2007 Kia Optima complaints

THE LOW BEAMS ARE VERY DIM. THE FOG LIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD BETTER THAN THE LOW BEAMS. I REPLACED THE LOWBEAM BULBS WITH SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR ULTRA BULBS WHICH ARE VERY BRIGHT IN MY OTHER CAR, THEY STILL ARE VERY DIM.

KNAGE123575112607 I TOOK MY CAR IN TODAY BECAUSE OF A LETTER I RECEIVED FOR A SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THERE ARE ALL SEVERAL PROBLEMS REGARDING MY BRAKES LOSS OF FLUIDS SEVERE CORROSION FLAKING OR SCALING OF METAL BRAKE PIPES AND I WAS TOLD THE WEATHER HAS CAUSED THAT WHEN I CALLED THE CONSUMER KIA PHONE NUMBER. I HAVE OIL LEAK FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND ROGERS VERY VERY RUSTY. BOTH FRONT STRUTS LEAKING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO KIA SUMMIT PLACE IN WATERFORD MICHIGAN. THIS IS WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR. THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL OF THAT CORROSION WAS BECAUSE I LIVE IN MICHIGAN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN BEARING IN THE ENGINE FAILED CAUSING ONE OF THE RODS TO FRACTURE. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. ..UPDATED 11/05/15*BF

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT REMAINS LIT WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FROM THE TIME WE PURCHASED THE CAR TO THE PRESENT. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT, SO THERE IS NO TRUST THAT A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER IS PROTECTED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE THE CAR INTO THE DEALER WHEN THE LIGHT WAS ON, WHICH WE DID. DEALER QUESTIONED THE WEIGHT OF PASSENGER (NOT THE ISSUE), THEN REPLACED THE BLADDER IN THE SEAT AND SUGGESTED TO FRONT SEAT PASSENGER TO "SIT SQUARELY & PROPERLY" IN THE SEAT. THEN TOLD US WHEN THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, TO EXECUTE THE FOLLOWING SEQUENCE: STOP & TURN OFF CAR, UNDO SEAT BELT, GET OUT, GET BACK IN, CLOSE DOOR, BUCKLE UP AND RESTART CAR, "AND SEE IF THE LIGHT STAYS OFF". TOTALLY UNREALISTIC ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN TRAFFIC. SOMETIMES WE HAVE DONE THE RECOMMENDED SEQUENCE 4-5 TIMES BEFORE THE LIGHT STAYS OFF. INDICATOR MAY START OFF DARK AND THEN LIGHT UP AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES, A HALF HOUR OR SEVERAL HOURS OF CONTINUOUS DRIVING. WE HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE AND WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE DRIVER AIR BAG BUT NOTHING FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE INTERNET HAS PAGES AND PAGES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. KIA TURNS A DEAF EAR OR THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX THIS. 8 YEARS OF THE SAME PROBLEM IS TOO LONG AND THERE IS NO WAY I CAN AFFORD A NEW CAR. SOMEBODY PLEASE PUSH THEM TO INVESTIGATE

I BOUGJT THIS CAR IN 2014. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS, TWICE, A BRAKE LIGHT, BOTH REAR BLINKERS, A FRONT BLINKER, AS WELL AS BOTH HIGHBEAMS. I HAVE NEVER REPLACED EVEN HALF THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS IN THE ENTIRE LIFETIME OF OWNERSHIP OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS RECALL ISSUE BASED ON SAFETY AS WELL AS QUALITY IF KIA CARED. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH-BEAMS ON AND I NEVER GET FLASHED OR PULLED OVER. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE VS. ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE CAR AND HAVE SHARED THE STORY. AND EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING, ITS LIKE THE BRIGHTS IN THIS CAR IS EVERYONE ELSE'S REGULAR LIGHTS. IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE SAY THE HIGH-BEAMS ARE NOT AS BRIGHT AS MOST VEHICLES LOW-BEAMS. IT IS RIDICULOUS AND UNFAIR THAT US OWNERS HAVE TO SPEND $10-$35 ON A BULB OR TWO AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 5-8 WEEKS. CRAZY....KIA STEP UP AND FIX THIS QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. GOV'T I GUESS WONT STEP IN WITHOUT SOMEONE DYING FIRST AND IT MAKING THE NEWS BECAUSE I SEE I AM NOT THE FIRST BY ANY MEANS, AND WONT BE THE LAST!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE DETACHED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000. UPDATED 09/10/15*LJ UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ

I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NO AVAIL. I ALSO NOTIFIED NHTSA A WHILE BACK AND NO FOLLOW UP NOR ANY RECALLS. AFFECTED AREA IS FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WHICH AFFECTED AND SHOWS AIR BAG IS OFF WHEN SOME IS SITTING ON THE SEAT. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL.

