10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
9 / 41
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
48,533 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #159

Oct 152016

Optima

  • miles
Excessive oil consumption with no leaks visible

- Kirbyville, TX, USA

problem #158

Jan 102020

Optima

  • 74,000 miles
I have a 2015 Kia Optima with 74,000 miles. As I was driving my vehicle on a city street when suddenly it started shaking and released black smoke prior to engine failure. A vehicle behind me had to brake and swerve to miss hitting me. This incident occurred on January 10, 2020. I received a diagnosis from the dealership confirming the vehicle had engine failure due to knock sensor and compression issues. Also stated that the head gasket is damaged. I contacted Kia and initially they stated if the engine failure was due to a knock sensor issue, it would be covered. After waiting nearly 20 days Kia is stating that my vehicle is out of warranty. Any advice on remedies or what could be done to have my vehicle fixed is greatly appreciated.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #157

Dec 152019

Optima

  • 64,080 miles
My son was driving the car, when he had to pull over and realize the smoke coming from the hood. When he opened the hood the engine was on fire. This cat was just recently purchased 3weeks prior to the engine catching on fire. The car was purchased through paulding Chrysler dealership. A down payment was made towards the purchase

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #156

Oct 012019

Optima

  • 65,000 miles
When taking off at a stop light or getting onto the interstate (basically when accelerating) the car feels like it has no power. You can hear a weird noise and sometimes you will smell burnt oil or something burnt. Also, I had a recent oil change and within the month I had to add oil again. There is no sign on my driveway that there is a leak. Please look into this as there are multiple people with the same issues.

- Rockledge, FL, USA

problem #155

Jan 142020

Optima

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the vehicle made an abnormal noise without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer (dennis eakin Kia 5200 E central Texas expy, killeen, tx 76543) where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed a oil change. The vehicle was not repaired but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #154

Jun 102015

Optima

  • miles
Engine sound very loud sound any time I start the engine since brand new.

- Ramona, CA, USA

problem #153

Nov 122019

Optima

  • 79,000 miles
Driving car ; just went dead, not the battery : now won't crank just clicks ; car has recall for excessive connecting rod bearing damage

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #152

Jan 082020

Optima

  • 120,000 miles
My vehicle is among the vehicles registered/qualifying for a recall. My dealer was to have replaced my entire engine during the first recall my vehicle received. Within a week/some 5 days or so my check engine light was back on. Taking the car back to my dealer, it was suggested that I pay $145 just for them to do a diagnostic on the/my vehicle they had just serviced. My car is currently registered/qualifies for a recall that stems and or is related to the previous recall that my car had... as recently as a few days ago (1/8/2020), the same dealer supposedly 'fixed' the recent recall. I'd went by the dealership, they serviced the vehicle - check engine light went/was off. I'd say what was an hour or so having the car back in my possession from the dealer, the check engine light was back on. I'm appalled at the fact that I'm currently experiencing a issue that has been on going over a year. In my research on recalls I'm not to be charged anything by law surrounding rectifying a recall. On more than one occasion my dealer has suggested that I pay after feeling that they've rectified the problem concerning my vehicles recall. I have valid third party diagnostics that interestingly enough were free, unlike the diagnostics my dealer would suggest I pay for on a car that is surrounded by a serious recall issue. And more interesting is my having received a diagnostic that rendered the results that are the same codes surrounding the recall, and this after/on a day/ the last day - my car was serviced/supposedly 'fixed.' I'm appalled at the suggestion that I 'upgrade, ' into a new car, pay anything, how any car having received a 'new engine, ' though 5 days later the check engine light is back on - that's 'scary.' I have necessary documentation that can show my dealer is oblivious to public safety laws surrounding recalls due to remedies they suggested on 'fixing, ' my vehicle.

