654208November 11, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS PERIODICALLY COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE OPERATING OUR 2012 OPTIMA. THIS OCCURS WITH THE SWITCH IN BOTH ON AND OFF POSITION AND THE LIGHTBULBS TEND TO BECOME OVERHEATED.THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO MANUAL OPERATION, BUT GO OFF ON THEIR OWN AND THIS MALFUNCTION REPEATS SEVERAL TIMES IN A TEN MINUTE DRIVE. BEST-CASE SCENARIO RESULTS IN THE BULBS BURNING OUT PREMATURELY, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A REAL CHANCE OF A MORE SERIOUS SHORT-CIRCUIT AND POTENTIAL INTERIOR FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653701November 9, 2014
STEERING
PROBLEM IS ONGOING. VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. CONSTANT STEERING CORRECTION NECESSARY. YOU CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THIS HAPPENS ON PERFECTLY FLAT ROADS WITH NO WIND. THE VEHICLE DRIFTS INDEPENDENTLY IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT HELD TIGHTLY. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT OR SLIGHTLY RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. IT BECOMES A STRAIN ON MY ARMS AND MY WRISTS ACHE AFTER A LONG DRIVE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHY ISN'T KIA ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE? I DON'T TRUST GOING TO THE DEALER BECAUSE, FROM ALL THE REVIEWS, IT SEEMS LIKE NOTHING IS OR CAN BE DONE. I HAD A HYUNDAI SONATA FOR YEARS AND LOVED IT. I WENT WITH THE KIA DUE TO THE NEW LOOK, PAYING GOOD MONEY FOR A QUALITY CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BOTH THIS PROBLEM!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653598November 8, 2014
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
I HAVE NOTICED OVER TWENTY TIMES THAT THE TRUNK WOULD OPEN BY ITSELF. IT WOULD BE FOUND OPEN AFTER I GET TO MY CAR OR WHILE DRIVING IT WOULD JUST OPEN UP ON ITS OWN. LAST MONTH MY TRUNK, WAS SHUT, DOORS LOCKED, WE HAD A HEAVY RAIN THAT NIGHT AND THE NEXT DAY I WENT OUT, AND THE TRUNK WAS OPEN UP ALL THE WAY. THE TRUNK FLAP WAS SOAKING WET AND UNDER IT, THERE WAS A FOOT OF WATER AND KIA DOES NOT GIVE YOU A TIRE WHEN YOU BUY A NEW ONE. IT COST ME $80.00 TO GET EVERYTHING DRIED OUT AND WATER REMOVED. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUNK OPENING AND THE KIA DEALER SAID THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING COULD BE, DONE WITH IT OR THE KEY THAT OPENS IT TOLD ME. KIA SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX THE FREQUENCY FOR THE KEYS AND THERE ARE TWO PEOPLE, WHICH HAVE DIFFERENT CARS THAT THEIR KEY WILL OPEN MY TRUNK DOORS AND EVEN TURN ON MY LIGHTS. THE TRUNK CAN BE SHUT AND YOU DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH AND IT WILL OPEN UP AND BLOCK YOUR VIEW AND IT COULD CAUSE A WRECK IF YOU ARE CHANGING LANES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653369November 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHTS COM ON WITH NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS MY ISSUE NOT THEIRS. I HAVE FILED PREVIOUS TIME AND YET NO ANSWER FROM ANYONE. KIA OWNER ARE BEING LEFT OUT ON THESE RECALLS ON AIR BAGS. THEY HAD IN THE PAST RECALLS ON THE SAME ISSUE. AIR BAGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653402November 7, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
LEFT FRONT INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE IN HALF DURING NORMAL SERVICE. EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER, RIGHT FRONT INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE DURING NORMAL SERVICE. BOTH THESE INSTANCES MADE IT DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE CAR, WITHOUT ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW TO ACCESS THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY RISK IF IT WERE TO OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653049November 6, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ACTIVATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652810November 5, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS AND CANNOT BE OPENED WITH A KEY AND DOES NOT OPEN ONCE INSIDE OF THE CAR. THE OPERATOR ESSENTIALLY IS LOCKED IN THE CAR. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR FIRE, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EASILY VACATE THE VEHICLE; THE ONLY WAY WOULD BE TO CLIMB OVER THE CONSOLE TO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OR THE REAR TO EXIT THE PASSENGER DOORS. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH NO ACTION TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THE DEFECT AND AFFECTS MULTIPLE MANUFACTURING YEARS. IN MY OPINION IT CLEARLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652476November 4, 2014
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIA OPTIMA PROBLEM MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013 THE DRIVER FRONT DOOR LOCK ON MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS. IF I AM IN THE CAR AND LOCKED THE DOOR, I COULD NOT UNLOCK IT. IF I WAS OUTSIDE AND TRY TO USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK. IF I TRIED TO USE THE KEY, IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS JAMMING, AND THE ACTUATOR WOULD AUTOMATICALLY RELOCK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THE SHOP TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FAULTY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR.THE MECHANIC DID NOT OPEN THE DOOR BUT SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY ESTIMATED COST IS $300+ INCLUDING LABOR TO REPAIR. AS AN INTERIM SOLUTION, THE MECHANIC TOLD US TO "TURN THE KEY AND PULL THE HANDLE SIMULTANEOUSLY". THE TRICK WORKED ABOUT 30% OF THE TIME. IT STILL DOES NOT SOLVE THE FACT THAT ONCE YOU'RE INSIDE, YOU HAVE TO CRAWL OUT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE TO EXIT OR GO DUKES OF HAZARD ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652181November 3, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FACTORY DESIGN REAR VIEW WINDOW WAS DIFFICULT TO VIEW THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652204November 3, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
