Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#10074935June 7, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I BOUGHT A USED KIA OPTIMA 2002 IN JANUARY OF 2003. IT HAD ABOUT 23000 MILES ON IT. WE TOOK A TRIP TO LAKE TAHOE IN FEB.2003 AND ON THE RIDE HOME EVERY TIME I BRAKED COMMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN THE CAR WOULD JERK AND SHAKE VIOLENTLY. WHEN WE GOT HOME I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED IT FOR ME AFTER I PLEADED AND ARGUED WITH THEM. LESS THAN 8 MONTHS LATER THE SAME POBLEM STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN SO I TOOK MY IN AND THEY AUTOMATICALY PLACED THE BLAME ON ME. THEY TOLD ME THAT I MUST BE DRIVING MY CAR WAY TO HARD AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO PROPERLY APPLY THE BRAKES. THAT CAME FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT THAY ARE NOT REASPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRES THAT ARE CAUSED BY BAD DRIVING. WE'LL HERE IT IS LESS THAN FOUR MONTHS LATER AND I'M ABOUT TO PAY ANOTHER $700 FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS NOT MY FAULT AND MY BRAKES ARE THE WORST YET. OH AND BY THE WAY THE LAST TIME THAT I HAD MY CAR FIXED THEY REFUSED TO SHOW ME THE PARTS THAT THEY TOOK OFF MY CAR. SAID THAT IT IS UNUSUAL TO SHOW THE PARTS TO THE OWNER. I FIND THAT STRANGE. SOMEONE NEEDS TO REFRESH THEM ON THE LAWS. WHEN I PURCHASED MY CAR I ALSO PURCHASED A 5 YR BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRENTY WHICH IS GOOD UNTIL 82000 MILES AND MY CAR KNOW HAS 47000 AND ABOUT TO GO THROUGH ITS THIRD COMPLETE BRAKE JOB. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074605June 1, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCKS DON'T LOCK CONSISTENTLY. THE MASTER SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10073292May 28, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES
MY WIFE & I OWN A 2001 KIA OPTIMA WITH POWER LOCKS. TWICE THE POWER LOCKS HAVE FAILED. THE FIRST TIME, THE LOCKS FAILED IN THAT THEY WOULD UNLOCK BY REMOTE AND IMMEDIATELY LOCK BACK PREVENTING ACCESS TO THE VEHICLE. BY KEY, ONE DOOR WOULD OPEN WHILE THE OTHER HAD TO BE OPENED FASTER THAN THE CAR COULD RE-LOCK ITSELF. THE SECOND TIME IT FAILED CONCERNED ME GREATLY. THE DEALER, PARAMOUNT KIA OF HICKORY, HAD REPAIRED THE LOCK PARTS AND SAID HE HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE & THAT IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE LOCKS FAILED AGAIN TRAPPING ME IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. DESPITE ANY EFFORT ON MY PART, THERE WERE ONLY TWO WAYS OUT OF THE CAR: CLIMBING OVER THE SEATS TO ANOTHER DOOR OR BY HAVING MY WIFE MANUALLY UNLOCK THE LEFT FRONT DOOR WITH HER KEY WHILE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE WHILE SHE HELD THE KEY IN THE UNLOCK POSITION, SHE HAD TO OPEN THE DOOR. AS SOON AS SHE RELEASED HER GRIP ON THE KEY, THE DOOR WOULD LOCK AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS A MAJOR SAFETY RISK & I WOULD NOT HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION HAD IT NOT HAPPENED TWICE TO THE SAME CAR. I CAN SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FAULTY PART AND WOULD HATE TO SEE SOMEONE TRAPPED IN AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MY CONTACT INFORMATION APPEARS BELOW. LEE TRAXLER 103 LOVERS LANE MORGANTON, NC 28655 828-437-1360 *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10074228May 25, 2004
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
WHEN PULLING THE DOOR LOCK UP TO GET OUT OR PULL THE DOOR HANDLE, THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILS TO DISENGAGE. THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A TOW COMPANY WAS CALLED TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER IN GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067268April 16, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066981April 12, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CONSUMER STATED WINDOWS DID NOT ROLL DOWN. DEALERSHIP REPLACED WINDOWS ON SEVEN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067025April 12, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
HORN FAILED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064563April 5, 2004
AIR BAGS
