Kia Optima Complaints (2013)

1,443 consumer complaints on file.

#11218652June 8, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE BURNING OIL. KNOCKING WHEN ACCELERATING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11218096June 5, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPEED SUDDENLY DECREASED BEFORE STALLING. SMOKE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. DURING THE INCIDENT THE A VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HIS 3 CHILDREN WERE PRESENT AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE WITH A RENTAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217975June 4, 2019
ENGINE
TAKATA RECALL ENGINE OIL IS BURNING AWAY AND THE REPLACEMENT OF OIL IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT. USED TWO QUARTS IN LAST 7 DAYS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11217423June 2, 2019
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 65 MPH ON INTERSTATE HWY WHEN ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING OF ANY KIND. VEHICLE WILL NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210053May 26, 2019
ENGINE
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA SX BURNS EXCESSIVE OIL AND PRODUCES EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE. THE DEALERSHIP ORIGINALLY TOLD ME I HAD A FAULTY EXHAUST CONTROL VALVE. AFTER I REPLACED THAT VALVE, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM(S) PERSISTED. AT MY LAST SERVICE VISIT, THE DEALERSHIP SIMPLY TOPPED-OFF THE OIL TO GET THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHTS TO GO OFF. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP, I SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE REMAINED. THE ONLY TIME THE EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE DISSIPATES IS WHEN MOST OR ALL OF THE OIL HAS BURNED OFF. (THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT A SECOND DEALERSHIP SIMPLY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE OR FIX THE PROBLEM.)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210065May 26, 2019
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
HYBRID WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON INDICATING THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY VEERED TO MY LEFT TO GET TO THE SHOULDER, AS THE CAR HAD ALREADY DIED, AND I WAS MOVING ONLY ON MOMENTUM. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A CAR BEHIND ME. I WAITED A WHILE, AND THE CAR RESTARTED. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT AWAY LATER THAT DAY. THIS WAS A SATURDAY, AND I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THE SAME SCENARIO AND ALSO ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR AS I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER. MY CAR DID NOT START IN THAT INCIDENT, AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THE SECOND TIME WAS AGAIN THE SAME SCENARIO, AND IT DID RESTART. EACH TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. EACH TIME THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM, AND THEY MADE ANCILLARY UPDATES, WHICH DIDN'T HELP. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS ADAMANT THAT THEY FIX IT BECAUSE THEY WERE AT RISK OF SERIOUS LIABILITY BECAUSE I WAS BEING PLACED IN EXTREME DANGER. FURTHER, IT BROUGHT ABOUT MUCH ANXIETY KNOWING THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING. MY CAR IS STILL WITHIN THE 100K WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME, THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND THEY ARGUED WITH ME ABOUT IT ONLY TO CONCEDE LATER THAT, IN FACT, IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209961May 25, 2019
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ELECTRICAL INTERIOR LIGHT TURN ON WHEN YOU LEAN ON THE ARM REST ALSO GOT A OIL CHANGE AND THE OIL LIGHT WILL NOT RESET CAUSE THERE IS A MALFUNCTION IN THE OIL PRESSURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209537May 23, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT KEEPS GOING OUT , IT HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES AND PER SOUTHWEST KIA THE ENTIRE KIT WOULD HAVE TO BE CHANGED. AND IT'S ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT HAS THE ISSUE. THE DATE REFLECTS THE MOST RECENT TIME IT'S HAPPENED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209163May 22, 2019
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY ON A SUNDAY EVENING ON MAY 19, 2019 IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, MY SUNROOF (SPECIFICALLY, THE MIDDLE PANEL OF THE THREE GLASS ROOF PANELS ON THE KIA OPTIMA SX 2013) SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING CRACKED, LETTING OFF AN EAR-PIERCING POP. I DROVE TO A SAFE PLACE WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, HEARING PIECES OF GLASS FALL OFF OF MY CAR INTO THE LANE BEHIND ME. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, AND FORTUNATELY, THE FABRIC SUN SHADE UNDERNEATH WAS CLOSED, SO I WAS SPARED FROM THE SHOWER OF GLASS AND INJURY OTHER CAR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED DURING THIS EXPLOSION OF GLASS. THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT AND NO DEBRIS, AND I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A SMOOTHLY PAVED ROAD. WHEN I INSPECTED THE SUNROOF, THERE WAS A HUGE HOLE IN THE CENTER OF THE GLASS PANEL AND THE BROKEN GLASS AROUND THE HOLE WAS POINTING UPWARD INTO THE SKY. THE ENTIRE GLASS PANEL WAS SHATTERED BUT STILL IN PLACE. THERE WAS NO DEBRIS OR A ROCK INSIDE THE SUN SHADE UNDERNEATH THAT COULD EXPLAIN THE HOLE. IT WAS ALTOGETHER EERIE AND VERY FRIGHTENING AND TRAUMATIZING, AND I WAS GRATEFUL I WASN'T KILLED BY ANY POTENTIAL ACCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS UNSAFE SUNROOF EXPLOSION. I AM IN PROCESS OF GETTING IT REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR USED, AND I HAVE MADE A CLAIM WITH BOTH MY CAR INSURANCE COMPANY (GEICO, WHO HAS NOT BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN ACKNOWLEDGING THIS AS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT), AND WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. KIA ALSO HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A DEFECT, AND NONE OF THE KIA DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES OR MANAGERS I'VE SPOKEN WITH (SIX OF THEM) HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209167May 22, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PASSENGER HEADLIGHT KEEPS BURNING OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209204May 22, 2019
