10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 2
Average Mileage:
29,235 miles

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problem #30

Feb 092024

Optima

  • miles
Car started to leak out the fuel pumps pressure system started to leak gas

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #29

Jun 162022

Optima

  • miles
engine was replaced per CASE # 14397135, and PI1803Y/Z, SINCE engine repair Turbocharger Boost Control Position Sensor -??A-?? Circuit High CODES (P2562 & P2565) continuously come and go. Check engine light comes on and off for the same codes. Knocking noise continues, loss of acceleration as if voltage or gas was lost, steering wheel speed control buttons (+/-) no longer properly function since engine replacement. It now has a class 2 leak. Safety risk:when driving it loses speed or fails to accelerate may cause crash. KIA dealership has tried to access the code but Codes are spontaneous, same for loss of acceleration.

- Angleton , TX, USA

problem #28

Jun 142017

Optima

  • miles
Summer 2017 The engine failed while driving with my family. The engine seized and a fire was engulfed. I was in the interstate and we feared for our life. Out of town visiting family we were stranded in another state for a month waiting for repairs. Kia took the vehicle and replaced the engine with another faulty engine that has seized several times while commuting. I have been living in fear and anxiety since this incident. I never know if I start my engine if I will loose my life. Summer 2023 3 teenagers watched a viral tic tok challenge and learned how faulty the cylinder that Kia installed was. The teens then trespassed into my home, broke the windows and stole my vehicle. I have lived in fear since this has happened. I have lost jobs, income, and peace due to The purchase of this vehicle. Kia has never assisted or kept the promises they made to restore the vehicle. These past 10 years agave been a nightmare and as an African American woman I believe I was targeted as a purchaser for this make and model. My life had been hell since the purchase of this vehicle. I have not been able to satisfy payment due to repairs, thefts, fires, and more. Please anyone. Someone. Help. This is the most heartbreaking experience as an American. I have worked for my country 20 years and do not feel like an equal citizen. I have been homeless, jobless, unstable, and watched my life and family life flash before me in near death accidents involving this car. When I purchased this car I had a great job, credit score, and home. Now I have more anxiety, fear, bills, and no help with this Kia.

- Jonesboro, GA, USA

problem #27

Sep 092023

Optima

  • miles
While driving my car an Alan went off telling me to pull over and turn off the vehicle. Unfortunately, I had no steering, brakes or acceleration and me and my two little boys were almost hit. I checked and my car year, make and model had a recall for the exact issue and module but mine wasn-??t listed in the recall and I think it should be!

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #26

Sep 042023

Optima

  • miles
I was driving down the street when car caught on fire out of no where.

- Henrico, VA, USA

problem #25

Mar 152023

Optima

  • miles
March 15, 2023 I Ania Covington as well as my mother Ramona Allen went to the Kia dealership in Southern Pines, NC at 10am to get a recall fixed on my car (fuel line), an oil change, air filters changed, as well as a valve gasket replacement (recall was free, everything else paid out of pocket). I received my car back at 4pm the same day, when I pulled off the lot not even a mile away my car was smoking from the exhaust pipes. I went back to ask them was it going to continue to do that, the mechanic as well as the advisor told me it-??s just the old oil burning off. As I was driving home I began seeing smoke come from my engine as and still from the pipes I was still thinking it was the old oil burning off hence that-??s what I was told. I decided to go to the gas station to get gas for the remaining of the week, and my car burst into flames while I was pumping gas. The fire had originated from my engine. I went back to the dealership the following day to show them pictures, the service manager(Thomas) told us to reach out to Kia corporate. It-??s almost one month later, no one has been answering calls from me nor my mother. We went back to the dealership 3/31 the service manager took our information again and told us he-??d reach out and still haven-??t been informed on anything.

- Laurinburg, NC, USA

problem #24

Feb 222023

Optima

  • miles
HEV Warning light comes on and says HEV malfunction, stop car. Within seconds the car shuts off and has no brakes and then stops in road construction, blocking up an entire lane of traffic, as there was no shoulder because of barricades. I panic as I can-??t get out without getting ran over. After sitting for 5 minutes, car restarts and drives away ok. Car has done this off and on for 2 years. After the first incident, I took it to Kia of New Bern who charged me $400 to -??update software-?? according to a TSB, even though it was under warranty. After getting the car back, the next day the warning came back on. I called Kia of New Bern and they said they will charge another diagnostics fee I couldn-??t afford, so I didn-??t go back. There are many others who have had the same issue with their KIA Hybrids. These cars are a danger to their drivers and the unknowing public who share the roads with them. KIA Should be ashamed of the amount of cars experiencing this issue and their lack of solutions to fix it.

- New Bern, NC, USA

problem #23

Jan 202023

Optima

  • miles
Last Friday(01/20/2023), I was driving my car suddenly out of nowhere my car slowed down and wouldn-??t start. It has just been 20days since I last serviced. Engine light was on and the other two lights where on as well. I towed it to Kia dealership and after diagnosing they said there has been a lot of fuel leak and issue with the starter so the car wouldn-??t turn on. I-??m not sure if this isn-??t a recall, because my car was completely fine before this incident. The dealer quoted me around $560 for the fuel tube and $890 for the starter.

- Plantation , FL, USA

problem #22

Apr 152022

Optima

  • miles
I received a recall notice for my vehicle on April 15, 2022 disclosing that the defect is a low pressure fuel tube that can cause a fire in my engine. Kia said they did not have a remedy for this problem but would send another letter when they one. I went to the dealership in June and they scheduled an appointment for my car to be serviced. When I arrived on 6/7/22 for my appointment they said "did I read the letter"" They still did not have a remedy for this dangerous problem. As of 8/5/22 there has been no communication from Kia. Is there any assistance available to replace this part" Thank you.

