Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10419399August 14, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I PURCHASED A 2007 KIA OPTIMA LX LAST FRIDAY [8/5/11] AND WHEN I DROVE IT THAT NIGHT, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE A DANGEROUS AND POSSIBLY A FATAL HAZARD, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU ABOUT THIS MATTER. I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I SENT AN EMAIL TO KIA ON 8/5 ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A REPLY YET. PLEASE LET ME EXPLAIN. THE KIA MODEL I PURCHASED, HAS TWO HEADLIGHTS ON EACH SIDE. THERE IS A TOP LIGHT AND A BOTTOM LIGHT. THE TOP LIGHT IS THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON THE CAR AND THE BOTTOM LIGHT IS THE HIGH BEAM. THE BOTTOM LIGHT POINTS OUT IN THE CORRECT DIRECTION, AS WITH CARS THAT ONLY HAVE ONE HEADLIGHT ON EACH SIDE. THE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS LOCATED'UP AND TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR! IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE TO HAVE LIGHTS WORK CORRECTLY, WHEN THE LOW BEAM LIGHT IS LOCATED'UP AND TO THE SIDE OF THE CAR! THERE IS A 'BLACK SPOT' AREA'ON THE ROAD, ANYTHING IN FRONT OF THE CAR, TO CARS IN FRONT OF YOU, AND TO THE SIDES OF THE ROAD IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE. THE 'BLACK SPOT' AREA MEANS JUST THAT'EVERYTHING IN THAT AREA IS BLACK. THE BLACK AREA IS IN ALL THE PLACES WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO SEE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON. IN ORDER FOR THE LIGHTS TO WORK CORRECTLY, HERE IS AN UNCOMPLICATED AND INEXPENSIVE WAY TO FIX THEM. HERE IS THE IDEA, FOR THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK CORRECTLY: THE TOP LIGHT (LOW BEAM) STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. THE BOTTOM LIGHT SWITCHES FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM! THE TOP LIGHT IS AIMED TOWARD THE BEAM IN THE BOTTOM LIGHT. THIS GIVES EXTRA LIGHT WHEN THE LOW BEAMS ARE ON. THE LOCATION OF THE BOTTOM LIGHT WILL PROVIDE THE CORRECT LIGHTING WHEN USING HEADLIGHTS. HAVING THE BOTTOM LIGHT SWITCH FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM WILL CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOW WERE THESE HEADLIGHTS EVER APPROVED? A RESPONSE AND REPLY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418609August 11, 2011
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WOULD BE APPLID TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,425.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418322August 10, 2011
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
FIRST OF 2 SIDEWALL BLOW OUTS NO EXTERNAL CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418318August 10, 2011
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
SIDE WALL BLOW OUT REPLACED TIRE NO EXTERNAL CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417084August 4, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NOT OPEN FROM NEITHER THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT A MODULE INSIDE THE DOOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85, 960 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417106August 4, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT TRIED TO UNLOCKED THE DOOR MANUALLY, WITH A KEY, AND THE KEY FOB AND IT FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416730August 2, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2008 KIA OPTIMA 4CYL AUTOMATIC. I LIVE IN FLORIDA, HOT ALL THE TIME, USE AIR ALMOST ALL YEAR. CAR WILL STALL OUT WHILE IN MOTION WITHIN FIRST FEW MINUTES WHILE AC IS ON WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN TO STOP SIGNS OR WHEN CROSSING INTERSECTIONS WHERE I HAVE TO GET ACROSS QUICKLY THEN LET OFF GAS TO MAKE TURN. CAR BECOMES HARD TO STEER WHEN ENGINE CUTS OFF, WORSE THAN A CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING, SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT WONT MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION TO THE MEDIAN SAFELY. CAN START THE CAR AGAIN, BUT IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO THROW CAR INTO NEUTRAL, TURN IGNITION, AND PUT BACK INTO DRIVE. AS I SAID THIS HAPPENS A LOT WHILE GOING THROUGH THE TURN OF INTERSECTION/ DIVIDED HIGHWAY AND THOSE FEW SECONDS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SAFELY TIMED TURN AND A POTENTIAL COLLISION. PROBLEM OCCURS FREQUENLTY FOR A WEEK OR TWO, THEN GOES AWAY FOR A WHILE AND COMES BACK. ONCE THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP AND HAS BEEN MOVING FOR 5 MINUTES OR SO, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN. TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP SINCE THIS VEHICLE HAS 45000 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL UNDER MANUFACTURES BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE WITH THAT GENERATION OF OPTIMAS AND THAT IT WAS ONLY WITH THE 4CYL MOTORS, THE V6'S WERE FINE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID AT THIS TIME THERE IS NOT A FIX FOR IT AND WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS SINCE THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH PART(S) ARE CAUSING THE MALFUNCTION. WAS TOLD TO LET MY CAR WARM UP LONGER AND TO HOPE THAT KIA/HYUNDAI COMES UP WITH A RECALL ON IT SOON. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416529August 1, 2011
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THEY TRY TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVS UP AND IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WANTED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THEY TAKE THEIR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE, IT FEELS LIKE THE VEHICLE IS GOING TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416208July 29, 2011
VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE STORED POSITION, THEREFORE IT HANGS IN MY VIEW WHEN DRIVING. I HAVE TRIED TO SECURE WITH VELCO FOR THE TIME BEING, BUT IT DOES NOT HOLD. THE PASSANGER SUN VISOR HAS ALSO BROKE AND WILL NOT STAY IN THE STORED POSITION AND THEREFORE BLOCKS MY VIEW AT STOP SIGNS AND WHILE LOOKING IN THE PASSANGER MIRROR WHEN CHANGING LANES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415609July 29, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AFTER IT WAS LOCKED. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE BY CLIMBING OUT OF THE WINDOW. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000. ONCE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS LOCKED IT CANNOT BE UNLOCKED FOR THE INSIDE OR USING A KEY FOR THE OUTSIDE. AFTER WORKING THE LOCK FOR SOMETIME IT MAY UNLOCK OR STAY LOCKED. WHAT WE DO NOW IS TO LEAVE THE CAR UNLOCKED WHICH IS NOT THE BEST IDEA. THE PROBLEM IS NOT GETTING INTO THE CAR BUT GETTING OUT. NO RECALL FROM KIA. UPDATED 10/26/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416299July 29, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING A FAULTY AIR BAG MODULE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ENTIRE WIRING HARNESS AND AIR BAG MODULE. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THEY COULD NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO THE FAULTY AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415342July 27, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND AS HE CLOSED THE DOOR, ALL OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE AIR BAGS UNDER WARRANTY. THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THEY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF UPDATED 10/24/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415352July 27, 2011
VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I'VE A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA. THIS ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE TO REPORT IS THAT THE SUN VISORS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THIS VEHICLE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, AND OTHERS. MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN. IT WON'T FOLD UP, AND IT IMPAIRS MY VISION AND DISTRACTS ME WHILE DRIVING. IT'S A CONSTANT DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THIS WAS A DEFECT SINCE I'VE NEVER HAS A SUN VISOR EVER GO BACK ON ANY CAR THAT I'VE EVER OWNED. AND EVEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD VARIOUS CUSTOMERS THAT CALLED IN TO STATE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THAT YEAR'S MODEL SUN VISORS. THEY STATED I'D HAVE TO BRING IT IN, AND IT'S GOING TO COST ME FROM $200+ TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD BE FIXING IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT SHOULD LAST THE EXPECTED LIFECYCLE OF THE CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2006.5 AND I HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VISOR FOLD UP. IT JUST STOPPED ONE DAY ABOUT A MONTH AGO. STILL EACH DAY IS A CONSTANT DISTRACTION, AND IRRITATES ME WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS FOR A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA - THE DEFECT IS THE SUN VISORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415266July 26, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. IN ORDER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414530July 20, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE GAS TANK ON THIS 05 KIA WAS LEAKING AT 78,000 MILES, TOOK IT TO DEALER, I HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR, THEY FURNISHED THE NEW GAS TANK COST ME $330, NOW AT 98,000 MILES IT IS LEAKING AGAIN AND KIA IS REFUSING TO FIX IT, I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, GOING ON 3 GAS TANKS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. PAID DEALER $95 TO INSPECT THE TANK AS TOLD BY KIA CONSUMER DEPT, DEALER DIDNT LOOK AT THE TANK INSTEAD SAID IT NEEDED A GAS VALVE FIRST $400, BEFORE THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE TANK. THE DEALER IS LEE KIA, IN FT WALTON BEACH FL. SO I GUESS I JUST CONTINUE DRIVING CAR TILL SOMETHING REAL SERIOUS HAPPENS? NEED SOME HELP HERE PLEASE THANK YOU CHALMER & KASEY BERRY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413514July 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,036.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413322July 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
2011 KIA OPTIMA LX. CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AT ALL SPEEDS BUT MOST SIGNIFICANTLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. THIS CAN MAKE FOR VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS THE CAR DRIFTS IN ALL SITUATIONS TO THE LEFT. IF THE ROAD IS CROWNED TO THE LEFT THE CAR WILL PULL ALMOST VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. I HAVE ALMOST HIT MEDIAN BARRIERS AND/OR GONE VEERED OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. I CAN CONSIDER MYSELF A GOOD DRIVER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST 12 YEARS AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. KIA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, KIA HAS NOT COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413314July 18, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWER DOOR LOCKS RE-LOCK AFTER YOU UNLOCK THEM AND PULL ON THE DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THIS CAN EITHER TRAP YOU IN YOUR CAR, OR TRAP YOU OUT. YOU HAVE TO GO AROUND TO THE OTHER SIDE, BUT CRAWLING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. HAD THE SWITCH AND ACTUATOR REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ABOUT A YEAR LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. KIA DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE SINCE IT GETS THEM OVER $300 WORTH OF BUSINESS EACH TIME. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413340July 18, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR, WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO ENTER THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,000. UPDATED 09/01/2011 *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412373July 15, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIA OPTIMA DOOR LOCK IS FAULTY, WILL NOT UNLOCK AND ONLY WAY TO GET DOOR OPEN IS TO USE A SLIM JIM (IF YOUR LUCKY) OR BREAK OPEN DOOR PANEL AND OPEN MANUALLY BY PULLING ON LOCKING MECHANISM. FAULTY PART IS A SMALL PLASTIC PART IN THE MECHANISM. THIS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON MANY KIA MODELS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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