MESSAGE: I HAVE A 2008 KIA OPTIMA THAT AFTER A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET THAT KIA MOTOR COMPANY HAS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR SUN VISORS ON THE CAR THAT I HAVE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS TYPE OF SAFETY ISSUE. I SEND YOU THIS EMAIL SO YOU CAN BE MADE AWARE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES INVOLVED WITH THE BLOCKED VISION OF A DRIVER WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN YOU GET THE VISOR BACK UP AND SEE YOU ARE HEADED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY ASSISTANCE TO KIA OWNERS WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IF THEY REPLACE THE VISOR AT THE DEALER THEY JUST PUT ANOTHER DEFECTIVE VISOR ON AND CHARGE YOU $180.00. WE NEED A FIX. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651979November 2, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I TOOK MY CAR IN ON 4 SEP 2014 I GOT THIS CAR IN GOOD FAITH FROM [XXX] I HAVE HAD MY CAR BACK AT LEAST 3 TIME ALREADY AND I WILL BE TAKING IT BACK ON NOVEMBER 3, 2014 WHERE MY LIGHT HAVE BEEN FLASHING AND MY LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN. MY GAS PEDAL WHEN I AM GOING ABOUT 40 OR 50 AND I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER CARS AND IT'S LIKE I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING. I DON'T EVEN WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR I DON'T EVERY NO WHEN MY LIGHTS ARE GOING TO GO OUT. I HAVE HAD TO COME OUT ON MY JOB BECAUSE OF BREAST CANCER. AND THE MONEY THAT HAD WAS MY 2000 CADILLAC DEVILED WHICH THE ONLY GAVE ME 1500 WISH I FOUND OUT THEY SHOULD HAVE GIVEN ME MORE WISH MY WARRANTY RUN OUT IN LEST THEN 90 DAYS. I WAS UNABLE TO GET ANOTHER WARRANTY SO WHAT DO I DO I NEED A CAR TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO THE DOCTOR. I NEED SOME HELP. SO PLEASE DON'T LET ME DOWN. 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
#10651606October 31, 2014
STEERING
AS THE FIRST OWNER OF THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED STEERING ISSUES THAT COULD BE DESCRIBED AS FEELING AS IF THE STEERING DOES NOT PROPERLY CENTER. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO MAKE STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD. THE ISSUE BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCED AS THE VEHICLE SPEED INCREASES. THIS RESULTS IN A FEELING OF LACK OF SAFETY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY IN MODERATE - HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATIONS OR ON NARROW ROADS. I INFORMED THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT THIS ISSUE. A MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DRIVE AND AGREED THAT THE CAR HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING. THE DEALERSHIP THEN CONTACTED THE KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER WHO EVENTUALLY DECIDED THAT THE CAR WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER THEN CONTACTED ME TO INFORM ME OF THIS. I CHOSE NOT TO ACCEPT THAT THIS SHOULD BE "NORMAL" AND ESCALATED THE ISSUE. KIA MOTORS AMERICA THEN CONTACTED ME DIRECTLY TO OFFER TO HAVE A DISTRICT MANAGER DRIVE THE CAR TO OBSERVE THE STEERING ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650849October 28, 2014
AIR BAGS
SHORTLY AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS CAR THE AIR BAG (SRS) LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER. SCAN TEST FOUND CODE B1447 OC ECU DEFECT, FOUND POOR CONNECTION AT CONTROL UNIT. THEY CLEARED THE CODE AND STATED THE UNIT WAS WORKING NOW AS DESIGNED. EVERYTHING GOOD UNTIL 10/6/14, 57000MI., 52 DAYS OUT OF BASIC WARRANTY. CALLED KIA DEALER, WANTED TO SCAN IT FOR $95.00. SAID THEY WOULD APPLY SCAN FEE TO REPAIR BILL. (ILL BET THEY WOULD!) TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TECH. WHO HAS A HIGH TECH SCANNER. I DON'T HAVE THE CODE BUT HE TOLD ME IT HAS A DEFECTIVE PRESSURE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT WOULD BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. I THINK ITS HIGH TIME KIA DOES THE RIGHT THING AND OWNS UP TO ITS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THIS LIFE-SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650292October 27, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACTUATOR DOOR LOCKS FOR THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS USED IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE THE FRONT PASSENGER ACTUATOR WAS REPAIRED PREVIOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650497October 27, 2014
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE I77 NORTH AT 70MPH WITH THE SUNROOF AND SHADE SHUT WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE SHADE STARTED GOING THROUGH THE SUNROOF AND GLASS CAME RAINING DOWN ON MYSELF (I AM 7 MONTHS PREGNANT) AND MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THERE WERE NO CARS AROUND US. IT WAS SUNNY AROUND 80 DEGREES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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