10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,910 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Nov 032020

Optima

  • 85,000 miles
When I reverse my car out of my parking spot it stops like my brakes locks. I have to press the gas a little for it to go. Also my brakes or wheel is making a grinding noise on the passenger side but my brakes looks good

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #14

Oct 302020

Optima

  • 9,000 miles
Head lights and brake lights keep shorting out making it hard for you to drive at night or even during the day. The anti lock brake jams and will cause you to slide if you are not carefully in the rain and snow

- New Castle, DE, USA

problem #13

Aug 142020

Optima

  • 1,500 miles
At about 1500 miles on the car, I have 2200 now, I started to notice a grinding and a rough contact in the brake pedal. When researching this it appears Kia has had aot of issues with the brakes on the stinger since introduction. Will be taking to dealership soon but per the research, Kia does not have fix other than replacing repeatedly.

- Keller, TX, USA

problem #12

Mar 192019

Optima 4-cyl

  • miles
I've taken my car to get an oil change several times and told them how my brakes make a noise just when I back up and they keep saying my brakes alright but something isn't right to me...

- Jennings, LA, USA

problem #11

Jul 152020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 58,556 miles
The brake lights would not go off when I turned my car off. This ended up killing my battery. When I got the battery recharged it allowed the car to start without the brakes being pushed in. Also I noticed that the stopper had broken. This allowed the computer to think that the brakes were engaged even though the peddle wasn't pushed.

- Owenton, KY, USA

problem #10

Apr 072020

Optima

  • 33,000 miles
My daughter was driving down main street when everything shut off, electrical, motor, steering wheel locked up. She coasted to the side of the road, a man pulled over to help her after 20 mins the car was as able to start again. 3rd time this has happened. Very scary.

- Spanishfork, UT, USA

problem #9

Mar 102020

Optima

  • 7 miles
Both back brake lights went out at same time and we replaced lights and still does not work. Happened when I was driving home

- Dacula, GA, USA

problem #8

Jul 212019

Optima

  • miles
My brakes and traction lights comes on randomly. It started happening a year ago. It has happened about 5 times since last year. It happens sometimes while I'm driving, it just comes on and sometimes when I get in and start the car they come on.

- Monroeville, AL, USA

problem #7

Jul 192019

Optima

  • 55,000 miles
I have a 2015 Kia Optima with 55K miles on it. Without warning driving to work I slowed down to enter the gate and heard my brakes grind metal on metal. I thought I would hear a squeal when my brake pads started wearing out way before I heard metal on metal. I immediately took my car to a mechanic and he told me that my squeal bars on each brake were bent back to where they did not come in contact with the brake pad. He stated that sometimes a stick or something could get up in the wheel and possibly bend one a little bit but seems unlikely that it would happen on both front brakes. It seems obvious that my car came from the factory that way but I have no proof. Even if I was hard on my brakes and the pads were worn I should have heard the squeal as a warning to replace the pads before I had to replace both of the original front pads and rotors on the same day.

- Elizabethtown, KY, USA

problem #6

Feb 072017

Optima

  • 60,000 miles
This car has given me problems first the engine went up just locked up. The brakes pulsate won't stop and I have changed the rotors and brakes 3 times. The dealer said nothing is wrong. Suspensions car rocks and bounces. Now the radio is out. And my window won't go up if put down. The was in motion for all.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #5

Mar 122019

Optima

  • 35,000 miles
If I push the proximity ignition button accidentlally the car will shut down, no brakes, not power steering. I am wondering if this should happen when I am travelling 70 mph on the interstate. The dealer did not give me any satisfactioon..."told me not to push the button" and "trade it in on a 2019." Some makes will not shut down if going over 5 pmh unless the button is pushed twice. Others, you must hold the button. I could not find anything in the manual and their customer service was no help. There have been deaths related to this problem according to some websites. I can't test the car myself. Was hoping the dealer would or tell me the situation with the button and speed. Can you help me?>.

- Morrow, OH, USA

problem #4

May 032016

Optima

  • 14,400 miles
Ever since I purchased my Kia Optima with only 14K miles on it pre-own from the dealer... the emergency brake (parking brake) has been loose and it has not been working correctly. When I park my vehicle on a downhill and apply parking brake with the neutral mode position just to see it's working, the vehicle slowly moves downhill even if the road is not that steep. It worries me that if I ever lose the breaks the emergency breaks won't stop the car. Fixing this problem on my own will cost me lots of money but I don't know if it came out of the factory like that. I've heard from other owners they have had the same problem.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 082016

Optima

  • 13,900 miles
Both ESC and auto hold lights occasionally go yellow at the same time. Usually goes back to normal after some period of time. This started maybe couple months ago. Brought to the dealer, but they couldn't detect any error codes.

- Buffalo Grove, IL, USA

problem #2

Oct 272015

Optima

  • miles
I purchased my car in the greater san diego area back in June 31. 2015. Have approximately 8K miles on my vehicle and notice around 3K my car would jerk when coming to a complete stop. This has happened a few times approximately 3-4 time (average once a month).and today 10-27-2015, my car once again jerk but this time the engine made a unfamiliar sound. I will be taking it to the dealership as soon as possible.my car has received all schedule maintenance; per owner manuel. It has passed all Kia certifed dealer/mechanic inspection when taken in. Also, when the contact to purchase was signed it did not get a full inspection as the dealership was closing and the appropriate staff for inspection had left for the day. Notice when I got home the front passenger signal light did not work. Called the dealership to get my new car fixed and had to wait for approximately 3-5 days for the repair, at that point it also passed thier inspection.

- Chula Vista, CA, USA

problem #1

Jun 162015

Optima 4-cyl

  • 6,200 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. While driving at approximately 55 mph, the brakes failed. As a result, the contact lost control of the vehicle and began driving on the sidewalk. The front passenger side tires exploded and destroyed the rim. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 6,200. Updated 8/31/15 updated 10/26/2017

- Pamdale, CA, USA