Both my left rear and right rear windows failed within about two weeks of each other. I ordered parts from Rock Auto for my mechanic to install. However, the parts that I got did not fit my car at all - be careful when ordering the window regulator and/or window motor assemblies... match the picture of the part to be purchased exactly to your existing part(s).

I believe that this failure, based on my current issue and MANY other similar window regulator-related complaints, warrants a recall. There is no reason on earth that both of my rear windows should have failed - they might have been used less than a total of 10 times since I bought the car brand new. I use this car as a commuter vehicle, with me as the only occupant 99.9% of the time. I only lower the front two windows and have never had an issue with those. What gives? Why would the rear windows fail when they are almost never used at all? They should be factory new... something is really wrong here.

Furious over this issue of falling down windows. It's the worst Kia dealership ever... Daytona ( FL ).

Back window started falling down as I was driving, so I took the car in to the dealership and was told it would be $149 to assess the situation. I said there no need to assess anything! The friggin' windows are falling down DUHHHH. Then I came back days later and the other side ( back window ) was also sliding down. The solution the dealership had? Rip me off for $149 and brought the car back with duct tape on the windows. Yep, DUCT TAPE.

I was told it would be $900 for parts and I must pay up front or they wouldn't order them. $ weeks later I call and am given the run around about the parts. Another month passes and still no call from the dealership to update me. Finally I call California Kia headquarters and a week later I get a call and the parts are in. By this time all 4 windows are malfunctioning!! ALL FOUR. So if I get pulled over by police I have tinted windows ( live in Florida) and will not be able to roll down any window. And Police will likely pull a gun on me since they can't see and I'm not opening a window! If I'm at a stoplight someone can approach the car, see that the windows are duct taped and simply yank it open and rob or assault me.

I went to the service manager to complain and he turned his back on me. At this point I'm really angry and tell them I'm taking the complaint to the regional manager of Kia, they refuse to give me a name or contact mail. Suddenly the next day I get a call that they can replace the front window with a small plastic piece and will only cost me labor. Back windows were over $600 each.

Feel like they ripped me off and replaced the motor when all they had to do was replace the plastic part that was malfunctioning. I could hear the motor in the back windows hum when I pressed the down button.

This is an ongoing problem with Kia Optimas (esp. 2016's) and Kia needs to step up and reimburse me.

My back window regulator on the passenger side went out in April - I got that one fixed for $198.00. Then 5 months later my back door on the driver's side went out and then a month later the one that I had fixed is no longer working - and now the passenger side window doesn't work and all the motor does is make noise. This just doesn't make any damn sense to me - out of all the cars that I have had, I have never had any problems with the window regulator. I have 3 windows that don't work and I fear that my driver's window might go next.

I really like my car but who can I make a complaint to, because this is just ridiculous - this just doesn't make any sense. Kia is always emailing me that they want my car - with this s** I got going on, they can have it. But the problem is they want to give me something with house note payment but if I have to deal with this s** I don't want another Kia. I'm normally the one that's always bragging about how good a car Kia is but after this I don't think I will anymore and it's sad that Kia won't see this as a problem - they'll just blow it off and say they have never heard of this and no one never complained. I'm sure customers have been complaining about this problem - why hasn't there been a recall on the window regulators in these cars? Kia needs to listen to their customers and fix this problem.

This is window number 4 that has needed a regulator. I have yet to receive a recall notice on this issue. There is definitely a problem. I will never buy another Kia - they are rude and once the sale is made, they don't give a damn. Recently I heard they do not hold their value and the their own salesman call them disposable cars. Never again, and this car was bought as a college graduation present for my granddaughter. You have also lost her as a customer for life - and at 22, she has many more cars in her future.

I have a 2016 Kia Optima that I have had for 3 years with very little problems. The first problem I had was that the antenna shark wing blew off. That was replaced by the dealer. Then the cruise control would not work. The mechanic said it would be $126.00 for the part plus the labor. Then sometime in August 2021, the right rear window would not go up. Took it to the mechanic and he told me it was the regulator. I stuffed cardboard between the window and door to keep the window up.