WHILE DRIVING ON HYWY 80 WEST, HIT BLACK ICE, LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE SPUN AND THEN FLIPPED END OVER END CAUSING EXTENSIVE IMPACT TO FRONT AND REAR OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 6 AIR BAGS. NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED!!!! BY THE GRACE OF GOD NO ONE WAS KILLED. THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED AND HAD TO HAVE MEDICAL TREATMENT.

I JUST HAD THE CLOCK SPRING RECALL FIXED, AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE OCS SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WILL COST ME $1600. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN THE SAME YEAR RANGES ON THE RIO. I WOULD BET THEY USED THE SAME BRAND AND SENSOR IN PROBABLY ALL THE CARS IN THESE YEARS, SO WHY ONLY RECALL ONE MODEL ? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS DUE TO THEM HAVING ONE RECALL OUT ALREADY. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED WHEN RIO OWNERS DON'T FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON. KIA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THIS SENSOR TO KEEP MY FAMILY SAFE WHILE DRIVING. THEY DESIGNED THIS FAULTY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND DON'T HAVE AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO FIX IT. OTHER THAN THIS ISSUE MY CAR IN GREAT SHAPE. HOPING YOU WILL ADVOCATE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK , NECK AND LEFT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. ....UPDATED 04/08/15 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SUBFRAME CORRODED PREMATURELY DUE TO SALT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AGGRESSIVELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO PREVENT A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUBFRAME AND THE FRAME WERE CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE SUBFRAME FRACTURED. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE SUBFRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,599. UPDATED 6/25/15*CN UPDATED 10/2/2017*CN

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, KEEP REPLACING BULBS, EXACT BULBS REQUIRED BY KIA. ALTERNATING EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR THE PASSENGER. BESIDE THIS PROBLEM, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO LOW THAT AT NIGHT I HAVE BEEN RUNNING WITH HIGH BEAMS ON FOR OVER A YEAR NOW; ON-COMING CARS DON'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERED BY THE HIGH BEAMS. USUALLY HIGH BEAMS CAUSE ON COMING VEHICLES TO FLASH THEIR HIGH BEAMS, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH FIRESTONE, THEY TESTED THE BULBS AND BELIEVE IT IS ELECTRICAL. SINCE REVIEWING YOUR ON-LINE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, WE'D EXPECT A RECALL BY KIA! WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, AT NO COST, INSTEAD OF IT BEING OUR EXPENSE. I HAD SEVERAL CHEVY CAMARO FOR YEARS, NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ONLY RECALLING HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED ONE OR TWICE! *TR

I HAVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA AND IT HAS TERRIBLE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. PER FORUM DISCUSSIONS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *JS

