Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10469615August 8, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
KIA OPTIMA 2003. CAN NOT OPEN DRIVER DOOR. LOCK DOES NOT DISENGAGE WITH KEY OR POWER LOCK BUTTON. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS AND I AM SURE THERE LOTS MORE UNREPORTED. DOES 15 OR TWENTY OF US HAVE TO DIE BEFORE KIA IS FORCED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. NO INJURY, CRASH OR FATALLY YET........ *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469678August 8, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
WAS SITTING AT LIGHT AND WENT TO TAKE OFF CAR FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAD A LOUD ROUGH GRINDING NOISE, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ONE. BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, COOLANT, ETC AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE WORKING. I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD START UP BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR, IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAD JUST HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM 1 WEEK AGO WHERE ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE GAUGES WEREN'T WORKING AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE FUSE PANEL BOX BUT THAT APPARENTLY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT IT'S A COMPUTER OR ENGINE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469278August 6, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM TRAFFIC SIGNAL, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED BRAKE BOOST PUMP BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, NO OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. VEHICLE BEING REPORTED TO THE STATE UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469063August 3, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BUNCHED UP AROUND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MADE IT HARD FOR THE CONTACT TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN WINTER FLOOR MATS WITH TEETH TO HELP THE FLOOR MAT GRIP THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE STANDARD FLOOR MATS WERE NOT SAFE BECAUSE THEY WOULD MOVE AROUND TOO EASILY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 9/10/12 *CN THE DEALER INSTALLED A SET OF ALL-WEATHER MATS, WHICH HAVE TEETH WHICH GRIP THE FLOOR MORE FIRMLY. UPDATED 09/24/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469126August 3, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2004 KIA OPTIMA PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UNLOCK (OR OPEN) THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE PROBLEM ACCORDED A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK MY CAR DOOR. ONCE I REMOVED MY KEY AND LIFTED THE HANDLE TO GET IN ALL OF THE DOORS LOCK. I HAD TO ENTER THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL ALSO NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IF I GET INTO A CAR ACCIDENT I WILL BE TRAPPED INSIDE AND COULD DIE!! I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. AND IT APPEARS THAT THE 2003 MODEL HAS THE SAME ISSUE. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE FOLLOWING WEBSITES: HTTP://VLANE.COM/DISCUSS-TOPIC/989/MY-DRIVERS-DOOR-IS-LOCKED-WILL-NOT-UNLOCK, AS WELL AS WWW.FIXYA.COM/CARS/+866401-DRIVERS_DOOR_WILL_NOT_UNLOCK THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL AS I FEAR FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468859August 1, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA LS. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 35 MPH WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN-VISOR FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUN-VISOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,520.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468204July 30, 2012
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND AXLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE FOURTH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT KNEE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND RIGHT ARM. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT LEG. THE PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON HIS OWN AFTER THE CRASH. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR THE BODY DAMAGE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ASSIGNED AN ENGINEER TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE CRASH. AN ENGINEER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY STATED THERE WERE NO DEFECTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10468278July 30, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM EITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. THE KEY WON'T WORK. I HAD TO CRAWL OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT RISKING POTENTIAL INJURY . THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO SAID BASICALLY THAT IT WASN'T HIS DEALERSHIP'S PROBLEM AND TO CALL KIA CONSUMER NUMBER. I DID CALL AND HE ALSO SAID BASICALLY THAT IT IS NOT KIA'S PROBLEM, IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, AND TOO BAD FOR YOU. THERE ARE MANY DOCUMENTED INSTANCES OF THIS DOOR LATCH FAILING. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE DESPITE WHAT THE CONSUMER REP SAID AT KIA. $50.00 DIAGNOSIS COST PLUS , WHEN THE PART FINALLY COMES IN, ANOTHER $230.00 DOLLARS. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR KIA TO IGNORE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468176July 29, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I OWN A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE HAD TO EITHER CLIMB OUT THE WINDOW OR THE ONE OF THE OTHER DOORS IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN I LIFT THE OUTSIDE HANDLE TO ENTER THE CAR ALL OF THE DOORS LOCK. WHEN I UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE YOU CAN PUSH AND PUSH ON THE DOOR AND IT WILL NOT OPEN. I SEE THAT SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE IT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED AS IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468048July 27, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AT 40MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED AND NO OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. LIGHT RESET WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. NO STORED CODES FOR THE FAULT. STILL WAITING FOR KIA MOTOR COMPANY TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND KIA CONTACT ON WEBSITE IS INOPERABLE, SO UNABLE TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467198July 24, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM STOP LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NO OTHER INDICATORS, NO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY, BUT HAD NO SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS TRIED SEVERAL THINGS TO FIX PROBLEM WITH NO RESULTS: 1ST TIME- CHECKED FOR STORED CODE. NO CODES STORED. RESET LIGHT BY RESTARTING CAR 2ND TIME- DISCONNECTED/RECONNECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT BRAKE BOOST PUMP. RESET LIGHT 3RD TIME- REPLACED BRAKE BOOST PUMP 4TH TIME- REPLACED PARKING BRAKE SWITCH AT THE CURRENT TIME, DEALERSHIP HAS NO SOLUTIONS, OR POSSIBLE FIXES FOR THE ILLUMINATING BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT. AWAITING CONTACT FROM DEALERSHIP WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467531July 24, 2012