Get this... Then the drivers side window stopped working. Same problem, window regulator. I had it fixed $385.32. Now the passenger window regulator is bad also. ALL FOUR OF MY WINDOWS DO NOT WORK BECAUSE OF FAULTY WINDOW REGULATORS.

I am 80 years old and have probably owned 30 + cars in my life and have NEVER had a window regulator go bad. I contacted Kia Customer Relations and they told me to take it to the dealer and have them analyze what is going on. Today is October 20, 2021. I will keep you up to date as to what Kia will do for me. Any comments are appreciated.

Now I am pissed. I just got in the car today and now the driver side front window will not go up or down.

I am now four for four. This is crap, Kia. Two months ago I was singing the praises of Kia as I had never had a problem. Heck, I got my step son to buy 2 Kia's as I had never had an issue. Now I am down 4 window regulators and 2200 to get fixed.

This must have been a defective part and Kia should pay me back. To have all four window regulators go out within 35 days is simply a manufacturing flaw.

KIA have you issued a recall for these cars or are others having to pay 2200 to get them fixed? Simply not right.

Third of the four window regulators has failed due to the same issue. Expect the fourth to follow soon.

The teeth on the gear of the regulator that the widow motor inserts into turn to powder, indicative of poor material used.

Called NAPA, Advance, Auto Zone, etc and am unable to find a replacement gear or the entire panel. Called Dorman and they don't make any either. A regulator at the dealership without a motor is $250. See for ~$170 online but not from anyplace I am familiar with. So disappointing as the part that could fix this is so small but the regulator is the entire panel.

For the two rear windows, I had jury-rigged them in the closed position with a piece of wood bolted to the window clip and secured in place with zip-ties. For the front, my plan is to clean up the gear as best I can and then epoxy the female gear in the regulator to the male gear on the window motor. Will post results here if I remember.

Looks like the part is the same for most 2016-2020 Optimas but check your own fitment:

Front Driver: 82471-D5000 Rear Driver: 83471-D5000 Front Passenger: 82481-D5000 Rear Passenger: 83481-D5000

Update from Aug 29, 2020: I used JB Weld plastic epoxy but it didn't work.

Held for a day before more of the gear on the regulator disintegrated.

Looks like they changed the plastic on newer parts so I'll be looking for a 2018/2019 in the local salvage yards. Hopefully some aftermarket company makes one soon.

2016 Kia Optima LX. No passengers in the back ever, and both window regulators went within 1 week of each other. Windows won't stay up. Looking online, I cannot find the part, but I find several complaints saying the same thing. This is obviously a manufacturer issue. Even as a female, went online and figured out how to remove the door panel, find the problem, and it is a round plastic 3" spindle with plastic gears that completely disintegrated.

No way is this from use, it is clearly a manufacturer issue. And $250 to order from Kia. It's maybe $1.00 part, if that. What a rip-off. Poor design for sure.

3rd window to replace whole window regulator inside the door. Thought it was an electrical problem starting at the drivers door, to driver's rear to passenger rear. Had the drivers rear replaced and the next day the passenger rear stopped going up. 485.00 each time it has been replaced.

I've come to find out it's the cheap plastic gears inside that keep getting eaten up on each window. This really pisses me off because I drove it for a work car for years and rarely used the back windows. No reason for those to go bad with the amount of use they got. It's a manufacturers defect and the only place to get the very expensive parts is from Kia.

NOW THIS IS MY 3RD WINDOW REGULATOR GOING OUT IN 2 MONTHS!!!! KIA still says $150 to do a diagnostic check - part is at $275! But now I gotta do it x3.....So you're at $825 and that doesn't include labor! Can't find the part anywhere, obviously I'm not the only one with this issue. No aftermarket parts - mechanics are saying don't buy it used, you're going to be back at square one in a matter of time. KIA refusing to call it a recall - it's wear & tear! I'm a solo single driver and live in Florida where we believe in the AC not windows being down! Now I'm very frustrated!