6.1

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,615 miles

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problem #21

Nov 112022

Optima

  • miles
Normally, when the doors are open my car will tell me. The doors notify me that they're open but my trunk was not showing that it was open. It blinks when it is. Due to that I was driving and my trunk seemed closed and it just flew open. So the problems I'm having is that my trunk will not show its open but it also will not close AT ALL due to the latch. I literally had to bungee it closed. This is dangerous. I have seen many recalls in other kia's and hyundai's just like this. This is very dangerous and needs to be recalled and/or fixed.

- Katy , TX, USA

problem #20

Jun 032022

Optima

  • miles
I brought the vehicle into Kia service for the recall including a computer operating system upgrade. After the recall work was done the car driving at high highway speeds failed, and immediately slowed down, almost causing a rear collision. The computer system turned off the drive mechanism and I was left with only the electric motor to propel the car. The car barely limped off the highway. The car was brought to the Kia Dealer and no defect was found and the computer was reset. This problem occurred two more times, at highway speeds (70 mph) and Kia was contacted to find out why the problems occurred and how to fix it. To date, Kia has not responded to how to fix the problem and has ignored all phone calls and emails. The car has been in the shop for 3 months. The problem occurred only after Kia upgraded the software due to the recall. Additionally, the recall work was done. I do not know why the recall work was not reported.

- Lake Forest , IL, USA

problem #19

Sep 272022

Optima

  • miles
Rough idle, chugged along before killing engine power. Has happened a couple of times. No check engine light has come

- Apache Junction, AZ, USA

problem #18

Sep 192022

Optima

  • miles
Just Started Having Problems On It-€™s On The Car Only Has 38,000 Miles

- Warren, OH, USA

problem #17

Sep 102022

Optima

  • miles
When headlight switch is set to automatically come on, the light will sometimes randomly turn off. No warning or indicator on the dash appears showing that they are off. Technicians are unable to reproduce the issue in the shop. Have recommended replacing the entire headlight switch on the turn signal stick.

- Henderson, NV, USA

problem #16

Jul 032022

Optima

  • miles
Me and my family just returned home from the laundry mat and took 2 children inside our house and turned around for our belongings and clothing/bedding for the family as the wheels spun out being followed by a silver hyundaii. Just a matter of seconds to 2 minutes. The keys were not in the vehicle. 2 childrens carseats and almost ALL of my family's belongings were stolen inside of the vehicle. 2018 kia optima dark slate grey in color with dark tinted windows and sun strip at the top of windshield, black rims. CR 21077 IL LICENSE PLATE This seems to be an ongoing issue with kia and hyundaii vehicles being stolen and somehow im still not being offered a loaner vehicle with full coverage insurance

- Cantrall, IL, USA

problem #15

Feb 102022

Optima

  • miles
My car has been at the dealership since February 10th. The dealer has been giving me the run around. Didn-€™t have any transportation for over two months and car hasn-€™t moved since the day I dropped it off. I-€™m really getting impatient, as I am making monthly payments on a car that I can-€™t even use. Nearing four months and I-€™m totally lost on what to do. Thank you for any assistance

- Townsend, GA, USA

problem #14

Mar 192022

Optima

  • miles
The headlights on my 2018 Kia Optima have been turning off and on randomly by themselves while in motion. Each time it's happened has been in different areas at different times of the night. The headlight switch is kept in the auto position most of the time. When the headlights turn off, the screen in the dash for the headlight function switches from auto to off by itself. Sometimes if the turn signal switch is jiggled the lights will come back on. Other times the headlight switch, located on the end of the turn signal switch, has to be turned to the on position to get the lights to turn on. The car has been in for service but each time the technician is unable to reproduce the fault. It is occurring more frequently and becoming a safety issue.

- Beloit, WI, USA

problem #13

Jul 292021

Optima

  • miles
The electrical components connected to the headlights seem to be faulty. When lights are set to AUTO, the lights will turn off completely when switching on turn signal. At times the light will not come on at all when set to AUTO or On without cycle back to off.

