4.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,066 miles

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problem #11

Apr 062023

Optima

  • 107,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the rear passenger-??s side window failed to roll up as needed. The contact-??s spouse pulled the window up manually. The contact stated that months later while driving approximately 65 MPH, the rear driver-??s side window fell into the door. The contact-??s spouse manually pulled the window up. The contact stated that several months later while driving approximately 75 MPH, the failure occurred with the driver-??s side window. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic and was informed that the window regulator failed and that the window panels needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.

- Columbia, TN, USA

problem #10

Jul 122023

Optima

  • miles
Both rear windows, independently and at different times, have needed to have the gear inside the door panel that rolls the windows up and down replaced due to spontaneous stripping and total failure. The dealer has replaced the offending parts, which are sold only as part of a much larger / very large component panel, i.e. it is not possible to replace only the small plastic stripped-out gear. My safety was at risk both times because the window would not go up, resulting in my inability to lock and secure my car. If I had small children who ride in the back seat (I don't, but surely others who have this car do), I would not be able to secure their safety inside the vehicle. The problem has been inspected, confirmed, and repaired by the dealer. It is a known recurring problem by the manufacturer Kia, but they refuse to issue a recall. The first time it happened the car was still under warranty so there was no charge to me. With the second window the car was no longer under warranty and I had to pay the full cost of the repair. There were no warnings of pending failure; the windows were rolled down and just failed to roll up. I wish to state for the record that although this is a 2016 model and therefore is now 7 years old (in 2023), it has only 14,000 actual miles on it, i.e. I drive the car only around town for errands, etc. From 2017 (when we purchased the car) through mid-2020, I drove it 18 miles per week to my part-time job very near my home. I retired in mid-2020 and drive the car even less now. Furthermore, I've had riders in the back seat probably less than a dozen times in 7 years, my point being that the rear windows are rarely used. Mostly they have been used by me as the driver when I want to release built-up heat from the car when it has been sitting all day in the NC summer sun and I'm going out once or twice a week to drive it somewhere (like the grocery store). This failure should not be happening with a car with so little usage on it!

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #9

Mar 032023

Optima

  • miles
Three of the 4 window regulators have unexpectedly failed leaving the window partially open. The passenger rear failed on 11/2022. The driver's side rear failed on 8/2022. The passenger front failed on 3/2023. On each occasion, the window failed where it was partially open. And none of the windows were in the process of being raised or lowered. The gears on each of the regulators had basically disintegrated. The window regulators are around $200 each for just the parts and they are not covered under the warranty. The new regulators come with a blue gear instead of the original white gear.

- Fort Mill, SC, USA

problem #8

Aug 212022

Optima

  • miles
Three power window regulators have failed over the course of a year. Without warning the window suddenly drops down and cannot be let up. On each occasion, the regulator gears appear to have just desecrated. The car windows are rarely let down. The passenger side rear was the first to fail. The driver's side rear failed 4 months later. The passenger side front was the third to fail 3 months later. It seems like this is a very common problem, but Kia has not set up a recall. Instead, they are raising the price of the window regulators. Interestingly enough, the new regulators have a blue gear instead of a white gear.

- Fort Mill, SC, USA

problem #7

Oct 272022

Optima 4-cyl

  • miles
Complete power window failure (driver and 2 rear windows). Estimated repair cost is $2,084.90. This model has a history of power window defects that Kia Motors is well aware of. Over time, this defect becomes increasingly severe until you have a complete without warning failure like in my case. Kia Motors refuses to acknowledge problems and stated there is no recall by NHTSA. I want a full reimbursement for my out of pocket payment for untimely repair cost.

- The Villages, FL, USA

problem #6

Nov 062022

Optima

  • miles
Right passenger window dropped down. It came off regulator track for no reason with a child in a car seat sitting at that window putting that child's safety at risk.

- Summit, MS, USA

problem #5

Jun 012022

Optima

  • miles
All 4 windows in my car has dropped down and won't go back up. Have to put a car cover over it to keep it from raining in it or to keep anything else out of it. I rarely rolled my windows down in this car every since I have purchased it and all of a sudden all the windows just drops down. This is a defect on the company part and not mine and i want to find out why I never received a recall letter to this effect for I have seen and read that there were cars recalled for the same problem that I am having with mine.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #4

Dec 132021

Optima

  • 83,500 miles
The contact's grandmother owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the rear driver-€™s side window inadvertently fell. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road and pulled up the window manually. She then inserted a piece of paper in the upper right corner of the window to keep it in place. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while driving. The front and rear driver-€™s side windows and the rear passenger-€™s side window also inadvertently fell. The contact inserted pieces of paper in the upper right corner of each window. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle would be repaired at her expense. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 83,500.

- Fort Valley, GA, USA

problem #3

Sep 172021

Optima

  • miles
Without heavy use (I don-€™t often have passengers in the back seat), driver side rear window regulator/motor failed in May, causing the rear window to fall into the door while driving. This is a major safety issue as anything can go through the car - rain or debris. It was roughly $600. This weekend, the same thing happened to another window out of the blue while having my dog in the back who nearly jumped out after it fell into the door. Now, the part is backordered and the Kia dealership has said it could be months before the window can be repaired and they offer no solution on how to keep the window up in the meantime. This is an expensive safety issue and should not be failing in multiple windows. My car only has 65k miles on it.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #2

Jun 012021

Optima

  • 48,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated the passenger's side and rear driver's side window became inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact called the local dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact removed the door panels and noticed that the power window regulator was corroded. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #1

Jun 132019

Optima

  • 37,222 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the driver's and passenger's side rear windows started to roll down independently. The contact was unable to roll the windows back up. The vehicle was taken to local dealer rick case Kia located 14500 w. sunrise blvd, sunrise, fl 33323, (954) 715-7580, where it was diagnosed with needing the window regulators to be replaced. The vehicle had been repaired but continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 37,222.

- Miramar, FL, USA