10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 6
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
18,993 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #40

May 012023

Optima

  • miles
White pearl color start pealing off, affected area is at the back of the roof above the back window.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #39

Mar 202023

Optima

  • miles
Paint is peeling off my white 2015 KIA Optima on the passenger side, trunk and driver and passenger front pillars. The paint is peeling from underneath the paint at the base of the vehicle. This is obviously a paint defect and unacceptable. I was told by multiple auto paint body shops that "the paint did not fuse with the primer which is causing the paint to bubble and peel". Kia is telling consumers to put in a claim and send pictures, sales contracts and paint estimates etc. and then deny the claim. However, I know for a fact that they are picking and choosing which claims to take care of. My claim was denied but I refuse to accept this and asked for a Case manager to call me directly to discuss further. I am suppose to get a call back within a 5 to 7 days. Kia is a billion dollar business with millions of Kia vehicles sold and for them not to take responsibility for there manufacturing defect is very bad business and I expect more from them. I spent hard earned money for my car that looks horrible and I am embarrassed to drive in and drive my clients in. I am not happy at how Kia is handling this matter and consumers of Kia deserve better treatment.

- Winnetka, CA, USA

problem #38

Jan 152023

Optima

  • miles
The paint has started delaminating and is coming off in sheets. This problem started about 2 months ago. I am worried that a large sheet of paint can fly off and affect a vehicle or motorcycle behind me.

- Rough And Ready , CA, USA

problem #37

Jan 302023

Optima

  • miles
Rear outer TAIL LAMP combination assemblies (NOT the inner lights on the trunk lid) have failed Virginia State SAFETY Inspection due to accumulation of moisture and standing water in BOTH left and right outer tail lamps, causing LEDs in the tail lamp assembly to burn out and not illuminate. There have already been multiple Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) on the matter (i.e. KIA TSB PS364, KIA TSB BOD143, KIA TSB BOD172), and the cause outlined in these TSBs has been a DEFECT in design leading to a gap between the tail lamp housing gasket and the vehicle body allowing WATER INTRUSION. KIA has neglected to inspect, fix, or add additional gaskets per their instructions during eligible warranty periods, and extended warranties refuse to fix the issue as they classify it as water intrusion. This pins the financial burden to fix the safety issue on the customer/driver, as KIA dealers have quoted $1,232.46 for replacement of these tail lamps. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Components: Rear outer tail lamp combination assemblies (both left and right) (NOT the lamps on the trunk lid). Inspection availability: LIMITED due to significant time pressure and inconvenience (since the tail lamps have caused the vehicle to fail Virginia State Safety Inspection, the car needs to be fixed ASAP to resume commute to work, etc.) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk" Lower visibility for others, may result in incident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by KIA dealer themselves. Also, multiple customer complaints on internet, as well as TSBs. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? KIA dealer did not inspect during warranty. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" No and UNKNOWN.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #36

Oct 122022

Optima

  • miles
Paint on the entire car is delaminating

- Redlands, CA, USA

problem #35

Dec 262022

Optima

  • miles
Severe chipping of the paint

- Aiken, SC, USA

problem #34

Oct 042022

Optima

  • miles
The vehicles paint started peeling on one of the rear columns. I have noticed very many different Kia optimas with the same issue when it came to the same color paint. The paint is snow white pearl. I-??ve had no success working with Kia and it is clearly a defective paint issue. I own several cars older and they never had issues. They are unwilling to help.

- Huntington Beach, CA, USA

problem #33

Jun 152022

Optima

  • miles
There was no accident. My paint keeps chipping. I-??ve never had a car chip paint like this one. I-??ve seen multiple other cars who have the same exact car in the color Snow White have this problem. Very frustrating.

- Harrisburg, NC, USA

problem #32

May 282022

Optima

  • miles
Hello, I have a 2015 Kia Optima with Snow White Pearl paint. The paint has started to bubble and chip off. I understand that this paint color is an issue for cars in South Florida which have had the same issue. I have included pictures of the areas and also the vin with paint code.

