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 #459

Dec 012022

Optima

  • miles
1. While stepping on the brakes my car has revved up as if I was pressing the gas. So I let my foot off the pedal and pressed the brakes again. This happened 2 times that week. And another time while I was coming to a stop light as I pressed the brakes, my car revved up but didn-??t actually make my car speed up. I had to press the brakes again for it to stop. 2. My battery was smoking and I replaced it. 3. My car is consuming oil. The dealership did a series of oil consumption testing due to the exhaust leaving extra carbon residue on my car. They said it was fine but I don-??t think they solved the issue.

- Burien, WA, USA

problem #458

Oct 192023

Optima

  • 102,589 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the engine seized. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that there was metal in the intake and exhaust cam shaft. There were metal shavings in the oil. The contact was also informed that the pistons were off by twenty-four degrees. There was an indication that cylinders #1, #2, and #4 had misfired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 102,589.

- Maplewood, MN, USA

problem #457

Nov 092023

Optima

  • miles
I have a 2015 Kia optima GDI, I never had any issues with this vehicle and I kept with my oil changes, but one day in November I was driving on the highway doing about 65 my car shut off in the middle of the highway, I only had the car for 2.5 years. I took it to advance auto got the battery and alternator checked which said that I had a bad alternator, and a code of p1326. The alternator was changed but I am still not able to drive my car, I took it to my local Kia dealership and hopefully they-??ll be able to replace the engine. I never had any issues with this car but paying on a car that I can-??t drive is very stressful. I will never buy a Kia vehicle again

- Harrisburg, PA, USA

problem #456

Jun 152023

Optima

  • miles
engine died while driving 45 on highway, tow to garage and was told to take to dealership because of a recall for my engine. towed the car to the dealership and they check and are telling me that my car engine wasn't covered and I would have to paid for the repair. I was told the problem was the engine manufactured with the rod bearing issue. My safety was at risk because car died on a state highway.

- Branson, MO, USA

problem #455

Sep 212023

Optima

  • miles
The engine is being to make a sound. When I checked it-??s the rod knock. In the end of September my wife drove the car to work where it stopped working. That-??s when I heard and seen what it was. It-??s my understanding that many optimas have been having engine problems. I was told to take it to a dealership and Kia would fix it that there was a recall. Please let me know if this is true or any help you can provide.

- Ennis, TX, USA

problem #454

Oct 162023

Optima

  • miles
Car was stolen due to Kia-??s faulty ignition start my steering system was broken into and my car was stolen.

- Aurora, IL, USA

problem #453

Sep 232023

Optima

  • miles
While driving on Hwy 19 the vehicle shut down. The motor turned off and I was able to slowly roll to the side of the road. The car did not start again.

- Baker, LA, USA

problem #452

Nov 032023

Optima

  • miles
When driving down the highway car will beep a message on dashboad to pull the car over and turn engine off. the HEV light will be flashing. you can turn engine off and re start in a minute or so. the check engine light stays on and tells me to check hybrid system this willl ocur at random once a week or two times in a month. Kia dealership has not fixed the issue. I dont trust driving the car or safe when pulling off a busy highway. ON hand held obd did get a trouble code P0A37 Generator Temperature Sensor Hi Range.

- Eden, NC, USA

problem #451

Dec 152022

Optima

  • 149,878 miles
The contact leased a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the front passenger's side window, the rearview camera, and the brake lights were intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at approximately 10 MPH, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. The contact shifted into neutral(N) and was able to push the vehicle to the side of the road with the assistance of several bystanders. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was leased, and it was diagnosed that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the battery warning light and the steering warning light illuminated, and the vehicle shut off. The contact was able to jumpstart the vehicle and drove to the residence, where the vehicle remained parked. The vehicle was not repaired. The Kia dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #450

Oct 222023

Optima

  • miles
Engine failure & fuel leak. Also oil was burning extremely fast. I had taking it to the dealership while back ago for a recall and said it was fixed. Few months later gas started running out fast. A check light engine came on saying there was an evaporation leak. I did call the dealership to see what exactly they fixed, emailed them. They kept telling me they would call me back and never did. Wouldn-??t get any emails back. I took it upon headquarters to let them know about the oil burning fast and emailed. And called them. Apparently there was nothing they can do and told me I have to call the dealership. I took the car to my mechanic because I trust him more than the actual dealership at this point. And I brought up concerns about my safety being in that car. No one heard me out or seemed to care. And now forward months later after check light engines on and the pcv valve getting changed, purge valve. The light stopped coming on after changing the purge valve got change which linked to the code that showed up. I started seeing online that Kia optima-??s have so many engine problems, misfires etc. and now my Kia has an engine failure. I tried to contact Kia again by entering the info for a settlement and I was told there is nothing they can do about it. So now I-??m left with $5,500 to finish paying off my loan for the car and can-??t even drive the car anymore. I havnt felt safe In my car for months and no one would hear me out.