- Rosharon, TX, USA

problem #12

Aug 072021

Optima

  • miles
While driving, car in motion, Front Passenger Seat belt Audio Warning Periodically goes off without reason. Indicating seat is occupied & seat belt needs putting on. When seat has been unoccupied / clear from any type of weight on seat to trigger sensor. Audio warning will continue until seat belt is latched over the empty seat. Local KIA Service Dept was informed & could neither confirm or deny its faulty behavior for it did not present itself during time of service. They said, wiring looked fine but did no further testing. To be honest they showed no interest into seeing any real importance for my concern for them to feel any further investigation was warranted. Its happened again twice since that service visit be it last incident Aug 7th. My concern is.... if there is faulty wiring or sensor signals being crossed somewhere, whats to say there is a passenger or no passenger in that seat, to ensure the correct signal is getting to the passenger side air bags of when to correctly deploy if an accident should happen with passenger in seat? This situ is only recent starting about a year a go. So something has changed from being fine for 2 yrs up to the last year that's now showing some kind of seat belt / sensor failure. I'm unfamiliar with how that wiring system works & linked within it for me know what other things I might need to pay more attn to, looking for other signs that could be saying is direct cause to the prob. Unsure if this a simple solution or is something that others are experiencing with this year & model car & poss be a Manufacturer Part Default

- La Habra Heights, CA, USA

problem #11

Feb 252021

Optima

  • 19,000 miles
I was told by the dealership that my 2018 Kia Optima phev was repaired but after I drove it off the lot and got on the freeway the warning light came on again and lost all power. I almost got into another accident because of this. The dealership said they worked with Kia technical support to fix my car but apparently Kia doesn't know what's wrong with their own car. The vehicle has only 19K miles. I'm afraid for my safety and my families that this will continue to happen.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #10

Feb 142021

Optima

  • 19,000 miles
When I was driving on the highway on 2/14/2011 a "check hybrid system" warning came on, check engine light, triangle hev light, a red battery light came on and car lost engine power. After my vehicle slowed traffic down due to not having power I was barely able to pull over to the side of the road by coasting the car to the shoulder. It would not accelerate what so ever not even with just the engine power. When I pulled over the big check hybrid system warning dissapeared and only the check engine light and triangle hev light stayed on. I had my children in the car and almost caused an accident. It was towed to my home and after I connected it to the wall plug for an hour the lights dissapeared. I'm afraid that if I take the car to the dealership that they wont be able to replicate this issue since the warning lights are no longer on and they tell me they cant find the issue and this happens again in the future. There are several forums where people have this same issue from 2014 hybrid models and up and has happened to them numerous times and the dealership tells them they cant duplicate the problem.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #9

Dec 102020

Optima

  • 36,826 miles
I have 63,826 miles on my 2018 Kia Optima S and I drove it to the store and all my light on the dash came on when I would come to a stop and my power steering would go out and about cause me to wreck. I was told that it was my alternator but after getting a new alternator I then drove it to get dinner a few days later when the same thing started happening again and my power steering kept going out again. I have two newborn babies, a 5 year old and a 10 year old in the vehicle with me and had I wrecked when the power steering went out it could have been a bad situation.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #8

Oct 222020

Optima

  • 19,200 miles
2018 Kia Optima ex. Sometimes hesitates when trying to start, until today. All lights on dash lit up but no ignition. I tried several times, then steering and brake pedal locked up and I heard clicking noise. Had someone jump my battery and the car started up, but when I turned it off, it would not start again. Nothing was left on all night, car was locked and unlocked with handle. I am contacting the dealer this afternoon to see how they handle this.

