Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2011 record →
THE STEERING MAKING KNOCKING SOUND WHILE STILL AND DRIVING AND WHILE BRAKING THE STEERING STARTS SHAKING AND MAKES THE KNOCKING SOUND. MOST PEOPLE SAID ITS A PLASTIC COUPLING THAT GETS REPLACED FOR $400 AND I CAN'T KEEP PAYING THAT MUCH MONEY EACH TIME IT GETS MESSED UP THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE GOTTEN FIX THREE MONTHS THE NOISE CAME BACK
A FLEXIBLE COUPLING HAD TO BE REPLACED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE COST OF THE PART WAS $1.35. THE LABOR TO REPLACE THE COUPLING WAS $250.00. I PAID A TOTAL OF $287.17 TO REPLACE A PART THAT COST $1.35. THE STEERING WAS LOOSE CAUSING THE ISSUE TO BE IMPERATIVE TO REPLACE.
UNABLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. PULLS TO LEFT AND RIGHT. I'M DRIVING ALL OVER THE LANE. WEARS ME OUT JUST TRYING TO DRIVE IT. AND ALL THIS CLICKING NOISE GOING ON...WHY DOESN'T KIA FIX THESE PROBLEMS? WHY IS IT SUCH A MYSTERY?? WHY ISN'T THIS A RECALL? AN AUTOMOBILE THAT WON'T DRIVE STRAIGHT? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OVER 55 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD BEGIN TO RUMBLE. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT NO OIL WAS PRESENT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE LOW OIL SENSOR WARNING LIGHT HAD NOT ILLUMINATED TO ALERT OF THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 09/08/16*LJ *TR
SHORTLY AFTER TEST DRIVING AND BUYING A USED 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, WE BEGAN EXPERIENCING AN INTERMITTENT ENGINE HESITATION PROBLEM WHEN ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS. IT MAY NOT OCCUR FOR MANY MILES OF SLOW-AND-GO TRAFFIC BUT, WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT IS SHOCKING BECAUSE THE ENGINE FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING TO COMPLETELY DIE FOR UP TO 3 OR 4 SECONDS. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS WHILE TURNING ONTO A BUSY HIGHWAY OR CROSSING A HIGH SPEED INTERSECTION.I THIS HESITATION PROBLEM WILL OCCUR AT RANDOM REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THE ENGINE OR THE WEATHER IS COLD OR WARM. WE LEFT THIS CAR AT A KIA DEALER FOR SEVERAL DAYS BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE HESITATION PROBLEM. THE ENGINE HAS HESITATED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST MONTH.
ON APRIL 10, 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON 270W IN STL DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALLED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTACT AAA TO COME TOW MY VEHICLE AS IT WOULD RESTART BUT THEN DIE AGAIN WITHIN 1 MINUTE. UPON TAKING TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP THE MECHANICE DETERMINED THROUGH A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND A NEW ONE WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED. THE TOTAL COST TO FIX THIS ISSUE WAS $964 WHICH I FELT WAS ROBBERY. MY VEHICLE HAS 76K MILES ON IT AND HAS ALL REGULAR MAINTANCE AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. I SEE THAT THESE EXACT SAME ENGINES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATA AND THAT THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ENGINE BUT YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND FUEL PUMP ASAP SO OTHERS WILL NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF THIS SITUATION. I AM JUST THANKFUL I DID NOT HAVE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT FROM THIS OCCURENCE
ON MARCH 23, 2016 WHILE DRIVING ON 422W IN PA DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC MY CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING STALLED AND DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CONTACT AAA TO COME TOW MY VEHICLE AS IT WOULD NOT RESTART. UPON TAKING TO MY LOCAL SERVICE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION NOTHING WAS OUTWARDLY WRONG EXCEPT VEHICLE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. MECHANICE DETERMINED THROUGH A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION THAT THE ENGINE HAS SEIZED AND A NEW ONE WOULD NEED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS 108K MILES ON IT AND HAS ALL REGULAR MAINTANCE AT THE SCHEDULED TIME. I SEE THAT THESE EXACT SAME ENGINES HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATA AND THAT THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE SAME ENGINE YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS ENGINE AND HOPEFULLY SAVE ANOTHER FAMILY FROM HAVING TO DEAL WITH THE STRESS OF THIS SITUATION. I AM JUST THANKFUL NO ONE HAS HAD A TRAGIC ACCIDENT FROM THIS OCCURENCE. I ALSO FIND IT AMAZING THAT WHEN CALLING KIA TO GET A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE THAT WE WERE TOLD THAT ALL OF THESE ENGINES HAVE BEEN SENT OUT IMMEDIATELY TO COVER THE HYUNDAI RECALL.....
