Kia Optima Complaints (2013)

1,443 consumer complaints on file.

#10787461October 31, 2015
STEERING
THE STEERING WHEEL IS 'COG-WHEELING' TO FAR LEFT OR RIGHT. CAN'T KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL NEUTRAL/CENTER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT. EITHER THE STEERING WHEEL IS ROTATED JUST OFF THE CENTER, COGGED TOO FAR TO LEFT OR TOO FAR TO RIGHT. I NEED TO CONSTANTLY MAKE ADJUSTMENT AND ZIG-ZAG THROUGH THE STRAIGHT ROAD. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2013 KIA OPTIMA, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND FIXED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10786827October 28, 2015
STEERING
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK. WHEN IT RELEASES, THE VEHICLE WILL ALMOST OVER CORRECT SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE "JERKY" STEERING/DRIVING. IT HAS DONE THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A NEWER VEHICLE, BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT. AND ON LONGER ROAD TRIPS, I GET WORN OUT FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT TO MENTION IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10782958October 16, 2015
SEATS
I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT THE HEADREST. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADJUSTMENT FOR THE ANGLE OF THE HEADREST. THE HEADREST MOVES UP AND DOWN, FORWARD AND BACKWARD BUT THE ANGLE CAN NOT BE ADJUSTMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10781443October 12, 2015
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAD MY OIL CHANGE AND TWO DAYS LATER THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO PIT STOP 500 AND HE'S SAID IT WAS LOW SO HE CHECK THE CAR SAID HE DIDN'T SEE ANY OIL LEAKS IF THE OIL LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN TAKE IT TO KIA. WHEN I LEFT THERE WHILE I WAS DRIVING I COULD SEE WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT MY PIPES. I TOOK IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE OIL WAS LOW PUT OIL IN IT AGAIN AND SAID DRIVE IT 500 MILES AND IF THE OIL LIGHT COME ON BRING IT BACK. WHILE DRIVING IT HOME IT STALLED IT WOULDN'T GO OVER 30 MILES AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE PIPES SO I MADE A APPOINTMENT AND TOOK IT BACK NOW THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS SLUDGE IN THE OIL. I HAD DID SOME RESEARCH AND DISCOVER TEN KIA WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AND SIX OF THEM ARE KIA OPTIMA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781090October 9, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY VEHICLE HAS 80K MILES ON IT AND IS SERVICED METICULOUSLY. I LOST ALL POWER TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY AND WAS ALMOST RAN DOWN BY A DUMP TRUCK. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP MY VEHICLE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM WAS THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP. I ASSUMED THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE 100K WARRANTY ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WON'T RUN WITHOUT THE FUEL PUMP, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT THEY HAVE ELIMINATED THIS PROBLEM FROM WARRANTY BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY CASES OF HIGH-PRESSURE PUMP FAILURES ON KIA'S.. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA PRODUCT!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779099October 1, 2015
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL UNDER CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764994September 18, 2015
STEERING
MY STEERING USED TO BE GREAT, WITH NO ISSUES. A FEW DAYS AGO MY STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO FIGHT ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. STRAIGHT, TURNING LEFT, TURNING RIGHT, IT SEEMED TO FIGHT ME NO MATTER THE SITUATION. ALL OF A SUDDEN, ANY TINY BUMPS IN THE ROAD THAT THE CAR COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THROWS THE STEERING WHEEL A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. ALSO, THE CAR VEERS RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS PERFECTLY STRAIGHT. MY NORMAL DRIVE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT WAS PHENOMENAL, WITH NO COMPLAINTS... THE CAR TOOK TINY BUMPS IN THE ROAD BUT IT WAS NOT FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I