10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
21,914 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #7

Dec 012023

Optima

  • miles
My seat back has been automatically going back all by itself WHILE I'M DRIVING!! It happened 4 times yesterday while driving on the highway!! This has happened a number of times while driving.

- Lake City, FL, USA

problem #6

Jul 202021

Optima

  • miles
I have a flashing check engine light while driving my vehicle was not trying to give gas or anything

- Blueisland , IL, USA

problem #5

Nov 102018

Optima

  • 53,400 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. When the contact pushed the button behind the rear passenger seat to release the seats, the headrest detached and struck the contact on the left eye. The contact sustained an eye injury, but medical attention was not required. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,400.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

problem #4

Oct 012017

Optima

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. While the vehicle was coming to a complete stop, the front driver and passenger seats unintentionally moved in different directions. The contact mentioned that both seats became detached from the hinges. The contact also stated that the seat covers did not hold the seat cushions in place. Doug smith Kia (495 w main St, american fork, ut 84003, (801) 692-4390) diagnosed that new seat covers were needed to lock the cushions into the seats. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #3

Jun 292017

Optima 4-cyl

  • 8,000 miles
I was rear ended while stopped in breakdown lane of a secondary highway (40 mph) problem that I would like to address is the inadequate cushioning in the headrests of this car and probably many others. Suffered a concussion the effects of which are still ongoing. I think that there needs to be standards applied to headrests to have energy absorbing cushioning.

- Bristol, RI, USA

problem #2

Nov 142017

Optima

  • 42,000 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 49 mph, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. The contact mentioned that the front passenger seat was detached from the hinge. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact stated that there were multiple injuries sustained between the driver and passenger, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who deemed the vehicle destroyed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact not to let anyone view the vehicle because an investigator would be sent to perform an inspection. The approximate failure mileage was 42,000.

- 33570, FL, USA

problem #1

Jul 052016

Optima

  • miles
This vehicle suffers from a hesitation during take off. According to Kia this hesitation come from a 7 speed dual clutch transmission(dct). Which causes the vehicle the driver to feel a shudder sensation. This vehicle has a double clutch. I have taken my 2016 Kia Optima dealers for repair to this problem without any solution. Runs rough.

- Port Richey, FL, USA