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER ROLLING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING COUPLER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,700. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH.
HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALOT OF FREEPLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE NOISE IS PROGRESSING. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING BUT IT IS NOW GETTING WORSE. I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN MY CAR TO KIA FOR MY OIL CHANGES AND HAVE INQUIRED ABOUT THE NOISE AND THEY HAVE ASSURED ME THERE WAS NOTHING WORNG, WHEN I TOOK IT TO GET MY OIL CHANGE ON SATURDAY 4/2 THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 100,000 MILES AND I TOLD THEM I MENTIONED IT TO THEM WHEN MY CAR HAD LESS THEN 100,000 AND HE THEN SAID IT DOESN'T COVER THE STEERING WHEEL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED WITH EXTREME PRESSURE FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR, IT WOULD JERK REALLY HARD LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING. AT FIRST IT ONLY DID IT ONCE OR TWICE WITHIN A MONTH SO IT WAS HARD TO DUPLICATE. RECENTLY IT STARTED GETTING CONSISTENT. IT WOULD JERK HARD WHEN PUTTING IT IN GEAR OR PARK. ALSO GOING DOWN THE ROAD IT SHIFTED REALLY HAD LIKE SOMETHING WAS SLIPPING. IT DIDN'T MATTER IF IT WAS IN THE MORNING OR AFTERNOON. TWICE THIS WEEK, IT DID IT EACH TIME I WENT SOMEWHERE. THE SHIFTS WERE SOMETIMES SHORTER AND MORE OFTEN. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS MAYBE SLIPPING OR NEEDED FLUID. I TOOK IT IN AND DETERMINED IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE SENSOR. THEY REPLACED TRANY TEMP SENSOR, CODE P0711. THERE WAS NO CODE ON THE DASH, THEY HAD TO CHECK IT IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WORKED.
WHILE TAKING THE CAR IN TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, THEY DID A 360 CHECK AND NOTICED THE STEERING COLUMN HAD PLAY IN IT AND MADE A CLICKING NOISE ABOUT A QUARTER TURN EACH DIRECTION. IT IS A PLASTIC GEAR PIECE THAT IS SMALLER THAN A QUARTER, PICTURE WILL BE ATTACHED. THEY SAID IF I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED IT WOULD GET EVENTUALLY WORSE BY WEARING OUT THE TIRES OR ALIGNMENT SO I HAD IT REPLACED. THEY HAD TO TAKE APART THE STEERING WHEEL TO REPLACE IT. IT WAS 20 FOR THE PIECE BUT WITH LABOR MY BILL WAS 181.
HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SITTING STILL OR MOVING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, ALOT OF FREEPLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS TOLD BY MY FRIEND WHO HAS A 2012 OPTIMA THAT HE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND HE WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WAS A PLASTIC GEAR IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND WOULD COST ROUGHLY $300 TO FIX. UPON RESEARCH WITH THIS ISSUE I HAVE COME ACROSS SEVERAL OWNERS THAT SEEM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WHICH KIA KNOWS ABOUT. I FEEL THAT KIA SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AT THEIR EXPENSE BEFORE THIS ISSUE KILLS SOMEONE.