TOOK THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY ALIGNING MY TIRES AND UPDATING THE ELECTRICAL POWER STEERING SETTINGS. I WAS EXCITED TO GET BACK INTO MY CAR WITH THE PROBLEM FIXED BUT ALL I NOTICED AFTERWARDS WAS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS TIGHTER WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE TIGHTNESS OF THE WHEEL DOES NOT MAKE THE PROBLEMS AS NOTICEABLE, BUT THE CAR STILL DIRECTS RIGHT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL IS JUMPING WITH EVEN THE SLIGHTEST BUMPS IN THE ROAD, AND DRIVING THE VEHICLE IS STRESSFUL AND UNCOMFORTABLE AS I ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON HIGH ALERT - THIS IS NOT PLEASANT WHEN I DRIVE LONG DISTANCES EVERYDAY FOR WORK. NEEDS TO BE FIXED!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763371September 13, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
STEERING ,HARD TO KEEP IN LANES,LOUD HARD RIDE. WHILE TEST DRIVING MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA I TOLD MY SALES PERSON THAT I WAS HAVING TROUBLE KEEPING KEEPING IT ON THE ROAD. HE SAID THAT'S B/C ITS A NEW CAR. IT'LL EASE UP. I THOUGHT IT WAS LOUD & TOOK SMAL BUMPS LIKE A BIG POT HOLES. AND THE GAS PEDAL & ACCELERATION WAS WIERD. HE SAID BRING IT BACK & THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL DRIVE IT & FIX IT. DON'T WORRY. WELL AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT EMULATE THE PROBLEM. I ASKED THEM TO LET ME DRIVE WITH SERVICE PERSON. COULD NOT DO. BREAK IT IN & IT'LL GO AWAY. WELL AT 11,000 MILES TOOK IT BACK & COMPLAINED . SAME ANSWER. NOW 19,703 MILES NOT ONLY DO I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS .THEY GOT WORSE. IN ADDITION MY PAINT SCRATCHES & CHIPS SO EASY THAT THERE HAD TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY PAINT. BACK TO SERVICE & BODY WORK THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL. BRING IT IN FOR DETAILING & WE WILL GET IT LOOKING LIKE NEW! DON'T HAVE $175.00 TO DO THAT . I DO NOT GET CLOSE TO QUOTED GAS MILEAGE. IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN IT ACCELERATES & GEARS DON'T SHIFT .IT TAKES OFF OR DOESN'T ALL BY ITSELF. SEEMS LIKE TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. ITS SO LOUD I CANNOT USE HANDS FREE PHONE & CONVERSATIONS ARE DIFFICULT. THE STEERING IS SO OFF, I'M AFRAID I'LL GET PULLED OVER & FINED. VERY HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD. AND MY CAR SQUEAKS AS YOU GET IN & OUT OF MY CAR. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I WANT AN INVESTIGATION . I'M AFRAID IT WILL BE IN AN ACCIDENT & HURT MYSELF & OTHERS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762943September 10, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN FIRST BUYING THE CAR THERE WERE TIMES IT WOULD START REALLY HARD AND HAVE A LONG CRANK. IT SEEMED LIKE AFTER STARTING AND DRIVING A SHORT DISTANCE AND SHUTTING IT OFF THE CAR WOULD LONG CRANK WITH A HARD START. TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIME WITH NO FIX. I LOGGED THE OCCURRENCE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS WHEN THE FIELD TECHNICIAN CAME OUT HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE CONCERN AND SAID EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD. 8 MONTHS LATER IT IS STILL DOING IT AND NOW HAS STARTED A NEW PROBLEM OFF NOT STARTING WHEN PUSH BUTTON AND BRAKE ARE PUSHED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10762994September 10, 2015
ENGINE
I LEASED THE KIA OPTIMA (2013) FOR 3 YEARS. WITH 4 MONTHS LEFT ON THE LEASE & 35,000 MILES LATER, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT, NO ISSUES WHATSOEVER, UP UNTIL YESTERDAY MORNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I WAS APPROACHING A 4-WAY STOP WHEN I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE SCREECH OR A SHORT BLAST OF A HAIRDRYER. DIRECTLY AFTER 'THE SOUND' I APPROACHED THE STOP SIGN, BUT EVEN AS I WAS SLOWING I FELT THAT THE CAR WAS SLUGGISH. I CAME TO A STOP. WHEN I TRIED TO GO AGAIN I REALIZED THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I TRIED A FEW TIMES TO START THE ENGINE BUT IT WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. I HAD TO GO TO WORK, SO I CALLED A FRIEND WHO IS A MECHANIC TO COME LOOK AT THE CAR. HE SAID HE WOULD TAKE THE BATTERY TO PEP BOYS TO HAVE IT CHECKED, WHICH HE DID, THEY SAID THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. HE ADVISED ME TO CALL THE CAR PROS KIA OF CARSON WHERE I LEASED THE CAR FROM AS IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE "100,000 MILE/10 YEAR WARRANTY". WHEN I GOT TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEY TOLD ME THEY NEEDED TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH WOULD COST $119 AND WOULD "PROBABLY BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BUT YOU NEED TO SIGN THIS FORM JUST IN CASE IT'S NOT" OF COURSE, WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY SAID I WAS NOT COVERERED UNDER THEIR WARRENTY BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS "BAD' AND HAD COMPLETELY BLOWN DUE TO "BLACK SLUDGE'' IN THE OIL COMPARTMENT (THIS IS A COMPLETE LIE AS MY MECHANIC FRIEND CHECKED THE OIL THAT MORNING AND IT WAS GOOD!!!) AND THEY NEEDED RECEIPTS FOR ALL OF THE SERVICES TO MY CAR GOING BACK ONE YEAR AS THEY NEEDED TO KNOW WHO HAD BEEN TAMPERING WITH MY CAR! FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS FROM PEP-BOYS AND MY MECHANIC WHO HAVE DONE ALL OF MY OIL CHANGES RELIGIOUSLY. NOW I COME TO FIND OUT VIA RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE ARE LAW SUITS HAPPENING BETWEEN CONSUMERS WHO ARE BEING BLAMED FOR NOT DOING OIL CHANGES AND CAUSING CHRONIC ENGINE FAILURE BECAUSE KIA DON'T WANT TO HONOR THEIR WARRENTY!!!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10760235August 31, 2015
STEERING
STEERING ISSUES AT HIGH SPEEDS ON EXPRESSWAY. VEHICLE GOES INTO OTHER LANES CONSTANTLY. I THOUGHT IT JUST NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN BUT IT HAS NEVER GOTTEN BETTER. IT COULD CAUSE A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF BY A RECALL. IF NOT, I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER KIA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749310August 17, 2015
ENGINE
THE EVENING OF 8/12/15 I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE CITY ROAD, 2 LANES EACH DIRECTION. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF LEAVING ME WITH NO POWER AND IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH SUDDEN DECELERATION AND VEHICLES COMING UP FROM BEHIND. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE HIT ME AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. NO ENGINE MAINTENANCE/WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON PRIOR TO THE ENGINE FAILURE. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE ENGINE IS LOCKED UP AND WILL NEED COMPLETELY REPLACE WITH A NEW ENGINE. ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING KIA'S 22,500 MILE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ONLY 16 DAYS PRIOR ON 7/27/15. DAVE GREEN, KIA ARAPAHOE SERVICE MANAGER, INFORMED TODAY (8/17/15) THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THIS IN THE PAST WEEK. THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A CONNECTION TO THE HOT WEATHER. WHAT EVER THE CAUSE THIS HAS A VERY HIGH POTENTIAL TO CAUSE DEATH OR EXTREME INJURY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10747724August 11, 2015
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE TOOK A TRIP TO TEXAS TO SEE MY DAUGHTER. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON THAT TRIP; WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, ALL OF THE SUDDEN IT STARTED ACCELERATING ALL ON IT'S OWN... THE 1ST TIME I QUESTIONED IF I HAD ACCIDENTLY BUMPED SOMETHING, THE 2ND ALSO AND THE 3RD ALLOWED IT TO ACT ON ITS OWN AND BEFORE I KNEW IT WAS ALMOST 100MPH. THANKFULLY THE BRAKE ENGAGES.. WHEN I RETURNED HOME I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT IN FOR CHECK AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE.. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR THE 5TH OCCASION REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE.. I AM AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHERS HAVING THIS ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IF THEY CAN NOT RECREATE THE ISSUE THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN REPAIR..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745289July 31, 2015
STEERING
WHEN TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND, IT FIRST STARTED WHEN YOU MAKE A RIGHT TURN, NOW REGARDLESS OF WHICH WAY YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745332July 31, 2015
STEERING
