Kia Optima Complaints

7,843 consumer complaints on file.

#11617527October 1, 2024
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The contact stated that there was an abnormal growling sound coming from under the floorboard, and the engine was making an abnormal knocking sound. The contact stated that the RPM gauge was revving high while depressing the accelerator pedal; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled over and turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the vehicle was not running normally. The contact stated that the failure was a recurring failure. Additionally, the contact stated that vehicle was consuming approximately one quart of engine oil per week and the transmission was hesitating and was making the vehicle jerk while shifting gear. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 76,270.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617161September 30, 2024
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that both the driver’s side and passenger’s side windows opened independently without the driver or occupant input, and the windows failed to roll up while depressing the window switches. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617287September 30, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617291September 30, 2024
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
While driving the car will not accelerate past 49mph in turbo mode and 61mph in regular mode and rpm will not go above 1800. And it jerks and studders. Blinking check engine light and consumes a ridiculous amount of oil even though regular maintenance performed. I have read several engine issues with this model and cannot find recall info
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617321September 30, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
All the window regulators continue to turn but the windows stay down and won't go up. Leading cause, the gear that connects to the motor and window regulator wires is plastic and erdes over time causing it to shred itself. Now my windows will not go up.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616865September 27, 2024
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, smoke was coming from the hood of the vehicle, and the entire front of the vehicle caught on fire. The origin of the fire was unknown. The vehicle was occupied; however, the contact and her daughter were able to exit the vehicle safely before the flames spread. There were no injuries sustained and no medical attention was sought. There entire front of the vehicle was damaged including the windshield and everything lined up with the dashboard. The fire department was involved and had to come to extinguish the fire. A fire department report was not filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. The contact did research and became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V100 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the contact was not notified before the failure. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not drivable and remained at a friend of the contact's place of residence. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616946September 27, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also heard a loud knocking sound coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616664September 26, 2024
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The engine and oil warning lights were flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who performed an oil consumption test. The vehicle failed the oil consumption test and determined that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Monroeville Kia (3721 William Penn Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146); who informed the contact there was no recall coverage on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616142September 24, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11616259September 24, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, a ticking sound and smoke was coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 190,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615918September 23, 2024
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to exceed 61 MPH. The RPM failed to exceed 2,000 RPM. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to exceed 45 MPH while driving uphill, and the vehicle failed to exceed 55 MPH while driving downhill. The contact scanned the vehicle with a vehicle scanner and retrieved codes indicating an oil control valve failure. The contact replaced the oil control valve; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the fuel rail system, the fuel tube clamps, and the bolts were replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V907000 (Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine); however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer several times. The dealer replaced the battery, the engine oil, and other unknown parts; however, the failure recurred. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing excessive fuel consumption. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615842September 22, 2024
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Oil pressure switch faulty only has 58168
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615529September 19, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am experiencing window regulator failures on all four windows of my 2016 Kia Optima LX, which began in 2021 and continues to the present. The windows either do not stay up or operate irregularly. I have seen similar reports from other 2016 Kia Optima and 2017 Kia Sportage owners. This issue poses a safety and security risk due to potential distraction while driving and inability to secure the vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615404September 19, 2024
AIR BAGS
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V363000 (Air Bags) however, it failed to prevent the recall safety risk. The contact stated that while his mother was driving at approximately 45 MPH with the grandmother seated in the front passenger seat, another vehicle cut in front abruptly and switched back into their original lane, causing the contact's mother to crash into the rear of another vehicle ahead. The air bags did not deploy. No warning light had illuminated. The contact's grandmother was taken to a local hospital for injuries including a swollen face, both arms harmed, broken teeth, 3 broken ribs, and back pain. The contact's mother was later taken in a personal vehicle to a local hospital for injuries sustained for bruising on their chest, back and neck pain, and an injured toe on her left. A police report was filed. The insurance provider deemed the vehicle totaled and took it to a tow lot. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 225,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11615440September 19, 2024
STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the steering seized. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615129September 18, 2024
ENGINE, SEAT BELTS
Engine is burning 2 QT of oil every month and burning it in under 1000 miles. Kia dealership says it's a common issue but can't help me until the engine seizes up. The car has less than 85k miles on it. How can this be a common issue but they can't fix it till the engine dies? What if the engine dies out of warranty? Then I'm out 12k for a new engine that will die in 80k miles. This should be a recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615211September 18, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY
Paint is peeling and chipping on the hood of the vehicle and also the trunk paint is bubbling. It is getting worse as time goes on.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615278September 18, 2024
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud knocking sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11615310September 18, 2024
STEERING
A few months ago I started hearing a clicking noise while moving my steering wheel from side to side I went to the shop and had my steering column replaced thinking that would solve the issue but the noise is still there. I heard there was a replacement for customers I purchased my call after that bulletin was issued
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11614994September 17, 2024
ENGINE
Unknown, per kia website, P1326 engine code- bad engine, kia will cover all faults and cost associated to this code, including branded title vehicles. But, because my car has a branded title, kia dealership is saying no they won't do anything.. please help
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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