10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,534 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #19

Jul 272022

Optima

  • miles
On July 27, 2022 the oil light on my 2016 KIA Optima came on intermittently. I called the dealership and they told me to have it towed in. So I had it towed to the KIA dealer. The car had only 37,075 miles on it that day. It was not due for an oil change until 39,647! After they had it for a week they told me that it was burning oil. To fix the problem I would have to get a new engine installed! They told me that this was not covered by KIA or my Extended Warranty. They added oil -- that was it. Their recommendation was that I should put oil in it more frequently. So the oil light went off. I read that when cars burn oil inappropriately the residue can affect the engine and other parts. Putting more oil in doesn't solve the problem of excessive oil burning! I am afraid to drive it now. I've read that some vehicles with this problem stop right in the middle of the road. That is dangerous.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #18

Jul 182022

Optima

  • miles
Despite maintaining the vehicle and replacing the battery, the car will have weird acceleration jumps during highway and city travel. It will also not start properly on occasion where it will idle rough and stall when trying to shift into drive or reverse.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #17

May 302021

Optima

  • miles
Four times in less than one year, car stutters, or stalls completely, check engine light flashes, and I have to maneuver to highway shoulder or slow lane to get towed. Very unsafe. Kia keeps it for a week, forces a software update repeatedly, sends me on my way and a few months later the sane thing again. Error codes always indicate engine knock amongst other things/an issue they know is theirs but -€œhave to exhaust all options before they will approve replacement-€ according to service mgr. I have a car that I don-€™t feel safe driving because I drive alone and can-€™t trust it to get home home so I end up in the highway at 4am every time.

- Meriden , CT, USA

problem #16

Feb 012022

Optima

  • miles
There is a known issue with this motor burning oil in the engine at an excessive rate. This caused my car to shut down on the California freeway from 65 mph. Warranty wont cover, dealership says its a manufacturer issue that is known and the manufacturer isn't replacing the problem engines. This is a life safety matter

- Orinda, CA, USA

problem #15

Sep 232021

Optima

  • miles
Since purchasing this car I-€™ve had to have electrical repairs done every year. If it-€™s not the seat it-€™s the window. If it-€™s not the window it-€™s the dash. A couple of days ago my husband said he noticed that the oil in the car was running low really fast. We had just done an oil change on the car not even 30 days prior to this. We were driving late at night back from a work trip when al of a sudden the check engine light came on and the motor started to shake and a thudding noise was getting louder. We were able to pull over and saw that there was literally no oil in the car. No warning nothing. Again we had just had an oil change not even 30 days prior. My father had to come tow us home an hour and a half away because he was worried with the sounds it was making that it might blow. There was smoke coming from the exhaust and the motor was shaking like it had no control. I-€™ve read multiple issues just like this one and of course my car just passed warranty. I-€™m not even done paying the car off. This should be an issue Kia has to fix by now with so many similar complaints. It-€™s dangerous and fraud. I-€™m just lucky the car was able to pull over safely as my husband and our 8 month old were in the car with me. Please help get this fixed. I-€™m now out of a car that-€™s only 5 years old and not paid off.

- Spreckels, CA, USA

problem #14

Aug 252021

Optima

  • miles
The engine is sputtering. Dealership can-€™t get my car in for two weeks due to their full schedule. They stated as long as the check engine light isn-€™t flashing it-€™s ok to drive. The motor sounds like a farm tractor.

- Mooers Forks , NY, USA

problem #13

Jul 202021

Optima

  • miles
I have a flashing check engine light while driving my vehicle was not trying to give gas or anything

- Blueisland , IL, USA

problem #12

May 072021

Optima

  • 90,000 miles
Vehicle consumes oil at high rate. Approximately 5 qts per 3000 miles driven sometimes more often. After new oil is added, acceleration will delay at times, usually when starting from a complete stop. When the vehicle begins moving forward a cloud of bluish/white exhaust will be created. The clouds of exhaust occurs more often just after an oil change or oil is added. Will continue for the first 1000 miles then will become less frequent as more oil is consumed and the amount remaining in the oil pan is lessened. Has occurred since I purchased the car.

- Columbiana, OH, USA

problem #11

Dec 012020

Optima

  • 101,000 miles
My vehicle started stalling when accelerating two days ago. My RPM's jump when shifting gears and it stalls and jerks when taking off from a complete stop. I took it to advanced auto parts and the code "P1326" showed on their code reader. Knock scensor is under the code and I've read where multiple people with this make and model of car have had the same issue and had their whole motor replaced.

- Douglasville, GA, USA

problem #10

Jul 092020

Optima

  • 46,000 miles
My 2016 Kia Optima bursted into flames while stationary in front of my home.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #9

Jun 052020

Optima

  • 70,000 miles
Smells like gasoline. Maybe a delivery hose.can smell gasoline randomly while vehicle is in motion.

- Memphis, TN, USA

problem #8

Feb 012020

Optima

  • 70,416 miles
Oil is burning too hot causing the oil to burn out faster than it should. Over time this issue will lead to engine failure

- Willingboro, NJ, USA

problem #7

Jan 122020

Optima

  • 110,000 miles
On 1/12/2020, I was driving my car 2016 Kia Optima from alpharetta to Decatur to attend church. I pulled into the parking lot of the church and parked. A few seconds after I parked, I began seeing lots of smoke coming from the right passenger side of the car. The police men who were in the parking lot directing traffic asked me to get out of the car quickly and began attempting to quench the fire with a fire extinguisher. Shortly after, the dekalb fire dept arrived and fought to put out and contain the fire. It was then towed to the tow yard. I contacted my insurance company right away and after a few days of investigation, unfortunately, my car was deemed a total loss. Next day, I checked my VIN # to see if there are any recalls by Kia that I was not aware of, but the results came back saying 'no records' and '0 recalls found'. on 1/15/2020 at approximately 12.50pm, I contacted Kia corporate and filed a complaint and I was informed when I gave my statement over the phone that there was an ' open campaign pi 1802 ECU upgrade' and as advised by the Kia customer service rep that he will be forwarding my complaint to a the national dept and they will get back to me. A Kia rep ashley contacted me and advised Kia engineers will like to investigate what happened. After 3 weeks of waiting, the rep contacted me stating they will like to pay off remaining bal on my car, and personal items. They will not help me with getting another car and I declined because I lost everything and incurred a greater damage. Then the Kia rep wrote me stating that they ill no longer pursue investigating since I refused accepting $1001 my left over balance owed to the lender. I am very disappointed on how Kia has treated me leaving me hanging after such a great loss. I am seeking legal actions since Kia has refused to come to a suitable resolution.

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #6

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 #5

Aug 162019

Optima

  • 35,555 miles
Ever since I had my car serviced about 3 weeks ago my car has been sluggish and acceleration has weakened, also I'm getting poorer gas mileage. The recall that was fixed has greatly reduced the performance of my vehicle.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #4

Aug 292019

Optima

  • 123,000 miles
Check engine light is blinking, there is a noticeable decrease in power, and it jerks out of first gear. Took it to autozone for a free diagnostic which was P1326. All fluid are in order. Milage is 123,000. This happened when I was driving he fr work.

- Shiprock, NM, USA

problem #3

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

problem #2

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 #1

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