2.1

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,562 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #9

Oct 102020

Optima

  • 70,000 miles
My airbag light was flashing now it stays on permanently. Got an inspection and failed because of the airbag light. They can not get the specifics of why the light is

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #8

Oct 202020

Optima

  • 87,000 miles
Car lost acceleration while driving

- Killeen, TX, USA

problem #7

Sep 152020

Optima

  • 88,000 miles
It began when we would try to start the car it seemed to have battery issues and have trouble starting, and finally the battery did drain but isn't holding charge but took it in to get checked and battery is fine. The headlights will randomly shut off while driving at night like if the sensor were in the day time. Now the engine light has came on while driving it and when you hit the gas it jerks the car after 20 mph. This happens on and off where it will be fine then suddenly start doing it all over again everything also happens in different occasions.

- Queen Creek, AZ, USA

problem #6

Sep 062020

Optima

  • 56,000 miles
While in motion the headlights turn on by themselves at random times during the day. ABS warning light, bsd warning light, and traction control warning light all came on at the same time. On the way to the dealership they all went off. The technician said he sees that the warning light were on, but their computer is not detecting a problem. If it happens again bring it back. Well, they're on again. The car has been stationary since Friday afternoon, Sunday evening my son sends me a pic of my car, the lights are on!

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #5

Dec 282019

Optima

  • 75,000 miles
While driving the car the fuel consumption in the motor would bog the engine down to where it would barely go over 40 mph on the highway. At this time the engine trouble indicator light would come on and not go off. I immediately took it to the local Kia dealership in mt. Hope, wv.. the mechanic changed out the sensor that showed up on his meter and the engine seemed to do good while in the shop but when they backed it out of the shop bay, another sensor lighr came on. We had already paid the dealership $206, they would not return our money

- Raleigh, WV, USA

problem #4

Oct 162019

Optima

  • 123,525 miles
I was driving on the highway when my jerked twice, check engine light started blinking, and I could not accelerate. I was able to get off the highway safely, my car was towed to a Kia dealership nearby and I was told it could take 3-4 days before my car is looked at. This problem has happened twice while I was on the highway. It happened on October 3rd, my car was towed to a Kia dealership and I was told the knocking sensor went out. The issue was supposedly fixed and I picked my car up on October 8th.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #3

May 182019

Optima

  • 66,500 miles
On the evening of May 17, I needed a jump after work. I went home, turned off my car but was unable to start it again so I replaced the battery. I thought I had fixed the problem until the next day when I was driving 65mph on a local interstate with my daughter in the car, all my dash lights came on, I lost navigation & radio and my power steering locked up. I went to turn on my hazards and those did not work either. I checked my mirrors to make sure no one was going to hit me and I was able to get off the highway and pull onto the shoulder. I was extremely fearful as I had minimal steering capability & was unable to notify other motorists of my disabled vehicle as my hazard lights were not functioning. I was able to get it towed to a dealership where I was told I needed a new alternator for my 3 year old car. While my mileage was at 66,500 miles, I definitely had not anticipated need to replace that part of a while. Despite that, I was more upset that I lost function of my car and was not able to warn other cars with working hazard lights.

- Thornton, CO, USA

problem #2

May 042019

Optima

  • 38,500 miles
Intermittently car will shudder (jerk forward and slow, jerk forward and slow) many times when accelerating, either from a stop or while accelerating from low speeds (less than 45mph) it seems possible gear changing is not smooth. And can be dangerous when attempting to merge into traffic as car does not accelerate as it should. Have taken the car to Kia who report that nothing was wrong with car when they test drove it. Problem seems worse when it is hot or cold outside.

- Plant City, FL, USA

problem #1

Nov 272018

Optima

  • 57,529 miles
The car stumbles to start and when I accelerate it flutters until picking up speed. This happened on highway 43.

- Selma, CA, USA