Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10532072July 26, 2013
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE AIR BAG TROUBLE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. WHEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT A SEAT SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1500. THIS IS ON TOP OF A RECENT $2700 TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT ON THE SAME VEHICLE ONE MONTH PRIOR. SINCE WE ARE STILL PAYING FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR, WE CHOSE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHICH WE REALIZE IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT WE CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER EXPENSIVE KIA REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531748July 25, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS COULD NOT BE LOCKED. THE CONTACT COULD HEAR THE LOCKS ATTEMPTING TO LATCH, BUT THEY FAILED TO DO ACTUALLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE REAR DOORS. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 158,338.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531899July 25, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT DOOR STICKS AND WONT OPEN. AT FIRST IT STARTED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING BY ITSELF. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT A FEW TIMES IT OPENS. BUT AS SOON AS YOU LOCK THE DOORS ITS BACK TO NOT UNLOCKING WHEN YOU LOCK AND UNLOCK IT. NOW MY PASSENGER DOOR WONT OPEN AT ALL. I AM WORRIED THAT IF THERE'S EMERGENCY I WONT BE ABLE TO GET OUT ANY OF THE DOOR. SOMEONE NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, BUT NOBODY SEEMS TO WANT TO HELP FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10531703July 24, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1ST ESC OFF LIGHT CAME ON & STAYED ON, PRESSING ESC BUTTON DID NOTHING. CRUISE CONTROL BEGAN NOT WORKING. BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK. BLINKERS WORK, BUT NO BRAKE LIGHTS. FUSES & BULBS HAVE BEEN CHECKED AND NONE ARE BLOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526155July 22, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
PASSENGER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT FOLD UP OUT-OF-THE-WAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF TENSION PREVENTING THE VISOR FROM BEING PLACED IN THE FOLD-UP POSITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525436July 17, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
SECOND FAILURE OF BRAKE SWITCH. ESC OFF LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. UNSURE IF BRAKE LIGHTS ARE WORKING, IF THE ESC IS WORKING, OR IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL SHUT OFF DURING THESE EPISODES. THERE IS A RECALL ON OTHER MODELS AND YEARS OF KIA AUTOMOBILES BUT NOT ON THIS MODEL. IT SEEMS IT MAY HAVE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525133July 16, 2013
SEATS
REFERENCE: DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SEAT THIS LETTER IS IN REFERENCE TO A FAULTY SEAT IN THE 2008 KIA OPTIMA EX, ONE I CURRENTLY OWN. I AM BRINGING THIS MATTER TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE OF THE DANGER THIS REPRESENTS TO DRIVERS OF KIA VEHICLES THAT HAVE ELECTRIC ADJUSTABLE SEATS. MY WIFE AND I WERE VERY FORTUNATE WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC FATALITY DUE TO THIS. RECENTLY, WHILE TRAVELING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT RETRACTED TO ITS FULL-UPRIGHT, FULL-FORWARD POSITION. IN THIS POSITION, THE HEADREST FORCED MY WIFE'S HEAD DOWN INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND UP AGAINST IT. SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR SAFELY. THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE THE CAR WAS TO REMOVE THE HEADREST, WHICH ALLOWED ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BODY TO STEER THE CAR. I CONTACTED CASEY KIA WHILE STOPPED TO ASK WHAT COULD BE DONE TO RELEASE THE SEAT. I WAS TOLD TO REMOVE THE SEAT'S FUSE FROM THE INSIDE CABIN FUSE PANEL, WHICH SHOULD DISENGAGE IT; THIS DID NOT WORK, AND WE WERE FORCED TO DRIVE THREE HOURS TO THE NEAREST REPAIR SHOP. THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE MECHANISM IN THE 2008 KIA OPTIMA EX TO UNLOCK A SEAT WHEN THE ELECTRIC SEAT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FAILS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THERE HAVE BEEN PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER-SIDE SEAT. THE FIRST DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A FAULTY SEAT-HEATER WHILE UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THE REPLACEMENT SEAT WHEN INSTALLED IN THE CAR BECAUSE THE ADJUSTMENT KNOB WAS LOOSE AND NEVER