Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10238648August 18, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2003 KIA OPTIMA POWER DOOR LOCKS STICK & WON'T RELEASE, NECESSITATING DRIVER TO CRAWL OVER CONSOLE IN ORDER TO EXIT AND/OR PASSENGERS CANNOT GET OUT WITHOUT CRAWLING THROUGH WINDOW. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237977August 13, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS
WE OWN A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY SHOWS THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE IN THE OFF POSITION WHICH MEANS THAT THEY MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A COLLISION. WE TOOK OUR NEW CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TWICE AND WAS TOLD BOTH TIMES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A MANUFACTURING "FLAW" AND THAT NO REPAIR WAS POSSIBLE. THEY REFUSED TO EVEN LOOK AT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237913August 12, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I TOOK MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA IN FOR A TUNE UP, THEY FOUND A BROKEN WATER PUMP, 5 CRACKS IN THE MANIFOLD. IT TOOK KIA 3 TIMES TO FIND THE PROBLEM. AFTER I PICKED UP THE CAR IT STILL HAD A PROBLEM TOOK IT BACK TWICE BEFORE THEY FOUND IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM THIS CAR IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237464August 8, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. MY SAME LEFT TURN SIGNAL BURNS OUT EVERY MONTH- MONTH AND A HALF. MY HEAD LIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT AT THE SAME RATE. MY PARKING LIGHTS GET STUCK ON EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND THE SWITCH IS OFF. YOU HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON TURN THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF A COUPLE OF TIMES TO GET THEM TO GO OFF. THE ALARM HAS JUST GONE OFF WITH NO ONE AROUND IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE TO BE FIXED BUT THEY KEEP SAYING IF THEY DON'T SEE IT HAPPEN THEY CANNOT FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10237038August 5, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. ON AUGUST 3, 2008, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A THREE VEHICLE CRASH. HER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT ILLUMINATING. DURING THE FIRST REPAIR, THE DEALER REPLACED A WIRE SHORTAGE. DURING THE SECOND REPAIR, THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 46,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10236668August 1, 2008
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SMALL FRAMED PASSENGERS OCCUPY THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THIS INDICATES THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE AND MAY NOT INFLATE IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE FAILURE MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE PASSENGER. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V161000 (AIR BAGS), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. CURRENTLY, THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE SEAT ASSEMBLY, WHICH CONTAINS THE AIR BAG SENSORS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,000. UPDATED 09/13/08.*LJ THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236573July 31, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
RE:2003 KIA OPTIMA POWER DOOR LOCKS STICK & WON'T RELEASE, NECESSITATING DRIVER TO CRAWL OVER CONSOLE IN ORDER TO EXIT. IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR OTHER EMERGENCY SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236263July 29, 2008
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
MY NEW KIA HAS ABOUT 700 MILES ON IT, AND WHEN I PARK IT ON AN INCLINE SUCH AS THE ONE ENTERING MY GARAGE AND I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND PLACE IT INTO 1ST GEAR (IT IS A STANDARD SHIFT), THE CAR SLIPS BACKWARD. UPON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE COMPRESSION IN THE CAR IS TOO LOW TO HOLD THE CAR IN 1ST GEAR ALONE, AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE MUST ALSO BE APPLIED. MY QUESTION IS: I HAVE A 3 YR OLD GRANDSON, BUT LET'S SUPPOSE HE IS 5 AND HE WANTS TO GO OUT AND PLAY, WHICH HE COULD DO UNSUPERVISED, AND HE DECIDES HE WANTS TO GET IN GRANDMA'S CAR AND PLAY AND ACCIDENTALLY LETS THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OFF. MY CAR WOULD THEN BEGIN SLIPPING BACKWARD WITH THE CHILD INSIDE. I CONSIDER THAT TO BE A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHER I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TAUGHT THAT IF YOUR PARKING BRAKE FAILS, THE GEAR BOX WOULD STILL KEEP THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. 2. MY CAR STALLS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY IN 1ST GEAR, AND VERY FREQUENTLY IN REVERSE, BOTH INCIDENTS OCCUR WHEN THE CAR IS INCHING UP OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ARE LOOKING INTO IT AND WILL LET ME KNOW, BUT AGAIN, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS RUNS THE RISK OF BEING REARENDED. IF YOU CAN INFORM ME ON EITHER OF THESE ITEMS, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT AS THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T SEEM INCLINED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT EITHER PROBLEM AT THE MOMENT. IT MAY JUST BE A FUEL TO AIR RATIO MIX GOING INTO THE ENGINE ON THE STALLING, WHICH SHOULD BE SIMPLE ENOUGH TO FIX, BUT SURELY THE COMPRESSION IN THE ENGINE CAN ALSO BE ADJUSTED SO THE CAR WILL NOT SLIP BACKWARD WHEN IN FIRST GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235734July 25, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL BECAME INOPERATIVE AND DISPLAYED INACCURATE READINGS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND SHE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000. UPDATED 09/16/08 *BF UPDATED 09/19/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10235326July 22, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE A PASSENGER WAS PRESENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ADULT PASSENGER WOULD EITHER HAVE TO RIDE IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE OR CARRY A 10 LBS. WEIGHT WHILE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WOULD ONLY DETECT 110 LBS. AND UP. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234950July 20, 2008
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I AM ABOUT TO REPLACE MY GAS TANK FOR THE 2ND TIME IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE COMPOSITE TANKS ARE PRONE TO PUNCTURE OR SPLITTING ON THE SEAMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234538July 16, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE WITH A 115LB WOMAN IN THE SEAT. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE WEB AND UNDERSTAND THAT THE AIR BAG MUST ACTIVATE IN THE EVENT THE OCCUPANT IS 100LB OR MORE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INDICATED THAT THEIR SPEC. IS 115LB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233969July 11, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, POWER TRAIN
