10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 38
Injuries / Deaths:
7 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,036 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #46

Oct 092017

Optima

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced a complete loss of power. The vehicle was towed to patrick Kia (4810 nine mile rd, richmond, va) where it was diagnosed that the oil in the engine was not being correctly distributed and recommended an engine replacement. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was not provided.

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #45

Apr 012018

Optima

  • 68,000 miles
I have a 2015 Kia Optima that completely died on me on 4/1/18. We were waiting to turn into a business parking lot and the engine just shut off in the turning lane. We tried jumping it and it did nothing. It was towed to the dealership the next day and before they even looked at it, they were saying the engine probably seized and said we need to get our oil change records together because we needed a new engine. They proceeded to try and blame it on us as we did not go to the dealership to have the oil changed. Who would think to save oil change records?! we've owned many different cars and never had to do this or ever had our engine seize. Kia will most likely refuse to replace the engine, even though it is still under warranty. To replace the engine, we were told it would cost $7,000 and possibly take up to a month to complete. I still owe money on this car and can't do anything with it. Since we're a one car family, we were forced to go out and buy another car last night. I'm disgusted with how we were treated and will never buy another Kia again. They should be paying off my loan because they were well aware of the engine issues in the 2011-2014 Optimas, and still sold us a car that was possibly defective.

- Mckinney, TX, USA

problem #44

Mar 162018

Optima

  • 62,000 miles
Oil light warning displayed. Took it to nearest Kia dealership next day. Was told there was metal shavings in the oil. Engine needed replacing. Same diagnosis as the NHTSA campaign id: 17V224000 recall!

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #43

Mar 102017

Optima

  • 50,000 miles
Engine failed on my 2015 Kia Optima while exiting the freeway. The car was making a knocking noise, started smoking, started to lose power, and stalled. I had the car towed into a Kia dealership. Kia issued recalls for this problem on several models through the 2014 models. They failed to issue a recall for 2015 models. They initially refused to honor the warranty and wanted close to $6,000 to replace the engine. Financially, this was not possible for me and I had to have the car voluntarily repossessed. I filed a formal, written complaint and explained the situation, including the fact that I had to have the car repossessed. At that point, they responded with a settlement agreement stating they would honor the warranty, if I released them from further responsibilty. This offer was not feasible, as I no longer had the vehicle. At this point, they told me there was nothing else they could do for me. I asked for a written response to my complaint and was told they cannot do that.

- Kyle, TX, USA

problem #42

Mar 012018

Optima

  • miles
Metal found in engine. Vehicle completely shut off and would not restart. Has to be replaced.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #41

Feb 142017

Optima

  • 35,000 miles
The car engine died one day when I was driving up a hill in heavy rain on a very busy two way street with four lanes across. We're lucky we weren't injured because other cars coming up behind us couldn't see that well in the rain. There was never any knocking or indication of anything wrong. It just died out of the blue. We took it to Kia and they said the engine seized due to sludge. I had to get the engine rebuilt on my own dime ($3000 plus towing etc.) because Kia refused to honor the warranty. The car was only about a year old at that point. They told me I had to give them all receipts showing oil changes etc. And even when I brought the receipts they said it wasn't enough and that it was my fault. Not to mention Kia has already recalled this same engine in earlier models and it's the same engine (theta II) that is in the huyundai sonata which was also recalled for seizing/sludge. It is pretty obvious this engine is faulty and Kia needs to recall it but they aren't including this 2015 in the recall with the 2014, 2013 and 2012 models.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #40

Feb 012018

Optima

  • 100,000 miles
The motor stopped while driving, it locked up.