CAR STARTED HAVING A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT. CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE RIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY, WILL EVEN PULL TO THE RIGHT AT LOW SPEED RATE. CAR WAS BOUGHT BRAND NEW, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING STEERING ISSUES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10736205July 24, 2015
ENGINE
WAS DRIVING TO WORK(2013 KIA OPTIMA APPX 32000 MILES) AS I ACCELERATED TO MERGE ON THE INTESTATE, A LARGE CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE EXHAUST,THERE WAS NO INDICATION OR ANY WARNING, THERE IS NO MAINTENANCE LIGHT TO INDICATE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY KIA DEALERSHIP THEY REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE ON THE ENGINE THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE, THIS IS NOT COVER BY KIA WARRENTY,AFTER DOING SEVERAL DAY OF RESEARCH I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY KIA OWNER WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE SLUDGE IS THE CAUSE BUT MOST MECHANIC KNOW THAT SLUDGE IS A SYMPTOM NOT A CAUSE, AND WHAT IS EXCESSIVE 1%OR 5% WHO MAKES THAT DETERMANITION? I HAVE DONE REGULAR OIL CHANGES MYSELF. I CONTACTED THE KIA HOME OFFICE AND AM WAITING FOR A REPLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10734713July 17, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
FUEL WILL HEAT UP AND BUBBLE OUT OF FUEL TANK AFTER EXTENDED PERIODS OF IDLING. 4 HOURS IDLING WITH 3/4 FULL FUEL TANK. LIQUID FUEL AND VAPORS ESCAPING FROM GAS CAP AND DRIPPING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10734868July 17, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA'S BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WILL VIBRATE/GRIND WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. IT STARTED THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. WHILE I WAS SIGNING PAPERS, IT STARTED TO RAIN. DURING THE DRIVE HOME (IMMEDIATELY) I NOTICED VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE PEDAL. I ASKED ABOUT IT AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL. SINCE IT DID IT IMMEDIATELY, NOW I SEE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND NO LONGER THINK I AM CRAZY. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2013 AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS ALSO MY BACKUP CAMERA SOMETIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE. A FEW TIMES THE RADIO SYSTEM GETS STUCK ON STUPID (WONT TURN ON), BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE BACK UP CAMERA HAS ISSUES. AND THIS WEEK 7/2015 MY JUKEBOX STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. LUCKILY, I FOUND THE RESET SWITCH NEAR THE VOLUME CONTROL AND IT WORKS AGAIN :) MA 10/8 UPDATED 3/22/2016*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10730513June 26, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAKE WILL VIBRATE/GRIND EXTREMELY BAD UNDER MY FOOT. THE CAR BRAKE DOES THIS EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER GETTING MY CAR, WAS AFTER I HAD IT WASHED. IT ALSO DOES IT WHILE DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED KIA AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ABS SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT MEANS AND IT'S FUNCTION. HOWEVER, I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL ABS PERFORMANCE, AS WOULD ANY OTHER DRIVER. NOT ONLY DOES THIS MALFUNCTION DISTRACT MY ATTENTION WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CONTRADICTS THE PURPOSE OF ABS! IT SCARES ME WHEN IT IS HAPPENING, ENOUGH FOR ME TO LOOSE FOCUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROXIMATELY 28 MONTHS SO FAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10725870June 17, 2015
SEAT BELTS
REAR SEAT BELTS IN CLOTH SEAT CONFIGURATION DO NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE IN AN EXPOSED POSITION SO THAT A CHILD OR AN ADULT CAN REASONABLY OPERATE IT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A PLASTIC SHEATH THAT HOLD THE BUCKLE EXPOSED SO THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILD SEAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BUCKLE A CHILD IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS USERS WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND OMIT USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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