Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10163287July 24, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER THEORIZED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162028July 10, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO ACCIDENTS WITH THE VEHICLE WHERE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. IN THE FIRST ACCIDENT, IN 2003, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IN THE SECOND OF THESE ACCIDENTS WHICH WAS MORE SEVERE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EITHER. IN THE BOTH ACCIDENTS, THE OCCUPANT WERE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS HOWEVER THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM AIR BAG SENSOR OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10161805July 7, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AT 25 MPH., THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR BY A POLICE VEHICLE RUNNING A RED LIGHT, WITHOUT THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. BOTH FRONTAL AND SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. INJURIES WERE INCURRED IN THE COLLISION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS REPLACED BY A SERVICE DEALER, APPROXIMATELY ONE-YEAR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10161487July 5, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CHARGING SYSTEM'S WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS COASTED OFF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS UNDETERMINED; HOWEVER BOTH BATTERY CABLES WERE MELTED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNALS INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161036June 29, 2006
SEAT BELTS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING RUBBER. THIS WAS CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY AN APPEARANCE OF WHITE SMOKE. THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE SEAT BELT HARNESS AREA ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161074June 29, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE GAS CAP WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED TO REMOVE PRESSURE IN THE FUEL TANK. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT WAS SLUGGISH, AND HAD VERY LITTLE POWER, AND A CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD. SO, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERS MECHANIC RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC TEST, WHICH REVEALED SEVERAL MISFIRE CODES. UPON REMOVING THE FUEL PUMP, MELTED WIRING WAS DISCOVERED RUNNING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE GAS TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10161010June 28, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERS AGREED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS BUT WITH A CHARGE FOR LABOR. ONE MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING 15 MPH IN RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INCURRED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPDATED 7/7/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160467June 22, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING & WOULD GO OUT REPEATEDLY. WHEN I CALLED THE KIA 800 NUMBER WAS TOLD PROBABLY NOTHING. BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SCHEDULE IT IN WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER. I ASKED "DO I NEED TO BE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY". HE SAID PROBABLY NOT, IF YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT DEPLOY YOU ARE BETTER OFF NOT DRIVING IT. I TOLD HIM I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AIRBAGS, HE REPEATED,"IF I BELIEVE THERE IS REASON TO BE CONCERNED, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY JUST PARK IT." I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR CENTER THAT IS NEAR MY HOME & WAS TOLD THAT THE "CLOCK SPRING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN & THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANYTIME WITHOUT CAUSE OR IN A COLLISION IT MAY NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER BACK & ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON THE AIRBAG FOR A 2001 KIA OPTIMA LE & WAS TOLD THEY WILL NOT DISCUSS RECALLS WITH ME AT ALL WITHOUT THE VIN #. I ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT AIRBAG PROBLEMS FOR THE OPTIMA 2001& TOLD HIM I DIDN'T HAVE THE VIN# BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE SHOP. HE STATED THEY WOULD NOT DISCUSS ANY RECALLS WITHOUT MY NAME, ADDRESS AND/OR THE VIN#, I SAID I WOULD FIX IT THEN SUBMIT CHARGES IF RECALLED THE 800# SAID THAT IF IT IS RECALLED AFTER I REPAIR IT I MAY NOT GET REIMBURSED IF IT WASN'T DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE IT, THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE TOWING IT IN & THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHY TOWED IN. I TOLD THEM THE REPAIR CENTER SAID THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT NOTICE, THEY SAID IT COULD BUT NOT NECESSARILY. I BELIEVE THAT KIA HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THE FACT A PERSON COULD DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM AROSE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION & I ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM & NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159835June 14, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10159356June 8, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING ON A PAVED SURFACE GOING APPROX. 40 MPH, MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG WENT OFF FOR NO REASON. I SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISING AND BURNING SCABS ON MY LEFT SHOULDER AND CURRENTLY HAVE A SCAR THERE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10157253May 11, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AND MUST BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED MULTIPLE COMPONENTS, BUT THESE ATTEMPTS HAVE NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE COMPONENTS INCLUDE; CLUSTER PANEL, KNUCKLE ON STEERING WHEEL, KEY SUBSET, BOX ASSEMBLY PANEL JUNCTION, IGNITION SWITCH, AND ETACS ASSEMBLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10157073May 9, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 35MPH. THE DRIVER SEAT BELT WAS IN USE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT BEING APPLIED. THE SUDDEN DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG STARTLED THE CONTACT AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS JERKED IN REACTION TO THE AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A CURB, THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE OIL PAN WAS RUPTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/ACTUATOR WAS SET TOO HIGH CAUSING THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY PREMATURELY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154277March 31, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT 15 MPH AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUFFERED NO INJURIES DUE TO THE FACT THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT TOTALED. UPDATED 05/04/06
