10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 8 / 38
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 7 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 49,036 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
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« Read the previous 20 complaints
Dean mckrary Kia had my car from November to December 12, 2021 with the agreement to repair all existing service recalls. There yet remain service recall 21V331. The agreement with the service manager that all recalls issued would be repaired. They did not keep their word.
- Eight Mile, AL, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. After stopping at a nearby service station and turning off the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The fire department was called to the scene and noticed a burning odor coming from the engine compartment. The contact indicated that there were no flames present during the incident. The vehicle was later towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the engine was damaged due to an electrical malfunction and needed to be replaced. No further information was available. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted and notified the contact that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V331000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The failure mileage was 110,000.
- Redford, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle overheated and shut down. The contact drove safely off the highway. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, after being impounded on the side of the highway. The dealer diagnosed the failure with rod bearing failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.
- Gilbert, AZ, USA
The vehicle was purchased from Carmax on or about 4/10/21. On or about 3/25/22, the vehicle broke down while being driven. It was towed to the Coral Springs Kia dealership for assessment. A representative from the dealership advised that the engine needs to be replaced due to "rod bearing failure". The representative further advised that the manufacturer is refusing to cover any of the costs associated with the repair, which the dealership estimates to be $6,289.50 (see uploaded repair estimate). I believe the manufacturer should be liable for the costs of repair, which fall within Product Improvement Campaign PI1802.
- Boca Raton, FL, USA
Hi my wife was driving home from work when she heard a noise from under the hood her car then shut off for no reason on the highway, she started the car again started driving then the engine light came on and shut the car off again once again on a busy highway making it hard to pull over she made it home but engine was knocking checked the codes and it had codes for your rod bearing issues on the year before code p0014 and code p1326 not sure if anyone else had this problem but this is definitely not safe! For a vehicle to just shut off first no codes or anything making it dangerous for the driver and the people around the driver this matter really needs to be looked at, especially when someone almost gets into an accident bc the car just shuts off and is almost impossible to merge off the road and stop. Consumer's vehicle is the same model, up to the year, and had the same recall and defects that happened to his car.
- Winamac, IN, USA
Engine/motor failed which disabled the car on highway. Traveling on 3/4 lane highway with heavy traffic. Safety was risked due to almost being hit from behind and cars swerving out the way. Problem was assessed and thought to be repaired but occurred again causing more possible damage to engine. Warning lamp illuminated seconds before the car shut off which was not enough time to pull over safely. Car had to be towed off highway.
- Grayson, GA, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate and then lost motive power. The oil warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer performed a Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) software update and informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
- Oklahoma City, OK, USA
The motor is locked for a second time. The first time occurred in May of 2018, I had approximately 80,000 miles on the car. I was leaving from the gas station and as soon as I made it into the middle of the street, the car just cut off. I had a mechanic come look at it, and they told me that the motor was locked up. So I had it towed home, bought another motor and got it repaired. Now here it is 04/14/2022, and the motor is locked up again. This is ridiculous!!! I have had to replace multiple parts (the lower control arm for example) several times over 200 hundred dollars each time. I refuse to replace this motor for a second time and have never got reimbursed for nothing!! I used to love KIA but honestly, this is a crappy car and company.
- Detroit, MI, USA
I was driving on the highway going about 60 an then all of a sudden the car loss acceleration and stopped. Lucky I was about to pull on the side of the highway.
- Elkton, MD, USA
While driving my car felt as though it was running differently and upon looking at my dash board I saw 4 different indicator lights. The charging system warning light, engine oil pressure light, immobilizer indicator light with smart key, and malfunction indicator light. I brought my car to a stop and because I did not know exactly what was wrong I turned my vehicle off. Upon trying to restart my car is when the brake would not press in and the car would not turn over. I had the car towed to my mechanic who contacted me the next day to let me know that the engine was locked up due to the HECU and that I needed to contact a Kia dealer close to my home because there was actually a recall on this from the manufacture. I then had the car towed to a Kia dealer near my home and was then informed that because I did not have the KSDS Product Improvement done back in 2018 this would mean that the HECU recall would not be covered and they directed me to contact Kia Corporate and see if they would give the approval to have this repaired. After numerous emails I was finally contacted by someone at Kia Corporate and they once again informed me that they refused to fix my vehicle. I am reaching out for assistance with this before I move forward with contacting legal council.
