10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 12
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
28,061 miles

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #24

Mar 212019

Optima

  • miles
On March 21, 2019, I brought my car in to the Kia dealership because my own personal mechanic said that the engine was burning too much oil. Kia dealership did an oil test and said that they need to fix my engine due to a recall. It has been over 2 months and I still have not receive my car yet. Made multiple calls to the Kia dealership and Kia corporate and nothing was resolved.

- Lakewood, CA, USA

problem #23

May 192019

Optima

  • miles
I just bought this car a month ago and have not been able to work in it as a lyft driver because there is always something wrong with it it's been in the shop more than I've drove it it makes a knocking noise and I'm not safe in the vehicle I did a history check on it and come to find out their are a bunch of recalls on it can anyone help me please?I was driving on a city street and highways.

- Corona, CA, USA

problem #22

Mar 152018

Optima

  • miles
I've been having car problems with my car for a over a year, the steering wheel get stuck, my brakes wasn't working good, so I got new breaks, however my car still doesn't make a quick complete stop, I'm also having electrical problems, my headlights bulb have to be changed once a week, I also have to changed my oil every well, today my car is at the dealership waiting on a engine, it's been there for over three months.

- Addison, IL, USA

problem #21

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 #20

Feb 252019

Optima

  • 59,000 miles
So I got the software update for the engine recall. On the 24th, engine light cane on. Waited for an engine replace for 2 months, then they told me it was the knock sensor wire harness. They replaced that and gave me back my car. 1 week later, same engine light. Took it in they wiped off the engine light, drove it for a week and tild me nothing was wrong with the car. Speakless on the way Kia has handled this.

- Parrish, FL, USA

problem #19

Apr 152019

Optima

  • 70,893 miles
A month after doing the recall for the engine update, the harness has to completely replaced. I was on the expressway went it started shaking and would not go over 63 mph. The engine light kept blinking.

- Doraville, GA, USA

problem #18

Feb 102019

Optima

  • miles
Around the first week of February this year. They did a recall on the engine adjustment and the following weekend the engine failed. I was able to get the car into Kia napleton carmel/indianapolis this was February 11th I believe. Within ten minutes the operations person came back and said they had a rental coming to pick me up. They had to replace the engine do to whatever they did to the car in the recall. I thought about this for awhile, I was going to purchase the car at the end of the lease. The large warranty is just about up in time, and should anything occur outside of the power train, it is on me. That mean if it takes months or weeks to fix the car, I need to lease a car and wait for the part. I became very irritated on the 15th day of waiting. That was now all most a month ago. Kia napleton has now had the car for a total of five weeks and not engine in sight. Enterprise told me my rental was extended to April 14th which Kia motors if paying. I have complained from the dealership to Kia lease, to Kia motors and back to the dealership. A lot of run-around. Finally, they have issued a letter to permit me to pay $19,040 to buy out the lease or around $11,000 to find a new lease or just $3,000 for my troubles and keep the car. My worry is if something else goes wrong, what if I am waiting for five weeks or longer for a part to arrive from asia, and what if it happens on the open road. I want Kia to take me out of the lease without damages to me. I am not pleased to have had Kia destroy their own engine and now make it my problem. Kia has continually referred me between departments and one individual told me to contact my own insurance agent. They cannot guarantee me that the car will fail in some form for the remainder of the lease which is just around 16 months out. I took the letter from Kia over to napleton K

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #17

Feb 242019

Optima

  • miles
Engine failed on highway and car stopped accelerating.

- Manchester, GA, USA

problem #16

Feb 012019

Optima

  • 96,000 miles
I change my oil change in my Kia Optima 16 oil get low before 3000mile it lose oil before it reach 3000 miles it lose 2 quart oil

- Independence, LA, USA

problem #15

Jul 182018

Optima 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 22,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to charlie's motor mall (465 western ave, augusta, me 04330, 207-622-7327) to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 92793557. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

- Waterville, ME, USA

problem #14

Apr 172017

Optima

  • 1,000 miles
While in drive, randomly at a complete stop, the engine will die. I will have to put the car into park, turn the key completely off, and then try to turn the car back on. This can take several attempts to finally get the car started. Only the engine dies, the radio, lights, etc stay on without any interruption. This has happened at stop lights, stop signs, in a car pool line, all while not moving.

- Hoover, AL, USA

problem #13

Mar 182017

Optima

  • 8,000 miles
When decelerating, the car jerks at exactly 35 mph whether im on the highway or in the city and this happens. I have been to the dealership 3 times for this issue and they have even drove my car themselves and felt the same thing that I was feeling and all they say is that without a check engine light threr is nothing they can do about it and I just have to "live" with it. This is ridiculous and Kia needs to address this issue before it causes any accidents or worse death. I spent way too much money on this car for it to be having these issues. Brakes are supposed to be a safety feature not a safety hazard.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #12

Dec 082017

Optima

  • 22,500 miles
Car stalled for no reason while sitting idle at an intersection. It was towed to the Kia dealership in san diego. The first day, the dealership claimed it found nothing wrong and there were no error codes. The next day, it claimed to find a hole in the oil pan. It refused to start the car again until we paid $500 to fix it. There was no oil in its parking space or the place where that it stalled. We took it to another mechanic who found the hole. He said there was more than sufficient oil to turn it over, and if the hole has been there long, all of the oil would have leaked out. We suspect the dealer did this intentionally to create an excuse to avoid paying for a new engine if it turned out to have metal shavings and catastrophic failure like so many other Optimas.

- Tarzana, CA, USA

problem #11

Jan 062018

Optima

  • 11,145 miles
My Optima seems to hesitate or studder when accelerating from a stop. It reminds me of a gear slipping but my car only has 11,145 mi on it so there's no way that's possible. This has been an ongoing observation for months now. I've also had one of my mirrors not go back to normal position after I moved the car from R and began to drive. I had to pull over, place the car back in R, and flip back to D for the mirror to go back to place. Lastly I've noticed my driver seat seat warmer button isn't lighting up like it used to. When on high, only 2 lights are on. I recorded a video of it vs how the passenger seat works but I don't think I can upload it. I've at least taken photos of it in each level. This has been for about 2 weeks now. Mileage listed on report is what I'm currently at but the studdering has been since 3,000mi or

- Little Elm, TX, USA

problem #10

Sep 052016

Optima

  • 2,000 miles
I have been experiencing issues with my 2016 Kia Optima since I purchased it on September, 5th 2016. A short time after owning my new vehicle, first the car started to hesitate when starting as if it was struggling to start, the push button would turn red and the indicator lights would light up on the dashboard as if the key was not recognized in the car. The car would also self accelerate. On or around August 16th or 17th the car stalled out while it was being driven, we attempted to restart the car and it turned on like normal so the tow was canceled., the service writer & Kia all have copies of the videos the mechanic has also told me he was able to duplicate the issue, the solution was to change the fuel pump and service the fuel delivery system. Upon the services being completed we were contacted by the service manager, and Kia that the car was ready to be picked up on September 6th 2017. While driving the vehicle home we noticed some hesitation while idle, also some strong acceleration when taking off from red-light or stop sign. While parked we noticed some strong vibration from the motor which the car had not had previously before service. Also after several attempts of starting the car, the car would either start rough, and also still had the same original occurrence as before with the key not being recognized in the car. With the car not fully starting and the push button turning red with the instrument panel lighting up with the key not in car light along with some others. On Thursday September 7th, 2017 at about 4:30pm I had the cruise control set to 80 mph, the car hesitated a couple times, then self decelerated to 73 mph, reaccelerated to 82 mph then self adjusted to 80 mph, I contacted the dealership right after the occurrence I was told I had to wait to bring the car back in they had no loaner vehicles, not to use the cruise control feature.

- Melbourne, FL, USA

problem #9

Oct 222017

Optima

  • 20,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 50 mph, the engine started to smoke without warning. The contact pulled the vehicle over and, shortly after, it became engulfed in flames. The fire department arrived too late to salvage the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an auto shop. A fire report was not filed. The police department was present, but a report was not filed. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

- South Salem, NY, USA

problem #8

Sep 202017

Optima

  • 20 miles
Takata recall car starts to stall and idle when on the road and in traffic. Car starts to back up and reverse without notice or warning. Engine, battery comes on automatically and I have to turn off ignition and restart vehicle.

- Smyrna, GA, USA

problem #7

Aug 182017

Optima

  • miles
Shutter/hesitation upon take off. I signed my lease on 9/29 and was at the service dept first of 7 times on 10/4. at first I was told the car had to "learn the way I drive" that there were no issues with my car. Since then the dealer has "reset" the transmission, changed fuel injectors, replaced transmission, and now has done 'several updates' (seriously?) this car has nearly caused accidents on numerous occasions. When I asked the tech if he would drive his family in this car I got no response. I have asked on the last 2 trips to the dealer for them to simply replace my car. I am currently consulting a lawyer.

- Metairie, LA, USA

problem #6

Aug 262016

Optima

  • 6 miles
Since I had the car in aug2016 brand new when I give it gas the valves ping and peak extremely bad not matter what fuel I use also the ac keeps loosing power it will blow fine then it almost goes off while still driving the same speed. Also sometimes when this happens I have a miss or hesitation in the engine. There has also been a pop noise in the back end when I stop or slow down since I have had the vehicle. I have taken my car 6 times to the local dealer in chas wv where I purchased the car and they keep saying they can't dignose the problem they have to contact Kia and never have an answer wheh I take the car back or contact them.

- Charleston, WV, USA

problem #5

Jun 292017

Optima

  • 17,000 miles
I bought my car 6 months ago, I have performed all required maintenance for the vehicle and at 17,000 miles there was a ticking sound while I was driving on a busy road with my handicapped mother. There was a loud noise and I thought I blew a tire, the engine seized up and I was in the middle of the road, I had to call emergency road service to get my mother and I safely home. After getting the vehicle towed to the Kia dealership I am told the engine is needing to be replaced because a rod was thrown threw the motor. We were very lucky that neither one of us was injured with this incident however others may not be so lucky.

- Orange City, FL, USA

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