- San Gabriel , CA, USA

problem #449

Oct 272023

Optima

  • miles
I was driving when the vehicle began to shake and then the check engine light came on. I stopped at a red light and when the light turned green and I processed to go the car shut off while in traffic. I then waited to see if the car would turn back on and it did just long enough for me to get out of the roadway. I had the car towed back to the dealer from whom I purchased the car from. He had his mechanic check the vehicle out and informed me that the engine seized. He then had it towed to a repair shop and they also confirmed the engine seized. When I purchased the vehicle 9 months ago it came with a warranty. The warranty company is now saying that I am responsible for the cost of the diagnostic testing which is $2,500 before they will replace the engine. I reached out to Kia and they are also saying that I am responsible for the diagnostic testing and that the warranty company can choose a new or used engine replacement. I asked Kia if the engine was ever replaced during the first engine recall but representative refused to say if it was or wasn't. My car is still at the repair shop. These matter needs to be addressed as there may be others going through the same issue. This is the second time this has happened to me. I previously had a 2011 Kia Sportage that did the same exact thing. I returned it to the dealer whom I purchased it from and that vehicle was added to my credit report as a repo and resold at an auction. I hope and pray the issue was repaired before it was sold.

- Hightstown, NJ, USA

problem #448

Nov 042023

Optima

  • miles
Unknown

- Lakeland , FL, USA

problem #447

Oct 282023

Optima

  • 93,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the side of the road however, the vehicle was not able to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The vehicle had been diagnosed by an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the failure was caused by the engine seizing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #446

Oct 272023

Optima

  • miles
Engine lost power and when restart was attempted, it could torn turn over. Tried restarting 3 times with no success. After this, smoke started coming from the hood. I opened the hood and noticed a small flame at the driver side bottom of the engine compartment. Flame intensified and grew and eventually I extinguished with a fire extinguisher. I had just replaced the starter that same week and replaced some wiring at a local car repair facility.

- Madison, AL, USA

problem #445

Oct 132023

Optima

  • miles
Bought car February 22 less than 5200 miles. Died on hwy October 6. Kia denied claim. Had no ideal of a software update. Never heard of that in my life. Almost lost my life with this car

- Bethany, OK, USA

problem #444

Oct 192023

Optima

  • 76,000 miles
Kia has a Nation Wide Campaign for faulty engines, that will display a code (consistent in the campaign), my daughter purchased a 2015 Kia Optima, 76,000 miles, that was a rebuilt title, however the damage was on the back passenger door, body damage only. Was surprised it was even totaled out from the insurance, however due to the high theft issues with Kia's insurance companies are paying them out to avoid the theft as well as the engine issues. Currently, Kia is telling us that they will not replace the engine (even though this is the campaign they are advertising) due to the rebuilt title, even though the defective engine is from the manufacture and nothing to do with the body damage to the back passenger door. This car was repaired in full and cleared to be re-titled as a rebuilt title. These engine issues can cause the vehicle to seize while driving, it goes into Limp mode (safety mode) which reduces the speed and power to the engine and there are reports that the engine can catch fire. Kia is doing these engine replacements under the MFG warranty and have stated they are lifetime replacements, due to the continued problems and yet they want to not replace hers when a insurance company decided to total the car our for damage that could have been repaired.

- Pueblo West, CO, USA

problem #443

Oct 132023

Optima

  • 96,000 miles
The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle slowed down and then became inoperable. The battery and check engine warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle had been diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty engine block. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #442

Oct 132023

Optima

  • miles
My engine locked while driving on the highway, I have got the car inspected twice since I purchased it and only had it for a year and it passed, everything worked fine and no hazard lights were on dashboard until it stopped then the battery and engine light showed when stopping! I had no problems with the car prior to it, just stopping on me I had my kids with me and we were going to another state so that-??s dangerous! I had to get it towed to a Kia dealership and was told they had 4 recalls on my car and the problem was the engine locked but I was told they would not do it free of charge or under warranty because the car has a salvage title overall the car was still drive able and in good condition up until that point.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #441

Apr 122023

Optima

  • miles
My car started smoking while parked at work for no reason and I had to call the fire department. It stop smoking by the time the fire department came. I had it towed to the Dealer. My brakes are a mess but especially on a wet road you have to pump them to try to stop. I have taken it to the Dealer and of course they find nothing wrong. I told them to test drive it on a wet raining day and try to stop hard. Supposedly they could not but I have almost been it several accidents and had to run through a red light because I could not stop. So, I try to drive this car on a rainy day or drive slowly. This car has been trouble since I got it and the dealer will not listen.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #440

Sep 132023

Optima

  • miles
Motor failed and Kia replaced the motor. Now my dim lights and fog lights will not work. All fuse, relay, etc.. has been tested along with bulb replacement-??

- Fort Payne, AL, USA

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