- Cartersville, GA, USA

problem #39

Jan 242018

Optima

  • 27,000 miles
My vehicle is randomly displaying 'goodbye' on the dashboard and is shutting off while driving. This started from nowhere with no warning lights or warning signals. I've only had this vehicle for 6 months and it has less that 30,000 miles on it. There are no open recalls on the vehicle, however I'll read about similar issue with the same make and model. I maintain my vehicle according to how Kia suggests. This is extremely dangerous as I am sometimes heading to work, going about 65 miles or more or the highway and the car just stops. It is now beginning to shut off immediately after cranking, and a noise is coming from under the hood, which sounds like metal in the engine. I have refrained from driving the vehicle completely, due to fear or loss of life. The sudden stopping of the vehicle has happened while I was driving on the city streets going about 30-40 mph, as well as on the highway going about 65 mph.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #38

Oct 112016

Optima

  • 64,130 miles
Vehicle suddenly stopped while traveling on highway from Mississippi to Pennsylvania, when vehicle stopped there was not any oil in the car. My son had it towed to nearest walmart, purchased 3 quarts, and continued. Four hours down the road vehicle stopped while I was driving.hei was close to birmingham around 11 at night. He stayed on the side of the highway until morning called a tow truck and took to riverside Kia where an engine analysis was done. He told my son the is owner negligience. He told him according the miles on the vehicle he should have had at least 9 oil changes, but there where only 3 receipts in the car. Prior to this incidence his vehicle had been broken into. He was able to locate other receipts. He had the oil changed 3 weeks before this (Oct 29, 2016)

- Clairton, PA, USA

problem #37

Sep 252017

Optima

  • miles
I have a 2015 Kia Optima with 24,300 miles I purchase my car brand new from southwest Kia. I took my car in for service because I had just recently had oil change at walmart 700 miles later my oil light started appearing. I took it to Kia because recently having oil change and car was no longer registering oil. Kia went on to tell very little oil was in my car I informed them that I had just had oil changed 700 miles ago. So from there dealership did oil change. I was back at the dealership week later with same issue. Service stated that he found sludge and I stated that I have held up my end of the deal with oil changes as well as I provided my receipt or oil changes. Dealership is not willing to hold up there 100,000 power train warranty stating that I was not getting oil changed in a timely manner which is bs. I have been researching and I found other 2015 Kia Optima owner were having the same issue as I am having with car excessive oil usage, oil sludge and engine problems as I am. I have been in contact with Kia consumer dept for help. I have also been in contact with channel 11 and channel 4 consumer justice dept. I have attached copies of other owners with the same issue. You we work hard to pay for and to have a reliable transportation for the dealership not to hold up there end of the deal. I believe that Kia is aware of these issues and neglecting to help the buyers who have purchase these cars. It's strange that I found ten other 2015 Kia Optima owners with exact same issue. 2014 models have already had a recall I think 2015 model should be included to the recall. I have attached other Kia owners complaints and issues with this model car.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #36

Oct 272017

Optima

  • 129,000 miles
The engine began making a knocking noise, then stalled. Upon inspection at auto shop it was discovered that the engine seized and was a complete fail. The vehicle was traveling on a highway at around 65 miles per hour. The car has had all preventative maintenance performed and I can provide documentation as to that

- Maricopa, AZ, USA

problem #35

Oct 012017

Optima

  • 62,156 miles
While driving the vehicle, the power cut off, - coasted to a complete stop. Engine does not turn over. Lights/radio etc all work, so not a battery issue. There is a recall for previous model years of this same vehicle specific to engine failture.

- Los Lunas, NM, USA

problem #34

Aug 042017

Optima

  • 35,000 miles
Engine seized up at 35K miles. Kia did not honor the warranty and said it was due to my personal maintenance of the vehicle. Basically told me that if I had taken my car to Kia everytime for an oil change it would have been covered. Service manager told me just to wait until another recall comes out and I would get my 6000 dollars back

- Suwanee, GA, USA

problem #33

Aug 102017

Optima

  • 48,500 miles
Car appeared to stall while on highway. Safely pulled over and was able to restart. Local shop said they could not find anything wrong. Next day a very loud kocking started, took it to the dealership who informed me of the engine recall. While my year was not in the recall they would be replacing the engine once I provide receipts showing my oil changes done outside of their location.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #32

Jul 232017

Optima

  • 24,000 miles
Keep hearing a loud rattling noise from the left side of the engine. He is more so when the car is in park and early morning. Has gone to the shop twice for this issues and each time have been told they can not find the problem even provided a recording of the sound. Also the radio complete shuts off by itself has done this 3 times now. Once again have taking it to the dealer and nothing was done about because the problem would not duplicate it's self. The passenger window gets stuck and have to play with the knobs in order to get it to come back up. I got this car July 21. 2017. The car has been in the show twice. First time for a week. Second time 6 days. Still no solution. Was told by lemon law to take it back and have them service it again. Has to be seen by dearer service department four times for the same problem before they will help.