A LADY PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, I TRIED TO STOP, BUT I COULDN'T, I HIT HER @ 20 MPH, MY FRONT BUMPER, DEAD CENTER INTO HER LEFT FRONT TIRE. MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND HERS DID. I HAVE A 2001 KIA OPTIMA LX. MY FEAR IS, IF THE CAR IS FIXABLE,WILL THE BAGS WORK OR WILL THEY COME OUT ON ME SOMETIME GOING DOWN THE ROAD. I'VE TALKED TO THE DEALER AND HAVE GOTTEN DIFFERENT STORIES ON WHERE THE SENSORS ARE LOCATED. NOW THE SAY THE AIR BAG SENSORS ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND I DIDN'T GET HIT HARD ENOUGH TO MAKE THEM DEPLOY. WAS TOLD THAT IF I HAD BEEN GOING 80 MPH THEY WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED! *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064628March 22, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE TIMING BELT DISINTEGRATED, AND THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WENT OUT. THE RECALL 03V067000 WA SISSUED ON THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V6 ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A V4 ENGINE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062726March 21, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BOTH FRONT WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. YOU CAN HERE THE MOTOR BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10063181March 15, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP VEHICLE HESITATED BEFORE ACCELERATION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10062062March 12, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DRIVING AND CAR JUST DIED WITH NO WARNING. ENGINE IS SEIZED. GETTING A HARD TIME FROM DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WE DO OUR OWN MAINTENANCE. REP APPROVED TAKING THE ENGINE APART TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM IS. DEALER PUT 3 GALLONS OF ANTIFREEZE IN AND IT WENT RIGHT OUT THE TAILPIPE. OIL CHANGED AND ANTIFREEZE CHECKED A WEEK BEFORE INCIDENT. WANT ME TO PAY $7 A DAY RENTAL AND PUT ME IN A RIO OR SPECTRA. I HAVE AN OPTIMA NOT A LITTLE MATCHBOX CAR. I SHOULD GET A FREE LOANER BECAUSE TOP TECH IS OUT AND IT MAY TAKE LONGER THAN USUAL TO DO REPAIRS, IF REPAIRS ARE APPROVED.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10060184March 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DEFECT: KIA OPTIMA 2004 MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, ENGINE OFTEN SURGES AFTER YOU REMOVE FOOT FROM GAS PEDAL CREATING AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION. IT WILL SURGE TWO TIMES OUT OF THREE. DEALER STATES THAT THE MFGR STATES THAT THE ENGINE SURGE IS COMPUTOR CONTROLED AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. I CANNOT EMPHASISE ENOUGH WHAT A DANGEROUS DRIVING CONDITION/SITUATION THIS CREATES. THIS IS A CONDITION THAT WILL RESULT IN DEATH AND INJURY. KIA SELLS SO FEW MANUAL TRANSMISSION OPTIMA'S THAT I DON'T THINK THEY CARE AND KIA WILL TRY TO IGNORE THE DEFECT. THIS IS NOT A SINGLE INCIDENT/THIS IS CONTINUAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059685February 19, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IF THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE TRANSMISSION DROPPING TO 3RD GEAR WHEN GOING UPHILL. *LA THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH TO DRIVE UPHILL IN 3RD GEAR. THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND LATCH WAS REPLACED BECAUSE THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR REMAIN UNLOCK, THE WINDOW MADE A CHATTERING NOISE WHEN IT WAS ROLLED DOWN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070065January 15, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I DON'T HAVE THE EXACT DATES OF THESE REPAIRS AS MY CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW BEING LOOKED AT AGAIN AND I AM GOING TO GET A HISTORY WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR, HERE ARE THE ISSUES I'VE HAD SINCE SPRING/SUMMER OF LAST YEAR. WE HAVE LOST TIME, MONEY, WAGES AND POSSIBLE EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS! 1. AIR CONDITIONER SEEMED VERY COOL, BUT NOT COLD. CHECKED TWO OR THREE TIMES, EACH TIME SERVICE DEPT. SAID IT WAS FINE. 2. CAR DIED AND WOULDN'T RESTART WITHOUT A JUMP 3 TIMES. CALLED TOWING TWICE. SERVICE COULD NOT "RECREATE THE PROBLEM." THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. FOURTH TIME (CURRENT) CAR HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHTS REPLACED ONCE A MONTH, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, DOOR LOCKS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN WHEN ENTERING/EXITING THE CAR, WINDOWS ROLLED UP/DOWN SLOWLY, BLOWER ON AIR WENT UP AND DOWN WITH ENGINE SPEED, LIGHTS BEHIND CONSOLE GO OUT AND COME ON PERIODICALLY, CLOCK LOSES TIME, HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN USING POWER, RADIO FLASHES ON AND OFF. TODAY TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE, ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS WENT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP. HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET RENTAL FEES. STILL WAITING ON RESULT. 