- Tamarac, FL, USA

problem #21

May 292022

Optima

  • miles
Interim recall notice recieved April 15, 2022 from Kia via mail. May 29, 2022 car starts smelling like fuel inside and outside cabin. Visible Leak detected in garage floor and again on driveway. Contacted Kia Corp and was told to have it towed to North County Kia. Dealership confirms leak to be associated with recall issue but cannot repair it bc the recall isn't published and there is no fix for issue. I was charged $160 for a diagnostic fee. Part is not available and quoted me $670 for repair out of pocket when part is available. Offered no loaner or resolution but was asked to get car towed off their lot. Called Kia Corp again and was told they would escalate my case to their case resolution team but don't expect a call until 3 to 5 business days later. The average wait to get through to a live human at Kia Corporate is 1 hour minimum and noone seems to think the issue I have is serious or warrants any immediate attention. I was told to rent a car and wait for notification when recall is ready.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #20

May 112022

Optima

  • miles
My vehicle has developed a fuel leak at the same point of failure described on Feb 17, 2022 Manufacturer Recall NumberSC228, NHTSA Recall Number22V093, Recall StatusRecall Incomplete. The Community Kia dealership in Baytown, TX has had my vehicle since May 12, only 3 days now, and saying that it's not an active recall and doesn't have parts to repair my vehicle. I have had this leak verified by an independent mechanic, and the dealership has supplied a video to the Kia Techline support for warranty approval. I am not happy that it has been 3 months since Kia initially sent out this recall and still does not have a remedy. I am also unhappy that Kia is not supplying me with a rental vehicle while this warranty parts issue is resolved. My vehicle was towed to the dealership.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #19

Apr 282022

Optima

  • miles
Low pressure fuel line start leaking, creating a fire hazard for me and my family. You can smell the fuel inside the cabin while you're driving. I did take the car to the dealership and they told me is not a recall on my car at this moment. No warning lights came on.

- Camby, IN, USA

problem #18

Feb 112022

Optima

  • miles
Smell fuel and smoke inside the vehicle

- Belle Glade, FL, USA

problem #17

Sep 202021

Optima

  • miles
Failed Emissions Test for Engine light being on. Took to mechanic and he specified that it was my gas cap that needed replacing and I did so, but light is still on. No leakage was present at the time when mechanic checked, however, in the past there was a smell of gas inside the vehicle but it's no longer present at the moment.

- Capitol Heights, MD, USA

problem #16

Jun 172021

Optima

  • miles
UNKNOWN.. but the first time anything actually happen i was driving on the highway and all of a sudden I started to smell something weird and all the safety lights turned on the engine started smoking my acceleration wasn't working I can't put it in neutral nothing else is working I got lucky I was able to pull off to the side of the highway we where in a very dangerous spot the car wouldn't start back up at all and I have no communication we were stuck there for 3 hours until my dad found finally found us because he knew something was off why we weren't home for so long a close friend have to my house and that's words been parked ever since

- Lakewood, CO, USA

problem #15

Jan 092021

Optima

  • miles
Smell of fuel check engine light came on and announcement was made, got diagnosed read code P0456 evaporative emission system leak detected. The vehicle was in motion.

- Greensboro, NC, USA

problem #14

Mar 142018

Optima 4-cyl

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 45 mph, an abnormal odor appeared under the hood. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle accelerate forward, causing the contact to crash into another vehicle who was making a U-turn. The contact tried to gain control of the steering wheel as the vehicle went up in flames. The contact managed to crash into a ditch. The contact got out ran to the other side of the vehicle where his fianc was unconscious. The contact managed to cut the seatbelt in order to release and drag her out the vehicle. The contact went back to retrieve items but the vehicle then engulfed in flames causing an explosion. The airbags deployed. A police report was made. The fire department extinguished the flames. The contact fractured his right wrist, right ankle and sustained severe burn to his body that required medical attention. The contacts fianc who was seated in the front passenger side sustained injuries to her left legs, wrists, right foot and ankle fractured, fire burned through out her body causing her to lose her lower intestine. The contacts fianc was in a coma and in the hospital for over 90 days. There was a vehicle who made a U-turn in front prior to the vehicle catching on fire and it was informed to the contact that the driver of that vehicle died. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The contact mentioned that he had a recall repair performed on his vehicle 4 months prior to the failure that occurred. The contact received NHTSA campaign number: 20V100000 (fuel system, gasoline) April 13, 2020 which the contact believes caused the failure that occurred. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

- Delray Beach, FL, USA

problem #13

Aug 172020

Optima

  • miles
We were getting off the highway headed home the car made a loud noise as we were approaching the light one I've never heard before I didn't think anything of it so as we pulled off from the light got down the street the car just locked up and shut off like there was a flash of light or something coming from the hood and it didn't want to stop scared me and my kids so after I made sure everything was okay I waited til we stopped put it back in park and turned my key back over to pull over out the street fully so I can check it there it was my alternator bracket broke without a clue why no physical contact or anything whatsoever alternator is not damaged neither was the belt on it bad I know that when I took it to a mechanic and that's another thing no one nowhere could give me and answer for it so it's like it overheated it off and broke the engine piece my only theory nothing else is damaged around it or anything so that's weird for a piece to just break so I did research on the Kia Optima and stumbled across the overheation and the fueling problem.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #12

Mar 292020

Optima 4-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
Driving on city street car caught on fire. Engine seized.

- Fairmont, NC, USA

problem #11

Apr 132020

Optima

  • miles
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V100000 (fuel system, gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. Berwyn Kia (7050 ogden ave, berwyn, il 60402) was contacted and confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

- Chicago, IL, USA

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