2011 KIA OPTIMA BATTERY DIED THE MAIN FUSE INDICATOR WASN'T WORKING. ON WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2016 AT ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 5AM ON RT97, I WAS APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES FROM HOME ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE CAR STALLED OUT. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; I WAITED FOR 2 MINUTES I THEN PUSHED THE START BUTTON ON THE DASH BOARD THE CAR THEN STARTED. I THEN PUT IT IN GEAR AND STARTED DOWN THE ROAD AGAIN I WENT A QUARTER OF A MILE THE OPTIMA STALLED OUT AGAIN. AFTER WAITING 2 MINUTES AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO GET MY CAR STARTED AGAIN I DECIDED TO TURN THE OPTIMA AROUND TO HEAD BACK TO MY HOME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME WITHOUT IT STALLING. I THEN CHANGED THE BATTERY OF THE KIA OPTIMA WITH A NEW FEDERATED BATTERY THE MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER WAS 144,540.0
ON FEBRUARY 26, 2016 I WAS DRIVING TO WORK IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 5:45AM ON MD RT. 695 SOUTH I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE GOING 55 MPH DRIVING WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. THE OPTIMA WAS DRIVING NORMALLY THERE WERE NO SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE, WHEN SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR SHOOK VIOLENTLY I LOST ALL POWER AT THE SAME TIME ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON. I PRESSED ON GAS PEDAL THERE WAS NO RESPONSE FROM THE OPTIMA I HAD NO POWER. I QUICKLY PUT ON MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL TO GET OVER THE FOUR LANES; I WAS TRYING TO GET TO THE SAFETY OF THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. IT WAS AMAZING THAT WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC I WAS NOT HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER TO THE WHEELS I WAS JUST COASTING THE OPTIMA WAS STARTING TO SLOW DOWN WITHOUT THE ENGINE TO POWER IT. I ENDED UP ON EXIT 17 WHICH IS SECURITY BLVD. RAMP. I OPENED THE HOOD OF THE OPTIMA I SAW OIL ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND OIL DOWN AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CALLED AAA TO GET MY OPTIMA TOWED TO THE AUTO SHOP I GO TO IN NEW OXFORD PA. THAT WAS ABOUT 45 MILES WAY FROM WHERE THE OPTIMA'S ENGINE DIED. THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT THE ENGINE; HE STATED THAT A ROD FROM THE ENGINE HAD GONE THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THERE METAL PIECES AND OIL ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE AND AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER THE MECHANIC STATED HE COULDN'T FIND AN ENGINE FOR MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA I HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP IN GETTYSBURG, PA. THE KIA DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPE
MY KIA OPTIMA (2011) HAD STARTED A TICKING ENGINE NOISE AT AROUND 90K MARK AND NOW IT'S ESCALATED TO A LOWER END WAS TOLD BY SERVICE DEPARTMENTA T ABOUT 92K IT WAS NORMAL NOISE OF CAMSHAFT AND I ONLY NOTICED IT UNDER LOADS AND HIGHER ELEVATION ON OVERPASSES. I HAVE BEEN USING MOBIL1,FULLY SYNTHETIC MOTOR OILS AND A K&N OIL FILTERS. THIS LAST WEEK I HAVE NOTICED THAT IT WAS GETTING LOUDER.AND FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I ASKED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP THAT MY WIFE'S 2015 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT WAS GETTINGI TS OIL CHANGED@ AND YES WITH MOBIL1, AND THEY TOLD ME ABOUT A RECALL ON THE MOTOR PLANT IN ALABAMA THAT SUPPLIES THE ENGINES OF BOTH FOR THOSE YEARS MODELS HAD AN METALLIC FRAGMENTS LEFT UN ENGINE AT MANUFACTURER OF ENGINE AND HAS ISSUED A RECALL. SO I CALLED KIA CONSUMER PRODUCTS DEPARTMENT AND THEY APPARENTLY HAVE HIDDEN BEHIND THE RELOCATION TO THE GEORGIA PLANT AND SAID THAT MY CAR IS KOREAN DUH SO THAT MEANS THAT THE ENGINE IS KOREAN. WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND MACHINE SHOPS BOTH HAVE SAME PARTS JUST A DIFFERENT PART # SO IT WILL AVOID A RECALL BUT THAT IS SPLITTING UP THE DIVISION OF BRANDS NOT THE PLACE WHERE MY KIA ENGINE WAS MADE IN ALABAMA AND SO WAS THE SONATAS. JUST DIFFERENT NUMBERS. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE NEEDS TO STEP IN AND TAKE OUT THE BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE LAW AND ORDER OF FAITHFUL OWNER'S OF THE KIA AND HYUNDAI VEHICLES. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM KIA AND IM IN NEED OF THE NHSTA TO GET INVOLVED. AND DO AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE HYUNDAI AND KIA MOTOR PLANTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND EMERGING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE OIL. SHE NOTICED THAT THE OIL WAS VERY DARK AND HAD A BURNT SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS LOOK LIKE FLASHLIGHTS WITH WEAK BATTERIES, YOU CAN ONLY SEE ABOUT 6 FEET IN FRONT OF CAR. THE LENS ON THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CLEAR LIKE NEW ONES, BUT THE HEAT FROM THE BULBS DESTROY THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT. THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IS WITH THE BRIGHT LIGHTS ON. THE ONLY FIX IS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHTS. WHEN YOU GOOGLE THIS PROBLEM MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINT.
