10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
8 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,282 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

Feb 252023

Optima

  • 93,228 miles
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25-30 mph approaching an intersection, an unknown pickup T -boned the vehicle on the driver-side quarter panel. While depressing the brake pedal, the attention level high / collision warning message was displayed. The air bag did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries to her back and shoulder and she had several bruises. The contact was seen at the hospital where medical treatment was received. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and than to a tow lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 93,228.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #8

Sep 012022

Optima

  • miles
On sept 1st I was in an accident. I hit a parked car. My car was totaled. I suffered a fractured sternum and possible concussion. All of airbags failed to deploy. PALO ALTO POLICE RECORD,22-02889

- Palo Alto , CA, USA

problem #7

Aug 232022

Optima

  • 49,596 miles
The contact owned a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 mph, several deers intercepted the lane, to prevent impact with them, she turned the steering wheel and crashed head-on into a telephone pole. No air bags deployed. The contact sustained a concussion when she hit her head on an unknown surface and was transported by an ambulance to an Emergency Room to seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact towed the vehicle to an autobody center. The vehicle was not diagnosed. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 49,596.

- Edna, KS, USA

problem #6

Oct 122021

Optima

  • miles
Struck by heavy vehicle in an intersection; t-boned in the left front -?" by the right front of other vehicle which ran a red light. I have numerous injuries to my left side, and I have a damaged heart because none of my airbags deployed during the crash. The corner where I moved from when the traffic signal turned green has a severely blocked view where I sat at a red light. There-??s a highway barrier fence that stretches alongside the road I was traveling, and this fence extends beyond the stop line for that traffic signal; it even stretches up to the sidewalk/crosswalk. That fence is completely covered with the heavy cover of vegetation/vines. Even at night, there is no visibility through that fence, can-??t even see headlamps of another vehicle at night.

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #5

Oct 122021

Optima

  • miles
Wow

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #4

Nov 222019

Optima

  • 3,168 miles
The contact's husband owns a 2019 Kia Optima. While driving 50 mph, the vehicle crashed into a deer that jumped in the middle of the road. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. The driver sustained neck and back pain and his daughter, who was seated behind the driver's seat, sustained neck pain. The contact mentioned that both occupants would be taken to the emergency room for their injuries. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The vehicle was currently waiting to be towed to a local body shop for repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,168.

- Louisburg, KS, USA

problem #3

Oct 152019

Optima

  • 2,500 miles
I was rear ended on the freeway. Traffic came to a complete stop, but the car behind me was going 40-50mph and did not stop in time and rear ended me and pushed me into the vehicle in front of me. My airbags did not deploy.

- Buena Park, CA, USA

problem #2

Mar 082019

Optima

  • 25,000 miles
I was driving one night on a residential street and a deer ran out in front of my car. I slammed on my brakes but still hit the deer which damaged my front drivers side fender and lights. I was traveling at 25 miles per hour. I didn't call the ambulance at the time because I had to go right back to work. At the time I also did not think that the accident affected me but I believe that due to the whiplash from slamming on the brakes that it did in fact damage my spine. I kept going to the doctor's and hospitals to see what was going on with my body but none of them really had any drainage answers. Just recently had an emergency surgery on my upper back. The diagnosis was spinal stenosis. I had no prior health problems before this incident. My airbags did not deploy upon impact and I want some answers to that. Also after this incident my back tire blew out on the highway. There was no spare tire, flares for safety or anything when I looked in my trunk I am sure this is a whole different issue all together before all of this I had faith in Kia and now I doubt that Kia cares or is concerned with the well being of buying and paying customers. Kia financial treated very badly as well. My mom, my dad and my step mother all drive Kia's a's well. Is it time for us to switch up car choices?

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #1

Apr 272019

Optima

  • 46 miles
Purchased 2019 Kia Optima ex on 4/27/2019 from a Kia dealership in hagerstown, md. After research on this website we find out that there is an investigation for airbags not deploying on this vehicle in crashes. This investigation was initiated before the purchase of this vehicle. How is a dealership allowed to sell a vehicle with a potential safety issue? a dealership/manufacturer should have to let the purchaser know before they buy the vehicle. We would have never purchased the vehicle if we would have known this!

- Clear Spring, MD, USA