Kia Optima Complaints (2010)

75 consumer complaints on file.

#11722673March 7, 2026
ENGINE
The engine on my 2010 Kia Optima suddenly seized without warning around 150,000 miles. The vehicle had no knocking sounds or warning signs prior to failure. A mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a seized engine. This created a sudden loss of vehicle operation. I am concerned this may be related to the known engine failure issues reported in Kia vehicles.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11646102March 3, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
1.We were driving and the car just cut off. Not from the lack of fuel but cut off in the middle of traffic. (Available for inspection) 2.The car stopping in traffic running about 65 mph causes the safety of all on the highway. A very dangerous situation. 3. The problem has showed itself numerous times. 4. The car had been inspected/checked after the incident. There was no errors on the computer after diagnosis. 5. No errors nor warning lights prior the incident. After the incident, the car cranks right back up without error.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11640182February 2, 2025
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
I was getting ready to go out of town for work so before I left my home town. I went to a place to get my oil change. Before going everything was fine. I left there and literally 5 minutes after my car killed. Once it start back. The motor start making a noise it’s been parked
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11533397July 20, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car would not engage into “Park” while attempting to park car in driveway. Shifter would not engage in any gear. Tried to reset button in center console. Contacted mechanic, he towed to garage. Plastic clip connected to cable broke. Earlier Kia’s had a recall due to this issue, why not all Kias due to it is still happening. I was very fortunate that this happened to me in my driveway and not on the highway. I understand there is the same part at the other end of the cable, connects to transmission and shifter, if it also breaks it is going to be very expensive to repair due to placement of the part. I had to rent a vehicle for work while part had to be ordered and replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11483785September 10, 2022
ENGINE
Rod bearing knocking noise. Vehicle stopped running when slowing down. Car is available for inspection. No warning lights come on. The rod bearing can pierce the engine and cause oil to leak and then a fire. Problem first identified by Monroe and then another independent when the car died in front of his shop- both confirmed this is a known issue with kias- but since ours is a 2010 it is not covered under the current recall for the same issue in years 2011 to 2013. I spoke with cooper Kia in Utica as I was looking for support with this issue and was told by Mike Digiovanni to call a lawyer. On a later call to Pat Stacey he said they don’t work for Kia and he stated that the salesman said I came in threatening to call a lawyer- not true- I was advised to call one. I had gone in explaining that I was upset as I thought this was a safe car for my 17 year old to travel in between college and work and it’s the same issue as the 2011-2013 recall
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11466668May 30, 2022
ENGINE
At 134000 miles car got a knock on interstate. 5 miles to next exit a loud bang. Then the knock went to a loud loud bang. Pulled over to find rod thru block. It is a 2010 kia optima with 2.4l 1 year before the recalls with exact probelm. Full of oil and coolant. Just out of the blue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11452917February 18, 2022
POWER TRAIN
The car lurches or jerks when slowing down or stopping at about 20 mph . Lurch or jerking is enough to jerk to the driver . Has anyone got answer to why the Kia Optima 2010 does this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418644May 26, 2021
POWER TRAIN
Car has very hard downshift at low speed going from 2nd gear to 1st. Seems to be alot of these complaints and would be nice to know of a fix for this problem!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11417917May 20, 2021
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2010 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 1 mph, the vehicle started overheating then there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the engine. Upon investigation, it was found that the radiator had a hole on the right side. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer and was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403364March 16, 2021
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE BLEW DOING 40-45 ON A COUNTY ROAD 1,000 RPM 5TH GEAR, IN AUTOMATIC. 2ND TO 1ST, SOFT TO HARD KICK. VEHICLE SPEED SENSOR MUST BE FAULTY I HAVE TO PUMP BRAKE MORE TO SLOW THE ENGINE SPEED IT LIKES TO BOG TRYING TO SPEED UP IN AUTOMATIC MODE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11331104June 26, 2020
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. GERVAIS KIA (6 INDUSTRIAL AVE, LOWELL, MA 01851, (978)454-1202) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $5,000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11311465February 25, 2020
ENGINE, STEERING
MY OPTIMA HAS 104,000 MILES. JUST LAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING ON WET ROADS, I LOST CONTROL AS THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON DURING THIS PERIOD FOR BETWEEN 5-30 SECONDS AS YOU LOOSE ALMOST ALL CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE'S STEERING. JUST AS YOUR VEHICLE GAINS POWER STEERING AGAIN, A SCREECHING SOUNDS COMES FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (MAYBE BELTS RE-ENGAGING). IT HAS BEEN RAINING HER THE PAST WEEK AND THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8 TIMES. SOMETIMES DIRECTLY AFTER DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, AND SOMETIMES JUST WHILE DRIVING. THE ISSUE ONLY OCCURS THOUGH WHEN THE ROADS ARE WET. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11259003September 30, 2019
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HAS A TERRIBLE RATTLE COMING FROM THE REAR END WHILE DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE. NOT SURE WHAT IT IS. BOUGHT IN 2016
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11255422September 13, 2019
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND SAYS I NEED TO REPLACE THE AIRBAGS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. NOW AIRBAG SYSTEM IS DISENGAGED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11195570April 11, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON RD AVERAGE SPEED 40 NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON RESTARTED STALLED ALL THE WAY HOME AND HUGE KNOCKING SOUND
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174898February 7, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN COMING TO A STOP MY CAR SHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND HER VERY ABRUPTLY. IT MAKES IT FEEL AS THOUGH I'VE SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES VERY SUDDENLY. IT ALSO DOES IT WHEN I SLOW MY CAR THEN PRESS THE GAS TO ACCELERATE SOMETIMES. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP OVER 5 TIMES SINCE FIRST PURCHASED BY MY MOTHER IN 2010 AND THE DEALERSHIP ALWAYS CLAIMED TO BE UNABLE TO NOTICE THE SUDDEN JERKING. THIS JERKING HAPPENS MOSTLY ON THE STREET DUE TO MY CONTINUAL STOP AND GO, BUT IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHILE GETTING ON THE FREEWAY AND DURING FREEWAY TRAFFIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11143621October 29, 2018
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MAY7 ON I64 ST.CHARLES CO,MO.SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AS I APPROACHED BRIDE OVER MISSOURI RIVER AND AS SOON AS I CROSSED BRIDGE IT WAS WORSE AND I CALLED HOME TO SAY MY CAR WAS ON FIRE AND I WAS GETTING OUT OF IT ,THEN I CALLED 911 AND POLICE AND FIRE DEPT FROM FROM COTTLEVILLE ARRIVER. THE CAR COMPLETELY BURNED ALL THE WAY TO THE TRUNK. T HERE WAS NO APPARENT CONDITION TO HAVE CAUSED IT TO BURN AS CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND IN GOOD CONDITION
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112204July 18, 2018
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE DRIVER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR IT TO STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND LEFT LEG INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. *TT *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11079104March 14, 2018
AIR BAGS
THE PASSAGE SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON STEADY CODE STORED B1448 OCS MAT IS DEFECTIVE CAR WAS PARKED IN YARD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11071802February 8, 2018
POWER TRAIN
TAKATA RECALL - HARD DOWNSHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST, USUALLY AROUND THE 20MPH MARK! IT'S A SUDDEN JERK AS IF IT HAS BEEN SLAMMED INTO A A LOWER GEAR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Kia Optima