Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10631562September 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN
OUR VEHICLE CHANGES GEARS FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL SHIFT ON ITS OWN WHILE THE CAR IS IN DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. AFTER THE 1ST OCCURRENCE WE CONTACTED OUR DEALER TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE ISSUE. WE WERE TOLD UNLESS THE ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN AND THEY SEE IT, NOTHING CAN BE DONE. WELL SINCE THEN THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES. THE LAST OCCURRENCE, WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEN WERE ADVISED TO CONTACT KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO HAVE THEM AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE ISSUE. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE AT THAT TIME OF DROP OFF. AFTER 2 WEEKS OR INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND WITH A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE, IT WAS DEEMED THAT THE CAR WAS OPERABLE AND SAFE. MY WIFE, WHO DRIVES THE VEHICLE, FEELS NO CONFIDENCE AND SAFETY TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AGAIN TO DISCUSS OPTIONS UPON WHICH I WAS TOLD A FEW TIMES THERE WAS NOTHING FURTHER TO DO AND THAT IF THE ISSUE HAPPENS AGAIN WE SHOULD BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS WOULD THEN BRING US BACK TO STEP 1 AGAIN AND THE POSSIBILITY OF NOTHING BEING RESOLVED. I CANNOT ACCEPT THAT AS MY FINAL ANSWER. IF THE VEHICLE SLOWS SUDDENLY AND AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, WE WOULD HAVE A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. I CANNOT ACCEPT THE FACT THAT IT WOULD TAKE AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR BEFORE REAL ACTION IS DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631392September 7, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL "CANCEL" BUTTON NEEDS REPEATED PUSHING TO ACTIVATE. A SINGLE PUSH OF THE CANCEL BUTTON ACTUALLY SEEMS TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631218September 6, 2014
STEERING
THE STEERING WANDERS SIDE TO SIDE. IT IS A CONSTANT BATTLE TRYING TO KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE.THERE IS NO "SWEET SPOT" YOU CONSTANTLY HAVE TO CORRECT A LITTLE LEFT THEN A LITTLE RIGHT OVER AND OVER AGAIN. ALSO AIR CONDITIONER FAILED TWICE. CAR ONLY HAD 200 MILES ON IT. AND AGAIN AT 350 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631283September 6, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631170September 5, 2014
EQUIPMENT, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIME'S IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630450September 3, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEALING AND AN UNUSUAL POPPING SOUND THAT EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT TIRES HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK BRACKET FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,273.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629865September 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TODAY THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT FROM A SPEED PF 65 TO 20 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE. I SUDDENLY TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS TO LET THE CARS BEHIND ME KNOW THAT THEIR WAS A PROBLEM. THANK GOD I WAS HIT AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER ON THE RAMP. I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BUT IN HOUSTON (THIS LABOR DAY) NO ONE IS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CAR SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO AUTO ZONE. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODES APPEARED. I WAS TOLD ONLY KIA CARRIES THE PART. I WAS SO SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND I DON'T WANT TO EVER BE IN THAT POSITION AGAIN BECAUSE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. I WAS READING COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL WEBSITES AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. IT'S SAD THAT KIA HASN'T OF YET ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS THIS WAS WAKE UP CALL FOR ME I CAN HONESTLY SAY I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY LIFE WHEN MY CAR DROPPED DAWN FROM SPEEDS OF 65 TO 20. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LOSING POWER BUT IT WOULD QUICKLY REGAIN POWER BUT NOTHING OF THIS INSTANCE. VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT FOR THE SAKE OF MY CHILDREN THAT WERE PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/FAULTY-THROTTLE-POSITION-SWITCH-355 I JUST RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THEY RELEASED A BETTER PERFORMING PART BUT OTHERS ARE STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT PART. KIA COULD OF AT LEAST NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN MANY OF US FINDING OUT THE HARD WAY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. THE NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629866September 1, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR FAILS TO STAY UPRIGHT LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO POOR THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD AT NIGHT. IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE ROAD LEADING OUT PROVIDES LITTLE TO NO LIGHT AND I WOULD CONSTANTLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE BRIGHT ON TO BE ABLE TO SEE INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS. BOTH ARE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY HURT. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT NO FURTHER ACTIONS HAVE BEEN INITIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629344August 29, 2014
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I WENT TO UNLOCK MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA AND THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK. REPEATED ATTEMPTS FAILED. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS FORUMS AND THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CAR IS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD! IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESCUED. KIA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629466August 29, 2014
TIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H431 TIRES, SIZE 225/45R 18V. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE TIRE GAUGE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOUND AN AIR BUBBLE IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629137August 28, 2014
