Kia Optima Complaints (2006)

155 consumer complaints on file.

#10417106August 4, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT TRIED TO UNLOCKED THE DOOR MANUALLY, WITH A KEY, AND THE KEY FOB AND IT FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415352July 27, 2011
VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I'VE A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA. THIS ISSUE THAT I'D LIKE TO REPORT IS THAT THE SUN VISORS ARE DEFECTIVE ON THIS VEHICLE. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, AND OTHERS. MY DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN. IT WON'T FOLD UP, AND IT IMPAIRS MY VISION AND DISTRACTS ME WHILE DRIVING. IT'S A CONSTANT DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING. I'VE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THIS WAS A DEFECT SINCE I'VE NEVER HAS A SUN VISOR EVER GO BACK ON ANY CAR THAT I'VE EVER OWNED. AND EVEN THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD VARIOUS CUSTOMERS THAT CALLED IN TO STATE THE SAME ISSUE WITH THAT YEAR'S MODEL SUN VISORS. THEY STATED I'D HAVE TO BRING IT IN, AND IT'S GOING TO COST ME FROM $200+ TO HAVE IT FIXED. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT I SHOULD BE FIXING IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT SHOULD LAST THE EXPECTED LIFECYCLE OF THE CAR. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2006.5 AND I HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VISOR FOLD UP. IT JUST STOPPED ONE DAY ABOUT A MONTH AGO. STILL EACH DAY IS A CONSTANT DISTRACTION, AND IRRITATES ME WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS FOR A 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA - THE DEFECT IS THE SUN VISORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10412129July 13, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY 2006 KIA OPIMAL DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10409178June 28, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR FAILURE. THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED DURING THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10401858May 13, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
IN FILLING THE GAS TANK WHEN THE PUMP SHUT OFF GASOLINE POURED OUT OF THE GAS TANK. THE FIRST TIME I BLAMED THE GAS STATION. IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS FILLING THE TANK. EVEN AFTER THE FUEL NOZZLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE TANK, A GREAT DEAL OF GASOLINE POURED OUT OF THE TANK. THE DEALER CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND SAID EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT. ITS NOT!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399996May 11, 2011
AIR BAGS
ONE DAY THE DOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR WOULDN'T OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I CALLED KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS PARTICULAR CAR. I CALLED AND NOTIFIED KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS AND AGAIN WAS GIVEN THE SPEECH OF IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND BASICALLY THEY DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT. I ALSO IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TELEPHONE CALL, FILED A WRITTEN COMPLAINT WITH KIA AND HAVE YET TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM THEM ABOUT THIS. I HAVE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS COMPLAINT THE AIR BAG LIGHT THAT THE DEALER CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. I DID A VERY SIMPLE SEARCH AND IT WAS ABLE TO FIND MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND MAYBE YOU CAN FORCE KIA TO DO A RECALL AND FIX THIS FAULTY PARTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THESE VEHICLES. THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10399473May 8, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
POWER DOOR LOCK ON DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE REMOTE BUTTON OR KEY. THE DOORS UNLOCK WHEN REMOTE IS USED,BUT WHEN YOU PULL THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE ALL DOORS LOCK. WHEN IN CAR WITH LOCKED DOORS, YOU FREQUENTLY CANNOT OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR WITH DOOR BUTTON OR HANDLE. IN AN ACCIDENT, THIS DOOR FLAW COULD PREVENT THE DRIVER FROM ESCAPING QUICKLY. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO CORRECT PROBLEM TO DATE. I WILL HAVE THE DOOR LATCH SYSTEM REPLACED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10396149April 7, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2006 KIA OPTIMA JUST STOPPED RUNNING YESTERDAY, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET. IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO. SINCE THERE WAS NO WARNING (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT ON, NO STUTTERING, ETC.), I WASN'T ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD TO SWERVE TO NOT HIT ME. I'M A 67 YEAR OLD, DISABLED WOMAN WHO WAS STUCK ON THE SIDE OF THAT BUSY STREET FOR A HALF AN HOUR UNTIL MY CAR COULD BE TOWED. UPON DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, A MECHANIC FOUND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A CRANK SENSOR (AS WELL AS AN OXYGEN SENSOR). AS HE SAID, "WE REPLACE A LOT OF THESE ON THIS MODEL CAR". AFTER EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, ONLINE, READING BLOGS FROM OTHER KIA OWNERS, I'VE FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM I'VE HAD. A FRIEND OF MINE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS WAY BACK FROM A TRIP. THE SENSOR JUST GOES OUT AND THE CAR DIES RIGHT WHERE IT IS, AND EVEN IF IT CAN BE STARTED AGAIN, IT WILL ONLY RUN FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME AND DIES AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY SCARY PROBLEM. AND VERY EXPENSIVE ALSO. IF KIA KNOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393634March 29, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE MARCH 2011, SHE NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 74,600. UPDATED 5/2/11 *CN UPDATED 05/11/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393036March 27, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY KIA OPTIMA 2006 HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS: BAD OXYGEN SENSOR, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, AND MOST RECENTLY- WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. KIA SAYS MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A KIA DEALER A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE GEARS QUIT SHIFTING, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. I HAVE REPLACED SIX HEADLIGHTS AND THREE TAIL LIGHTS. THIS CAR IS A LEMON! PLEASE ASK KIA TO EXTEND THEIR CURRENT RECALL AS, OBVIOUSLY MORE CARS ARE AFFECTED THAN THEY ARE REPORTING. PLEASE INVESTIGATE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10392176March 18, 2011