SECURE. THREE ISSUES ARE PARAMOUNT, THE SAFETY FOR KIA DRIVERS, THE FACT THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERRIDE FOR ELECTRIC SEATS, AND NO WARRANTY FOR REPLACEMENT SEATS ON SUCH OCCASIONS, THE FIRST HERE BEING OF MOST IMPORTANCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10525228July 16, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE SHIFTED FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP AND SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524990July 15, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, THE LIGHTS ARE SO BAD AT NIGHT, THAT YOU CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE ON DARK ROADS AT ALL . NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET, ONLY DRIVE AT NIGHT AND VERY SCARED, CAREFULLY ONLY IF IT IS NECESSARY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN USED CONDITION, ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW, HAD THE LIGHTS REPLACED AND WORKED ON BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER FORTY YEARS WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES BUT THIS ONE IS THE ONLY ONE IN MY LIFETIME THAT HAS EVER HAD A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE OF, ITS DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE OUT WALKING AT NIGHT, ANIMALS, AND TO THE DRIVER W/PASSENGERS. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, BORROWED THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS CAR, SO DISAPPOINTED IN IT, DID NOT PERSONALLY EVEN OWN A CAR UNTIL NOW. MY DREAM WAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE VACATIONS AND LONG TRIPS IN MY LATER YEARS BUT THIS HAS PUT AN END TO THAT DREAM. I KNOW I WANT BE ABLE TO GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER, BUT WOULD LIKE TO LET OTHERS KNOW BEFORE THEY PURCHASE A 07 KIA OPTIMA, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, FOR ALL TO BE AWARE AND DO NOT BUY A CAR UNTIL YOU'VE DRIVEN IT AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524603July 12, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524473July 11, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WON'T OPEN OR CLOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524147July 10, 2013
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK WHENEVER ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE POWER LOCKS NEITHER WOULD RELEASE OPEN WITH THE USE OF THE KEY FOB NOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE LOCKS MANUALLY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10524225July 10, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT REMAIN UPRIGHT, IMPAIRING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ALSO BEGAN TO PRESENT THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SUN VISORS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523969July 9, 2013
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE WHEN MY KIA JUST LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SIDE STREET AND CALLED MY DEALER. THEY RECOMMENDED TURNING THE MOTOR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, WHICH DID FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT RECURRED, BUT IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523248July 5, 2013
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF NECK INJURIES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10523357July 5, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVER SIDE VISOR WOULD NOT GO BACK UP FLUSH TO THE INTERIOR CEILING. I HIT MY HEAD ON IT CONSTANTLY GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $143 PLUS LABOR WHICH I CANNOT AFFORD. HE ADVISED MAYBE I COULD FIND A CHEAPER ONE ON THE INTERNET. GOING ON THE INTERNET IS WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART THAT KIA WILL NOT FIX! NATURALLY MY WARRANTY EXPIRED 6-2-2013. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING WITH IT ALL THE WAY DOWN SO I ONLY HAVE HALF MY VISIBILITY AND NEED TO LEAN FORWARD AND SCRUNCH DOWN TO SEE SIGNS AND STREET SIGNAL LIGHTS. ALSO, IF I HAVE THE DEALER ORDER ONE WILL IT DO THE SAME THING AGAIN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523036July 3, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISORS FAILED AND COULD NOT BE ADJUSTED TO SHIELD UPWARD OR DOWNWARD. THE SUN VISOR FELL TOUCHING THE DRIVER'S HEAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SUN VISOR WAS NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522638July 1, 2013
STEERING, SUSPENSION, WHEELS