ENGINE
A RECALL WAS ISSUED TO ME BY KIA IN 2017 WHEN WE HAD THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE TOTALLY REPLACED. ON MAY 16, 2019 MY SON WAS DRIVING WHEN PASSERBY'S WERE HONKING AND FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT HIM. HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE, WHEN HE LOST STEERING, AND BREAKS. HE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WHILE MOVING AND THEN THE CAR EXPLODED, A TOTAL OF 3 SEPARATE TIMES BEFORE FIRE AND EMERGENCY PERSONNEL ARRIVED ON SCENE. FIRE REPORT AND INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209257May 22, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE FROZE UP AND LOCKED. WE SMELT A STRONG BURN ODOR. MECHANIC CHECKED FUSES AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS WIRING OR POSSIBLY THE MOTOR BUT TURNS OUT THE STARTER WENT BAD. THE BURN SMELL CAME FROM THE COIL WIRE ON THE STARTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11209354May 22, 2019
ENGINE
CAR STOPPED WHILE PROCEEDING THROUGH A TOLL. TRIED GETTING A JUMP TO START IT. MOTOR WOULD NOT TURN OVER .STARTER HAD A STEEL EVERY TIME TRYING TO START IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203999April 26, 2019
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED CRAIN KIA OF SHERWOOD (5830 WARDEN RD, SHERWOOD, AR 72120, (501) 436-4852 23502) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12843689. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203134April 23, 2019
ENGINE
I OWN A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE ISSUE, I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE MILES FROM HOME ON A FAMILY TRIP. I NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT FLICKERING WHEN I DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, AND ALSO SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEAREST SERVICE STATION AND CHECKED THE OIL AND FOUND NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK OTHER THAN SOME BURNT OIL RESIDUE. THE STRONG BURNING SMELL AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE OPENING. I IMMEDIATELY ADDED OIL AND HAVE BEEN KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON IT EVER SINCE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND HAVE LEARNED OF THE MANY PROBLEMS THAT KIA OWNERS ARE HAVING WITH THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES. THE DEALERSHIP CONDUCTED A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND DETERMINED THE CAR IS LOSING A LITTLE OVER A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES OR SO, BUT ISN'T LEAKING ANYWHERE. I HAVE READ MANY OF THE STORIES OF ENGINE FAILURES AND FIRES CAUSED BY THIS AND I DO NOT WANT TO EXPERIENCE THIS WHILE ON THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY. THIS CAR ONLY HAD ABOUT 107,000 MILES ON IT WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS OIL CONSUMPTION PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND SHOULD NOT BE GOING THROUGH OIL LIKE THIS WITH SO LITTLE MILES ON IT. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT COVERS THIS AND NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN ISSUED DESPITE ALL OF THE TROUBLE KIA OWNERS ARE HAVING. I DON'T TRUST THE CAR ON THE ROAD WITH MY FAMILY AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS. THANK YOU!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203144April 23, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SOUTHSIDE KIA (9401 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225, (904) 406-7779) THREE TIMES TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202861April 22, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WAITING ON A RED LIGHT, THE KIA OPTIMA STALLED AND THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING INTO THE CABIN. WITHIN SECONDS THE FRONT OF THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND MY WIFE AND TWO CHILDREN HAD A VERY LIMITED TIME TO GET OUT FROM THE BURNING CAR INTO SAFETY. THE BURNING CAR WAS EVENTUALLY EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. LOCAL POLICE CORDONED OFF THE LANE TO PROVIDE SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY AND OTHERS MOTORISTS ON THE ROAD. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND THE TIME OF THE FIRE WAS AROUND 12:30PM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202975April 22, 2019
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL JUST STARTED MAKING A CLICKING SOUND AND IT SHACKS WHEN I WAS DRIVING
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197306April 19, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR ENGINE SHUT DOWN AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN, WHICH I ALMOST GOT REAR ENDED BY TRAFFIC TURNING RIGHT FROM A FASTER STREET. I HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK TO RESTART THE ENGINE AFTER A COUPLE TRIES. I NOTICED MY ENGINE LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS ON DASH TURNED RED. AFTER A COUPLE TRIES THE ENGINE STARTED AND I SEEN MY OIL LIGHT ALSO SO I THOUGHT MAYBE MY OIL WAS BAD SO I WENT AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE AND AFTER GETTING THAT COMPLETED WAS DRIVING HOME AND MY ENGINE HAS THIS KNOCKING NOISE NOW AND IT SEEMED TO GET WORSE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE OVERHEAD CAM SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT. BUT AFTER CHANGING THE OIL THE LIGHT WENT OUT. TECHNICIAN STATED THE CAR WAS A QUART LOW BEFORE THE OIL WAS CHANGED OUT. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I USED THE BEST OIL AND CHANGED MY OIL ON A REGULAR BASIS AND HAVE RECORDS TO SHOW IF NEEDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197091April 18, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND OFF.. LOST ACCELERATION POWER. ITERMITTEN POWER. CAME TO A STOPLIGHT LOST ACCELERATION TRIED TO PRESS GAS TO ACCELERATE AND SOUNED LIKE POTS AND PANS BANGING WHILE ACCELERATION HEAR A LOUD BANG AND SHATTERING METAL. MMANAGED TO PULL OVER ON HIGHWAY ..OPENED HOOD AND SAW OIL SUBSTANCE ALL OVER ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND AROUND FIREWALL. PARTS WERE RECOVERED. TOWED. KIA SHOP NOTIFIED AS IT WAS SERVICE FOR THE WARRANTY SHARDS BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2017 AND CLAIMED NO ISSUES. OIL WAS CHANGED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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