- Wellington, FL, USA

problem #31

May 032022

Optima

  • miles
Delamination of the Snow White Pearl Paint due to faulty factory primer appearing at multiple spots including front and rear pillars, hood and doors. Confirmed by 2 Auto Body Shops - Triangle Collision and Carolinas Collison. Rust has began appearing in said spots and the paint strips are getting worse overtime.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #30

Dec 122021

Optima

  • miles
I have a 2015 Kia Optima and the paint (Pearl White) is starting to peel of. It started on the front left of the windshield last December (2021) There is now the back right of the vehicle, the top of the trunk and the hood. After research on line, it looks like it is common on this paint type on the Kia models. I am seeking out some help to resolve this problem for everyone. I talked to my car dealer about the problem and told me that the warranty for the paint stops at 36000 miles. My car has 96021 and is not covered anymore, even if it is a defect. My car is starting to rust, no recourse from the dealer, need some support from the NHTSA department to resolve this problem that is not isolated to my vehicle only but many more. Sincerely,

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #29

Jul 092021

Optima

  • miles
My paint is chipping badly. I have noticed a few other vehicles that have had the same problem with the SNOW WHITE PEARL paint. It started as a small knick in the paint and has gradually turned into severely needing a paint job. Hopefully kia can find a way to resolve the issue I love everything else about my car and fell in love with the color instantly and considering you pay extra for the snow white pearl color it should last!

- Wiergate, TX, USA

problem #28

Oct 012021

Optima

  • miles
I own a 2015 Kia Optima Ex that is having paint issues. it is the Snow Pearl White and there are chunks of paint peeling off of multiple spots on the vehicle.

- Pomona, MO, USA

problem #27

Nov 102021

Optima

  • miles
I have a 2015 White Kia Optima and the paint started chipping a few months ago in just one area on the passenger side back door. I took it to a Kia dealer in Irvine, CA and they said it was not a covered item. I believe it should be a covered item and would like assistance getting it repaired please.

- Placentia, CA, USA

problem #26

Sep 042019

Optima

  • miles
-??A small spot the size of a half-dollar formed on the exterior paint (pearl white) on the passenger side rear door and has since expanded to the size of two fists. -??I brought the vehicle to a reputable body repair shop that was recommended by my auto insurance provider to get the area repainted. -??The body shop reports that the paint is -??delaminating-?? and is not adhering to the primer. -??There are countless related complaints online from vehicle owners with the same year, make and model -?" yet no recall has been issued by Kia. -??There are no warnings to alert the driver to this problem. However, over time, the exposed metal will rust and the door will eventually corrode, putting the passenger at risk.

- Uxbridge, MA, USA

problem #25

Nov 202019

Optima

  • miles
My 2015 Kia Optima has shown signs of paint chipping for the past year in the half. At first a minor inconvenience, now is becoming a major problem with parts of the body starting to rust and larger sections beginning to peel as well. While paint deterioration is expected on a car, it shouldn't happen as early as 5 years in or less than 80,000 miles. I am worried that paint will continue to peel off and the body work will continue to rust. The car has not been looked at by the manufacturer and various site across the internet have shown that the Pearl White Paint color is the sole color that has experienced this problem. The Hood, A Pillar, and rood railings are all experiencing this problem.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #24

Aug 062021

Optima

  • miles
My 2015 kia optima with snow white pearl paint is peeling and delaminating without any prior damage. An independent shop reviewed the paint and agreed that it was a factory paint failure. They started to appear a few years after I bought it but I passed it off as regular stone chipping.

- Santa Paula , CA, USA

problem #23

Sep 012021

Optima

  • miles
My Pearl White paint is chipping off

- Easley , SC, USA

problem #22

Aug 082021

Optima

  • miles
Extreme paint chipping

- Lake Wales, FL, USA

problem #21

Jan 012020

Optima

  • miles
2015 Kia Optima, Snow White Pearl paint is peeling off hood, and rails around windshield.

- Port St Lucie, FL, USA

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