10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 12 / 75
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 14 / 1
- Average Mileage:
- 65,032 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
Engineering died with no warnigs on state highway 33 while moving
- Watonga, OK, USA
This concerns Kia recall SC147. I have a 2013 Kia Optima ex that I purchased used with 98,000 miles on it in February 2019. The car drove perfect without any problems. I recently had the oil changed in June. A couple of weeks later the motor started knocking slightly for no reason after a recent trip to memphis, Tennessee. The engine stalled in traffic so I put it in neutral and I was able to crank it back up. The next morning it was really knocking loudly so I took it to a mechanic who stated the engine was trying to throw a rod.
- Forrest City, AR, USA
The motor in my 2013 Kia Optima spun a rod bearing on the way to a out of town softball tournament for my daughter the weekend of June 28th thru June 30 2019. My family and I were about 40 miles away from home on the highway when the vehicle started to lose power. We stopped to check the car to see what could be the problem and that's when I heard a knocking noise coming from the motor. At that point I had no choice but to have it towed to a mechanic shop in another city and star where the car still is today. The vehicle has not been started spence the day of break down.(June 28th 2019)the mechanic recommended me to see if there was a recall on the vehicle for this problem and with your VIN lookup tool I was able to find out that the motor does have a recall on it for this very reason. (oil passages may be block due to debris from manufacturer cleaning defect. Causing premature rod bearing wear from not cleaning engine properly before engine assembly).. I never received notice in the mail about a recall on my vehicle nor do I have recall number. The mechanic is willing to fix the entire problem for us but I need to know if I should allow him and will receive reimbursement after paid repairs or would you like me to have it towed to a Kia authorized dealer for repairs. Thank you for your help.
- Las Cruces, NM, USA
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that whiled driving at approximately 65 mph, the odor of fuel was present inside the vehicle. While at a stop light the engine suddenly stalled. The engine was restarted and moments later smoke and flames was present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle, the fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.
- El Paso, TX, USA
The ignition switch won't turn, car seems to be on even though lets aren't in ignitiinnswitch, radio comes on but car let stick in on position and won't turn..doors won't lock unless key is used
- Henderson, NC, USA
While driving at 65 mph on the freeway my Kia suddenly stalled causing me to have to steer the car off the freeway barely avoiding getting stuck in the middle of the freeway. Luckily traffic wasn't bad but I did have to avoid getting hit by oncoming cars.
- Los Angeles, CA, USA
When attempting to start my vehicle everything turned on in the car except the car itself. Brake pedal was stiff and nothing would turn the engine on. It took over 10 minutes and was finally able to get the vehicle to fire. Has happened twice today 7/13/19. The vehicle is a push button start with battery charge of 95% and new batteries in the fob.
- Garretson, SD, USA
Engine noise, sound like something lose inside. While running stationary and moving, have not driven the vehicle since noise started 3 months ago. Not sure what the problem is. Read about recall just last week.
- Columbia, SC, USA
Check engine came on and carmax said it needs a new engine
- Oxnard, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While driving 75 mph, the vehicle stalled and all the instrument panel indicators illuminated. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road as it caught fire under the hood. The fire department arrived and extinguished the flames. The entire front end of the vehicle was burned. A police report was filed. It was unknown if the vehicle was destroyed. The contact was not sure if a fire report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 92,000.
- Spring, TX, USA
Car stopped working motor making loud popping sounds and stopped on me..there was no indication or warnings..
- Herndon, VA, USA
My brakes felt like they locked up and gas pedal went to the floor so I pulled into a parking lot. I wasn't sure of the problem at all. I left it there for approximately 4hours before coming back to it. I wanted to see if the problem still existed before calling a tow truck. After I hit the ignition to start my car it began to smoke in the engine. I called 911 and by the time they got there it began to shoot flames from the engine. All the damage was in the engine and it was completely melted to nothing. My insurance adjuster said she had never seen anything so bad like that in an engine. The man at the collision center told her that it looked like it was fueled by gasoline in the engine. Obviously there was something wrong in the engine for this to happen. I am just glad I wasn't driving down the road when it happened. I don't understand how a vehicle can be sitting stationary and catch on fire. My car is at a total loss according to my insurance adjust today. I am very frustrated with what happened and now I am without a car. I want some answers as to why my engine caught on fire and I feel that Kia needs to take responsibility for what happened. This was the first car I have ever purchased on my own and I have not even had it a year and this happens.
- Xenia, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled in traffic. The contact pulled over to the shoulder and could not restart the engine. The vehicle was pushed to the contact's home. The vehicle was later restarted and driven to quatro motors (24820 Plymouth road, redford mi, 48239, 313-794-9494) from where it was purchased. The vehicle was then towed to glass man Kia (28000 telegraph rd, southfield, mi 48034, (855) 237-2819) where it was diagnosed that the engine failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.
- Ruffered, MI, USA
My 2013 Kia Optima engine shut off while I was driving and luckily I didnt get into accident and was able to park nearby to wait for a towed truck. This is very scary and dangerous. Not sure what to
- Chicago, IL, USA
My friend was driving my car and while in the turning lane my car shuts off. Car would not turn on and it would not take a jump. The location was a busy street in memphis.
- Memphis, TN, USA
Takara recall: My engine had been knocking/shaking for a good minute now. When I have it running and hood open it's just vibrating extremely hard and constantly.I've noticed it wants to stall or no shift correctly after a dead stop and something going into 3rd gear. Even while just idling I can feel the engine shaking the whole car from inside.
- Spiro, OK, USA
See service report
- Robinson, TX, USA
While driving on westbound 696 at approx 70 mph, the engine stalled. Check engine light blinking. Engine mileage 120,794 recall service performed at Kia dealer at 116,214 miles.
- Chesterfield, MI, USA
Engine recall. Dealership first received vehicle repair March 4, 2019 for complete engine replacement due to recall and car become completely immobile while on freeways. And towed to dealership. Dealership informed me first engine failed and reordered a new engine. Received vehicle back from 2nd attempt of engine repair May 16, 2019. Vehicle check engine light illuminated May 31,2019. Returned vheicle back to dealership. Repair to harness and noc sensor. Received vehicle back for repair June 8th. On June 10th vehicle became immobile again while driving out of parking lot and towed to dealership for repair. Waiting on dealership for details of car problems.
- Manteca, CA, USA
- Mesquite, TX, USA