I WAS LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY AND DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 CAR LENGTHS, MY CAR STOPPED AND STARTED SHAKING, IT WOULDN'T GO FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. TURNED THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON AS I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. I GOT OUT AND WENT AROUND TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR; THE WHEEL WAS AGAINST THE FIREWALL. I FOUND A RECALL 2-15-13, CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY SENT A TOWING COMPANY; IN WHICH, TOWED MY CAR TO MIKE SMITH KIA IN PADUCAH, KY. THEY FOUND THAT MY LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SEPARATED FROM THE SUB-FRAME DUE MASSIVE CORROSION. REPLACED THE SUB-FRAME & DRIVE AXLE,2 NEW TIRES. PICKED MY OPTIMA 3-20-2013. 3-27-2013, NOTICED POWER STEERING LEAK, CALLED SET-UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT FOR 4-4-2013. APRIL 3, 2013 MY BRAKES GO OUT! JESSE HODGES (MIKE SMITH KIA) HAS MY CAR TOWED TO THEIR FACILITY; IN WHICH, THE BRAKE LINE CRACKED MY THE GAS TANK. I PAID TO REPLACE THE BRAKE & GAS LINES, THEY REPAIRED THE POWER STEERING LEAK! THE PROBLEM NOW IS: ABNORMAL WEAR OF THE TIRES THEY REPLACED FROM THE RECALL. MIKE SMITH KIA WILL REPLACE MY TIRES BUT WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE FRONT-END ALIGNMENT; IN WHICH, WAS TO BE DONE WHEN REPLACING THE SUB-FRAME. I FEEL THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THEY FAILED TO PROPERLY REPAIR MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA CORPORATION, THEY SEEM TO BE HAVING PROBLEMS IN RECEIVING COPIES OF MY FILE FROM MIKE SMITH KIA TO RESOLVE THIS. PLEASE HELP ME RESOLVE THIS!! (RECALL CASE NUMBER: [XXX] WITH KIA CORPORATION) 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
#10522645July 1, 2013
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALL OF A SUDDEN DOES NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IT JUST HANGS OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR KIA OPTIMA'S. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $200 TO REPLACE IT AND I DID NOTHING TO BREAK IT. I JUST USE THE VISOR NORMALLY AND DO NOT HANG ANYTHING FROM IT. I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ONE DAY AND IT JUST FELL DOWN. MY CAR IS A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS OLD SO IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I JUST FINISHED PAYING IT OFF SO THIS IS VERY UPSETTING. I FEEL THAT IF THE DRIVER'S VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED THEN IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW WORKING PART. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVE WITH THE VISOR DOWN ALL THE TIME. IT GETS IN THE WAY. MANY PEOPLE PROBABLY DO NOT REALIZE THEY CAN REPORT THIS ISSUE SO I AM PROVIDING SOME LINKS FOR FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE STATING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. PLEASE REPORT THIS ISSUE. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/KIAMOTOR/OPTIMA/WIPER-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2006/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SUN_VISORS_WILL_NOT_STAY_FOLDED_UP.SHTML HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/KIA/OPTIMA/VISIBILITY/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521988June 26, 2013
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE HAD THREE EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS IN RAPID SUCCESSION. THE FIRST WAS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH STARTED A SEVERELY HARD DOWNSHIFT ON BRAKING FROM ABOUT 25 MPH. THE WHOLE CAR SHUDDERED AND FELT AS IF WE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES FOR A SECOND. AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING, KIA TOLD US WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $2700 WITH NO HELP FROM KIA. AFTER THIS REPAIR, NOT EVEN TWO WEEKS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. DIAGNOSIS FROM KIA, DEFECTIVE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND A $1500 REPLACEMENT ESTIMATE. WE DECIDED NOT TO FIX THIS ITEM BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO TRADE THE CAR IN ON ANOTHER MAKE AND CUT OUR LOSSES. THE THIRD PROBLEM WHICH OCCURRED ONE WEEK LATER WAS A FAILURE TO START AFTER PARKING THE CAR FOR AN HOUR AT A DOCTOR'S OFFICE, STRANDING MY WIFE IN 95 DEGREE HEAT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NON-KIA REPAIR SHOP AS I NO LONGER WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH KIA WHO WILL DENY ANY CLAIM AGAINST THEIR SO-CALLED QUALITY PRODUCTS AND WILL BE DISPOSING OF THE CAR AS SOON AS IT IS RUNNING AGAIN SINCE KIA DOES NOT STAND BEHIND ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS. AFTER THREE MAJOR FAILURES IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WE FEEL THIS IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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