AIR BAGS
NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA ON AIR ISSUES AND THEY FALL DEAF EARS. CAR WITH LESS THAN 100, 000 MILES AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. IT SEEMS THAT KIA HAS NO CONCERN ON AUTO SAFETY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY DIES FROM THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627199August 21, 2014
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
I WAS ACCELERATING VEHICLE AN STABILITY LIGHT CAME ON AND CAR WOULD NOT ACCELLERATE. WHEN I TRIED A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT. DEALER SAYS NOTHING WAS WRONG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10627201August 21, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY SATELLITE RADIO HAS BEEN CUTTING IN AND OUT EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. DEALER SAYS ANTENNAE WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I HAVE BROUGHT CAR BACK SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626889August 20, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
KIA OPTIMA IGNITION SWITCH ISSUES, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND COULDN'T TURN CAR ON AND WHEELS LOCKED. HAD TO HAVE IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED. I WAS TOLD THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH SO SOMEONE CAN NOT STEAL THE CAR. THEY ALSO SAID IF THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE FRONT WHEELS COULD HAVE LOCKED CAUSING A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. I WENT ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WERE MANY THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH. I ALSO LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH AND I COULDN'T FIND ANY AT THE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626326August 19, 2014
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 10/03/14*LJ UPDATED 3/10/2015 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626343August 19, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE TOOK THE CAR TO A CAR WASH , AFTER THEY CLEAN THE CAR WE TRIED TO START THE CAR , BUT WE GET AN ERROR " KEY IS NOT RECOGNIZE". WE WERE NOT ABLE TO START THE CAR. THEN MY WIFE BROUGHT THE SECOND KEY , WE GOT THE SAME ERROR. WE TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER AND STILL THERE AFTER 3 DAYS . THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG . I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT , THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG , WHAT HAPPENED IF THIS CONDITION APPEAR IN HIGHWAY ? I DRIVE 30,000 MILES A YEAR AND EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FIRST EPISODE, I AM VERY CONCERN REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10626391August 19, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10625866August 17, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE TRYING TO PARK THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT STRUCTURE, THE CAR ACCELERATED BEYOND CONTROL ON IT'S OWN AND HIT THE WALL HEAD ON. I WAS ALREADY IN MY PARKING SPOT AND ONLY FEW FEET AWAY WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED AND BODY DAMAGE OCCURRED. EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO SUDDENLY, I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE SPEED AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. NOTE: THIS COMPLAINT IS A DUPLICATE OF 10620789. THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED TO INDICATE A TREND OF SIMILAR SUDDEN ACCELERATION SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE KIA HYBRID OPTIMA. THIS IS A REQUEST TO INITIATE A SAFETY INVESTIGATION AS THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR REPORTS WITH KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AND KIA OPTIMA. THE FOLLOWING COMPLAINTS ARE SIMILAR IN NATURE: 10608382 FOR KIA OPTIMA HYBRID 2013, 10615352 FOR KIA OPTIMA HYBRID 2012, 10552403 FOR KIA OPTIMA HYBRID 2012, 10608739 FOR KIA OPTIMA 2014 AND 10588733 FOR KIA OPTIMA 2013. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10622238August 14, 2014
STEERING
AFTER PURCHASING A BRAND NEW KIA OPTIMA (51 MILES ON IT AT DELIVERY), IT BECAME VERY APPARENT THERE WERE MAJOR ISSUES WITH ITS STEERING AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPHS. THE VEHICLE WOULD MOVE LEFT OR RIGHT WITHIN A LANE ON ITS OWN AND I WOULD HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUT INPUT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP IT WITHIN A LANE. MY FIRST ATTEMPT TO REMEDY THE ISSUE WAS TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP DOWN THE STREET. THE DEALERSHIPS FIRST ATTEMPT WAS TO CHANGE THE STEERING COMPUTERS SETTING TO MORE OF A SPORT MODE (TOLD EX MODEL ONLY HAS 2 STEERING SETTINGS) AND I WAS OUT OF THERE IN 15 MINUTES. THE CHANGE DID NOTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND RE-EXPLAINED THE STEERING ISSUES I WAS HAVING. AFTER RECEIVING A PHONE CALL FROM A SERVICE ADVISOR, I WAS TOLD THE DEALERSHIP HAD CONTACTED KIA REFERENCE THE PROBLEM AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO FIX THE SIDE TO SIDE DRIFTING ISSUE. THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND MY BRAND NEW VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 5 DAYS TO HAVE A MAJOR PART REPLACED. UPON A CALL FROM THE SERVICE REP. I WAS TOLD MY VEHICLE WAS FIXED AND IT WAS READY FOR PICKUP. IT WAS THE NEXT DAY THAT I GOT THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY ONLY TO FIND I WOULD STILL DRIFT LEFT AND RIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE A DRIVE WITH THE MECHANIC WHO SIGNED OFF ON THE REPAIR. I DROVE WITH THE MECHANIC AND SHOWED HIM THE DRIFTING ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. HE AGREED IT SHOULD NOT BE DOING IT BUT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR A PENDING COMPUTER FIX KIA WAS WORKING ON. I ASKED WHEN THIS WOULD BE AVAILABLE AND I WAS TOLD IT COULD BE 1 MONTH OR UP TO 8 MONTHS. NOW I'M THINKING ABOUT USING THE LEMON LAW IN MY STATE TO RETURN THE VEHICLE. IT HAS LESS THAN 2,000 MILES AND I WON'T LET ANYONE IN MY FAMILY DRIVE IT BECAUSE ITS UNSAFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621923August 13, 2014
AIR BAGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK AND COULD NOT BE OPENED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE UNLOCKED FROM OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DOOR FAILURES HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE AIR BAGS SENSOR LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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