2007 KIA OPTIMA WITH SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2008, 5 WEEKS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. IN APRIL MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE #1 ENGINE BRACKET BOLT WAS MISSING. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE TPMS LIGHT ILLUMINATED OCCASIONALLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233497July 8, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD DRIVE DOWN A HILL OR SLOPE WITH THE LOW BEAMS ACTIVATED, A BLIND SPOT WOULD APPEAR THREE CAR LENGTHS AHEAD OF HIS VIEW. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 2,000. UPDATED 07/31/08. *LJ UPDATED 08/05/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10233048July 2, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING OR IN MOTION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT IT WAS DEACTIVATED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENOR DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN THE OCCUPANT SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHS LESS THAN 105 POUNDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AIR BAG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 450.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232961July 1, 2008
AIR BAGS
EIGHT (8) TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON; EACH TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE REPAIRED AS MY FAMILIES SAFETY IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO ME. ON TWO OF THOSE OCCASIONS THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED A SEAT BACK PARTS THAT WORKED TEMPORARILY. THE OTHER OCCASIONS I WAS MOSTLY GIVEN A BUNCH OF NONSENSE ABOUT COMPUTER CODES AND THAT THEY CLEARED THE CODE (I ASSUME I HAVE AIR BAG PROTECTION). ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER IT'S 60,000 MILE WARRANTY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I CALLED THE MANUFACTURE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE RECURRING PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THE SEAT BELT LIGHT HAD OCCURRED AGAIN AND THAT MY MILEAGE WAS 58,880 AND THAT I WAS BRINGING INTO DEALERSHIP ASAP. TODAY WHEN I WENT INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME PROBLEM I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEFECTIVE AIR BAG WAS NO LONGER COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A $155.00 TO HAVE THE "PIN TENSION RESET". I ARGUED WITH DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER ABOUT COVERAGE UNDER WARRANTY AND REFUSED TO PAY THE $155.00 AND HAD TO AGREE TO PAY A $53.00 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, WHICH I DID. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THEY HAD "CLEARED THE AIR BAG LIGHT FOR NOW". SO, I ASKED IF THEY HAD INDEED DONE THIS SUGGESTED REPAIR OF HAVING THE PIN TENSION RESET AND THE HE REPLIED NO, BUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS CLEARED FOR NOW. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CONFIDENCE THAT MY AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY AND 100% CERTAINTY THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WILL TURN BACK ON. MY FAMILY IS IN GRAVE DANGER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND I WOULD LIKE THIS INVESTIGATED FURTHER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231212June 16, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HELLO I HAVE A FEW ISSUES WITH MY 2004 KIA OPTIMA THAT I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET RESOLVED. THE 1ST IS MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS CONSTANTLY ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SHOP FOR THIS WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS FIXED. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND NOW THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE IT FIXED I HAVE TO SPEND A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO HAVE MY PASSENGER SEAT REMOVED AND SOME WIRES WOULD HAVE TO BE SPLICED TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. I'M NOT COMFORTABLE PAYING TO HAVE A PROBLEM FIXED THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED AND THE RESPONSE I GET AS TO THE SOLUTION INVOLVES SPLICING OF WIRES FOR MY AIR BAG. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEBSITES AND HEARD MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR/MODEL. ISSUE #2 INVOLVES MY HEADLIGHTS. I HAVE OWNED MY CAR SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2005. I HAVE BLOWN AT LEAST 5 SETS OF HEADLIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS SETS AND NOT JUST BULBS. MY MOST RECENT ONE HAS BLOWN AND HAS NOT EVEN BEEN INSTALLED FOR 3 MONTHS. IN ORDER TO GET THIS FIXED I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP AND SPEND ALMOST $100 JUST TO HAVE SOMEBODY TEST THE SYSTEM AND TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG AND THEN PAY TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS BEEN BAD ENOUGH THAT ONCE THEY BOTH BLEW AT THE SAME TIME AND LEFT ME WITH NO HEADLIGHTS AT ALL EXCEPT FOR MY HIGH BEAMS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ALSO WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. IF SOMEBODY COULD PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT THESE ISSUES AND ASSIST ME WITH GETTING THEM ADDRESSED. MY CAR CURRENTLY WILL NOT PASS AN INSPECTION DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231218June 16, 2008
STRUCTURE
SUBFRAME RUST THROUGH. I DISCOVERED A FIST SIZED HOLE DURING AN OIL CHANGE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF OUR 2001 KIA OPTIMA. FRAME HAS BEEN REPLACED AT OUR COST BY DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230837June 12, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER CALIPER WAS FROZEN AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE ROTOR AND CALIPER WERE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES LATER, THE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THERE IS NO RECALL REGARDING THIS FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,080 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230056June 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO DISPLAY INACCURATE READINGS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT A VAPOR HOSE ATTACHED TO THE FUEL CANISTER CRACKED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CANISTER CLOSE VALVE AND LEVER FENDER. THE REPAIR COSTS TOTALED $104; HOWEVER, THE REPAIRS DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER IS NOW SUGGESTING THAT THE CLUSTER PANEL WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V180000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,671. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK, THE PUMP CLICKED, BUT THAT GAS GAUGE ONLY SHOWED 1/2 TANK OF GAS. UPDATED 08/05/08
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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