Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10248016November 8, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DASHBOARD AIRBAG INDICATOR LIT. CODE B1378 PULLED BY THE DEALERSHIP - DRIVERSIDE SIDE AIRBAG RESISTANCE HIGH. $1,020 TO FIX (REPLACE SEATBACK) . THIS CAR HAS 26,400 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD NONE OF THE 4 AIRBAGS WILL WORK BECAUSE THIS ONE BAG HAS FAILED. I UNDERSTAND DEVICES FAIL BUT TO DESIGN AN ENTIRE SAFETY SYSTEM TO DEACTIVATE BECAUSE ONE PART OF IT GOES BAD IS NEGLIGENT ENGINEERING. ALSO, FACTORY WARRANTIES COVERING EMISSION SYSTEMS LONGER THAN SYSTEMS RESPONSIBLE FOR BODILY SAFETY IS BAD POLICY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247756November 5, 2008
SUSPENSION
RT BALL JOINT/AXLE BROKE WHILE DRIVING ON 10 OCT 08. MY VEHICLE IS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10247757November 5, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS REPLACING THE TIMING BELT ON THE VEHICLE, AN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIAN ENTERED THE SHOP AND ASKED IF HE EXPERIENCED A CORRODING SUBFRAME. HE PERFORMED A VISUAL INSPECTION, BUT IT YIELDED NO RESULTS. THE TECHNICIAN THEN PERFORMED A PHYSICAL INSPECTION AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SUBFRAME WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND SUBMIT THEM FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,105 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247769November 5, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL WHILE AVOIDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ROADS WERE WET DUE TO RAINY CONDITIONS. AFTER STRIKING THE RAIL, THE FRONT END SLID AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS DAMAGED. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SHOP AND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE DESTROYED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE CRASH, THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AND MAY HAVE FAILED DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 33,000. UPDATED 11-25-08 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247422November 1, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING SPOT, AND WHILE BRAKING, THE VEHICLE SHUTTERED AND HIT A CONCRETE POLE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247123October 29, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DEALER HAS PUT OFF FOR OVER A MONTH REPAIRING FUNCTIONALITY OF PASSENGER AIR BAG SYSTEM. SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. ONE MONTH WITH RUN AROUND AND DEALER SEEMINGLY UNABLE TO EXPRESS CONCERN OVER THIS SAFETY ISSUE. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE NOTIFIED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246082October 20, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN OCTOBER OF 2006 WE BOUGHT A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. SHORTLY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, SO WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS AIR IN THE TANK AND JUST TO OPEN THE TANK AND LET THE AIR OUT. THEY SAID THE SENSOR WOULD GO OFF IN ABOUT 60,000 MILES. WE THEN STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS FILLING THE TANK UP AND THE SENSOR CONTINUED TO COME ON. WE KEPT DOING WHAT THE DEALER SAID TO DO. ON 13/14 OF OCTOBER, 2008 WE STARTED SMELLING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GAS FUMES AND IT CONTINUED. ON OCTOBER THE 17TH, 2008 I FILLED MY GAS TANK UP AND STARTED DOING ERRANDS WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE FUMES WERE REALLY BAD AND MY GAS TANK WAS DWINDLING AND WENT HOME. WE NOTICED THAT THE GAS WAS COMING OUT VERY QUICKLY, BUT STOPPED AT A HALF OF A TANK. WE CALLED KIA AND THEY TOLD UP THAT OUR WARRANTY WAS UP, BUT WE COULD HAVE IT TOWED, BUT THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME OUT AND EMPTY THE TANK BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND THEY WOULD NOT TOW IT. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILD AND COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE DID WHAT THEY SAID TO DO AND THERE WAS A LOCK, SO IT COULD NOT BE SEEPING. WE CALLED KIA BACK AND AFTER TELLING THEM THAT IT COULD NOT BE DONE,SO THEY CAME AND TOWED IT. THEY ARE REPLACING THE TANK, BUT WERE CHARGED ALMOST 1000.00. MY CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245808October 17, 2008
WHEELS, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHE DROVE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL AND SUBFRAME WERE CORRODED AND CRACKING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 99,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244891October 8, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2002 KIA OPTIMA, WE HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS AND IT HAS 2 FIST SIZE RUST HOLES IN FRAME ONE EACH SIDE BY A-ARMS, DUE TO THESE DEFECTS TIRES WEARING QUICKLY AND NEEDS AIR CONTINUALLY TO BE PUT IN THEM. HANDLING WORSENING AND MAKING THUMPING NOISE IN FRONT END, CAN NOT DRIVE OVER 35-40 MPH. CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. READ WHERE HYUNDAI AND KIA ARE MADE BY SAME COMPANY AND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 TO 2002 MODELS. FEEL THIS IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE RIGHT BEFORE SOMETHING HAPPENS AND THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. NEED INFORMATION ON WHO TO CONTACT AND HOW TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244487October 6, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING OVER A BUMP AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED OR TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX SEPARATE TIMES. THE ROTORS, BRAKES, BEARINGS, BUSHINGS, AND TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME AND A PILE OF RUST WAS FOUND UNDERNEATH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE CRADLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS BARELY HANGING ON TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244367October 4, 2008