3. LOUD RATTLING UNDERNEATH CAR PERIODICALLY. 4. WHISTLING IN ENGINE 5. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON PERIODICALLY. 6. ANTENNA BROKE AND THEN FELL OFF. 7. SUSPENSION VERY POOR. 8. WHEN PURCHASING CAR, DEALER STATED AIR BAG RECALL HAD BEEN FIXED ON CAR. WHEN LOOKING ONLINE, FOUND ANOTHER RECALL ON THE CAR, CALLED KIA AND THEY SAID THE AIR BAG REPAIR HAD NOT BEEN MADE. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 17 MONTHS AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY IN CONTACT WITH LEMON LAW LAYWERS IN INDIANA TO GET TOTAL REFUND FOR CAR. ONLY PHYSICAL PROBLEM RIGHT DRIVER DOOR PANEL FROM SMALL NON-FAULT ACCIDENT, NO INTERNAL DAMAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070650January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PURCHASED CAR BRAND NEW ON APRIL 30, 2003 - INCIDENT #1: JULY 15, 2003, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30-35 MILES PER HOUR EXITING THE MASS PIKE EXIT AT ROUTE 30. ALL TRAFFIC WAS SLOWING TO EXIT - I APPLIED THE BRAKES - WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN - REALIZED THAT THE BREAKS WERE NOT WORKING - PANICKED - IMPACTED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK. INCIDENT #2: AUGUST 8, 2003, WHEN VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE OWNER OF BUCCI'S AUTO BODY TOOK THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT FOR A TEST DRIVE. AT ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR - WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE FRONT FREEZED UP AND THE BACK PUSHED FORWARD TO CREATE A LUNGE FORWARD EFFECT. I CONTACTED KIA MOTOR AMERICA IN IRVINE, CA AND HAVE A COMPLAINT FILE NUMBER. AFTER ABOUT 1 MONTH OF DOING NOTHING I DEMANDED, ON AUGUST 8TH, THAT THEY TOW THE CAR FROM THE BODY SHOP TO BOCH KIA (WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED)AND CHECK OUT THE MASTER CYLINDER/PROPORTIONATE VALUE SYSTEM. THEY DID SO AND ON AUGUST 12TH I WAS TOLD THAT AN ENGINEER LOOKED AT THE CAR AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. KIA REFUSES TO STAND ACCOUNTABLE AND ALLEDGES THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO PROBLEM. I AM FORCED TO DRIVE A CAR THAT HAS BAD BRAKES UNTIL 2 MORE INCIDENTS HAPPEN IN ORDER TO PROCEED UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS LEMON LAW. EVERY MODEL OF KIA IN 2002 HAS HAD HYDRAULIC AS WELL AS ABS BREAK FAILURE. SEEMS TO ME THAT KIA NEEDS TO REDESIGN THE BRAKING SYSTEM - OR - PERHAPS TRY THIS NEW TAG LINE IN ADVERTISING: KIA - BUY OUR CAR - JUST DON'T EVER HAVE TO STOP FAST!
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10068967January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AUGUST 14. THAT NIGHT IT WOULD NOT START. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS CAR OVER 4 HOURS AND PUT ABOUT 60 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10052116December 30, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE TURNING LEFT AT 3 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED TO PROVIDE ANY WARNING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING THE SEAT BELT. THERE IS A POLICE REPORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051382December 30, 2003
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
MY SON HIT A TRUCK FROM BEHIND AT 35MPH. HE WAS DRIVING MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA. THE SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK WHEN HIT THE BRAKES AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SON (DRIVER) HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER IN OUR CAR HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE POLICE REPORT INDICATES THIS INFORMATION AND I HAVE PICTURES OF THE INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10050360December 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION THERE WAS HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD A LOUD CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT FAILURE. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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