VISIBILITY
THE SUN VISOR BROKE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. IT WILL NOT STAY UP. I HAVE TRIED MANY DO-IT-YOURSELF FIXES, BUT IT CONTINUES TO FALL DOWN, WHICH INTERFERES WITH VISIBILITY, ESPECIALLY IN THE DARK. IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I PUSH IT BACK INTO POSITION, IT JUST FALLS DOWN. IT BLOCKS THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467583July 24, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE ACCELERATING TO 45 MPH, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON. NO OTHER INDICATIONS NOTED. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT NEW BRAKE BOOST PUMP MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND WANTS TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. PART IS ON ORDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467009July 23, 2012
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE NEAR THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE AS THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THAT THE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STILL HEARD A NOISE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 08-03-12 *BF UPDATED 09/07/2012 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10467019July 23, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS
THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS JAMMED. I PULLED IT A FEW TIMES AND IT BECAME UNJAMMED AND I FASTENED THE SAFETY BELT AROUND MY 4 YEAR OLD CHILD. APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES LATER AS I WAS DRIVING I SMELLED SMOKE. I STARTED CHECKING THE CONTROL PANEL AND TURNED OFF THE A/C AND RADIO AND ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS. THE SMOKE STOPPED SO I CONTINUED TO DRIVE ABOUT A MILE AND STOPPED THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT. I WAS THERE APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES WHEN I SMELLED SMOKE AND TURNED MY HEAD TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE TOWARDS MY CHILD. MY CHILD SCREAMED FOR ME THE SAME MOMENT I WAS TURNING MY HEAD AND THERE WERE FLAMES MELTING THE PLASTIC CASING AROUND THE SEAT BELT COVER. THE FLAMES ALMOST REACHED HER HEAD. I FRANTICALLY GOT IN THE BACK SEAT AND REMOVED THE SAFETY BELT AND PULLED HER FROM THE CAR TO SAFETY. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS BURNED FROM THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO BURN INJURIES DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS STOPPED AND ABLE TO REMOVE MYSELF AND MY CHILD BEFORE THE FLAMES ENGULFED MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466784July 20, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
FOR 3 TO 5 SECONDS, NO RESPONSE FROM ENGINE AT IDLE WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED AND THE CAR IS STOPPED (E.G., FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL). THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE WENT FROM IDLE (ABOUT 800 RPM) TO RAPID (SURGING) ACCELERATION, OFTEN WITH SCREECHING TIRES. THIS OCCURRED EACH TIME I STARTED FROM A STOPPED POSITION DURING A 493-MILE TRIP. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AFTER I REACHED MY TARGET DRIVING SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466348July 18, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ON. DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOST PUMP LESS THAN 300 MILES EARLIER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465683July 14, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
MY 2007 KIA OPTIMA HAS HAD BOTH SUN VISORS BREAK MAKING THEM UNABLE TO REMAIN IN THE UPWARD POSITION. INITIALLY THE PASSENGER SIDE VISOR BROKE AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE DRIVER SIDE BROKE. IT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE TRAFFIC LIGHTS WHEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION SO I HELD THEM UP WITH THE EXTENDED VISOR IN THE VISOR. I WOULD REPLACE THEM BUT THEY ARE EXPENSIVE AND I FEEL THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED BECAUSE THEY WERE USED NORMALLY, I DO NOT ATTACH ANYTHING TO THE VISORS AND THEY WERE USUALLY UP. I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THE VISORS. THIS IS A MATTER OF SAFETY IN MY OPINION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465616July 13, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
ALL OF A SUDDEN, WITHOUT ANY EXTRA/ABNORMAL STRESS, DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT... THE PASSENGER-SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT ENGAGE EITHER FROM THE REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTONS, OR SAME BUTTON FUNCTION AVAILABLE INSIDE THE CAR, AND EVEN MANUALLY SWITCHING THE LOCK WHILE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER'S CHAIR FAILS EVERY-TIME. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE DOOR LOCKED OR UNLOCKED IS TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND USE THE KEY TO JIGGLE THE LOCK UNTIL IT FINALLY SWITCHES TO A LOCKED OR UNLOCKED POSITION. THIS ISSUE IS NOT THE FIRST I'VE HEARD ABOUT THIS VEHICLE MODEL AND YEAR... IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND I'M SURE IT COULD BE A DANGER TO THE PASSENGER IN THE EVENT OF A ROLLOVER. OR EVEN CREATE A NEW POSSIBILITY FOR THEFT IF THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO LOCK THE DOOR PROPERLY WHEN WE LEAVE THE VEHICLE...! PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS CAN BE RESOLVED WITHOUT HAVING TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR POOR WORKMANSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10465058July 10, 2012
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT DOOR FAILED TO OPEN FROM BOTH THE OUTSIDE AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO CONFIRMED THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 71,634.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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