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150452February 16, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE DIAGNOSTIC CODE STATED ENGINE FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE TIMING BELT CAME LOOSE AND THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148761January 26, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2002 KIA OPTIMA AIRBAG DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYED GOING 35 MILES PERHOUR WHILE IN A RIGHT HAND CURVE. WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IT HIT THE LEFT SHOUDER CAUSING MY DAUGHTER TO TURN THE WHEEL MORE AND GO OFF THE ROAD. THERE WHERE NO IMPACTS ON ANY PART OF THE CAR .WE ARE LUCKY NO ONE WAS HURT OTHER THAN A STRAINED NECK AND A HOLE IN THE OIL PAN. KIA RECALLED SOME 2001 FOR THE SAME PROBLEM .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10147285January 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA INC. REF: VIN# KNAGD12693513835 COMPLAINT CASE NUMBER K1056698 FORMAL COMPLAINT AGAINST KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA INC. NOT HONORING PARTS AND LABOR WARRANTY & UNSCRUPULOUS BUSINESS PRACTICES. THE TIMING BELT FOR 2002 KIA OPTIMUM SERVICED A YEAR TO THE DAY IT LEFT ME ON THE ROAD SIDE. IT WAS NEW YEARS EVE THE CAR BROKE DOWN. NEW YEARS HOLIDAY WEEKEND SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOLGER KIA OF CHARLOTTE NC CLOSED. UNABLE TO REACH THEM UNTIL TUESDAY JANUARY 3RD, 2006,RETURNED HOLIDAY WEEKEND. TOLD WARRANTY EXPIRED DECEMBER 31ST, 2005. THAT MY WARRANTY FOR THE PARTS & LABOR WOULD NOT BE GUARANTEED. PLEASE SEE THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT DATED DECEMBER 31ST, 2004 EXACTLY 365 DAYS FROM WHEN THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. BANK STATEMENT SHOWS MY CHECK CARD CLEARED $601.87 ON JANUARY 3RD 2005. I WAS INSTRUCTED ALL PARTS & LABOR WOULD BE HONORED FOR ONE YEAR. I RETURNED THE CAR TO FOLGER KIA ON FEBRUARY 22ND 2005 CONCERNS THE CARS TIMING MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY SET. ON THE INVOICE THAT I WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RPM'S WERE OVER THEIR ORIGINAL SETTINGS BY 1000 RPM. NO MENTION OF TEST DRIVE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM LISTED ON INVOICE DECEMBER 31ST, 2004. TECHNICIAN STATED ALL READINGS WERE NORMAL. THIS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PREMATURE WEAR & BREAKING OF TIMING BELT. I WAS INSTRUCTED JANUARY 3RD, 2006 BY JEFFREY STEPHENS TO CONTACT THE KIA CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS. WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT GUS THE SERVICE MANAGER FOLGER KIA'S REQUESTED TO HONOR MY PARTS & LABOR WAS DECLINED BY A MR. BOB STRICKLAND. KIA MOTORS OF AMERICA INC., THEIR CUSTOMER NOTE FOLGER KIA ACCEPTED MY MONEY ON JANUARY 3RD 2005. THE CAR WAS WAITING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO SERVICE ON MONDAY 01-02-2006 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HAD MY LOCAL FOLGER KIA BEEN OPEN FOR BUSINESS ON THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 31ST ,2005 MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN TOWED THEIR. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU WOULD LOOK IN TO THE MATTER. SUSANNE FARRAR 12016 ALABASTER COURT CHARLOTTE, NC 28269 704-488-8039. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146947January 5, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A KIA OPTIMA 2004, ON DECEMBER 28,2005 I NOTICE A PIERCING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF MY CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO INDICATED THAT I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS AND THAT MY ROTORS WERE RUSTED. MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN A CAR THAT IS BRAND NEW AND ONLY DRIVEN FOR 14 MONTHS HAVE RUSTED ROTORS. ISN'T THERE SAFETY STANDARDS ON MATERIAL USED SO THAT THIS DOES NOT OCCUR IN SUCH SHORT OF A TIME. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY WHICH RESULTED IN A BILL TOTALING $659.00. MY PURPOSE OF PURCHASING A NEW CAR WAS TO AVOID CONSTANT REPAIRS RIGHT AWAY. I FEEL THAT ALL OF THE FINE PRINT WAS NOT DISCLOSED WHEN KIA ADVERTISES A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY FOR A CAR UP TO 100,000 MILES. I EVEN CALLED THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE FOR KIA AND THEY HAD NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS COULD HAVE OCCURRED IN SUCH SHORT OF A TIME. THE CAR HAS ONLY SEEN 1 WINTER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146324December 29, 2005
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN THE VEHICLE AND I TOOK IT IN FOR REGULAR MAINTENANCE, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST ME 500.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE WIRING HARNESS. I DID NOT HAVE THE REPAIR DONE BECAUSE I FELL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE. THE DEALER ALSO TRIED TO HAVE ME REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN AT 60,000 MILES AT THE SAME COST AND THEN LATER REPLACED THE BELT FOR FREE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145702December 20, 2005
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
DT: STEERING MECHANISM PROBLEM CAUSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO COLLIDE WITH A FENCE. *AK UPDATED 1/11/2006 - *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144213December 2, 2005
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
MOTOR MOUNTS AND PULLEYS DEFECTIVE. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TIME TO THE SHOP IN LESS THAN A MONTH. THE PULLEYS AND MOUNTS ARE BOUND TO CAUSE OTHER DAMAGE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima