Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10103232November 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE REPLACED. THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT HE GAS CAP WAS THE PROBLEM. REFERENCE TO RECALL#04V180000. THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE CONTINUED TO LOCK WITHOUT PRESSING. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10091556October 19, 2004
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT, PARKING BRAKE
CONSUMER STATED THE ALARM SYSTEM FAILED . AS A RESULT, A CHILD WAS TRAPPED INSIDE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DOORS LOCKED.*AK VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND STARTING TO SLIP OUT OF PARK AN ROLL WHILE CHILD WAS TRAPPED INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095247October 6, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING FROM 20 MPH. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093710October 6, 2004
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, SEAT BELTS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON NOV 02. I WAS BROADSIDED BY A TRUCK (F150 TYPE VEH.) IN AN INTERSECTION. AS A RESULT, MY ROOF BOWED AND THE ENTIRE DRIVERS SIDE FROM WHEEL WELL TO WHEEL WELL WAS CAVED IN LIKE A HALF MOON. THE FRAME WAS PINNED UP AGAINST THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK BUT RELEASED ME AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I SUFFERED BACK AND NECK INJURY AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMUBULANCE TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN STORAGE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER NUMEROUS TIMES AS DID MY ATTORNEY. ALL WE RECEIVED WAS THE RUN-AROUND FOR APPROX. SIX MONTHS. NO RETURN CALLS, EXCUSES, UNABLE TO GET A RELEASE TO HAVE A KIA AUDITOR LOOK AT THE CAR, ETC. MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND MY ATTORNEY SENT THEM THE RELEASE TWICE AND STILL NO RESPONSE. CONSEQUENTLY, I DEPLOYED OVERSEAS (MILITARY) AND UPON MY RETURN FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN DISPOSED OF (DESTROYED). I STILL SUFFER FROM MY INJURIES AND MY ATTORNEY IS STILL HANDLING MY CASE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10096741October 5, 2004
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
IRREGULAR OCCURRENCES OF STEERING PROBLEM, LEAKING POWER STEERING RACK. *BF SINCE THE INITIAL REPAIR OF THE POWER STEERING RACK, THE CONSUMER HAS CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONSUMERS CONCERN. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN THE MORNINGS, THERE WAS A SECOND DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10094984October 4, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. DEALER ORDERED THE PART. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO OBTAIN THE PART, THIS MAKES DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG INOPERABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097086October 3, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED COMPLETELY. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKES NEEDED TO BE FIXED AND ORDERED A PART. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB THE CONSUMER DID NOT APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO BRAKES VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10092349September 15, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM WHENEVER THE A/C OR THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER BOTH AGREED THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090517September 6, 2004
AIR BAGS
MY 2002 KIA OPTIMA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 30TH 2004. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND, A SCHOOL BUS DRIVING EAST BOUND MADE A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER. SHE HIT THE BUS AT ABOUT 50 MPH. NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED. I AM INTERESTED IN KNOWING IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. IT WAS A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. THANK GOD FOR SEAT BELTS. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10089331August 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, A BURNING SMELL WAS DETECTED, THEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PULLING INTO A SERVICE STATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ALTERNATOR, COMPUTER AND AIR BAG MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083065July 31, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ROTORS WARPED, NOT WORN OUT, WARPED COMPLETELY AROUND 55,000 MILES. CAR HAS A 60,000 MILEAGE/5 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY AND KIA WILL NOT HONOR IT. CONTACTED LANGHORNE KIA SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THAT I WAS LUCKY THAT THEY LASTED SO LONG. I WAS INFORMED THAT KIA CHANGED THE WAY THEY MAKE THE ROTORS AND THAT THE NEW ROTORS HEAT QUICKLY CAUSING THEM TO WARP WHEN THE MILAGE IS USUALLY UNDER 30,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082360July 21, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW CAR ON AUGUST 31,2001. I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS 9 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I NOW HAVE A LIST OF PROBLEMS FROM ELECTRICAL TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, FUEL SENSORS, 2 NEW BATTERIES ETC. I HAVE A LONG LONG LIST OF REPAIRS THAT NOBODY CAN SEEM TO FIX. I AM TOLD THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED AND THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND I AM TOLD THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. MEANWHILE, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS, I HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED OUT OF MY OWN DRIVEWAY TO DUE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO TELL KIA CORPORATION THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER AND NOBODY IS LISTENING. THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM EVEN AGREES AND FEELS THIS CAR TO BE VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO JOE PETAZONI(SPELLING) WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE A KIA REPRESENTATIVE THAT WOULD DECIDE WHAT TO DO, HE HAS BEEN NO HELP AT ALL. I FEEL THAT KIA CORPORATION SHOULD BUY BACK MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ALL THE UNSAFE ISSUES I HAVE HAD. I FEEL I BOUGHT A LEMON AND IF I CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH THE COMPANY, I WILL BE FORCED TO CONTACT THE STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS LEMON OF A VEHICLE!!!!! I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES FOR DEBBIE WOJCIECHOWSKII AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS. I HAVE TOLD THE PEOPLE AT 800-333-4-KIA HOW UNSAFE I FEEL AND NOBODY PUTS THAT INFORMATION INTO THE SYSTEM. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083319July 20, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING, THAT THE DOORS LOCKS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED WITHOUT PRESSING THE LOCK BUTTON WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS FLASHING. PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082037July 15, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS WEARING HIS SEAT BELT, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE COLLISION WAS UNDER THE TRUCK'S BUMPER. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED SHOULDER AND HEAD INJURIES IN THE COLLISION. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10081896July 14, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 20 MPH. NO IMPACT REPORTED. AS A RESULT, THE CHECK ENGINE SIGNAL LIGHT STAYED ON. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080067June 28, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS. IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 5-10 SECONDS BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESPONDS TO DEPRESSION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL CONSUMER INDICATES THAT SHE HAS ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED DUE TO STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10071812June 24, 2004
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFT LEVER POPPED OUT. THE WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT AND THE SEAL ON THE GAS CAP WAS DEFORMED, THERE WAS A RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR ASH TRAY, THE FRONT WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A TANGLE WIRE IN THE DRUM, THERE WERE ENGINE/ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DUE TO THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND CRANK SENSORS, THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE CONSOLE LID WAS LOOSE DUE TO CRACKED SCREW HOLES, THERE WAS A BODY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SIDE REGULATOR, THERE WAS POOR SOUND IN THE RADIO DUE TO AN OPEN CIRCUIT. *SC THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079670June 22, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON 7 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT THAT CONTAINED THE SIDE AIR BAG BECAUSE IT WAS FAULTY, AND INSTALLED A NEW AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. ALSO, THEY REPROGRAMMED THE AIR BAG SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT STILL CAME BACK ON. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN 2 FRONTAL COLLISIONS IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075412June 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
IT WAS RAINING HARD IN OUR AREA( 1 INCHES IN 1 OUR). I LIVE 3 MILES IN ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD AND IT WAS MUDDY WITH STANDING WATER. WHEN ALL THE WATER AND MUD WAS SPLASTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE WAS IDLEING ROUGH. THIS IS THE (2) SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IN APRIL WHEN WE HAD SAME TYPE OF WEATHER. TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER SERVICE DEPT AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT I HAD WATER IN MY GAS. I PUT ATLEAST TWO BOTTLES OF DRY GAS IN TANK. CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE EVEING OF 6/14/03 WHEN AGAIN WE HAD ALOT OF RAIN AND THE SAME 3 MILE WET, MUDDY, STANDING WATER DIRT ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075894June 8, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP BECAUSE OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 40 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. ALSO, DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK RECLINED BACKWARDS ONTO THE REAR SEAT. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BRUISES TO CHEST/BREAST BONE/LUNGS/HEART/LOWER ABDOMINAL, AND LEFT LEG. *AK *LA
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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