- Port Richey, FL, USA

problem #7

Oct 162020

Optima

  • miles
My car suddenly experience major electrical issues. I drove my car to the store and back home. I went back to my car and it started with no problem but my dash was flashing, my brake, steering, check engine, airbag, ABS, and traction's control indicators came on all at once. I was not able to shift the car into gear. I used the park release shift to put the car in gear and the car has no power steering. But it moves. I took it to the jeffery Kia in roseville, mi and basically was told that they didn't know what was wrong with car. They ask me had my car been struck by lightning! you can look at the car and see there has been no accidents or lightning strikes to the car. They wanted to charge me extra money to keep the car just to tell me what's wrong with it. I know this is a defect with this vehicle. I see the epd recall on 2018 Kia Optima but they are saying it's only for hybrids. Which is false this has to be happening to all the Kia Optima models.

- Highland Park, MI, USA

problem #6

Aug 012020

Optima

  • 45,325 miles
While driving at night lights went completely out on highway while in auto mode

- Mccook, NE, USA

problem #5

Dec 062019

Optima

  • 42,100 miles
I have never had any issues with my car, I get maintenance as scheduled so it's odd that this is even happening. On December 6th I went to move my car. I crank the car with no problem. I noticed it kind of hesistated slightly, but continued on with no problem. When I went to put my car in reverse in order to park it stalled and about 5 or 6 of the lights on the dash came on, the steering wheel went hard to manage/steer and as 6 other lights started blinking, I could no longer manipulate my wheel so I allowed the car to roll into the spot because I was on a slight incline and put it in park. The moment I did that the car cut off. It would not turn over, it would not do anything besides click when I tried to crank the car again. I eventually asked someone for a jump and managed to make it home. The next day I got up and drove as I normally would and thats when the eletric power steering warning light came on. When that light comes on the car becomes hard to maneuver. Thankfully that time it went off and proceeded to drive as it would normally. This issue happens unexpectedly without any warning. So at any moment I could be driving and the car can stop on me. I have 4 kids and live in a really busy area so even the thought of this happening has me second thinking each time I have to move my car!! I've seen more than one of the same complaint and I notice our VIN #'s are similar so something should really be done about this as it seems this is a trend with the year, make, and model of this car.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #4

Nov 242019

Optima

  • 57,000 miles
Hello I am nychole and in October of 2017 I purchased a brand new 2018 Kia Optima. Never really had any issues with it until fri Nov 22. As I was leaving from work my car did a very abrupt jerk that I acknowledged but didn't think anything of it because my gas light had just came on. But today which is Sunday my car's eps (electric power steering) light flashed. Weirded out I look at the manual in the glove compartment. As I eased into my apartment complex the car did that same jerk, the steering wheel went hard to manage/steer and 6 other lights started blinking( parking break light, epb light, ABS light, ESC light, battery charge light, and the master malfunction light). I could no longer manipulate my wheel so I pull forward onto a open spot and put it in park. The moment I did this the car cut off. It will not turn over, it will not do anything besides tick. I have been great with maintenance because it was either free or dirt cheap so I always took it to the dealership. I have read more reviews of people going through similar things. Just imagine if I had my child in the car, on the interstate and could no longer control my steering wheel or the car just dying mid drive on the interstate how dangerous this issue is. My car is basically 3 years old and has less that 50 K. it has never been wrecked, towed or damaged still practically new. I have also read similar recalls about electronic issues that are only relevant to the hybrids. The recall seems similar.

- Lemoore, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 312019

Optima

  • 14,356 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Kia Optima. While reversing the vehicle, the rear and side sensors failed to identify two people walking past. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to sunset Kia of auburn (3401 auburn way N, auburn, wa 98002, (855) 474-9626) who stated that the sensors were working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 14,356.

- Federal Way, WA, USA

problem #2

Jun 012019

Optima

  • 12,098 miles
Takara recall vehicle power down while I was driving 45 mph on a city street the car was stationary in motion then powered back up without me turning the ignition.was a very scary experience

- Montgomery, AL, USA

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