- Seaside, CA, USA

problem #31

Jul 282017

Optima

  • 89,000 miles
Your sitting at a red light or driving down the road, and the car just stalls/turns off without any warning what so ever. This actually just started today. After looking it up, it seems to be happening quite a bit & nothing is being done by Kia. This is ridiculous, not to mention scary! it's an accident waiting to happen!

- Farmersville, OH, USA

problem #30

Jun 202017

Optima

  • miles
My vehicle starting driving sluggish and making an increasingly knocking noise from under the hood. I took the car for a routine oil change and 2 weeks later checked in a normal ride to work I realized my vehicle was smoking really bad from the exhaust and a horrible smell of burnt oil filled the interior. I took the car home and parked it. Less then a week later I get a recall letter for the engine. I had the car towed in to Kia they ran a test my engine has blown they put me in a rental for 16 days this began 6/20/17. I came to get my car on 7/8/17 and didn't even get down the street before getting pulled over and notified that my car is roaring smoke the exhaust again. I immediately brought it back. They drove it with me and also agreed it was still smoking and had nothing to do with old oil burning off and now my a.C. is acting weird. They placed me back in a rental and told me they would open a ticket. To be very honest I'm trying to keep present but I'm very very scared and concerned about getting back in the car. I feel trapped and I'm still making payments on something I can't even drive and feel unsafe in.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #29

Jul 032017

Optima

  • 35,000 miles
Takata recall. As I was driving on the highway, my car stopped on me during traffic flow. This has happened more than five times and I was almost killed with my small children in the vehicle. We have been suffering with this issue for over a whole year. On July 3,2017 my mother and I was coming home on the fwy and once again, during traffic flow, my car shut off while driving on the road. Luckily, I was able to pull over to get a safe spot before I crashed because there were so many cars coming behind me so fast and the side ramps we're very narrow. I have taken it in for servicing but for some reason, they are not able to find out what the problem is. I have taking it in and even left with them for almost a whole month at one time and still no diagnosis. Rental car after rental car. They installed a data recorder in my car and the first time they found no data, then they installed it again for another week and they claim that it was the fuel pump relay. So they installed a new fuel pump relay in my car. A few weeks later my car shut down again on the way coming home and in the freeway with my mother and 2 year neice. We we're almost killed. The car just shuts off while driving and says "goodbye" with no warning while driving this is how I know that this has something to do with the engine. Please help if you can. I do not feel safe in this car and we are in danger. Sometimes the lights in the car cut on and off too.

- Fontana, CA, USA

problem #28

Jun 292017

Optima

  • 14,000 miles
Engine stalls when slowing down to turn or continue. This is a continuous problem sense 2015

- Winchester, CA, USA

problem #27

May 262017

Optima

  • 0 miles
My car started smoking one day while I was driving down the road going about 25-30mph it was so bad people started yelling!!! get out.. get out..your car on fire..I pulled over so embarrassed.... and I got out...the smoke had the back of the.car black...from the smoke out of the tailpipe.so I waited 30-45 had car towed back home...I stay 35 mins from Kia dealership so I had to wait until next day to take over there. And surprisely they told me sludge oil.at this point it was only 32,000 miles. I asked how can I fix the problem they said..they dont fix sludge oil... and made it very clear they was voiding my warranty because I didn't have all my receipts from previous oil changes. And this come from lack of maintenance... ok. So I got oil changes every 2,000 problem slowed down.. no sensors was on or nothing.... one day went to store came home and parked never cranked...55K miles towed to St.augustine Kia dealership said the engine is shocked...it didn't have any noise coming from anywhere.. we thought it was a dead battery or starter..Kia said engine I just don't understand..

- Palatka, FL, USA

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