10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 7
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
17,267 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #46

Oct 092023

Optima

  • miles
Pearl white paint is peeling off in chunks. Not normal.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #45

Aug 192023

Optima

  • miles
Windows were broken and steering column was broken in to. Car was stolen and spray painted the seats and front end was smashed.Car was totaled

- Minneapolis , MN, USA

problem #44

Mar 122018

Optima

  • miles
The concern is more of a cosmetic issue than mechanical. The paint or primer has a defect which is causing my vehicle to peel from the paint throughout the panels. Kia did decline the roof pillar when it first started but then the hood & left rear door is peeling. I paid out of pocket to have it repaired but other panels started to peel which it will not stop.

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #43

Feb 012023

Optima

  • miles
my car paint is chipping in multiple places around my car. This could lead to rusting witch, can ultimately lead the body of the car to be easily damaged. it will cause a weakened body structure which can lead to so many damages in the future. I am mediately contacted Kia corporate as soon as the problem got worse, they refuse to pay for my whole car to be repainted. I have a pearl white Kia car, which is known to chip and bubble up. to fix my issues immediately, I went to get my car painted at an affordable place with my own money.

- Chatsworth, CA, USA

problem #42

Jun 032020

Optima

  • miles
pearl white paint chipping away. also both power mirrors went out. one replaced with after market and other one available for inspection

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #41

May 012023

Optima

  • miles
Chunks of paint are coming off my car on the freeway. It was raining and a large section of paint flew off and onto the car that was driving behind me and stuck to their windshield. The occupant almost had a collision with another vehicle on the freeway. I was able to follow the car that got the paint stuck to their windshield and I did apologize and got their contact information to verify my incident.

- Zillah, WA, USA

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

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