AIR BAG LIGHTS COM ON WITH NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS MY ISSUE NOT THEIRS. I HAVE FILED PREVIOUS TIME AND YET NO ANSWER FROM ANYONE. KIA OWNER ARE BEING LEFT OUT ON THESE RECALLS ON AIR BAGS. THEY HAD IN THE PAST RECALLS ON THE SAME ISSUE. AIR BAGS. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I USED A PREMIUM OIL FILTER (NOT KIA), AND A FEW WEEKS LATER HAD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP UP THE STREET AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE WE USED AN OIL FILTER THAT WAS NOT KIA, THE FILTER CAUSED METAL IN THE ENGINE WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT TO ME IN 6 YEARS, NOT ONE PIECE STATED THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO USE A KIA OIL FILTER. THE SHOP THAT I ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO HAD TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND STATED THAT THERE ARE BULLETINS OUT THAT ARE ONLY AROUND 2 YEARS OLD. WHILE SPEAKING WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO GO TO A KIA DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHICH STATED THE SAME THING. NOW, THE KICKER, THEY WILL NOT HELP IN FIXING THE ENGINE BECAUSE I AM OVER THE 100,000 MILE MARK. ON TOP OF THAT, I AM NOW CHARGED A TOW BILL AND MORE DIAGNOSTIC FEES ON TOP OF WHAT I ALREADY PAID IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR EITHER (SINCE THEY REQUIRED THE CAR TO BE AT A DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE). I CALL THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS LADY THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALL UNTIL I CALL THE 800 NUMBER AND TELL THEM I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE OR I WILL BE GOING TO THE LOCAL MEDIA AS WELL AS ANY SOCIAL MEDIA AVENUE I CAN. THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WILL ALSO NOT HONOR THE "ENGINE FOR LIFE" THAT I SIGNED UNLESS I CAN PROVIDE ALL RECEIPTS FROM THE LAST 5 YEARS ON ANY MAINTENANCE THAT

I WAS TRAVELING 25 MILES AN HOUR ON A ROAD AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AT A RED LIGHT. THIS HAPPEN ONCE BEFORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. LUCKY THEY CAR IN FRONT OF US RAN THE RED LIGHT TO KEEP US FROM HITTING THEM. BUT ON THE 8TH OF THIS MONTH MY SISTER USED MY CAR FOR HER DRIVERS TEST, SHE TRIED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR HER TEST. THE MAN TESTING HER SAID IT DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX THIS. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM SHOULD FIX IT OR REPLACE THE CAR. THIS COULD CAUSE A WRECK THAT COULD KILL OUR FAMILY. *TR

I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIME'S IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TODAY THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT FROM A SPEED PF 65 TO 20 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE. I SUDDENLY TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS TO LET THE CARS BEHIND ME KNOW THAT THEIR WAS A PROBLEM. THANK GOD I WAS HIT AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER ON THE RAMP. I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BUT IN HOUSTON (THIS LABOR DAY) NO ONE IS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CAR SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO AUTO ZONE. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODES APPEARED. I WAS TOLD ONLY KIA CARRIES THE PART. I WAS SO SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND I DON'T WANT TO EVER BE IN THAT POSITION AGAIN BECAUSE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. I WAS READING COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL WEBSITES AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. IT'S SAD THAT KIA HASN'T OF YET ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS THIS WAS WAKE UP CALL FOR ME I CAN HONESTLY SAY I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY LIFE WHEN MY CAR DROPPED DAWN FROM SPEEDS OF 65 TO 20. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LOSING POWER BUT IT WOULD QUICKLY REGAIN POWER BUT NOTHING OF THIS INSTANCE. VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT FOR THE SAKE OF MY CHILDREN THAT WERE PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/FAULTY-THROTTLE-POSITION-SWITCH-355 I JUST RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THEY RELEASED A BETTER PERFORMING PART BUT OTHERS ARE STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT PART. KIA COULD OF AT LEAST NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR FAILS TO STAY UPRIGHT LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO POOR THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD AT NIGHT. IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE ROAD LEADING OUT PROVIDES LITTLE TO NO LIGHT AND I WOULD CONSTANTLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE BRIGHT ON TO BE ABLE TO SEE INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS. BOTH ARE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY HURT. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT NO FURTHER ACTIONS HAVE BEEN INITIATED. *TR

NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA ON AIR ISSUES AND THEY FALL DEAF EARS. CAR WITH LESS THAN 100, 000 MILES AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. IT SEEMS THAT KIA HAS NO CONCERN ON AUTO SAFETY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY DIES FROM THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS WILL NOT STAY UP. THEY HANG DOWN MAKING IT UNABLE TO SEE THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT STARTED SMOKING AND A SMALL FIRE FROM ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. I PURCHASED THE CARE BRAND NEW IN 2007 AND HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE INCLUDING NEW TIRES. THIS CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT IT WAS LATE AND NO TRAFFIC. I THE WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALER. THE SAID THE ENGINE IS SHOT. I TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER, THEY SAID THERE IS A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE. REPAIR COST $7,000. THE CAR ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT. I'M APPALLED! *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE INDICATOR STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. KIA DEALERS WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE US THAT PASSENGER WAS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT PROPERLY, AND NEEDED TO SIT A CERTAIN WAY FOR IT TO WORK.