- Kingwood, TX, USA
1. The O2 Sensor malfunctioned causing check engine light to come on. The Catalytic Converter failed or malfunctioned, an it is available for inspection upon request. 1wk after replacement of O2 Sensor installment, check engine light illuminated once again. [Official diagnosis was the catalytic converter was faulty but no mention of replacing 02 once catalytic converter was fixed]. 2. My safety as well as my children's safety was put at risk because there was and still is (even after repairs made from dealership where car was purchased) an issue with broken exhaust system and leak. A broken exhaust system poses extreme danger because it releases carbon monoxide (CO)- an odorless, tasteless, highly toxic gas, which can travel in passenger area and cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Overexposure to this odorless and colorless gas can cause death. Even in mild cases of exposure to CO can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and fatigue. I need not mention that the extreme or excessive temperatures caused severe discoloration where the three- way catalyst is located. The pistons could have melted as well could have caught the car on fire.My safety as well as every occupant that ever traveled in the vehicle thus far, was at risk. The exhaust leak was big enough to affect the oxygen levels, to spring that code. Another safety risk was when owner of car was falling asleep at wheel of car while driving, not knowing there's a leak. This put the owner and the vehicles occupants at risk which is the greatest threat by far. 3. The problem has been confirmed by Rivard Buick GMC. 4. The vehicle has NOT been physically inspected by the manufacturer or police but has been insoected by insurance representatives. Yes there warning lampsthat appeared as the check engine light came on each time the exhaust system was malfunctioning. There was/ are other symptoms prior to the failure 1st appeared 11/01/21 o2 Sensor, 11/15/21 catalytic converter, 01/28/21 symptoms
- Lakeland, FL, USA
Engine locked up exactly like it is described in NHTSA ID Number 1147025. The manufacturer refuses to honor the civil suit judgement on this vehicle due to the previous owner and a Kia dealer not performing 1 recall.
- Kenton, OH, USA
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine code P1326 (Knock Sensor Detection System) and failed the bearing test. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the FTC. The failure mileage was 129,272.
- Dallas, TX, USA
Dean mccrary of mobile agreed to fix all active recalls on this vehicle on 11/3/2021. They kept my car until 12/4/2021 causing hundreds in rental fees. My car still has an active recall which was issued in may, 2021. The service manager assured me all recalls would be repaired.
- Eight Mile, AL, USA
The morning of 3-1-2022, after driving for approximately 5 minutes, I noticed a ticking/knocking coming from the engine area. 10 minutes later, I stopped and opened the hood and it was definitely coming from the engine. This continued that evening when I went home. Sometimes it was quiet, but others times loud. I dropped it off at my mechanic the next morning, they later called saying it was an internal engine knock and they couldn't do anything with it. The next day I took it to another auto repair mechanic and was told the same thing, but they also said it needed a new motor, but to contact kia for any recalls. There are none for my 2015, but 2011-2014 DID have recalls and they were for the same problem I was having. I was given an appt for the following Tuesday, but by Friday afternoon the engine completely shut off while I was driving. Luckily, I was able to coast to a safe location. My check engine light NEVER came on for the 4 days I was having problems with it.
- Middleburg, FL, USA
While driving on the highway, car suddenly lost power which was dangerous because there was no shoulder to pull over out of the way of other vehicles, & another car could have slammed into the back of mine, luckily was able to coast far enough exit highway. Had car towed to shop was told the engine had seized up. With no warning at all. Then I learned about the recall for this car, unfortunately a little too late in my case.
- Lancaster , TX, USA
While driving the vehicle the engine shut off with no warning in heavy traffic. 10 seconds before the check engine light came on and then just seized. 3 police officers came to push the vehicle to the roadside out of traffic. I never Knew of a KSDS install on this vehicle and Kia admits that there is a defective engine but will not fix the car since this install was not complete. The police officers told us that we were extremely lucky to have not been injured in an accident as we sat in the middle of the highway. So we now have a vehicle that we are paying for with a seized motor that kia admittedly knows was defective but they refuse to fix. We never got a notice to have this installed. When I look on your site, there is a recall but for something completely different. How are we to know anything needs to be installed if we are not notified and it-€™s not listed under the VIN? Please help! There are thousands of us with this same issue!
- Luray, VA, USA
Every morning when I start the car and try to accelerate the car has no power, I have to stop turn the car off and restart the car again for their to be power. This simple restart works for a couple months before the check engine light comes on. When I take the car to Kia they tell me that because the diagnostics machine isn-€™t giving them a code they don-€™t know what to fix, however the diagnostics machine resets the check engine light and the process starts all over. This all started right before Kia replaced the motor on a recall. The car is doing the same thing as it was when I had it towed to them and they said the motor was seized up.
- Exeter, MO, USA
Vehicle lots brakes while driving, smell of gas and caught fire under hood. Engine had been completely replaced due to recall in January 2022 Vehicle was a complete loss, luckily son was able to get out.
- Mansfield, TX, USA
- Levittown , PA, USA