AIR BAGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I OWN A 2006 KIA OPTIMA AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND DOES NOT GO OFF EVEN YOU ARE IN THE SEATS THIS IS A HAZARD IF YOU HAVE A ACCIDENT YOU DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIR BAG WILL WORK OR NOT COULD BE DEADLY ,ALSO DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK IF YOU LOCK THEM WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH THE KEY OR FROM INSIDE VEHICLE ,HAVE TO CRAWL OVER TO PASSENGER SIDE TO GET THIS CAN BE DEADLY IF YOU GET IN A ACCIDENT . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390521March 17, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOCK ON THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS IS IN THE VEHICLE THE DOOR WOULD NOT UNLOCK SO THAT THE PASSENGER COULD GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381276February 9, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
IN A 2006/2007 KIA OPTIMA, "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATES REGARDLESS OF SEATED PASSENGER WEIGHT OR OCCUPANCY. THIS COULD LEAD TO FAILURE TO DEPLOY AIRBAG IN A FRONTAL COLLISION RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. RESETTING THE COMPUTER TEMPORARILY DEACTIVATED THE LIGHT, BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376559January 13, 2011
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK WITH KEY OR FROM INSIDE. THIS PROBLEM STARTED RANDOMLY. I HAVE TO CRAWL THRU PASSENGER DOOR AT TIME TO GET INTO MY CAR. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS SHOULD A ACCIDENT OCCUR AND THE DRIVER DOOR BE LOCKED THE DRIVER COULD BE TRAPPED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A DEATH TRAP AND KIA SHOULD FIX IT. I CALLED MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT IF THERE WAS A SOLUTION TO REPAIR THIS AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD GIVE ME A QUOTE ON THE REPAIRS. THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE IS IN QUESTION AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED ASAP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372584December 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT ACCURATELY REPORT MILEAGE, GAS AMOUNT, SPEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366471November 16, 2010
AIR BAGS
2006 KIA OPTIMA. DISCOVERED "AIR BAG" LIGHTED ICON ON DASH JUST PAST THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. (DRIVER-SIDE BAG). PAID $125 "DIAGNOSTIC," ONLY TO BE TOLD "AIR BAG DOESN'T WORK," --DUH! DEALER WANTS ANOTHER SOME $500 TO EXPLORE CAUSE, AND ANOTHER SOME $500 TO "MAYBE" FIX IT. [XXX] RIP-OFF! (WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES BECAUSE I AM THE 2ND OWNER---ANOTHER RIP-OFF BY KIA). CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS, SO MY LIFE IS IN KIA'S HANDS!!!!. I WILL NEVER BUY NOR RECOMMEND ANOTHER KIA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365910November 16, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY KIA OPTIMA ACCELERATOR SENSOR WENT OUT ABOUT A WEEK AGO. IT WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 20 MILES AN HOUR. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED IT. WHEN I DID THAT, IT TOOK OFF LIKE A JACK RABBIT WITHOUT EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. DEALERSHIP TOWED IT FOR REPAIRS. THEY SAID IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE SENSOR. THE DEFECT WAS REPAIRED AND NO FURTHER INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED TO DATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362074October 23, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I HAVE A 2006 KIA OPTIMA AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR NOT WANTING TO UNLOCK. THE EVENT STARTED FRIDAY AFTERNOON. AFTER WORKING WITH MY DOOR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, IT FINALLY CAME UNLOCKED. I DROVE TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTER AND AFTER GETTING HER IN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, I COULD NOT GET THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN. AFTER MULTIPLE FAILED ATTEMPTS, I HAD TO CLIMB INTO THE CAR THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE, WHICH IS NO EASY FEAT TO ACCOMPLISH. I ENDED UP GETTING STUCK IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL MY HUSBAND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO WORK THE DOOR OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IF THERE WAS A FIRE, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PROMPTLY EXIT THE VEHICLE AND GET MY DAUGHTER OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER. NOW I CANNOT LOCK MY DOORS. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH ON THIS DEFECT AND HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS STATING TO THE SAME FACT. I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT BUT WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS OVER THE SAME FEATURE, SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE BEFORE A LIFE IS LOST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10351130August 22, 2010
SEATS
THE DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT OF MY KIA OPTIMA 2006 HAS STUCK IN A VERY AWKWARD POSITION AND I HAVE BEEN USING A COUPLE OF PILLOWS TO ADJUST MY DRIVING POSITION. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL AUTO REPAIR SHOPS IN MY LOCALITY BUT THE PARTS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE... GOOGLE, EBAY, PARTSPLUS... THERE WAS NO DEFINITIVE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM SINCE THE POWER SWITCH OF THE SEAT STOPPED FUNCTIONING ALL OF A SUDDEN. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO KIA USA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE BUT THEY DID NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350046August 17, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS RESET BUT FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. ON A LATER DATE WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE AIR BAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED IN THE CONTACT'S FACE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE SWELLING TO THE FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,298 . UPDATED 12/10/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/17/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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