AIR BAGS
YOUR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 08V161000, CONCERNING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON 2006-08 HYUNDAI SONATAS, SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE KIA OPTIMAS. I JUST HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH A 2006 KIA OPTIMA, , WHICH I PURCHASED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR SALES AND THEN RETURNED WITHIN THE 7-DAY RETURN PERIOD DUE TO DISCOVERY OF THIS PROBLEM. THE SOFTWARE DID NOT RECOGNIZE A 120-POUND ADULT AS AN ADULT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AS A RESULT OF WHICH WE GOT THE SIGNAL THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WAS OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244381October 4, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I TOOK MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA, V6, 61,000 MILES, TO A QUICK LUBE PLACE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. WHILE ATTENDANT WAS CHANGING THE OIL, HE SHOWED ME SEVERAL HOLES AND CRACKS IN THE SUBFRAME WHERE IT HAD RUSTED THROUGH. SEEMS ODD FOR A LOW-MILEAGE, GARAGE-KEPT, 7 YEAR OLD CAR AND, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243177September 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. IN JUNE OF 2004, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE DOOR WAS NOT BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING CONTINUED TO FAIL AS WELL AS THE OTHER ISSUES. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY FOUR TIMES TO REPAIR THE SAME FAILURES, BUT THE ISSUES KEPT PERSISTING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED SINCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,195. UPDATED 10/05/08 *CN THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DIMMRE SWITCH ALSO FAILED. UPDATED 11/06/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242440September 16, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, SHE HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES AND STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,016 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241829September 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING. THE SMOKE WAS SO THICK THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THROUGH THE SMOKE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER COULD BE THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BLACK BOX ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD COVERED IN ELECTRICAL TAPE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER INSTALLED AFTER MARKET FLOOR BOARD LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE THAT REQUIRED A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF POWER. THE TAIL LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WERE INOPERABLE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241714September 10, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, SUSPENSION:FRONT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN AROUND A BEND AT 45 MPH, THE CONTACT OVERCORRECTED THE TURN. SHE TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND OVERCORRECTED AGAIN. SHE WAS TWO FEET FROM DRIVING OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CORRODED AND ROTTEN IN HALF. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240887September 4, 2008
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE IN HIS VEHICLE WAS LEAKING. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE K FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS MUCH MORE DAMAGED THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE; HOWEVER, BOTH SIDES OF THE FRAME ARE RUSTING. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240119August 28, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
MY CAR BEGAN TO LEAK FUEL. I SENT IT INTO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE GAS TANK WAS CRACKED ON THE TOP SIDE OF THE TANK. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT CAUSED BY ANY NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OR ANY DAMAGE. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND I REPLACED THE FUEL TANK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239911August 27, 2008
AIR BAGS
CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT ON VEHICLE. REPORTED TO DEALER 9-25-06, 1-4-07, 8-7-07, 3-25-08. AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239909August 27, 2008
AIR BAGS
PURCHASED 2005 KIA OPTIMA IN 7/06. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN SEPT 06. DEALER NOTIFIED AND FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN A SHORT TIME LATER AND SENT TO DEALER AGAIN, 1-4-07, FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SENT TO DEALER ON 8-7-07, FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SENT TO DEALER 3-25-08 AND FIXED. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IN 6/08 AND LIGHT REMAINS ON AT THIS TIME. AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING AT THIS TIME. WE HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE ON 7/07. IT WAS A FRONT END COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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