BACK WHEN THE CLOCK SPRING HAD A RECALL WE HAD IT FIXED, SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON THEY TOLD US IT WAS UP TO US TO REPAIR WITH A COSTLY BILL. OUR STATE INSPECTION RAN OUT AND THE CAR WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. THEY RAN DIAGNOSIS AND IT CAME BACK TO THE OCS SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WILL COST ME $1800. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN THE SAME YEAR RANGES ON THE RIO. I WOULD BET THEY USED THE SAME BRAND AND SENSOR IN PROBABLY ALL THE CARS IN THESE YEARS, SO WHY ONLY RECALL ONE MODEL ? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS DUE TO THEM HAVING ONE RECALL OUT ALREADY. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED WHEN RIO OWNERS DON'T FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

LIGHT TURNED ON FOR AIR BAG WHILE TURN VEHICLE ON. NO ACCIDENT. CALLED KIA ON THIS ISSUE. AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SC0094. AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE SORRY BUT THAT CAMPAIGN IS OVER. SO THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN ON AIRBAG SAFETY. UPDATED 3/18/2015 *JS.

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM,WAS REPORTED TO KIA AT THE TIME AND THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME, KIA WOULD NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM THEY JUST TOLD ME TO PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. I FEEL LIKE KIA SHOULD TO REPLACE THEM AT THERE COST NOT MINE, THE REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHTS ARE $360.00 A PIECE. WE HAVE TRIED RESTORING THEM AND HAVING THEM ADJUSTED THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM { FEELING HOPELESS }. *TR

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR. I PUT THE BRAKES ON BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE SPEED. THIS IS ALL HAPPENING GOING IN REVERSE. I CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING NEXT TO THE PARKING LOT. THE FLOOR MAT WAS SEATED PROPERLY AND YES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

HAD ONGOING ISSUES IN WHICH THE CAR GOT "STUCK" AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 25 MPH, EVEN IF I "FLOORED" IT. I HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE GAS PEDAL, WAIT A FEW SECONDS (BY THEN THE CAR WOULD BE DOWN TO 10-15 MPH), THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, WHICH SOMETIMES TOOK SEVERAL TRIES. I WAS VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WARNING AND IF YOU SUDDENLY STOP MOVING AT THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC WITH NO INDICATION YOU ARE SLOWING DOWN, YOU COULD EASILY BE HIT. IN ONE CASE, I WAS TRYING TO PASS A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE GOING 25 IN A 40. I ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND THE VEHICLE, WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PRETTY LOW-SPEED PASS, AS I ONLY NEEDED TO GET UP TO ABOUT 35 MPH, BUT THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AT 25 AND I COULD NOT GET PAST. I HAD TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, WAIT, TRY AGAIN, AND REPEAT THIS A COUPLE TIMES BEFORE THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE AGAIN. THIS BECAME A VERY SCARY SITUATION BECAUSE BY THAT TIME, THERE WAS ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING AND I WAS LITERALLY STUCK IN THE PASSING LANE. I ALSO HAD THE CAR JUST COMPLETELY LOSE POWER AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AT A BUSY URBAN INTERSECTION. TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH PROBLEM, AND IT COST ALMOST $800 TO GET IT FIXED. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I JUST HAD BAD LUCK, BUT I LATER FOUND THIS MESSAGE BOARD IN WHICH PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME MODEL DESCRIBE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/FAULTY-THROTTLE-POSITION-SWITCH-355 ACCORDIN

THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND THE VISOR WILL NO LONGER STAY UP. THIS BLOCKS VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I SEARCHED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FIND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA AND ALSO HYUNDAI THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO KIA REPLACES THESE VISORS BEFORE THEY BREAK AND EVEN AFTER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. IF THE VISOR BREAKS WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING IT CAN CREATE A HAZARD AS THEY DRIVER CAN'T SEE OR NEEDS TO HOLD THE VISOR UP WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS/TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS BURN OUT REPEATEDLY. AT LEAST ONE OF THEM BURNS OUT EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN ON IT'S OWN. THEN IT JUST CUT RIGHT OFF ON ME. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ...TO NO AVAIL.....THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING GOING ON.....I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT HE FELT IT WAS EITHER THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR...HE REPLACED THE STARTER FIRST AND THEN TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD CEASED AND I WOULD NEED A NEW OR REBUILT ON PUT IT. I HAD JUST CHANGED MY OIL A WEEK OR TWO AGO...SO IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THAT...SO I'M HOPING BY WRITING THIS SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO IT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT LESS THEN A YEAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PLACED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY SEIZED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE IGNITION KEY BEGAN TO TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

DRIVER SIDE VISOR CEASED TO REMAIN UPRIGHT WHEN FLIPPED UP OUT OF THE WAY. ONLY WAY TO KEEP FROM BLOCKING MY VIEW WAS TO FLIP IT OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, SAME THING HAPPENED WITH THE PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISOR. KIA NEVER RECALLED THIS ITEM, BUT IT HAS FAILED ON THOUSANDS OF THEIR VEHICLES. DEALER WANTED OVER $500 TO REPAIR. INSTEAD, I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR $206.50. I ORDERED THEM AND REPLACED THE VISORS MYSELF--I SEARCHED AND FOUND DIAGRAMS FROM KIA'S PARTS INVENTORY AND FOUND POSTS ONLINE FROM OTHERS WHO'D HAD TO REPLACE THEIRS WHO EXPLAINED THAT YOU POP OFF THE OVAL-SHAPED PIECE HOLDING THE ARM OF THE VISOR WITH A BUTTER KNIFE (SLIP IT UNDERNEATH) OR FLAT-BLADE SCREWDRIVER TO ACCESS THE SCREW UNDERNEATH AND UNSCREW TO REMOVE THE OLD VISOR AND SCREW IN THE NEW ONE IN ITS PLACE. MY CAR WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND YET ONLY HAD APPROXIMATELY 36,000 MILES ON IT (I ALTERNATE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE); THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO SOON. GIVEN THAT SO MANY OF THESE FAILED SO EARLY ON, KIA SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THEM FREE AND THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE THOSE OF US WHO'VE ALREADY REPLACED THEM OR HAD THEM REPLACED. *TR

AFTER REGULAR USE, BOTH SUN VISORS HAVE LOST THEIR TENSION. ALSO ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE CYLINDER THAT CLIPS INTO THE HOLDER AT THE TOP JUST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF. THEY WILL NOT STAY UP, AND JUST FLOP AROUND. I CAN NOT SEE WHEN I AM APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT IF IT IS RED/YELLOW/ETC.IF I PUSH IT TO THE SIDE , IT HITS ME OVER THE SIDE OF THE HEAD WHEN I MAKE A TURN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING HERE. TO REPLACE BOTH WOULD COST ME ABOUT $200 OR MORE, WHICH I SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT FOLD UP OUT-OF-THE-WAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF TENSION PREVENTING THE VISOR FROM BEING PLACED IN THE FOLD-UP POSITION. *TR

HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, THE LIGHTS ARE SO BAD AT NIGHT, THAT YOU CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE ON DARK ROADS AT ALL . NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET, ONLY DRIVE AT NIGHT AND VERY SCARED, CAREFULLY ONLY IF IT IS NECESSARY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN USED CONDITION, ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW, HAD THE LIGHTS REPLACED AND WORKED ON BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER FORTY YEARS WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES BUT THIS ONE IS THE ONLY ONE IN MY LIFETIME THAT HAS EVER HAD A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE OF, ITS DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE OUT WALKING AT NIGHT, ANIMALS, AND TO THE DRIVER W/PASSENGERS. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, BORROWED THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS CAR, SO DISAPPOINTED IN IT, DID NOT PERSONALLY EVEN OWN A CAR UNTIL NOW. MY DREAM WAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE VACATIONS AND LONG TRIPS IN MY LATER YEARS BUT THIS HAS PUT AN END TO THAT DREAM. I KNOW I WANT BE ABLE TO GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER, BUT WOULD LIKE TO LET OTHERS KNOW BEFORE THEY PURCHASE A 07 KIA OPTIMA, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, FOR ALL TO BE AWARE AND DO NOT BUY A CAR UNTIL YOU'VE DRIVEN IT AT NIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT REMAIN UPRIGHT, IMPAIRING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ALSO BEGAN TO PRESENT THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SUN VISORS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALL OF A SUDDEN DOES NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IT JUST HANGS OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR KIA OPTIMA'S. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $200 TO REPLACE IT AND I DID NOTHING TO BREAK IT. I JUST USE THE VISOR NORMALLY AND DO NOT HANG ANYTHING FROM IT. I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ONE DAY AND IT JUST FELL DOWN. MY CAR IS A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS OLD SO IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I JUST FINISHED PAYING IT OFF SO THIS IS VERY UPSETTING. I FEEL THAT IF THE DRIVER'S VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED THEN IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW WORKING PART. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVE WITH THE VISOR DOWN ALL THE TIME. IT GETS IN THE WAY. MANY PEOPLE PROBABLY DO NOT REALIZE THEY CAN REPORT THIS ISSUE SO I AM PROVIDING SOME LINKS FOR FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE STATING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. PLEASE REPORT THIS ISSUE. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/KIAMOTOR/OPTIMA/WIPER-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2006/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SUN_VISORS_WILL_NOT_STAY_FOLDED_UP.SHTML HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/KIA/OPTIMA/VISIBILITY/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

AIR BAG SRS LIGHT STAYS ON.... TALKED TO DEALER.. THEY SAID KIA HAVEN'T RECALL THIS PART YET. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENOR IN THE SEAT NEED TO BE RESET. VEHICLE CAN'T PASS INSPECTION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 KIA OPTIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I CAME TO A STOP. ONCE MY OPTIMA CAME TO A STOP, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY WIFE AND I GOT OUT. ONCE WE DID, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH SENT BURNING SHRAPNEL OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR ERUPTED IN FLAMES. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON/ WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS WOULD FALL FROM THEIR HOUSING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUN VISORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,450. *TR

THE BACK TURN SIGNAL, BACK LIGHTS AND FRONT LOW BEAMS CONTINUE TO BURN OUT. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES BY PROFESSIONALS AND CONTINUE TO BLOW. I WOULD GUESS THERE IS A SHORT SOME PLACE. RECENTLY THE RIGHT LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WENT OUT, HAD IT REPLACED AND IT BLEW FUSES. ONCE THE FUSES AND RELAY SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED THE LEFT LOW BEAM LIGHT WILL WORK IF THE RIGHT ONE IS DISCONNECTED. I HAVE COME ACROSS MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY CLAIM THIS IS NOT A COMMON ISSUE, AND WANT $115 TO RUN TEST. ALSO THE BLOWER MOTOR FOR THE HEAT/AIR MAKES LOTS OF NOISE AND I WAS TOLD THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS, I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE. WHEN ITS COLD OUT THE CAR MAKES LOTS OF SQUEAKING NOISE AND I WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT'S IS "NORMAL". I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 2008 I HAVE APPROX 67,800 MILES AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES 3 TIMES. *TR

BOTH SUN VISORS ARE UNABLE TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO USE BOTH VISORS AS THEY WOULD HANG LOOSELY DOWNWARD FLAPPING ABOUT AIMLESSLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO ANCHOR THEM TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO DRIVE. DEALER STATES COST TO REPAIR IS ALMOST $500.00 AND THEY NEED MY CAR FOR THE DAY. PARTS MUST BE ORDERED TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

BOTH SUN VISORS BROKE AND WILL NOT OPERATE

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND DOESN'T REMAIN IN A LOCKED POSITION. WHEN I TRY TO MOVE IT TO THE LOCKED POSITION AGAINST THE CEILING, IT FALLS DOWN INTO CLEAR SIGHT. THIS IS GREAT WHEN THE SUN IS IN YOUR EYES, BUT NOT DURING ALL OTHER TIMES. IT SEVERELY DECREASES VISION WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND KIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED NO RESOLUTION OR RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE SUN VISOR. *TR