- East Point, GA, USA

problem #151

Dec 202019

Optima

  • 130,881 miles
My daughter's car, Kia Optima 2015, had been brought in for engine repair for it died in the middle of the freeway a couple of years ago, since then, she tells me that she has been adding 3 quarts of oil every week and sometimes she finds the engine empty of oil from the dipstick. When she came home, I monitored the driveway where she parks to look for oil leakage but I didn't find any leakage of oil in my driveway. My daughter is not safe in this car, unfortunately she uses this care to go to school and we don't have the capability to purchase another car. Please look into this problem that Kia Optima is undermining and overlooking. I am not the only one reporting this issue from what I have read. For the consumers, you are the only ones we can turn to in times like this. I hope that you would consider looking into this problem by Kia corporation.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #150

Jan 012020

Optima

  • 140,000 miles
Vehicle was in motion on a busy highway when this happened. I would hit the gas and the car would try to stall, it did stall on several occasions. The car would jerk and the engine would start knocking.

- Sarepta, LA, USA

problem #149

Dec 292019

Optima

  • 104,000 miles
I was driving on the highway when my car stopped without any warning. I got it towed to a repair shop. It started back up and running but was making a weird noise coming from the engine. I drove the car home and took it to a repair shop to get a diagnostic check and the engine oil was very thick. I just had an oil change 2 month ago. I have only 104.000 miles on the car and I took very good care of the car.

- Murrieta, CA, USA

problem #148

Dec 312019

Optima

  • miles
Driving on freeway the car shut off will not start, indicating light aren't reporting any problems

- Perris, CA, USA

problem #147

Dec 072019

Optima

  • 109,000 miles
I wanted to add more information to my complaint. When in motion in front of high school car went into limp mode with knocking noise coming from engine. My husband is a mechanic and discovered metal flakes inside engine. I was never notified of any recalls involving the engine. Now I have to purchase a new or remanufactured engine costing estimated $3000 to $4500 not including core charges and shipping fees.

- Okeechobee, FL, USA

problem #146

Dec 072019

Optima

  • 108,000 miles
Sudden engine knock and sudden engine failure while vehicle was in motion in front of a high school. This incident requires engine replacement.

- Okeechobee, FL, USA

problem #145

Dec 012019

Optima

  • 119,278 miles
The speed limit on the freeway at 70 and the car cut but all lights wher still on it to me to sit for 5 minutes and then it started but a few days later my check eingine light came on and they say it a P0014 code but the car is knocking.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #144

Dec 112019

Optima

  • 89,000 miles
I started having issues with my vehicle in October 2019, I tried to reach out to Kia dealerships, with no help. I kept being told there were no recalls on my car and that I did not need to be concerned. My car finally stopped working, it just would not drive. It was jumping from 0-7000 rpms and then flying forward before it stopped working altogether. Around the moment it stopped driving it started smoking and I just pulled over and turned it off and then it wouldn't even go into neutral for a tow truck. I placed a brand new transmission into my car even while making a car payment on it on November 23rd 2019, it is now December 11, 2019 and I have only driven it 302 miles and I am having the same issues on it. When I call Kia I am told that there isn't anything they can do to fix the vehicle and that I need to have it diagnosed again for a charge of $170. I am now way upside down on the vehicle and am continuing to have issue after issue with it. I do not recommend this car. I have two small children and I have to have a vehicle but I will not keep paying to have things fixed that should not be an issue on a less than five year old car!!!!!

- Park Hills, MO, USA

problem #143

Dec 082019

Optima

  • 92,000 miles
I was driving the car on a two lane street at a normal rate of speed when the motor cut off. I coasted to the side of the road and tried to restart the engine. When I glanced up I noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. I opened the hood and the engine was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the flames and the car is a total loss.

- Fox River Grove, IL, USA

problem #142

Dec 052019

Optima

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact noticed a knocking noise coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer. The contact stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine); however, the failures were similar. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

- Grundy, VA, USA

problem #141

Nov 182019

Optima

  • 57,000 miles
Vehicle burst into flames without provocation. Vehicle was in perfect, pristine condition. Was in vehicle 5 minutes on way to work in am. Vehicle was being driven approx 5 miles per hour on a busy main road. Slowed down to stop at red light and the car died, instrument panel started flashing and engine burst into flames.

- North Palm Beach, FL, USA

problem #140

Nov 282019

Optima

  • 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle failed to accelerate, shuddered, lost power, and shut off without warning. Also, an abnormal burning odor was detected. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000.

- Davenport, FL, USA

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