MY 2011 OPTIMA HAD 106,214 MILES AND WAS ALMOST DUE FOR ANOTHER 3000 MILE OIL CHANGE (WHICH WAS DONE REGULARLY) AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS, SOUNDS, SMELLS ETC. IT STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN A PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO START IT AND IT WOULD NOT START. I CALLED THE KIA DEALER THAT WAS NOT EVEN A MILE AWAY AND THEY SAID THEY WERE CLOSED AND COULD NOT LOOK AT IT. SO I HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER GARAGE, THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THE ENGINE WAS "SHOT" IT DID NOT HAVE OIL IN THE TOP (?) THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE ONLY REPLACEMENT ENGINE THEY COULD FIND WOULD BE CLOSE TO $3000.00 AND WAS OUT OF STATE, SO I WOULD HAVE TO PAY SHIPPING AS WELL AS LABOR. I SINCE HAVE HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME AND HAVE LOOKED ONLINE FOR ENGINES AND HAVE FOUND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS WITH THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL OF CAR. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE SAME EXACT ENGINE WAS PUT IN THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA, AND THAT IT WAS RECALLED BY HYUNDAI. KIA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS HAD MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARE ALMOST EXACT WITH VEHICLES WITH EVEN LOWER MILEAGE AND STILL REFUSES TO RECALL THE ENGINE.
TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH (HAD JUST TURNED ONTO ROAD)WHEN ENGINE SEEMED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. PRESSED BRAKE PEDAL (HARD) AND DID NOT SLOW CAR AT ALL. CONTINUED TO PRESS BRAKE AND ALSO PUMPED BUT NOTHING SLOWED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH SAW TRUCK WELL AHEAD OF ME STOPPED, I COULD DO NOTHING TO STOP OR EVEN SLOW DOWN. I WRECKED INTO BACK OF TRUCK STOPPED AHEAD OF ME WAITING TO TURN. APPROX 8000.00 DAMAGE TO MY CAR MOSTLY DUE TO TRUCK HAVING A SIZABLE TRAILER HITCH ON BACK THAT BUSTED THROUGH A LOT OF FRONT END PLASTIC, COOLING SYSTEM, ETC AND BUCKLED HOOD. NO INJURIES BUT IF WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. OFFICER UPON ARRIVAL ALSO NOTICED THATBRAKES SEEMED TO FAIL AND NOTED IT ON HIS POLICE REPORT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND INTERNET SOURCES INDICATING THAT SOME 2011 KIAS HAD IN FACT HAS A TSNB ISSUED FOR UNINTENTIONAL ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A BULLETIN AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS SERVICES PERFORMED AT KIA DEALERSHIP. ALSO, HAVE HAD BRAKES CHECKED MULTIPLE TIMES AT DEALER AND DELAER INSPECTION NEVER INDICATED ANY PROBLEMS. I HAV EALSO FOUND DOCUMENTATION ONLINE THAT SAYS IF YOU HAVE AN UNINTENTIONAL ACCELLERATION, PRESSING THE BRAKE HARD IS THE FIRST STEP TO DO, BUT ONCE YOU LET OFF THE BRAKE, YOU TOTALLY LOSE BRAKE PRESSURE. WHO POSSIBLE WOULD KNOW THAT ? THIS ACCIDENT IS TOTALLY THE RESULT OF A SYSTEM FAILURE OF THE VEHICLE AND I AM ASKING FOR ASSISTANCE IN PERSUING MY DAMAGES AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE.
IF THERE IS LIGHT WHEEL SPIN UPON TAKEOFF (ESPECIALLY TURNING AND ACCELERATING, SUCH AS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A ROAD) IT CAUSES CAR TO LOSE POWER FOR A FEW SECONDS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ACCELERATOR CAN BE DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR AND VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE POWER AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. CAR ALSO ACTIVATES ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WHEN LIGHTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING OVER A SMALL BUMP AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 25 MPH. THESE SYMPTOMS OCCUR WITH STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGED (DEFAULT SETTING WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON) STABILITY CONTROL / TRACTION CONTROL IS OVERLY SENSITIVE, AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
MY FAMILY WAS ON HWY 75 RETURNING FROM THANKSGIVING VACAY WHEN WE DISCOVERED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER PLACING A CALL TO KIA, I DISCOVERED THAT APPARENTLY AIRBAGS AREN'T COVERED BY THE 130,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. NOW THE IGNITION HAS AN ISSUE. OFTEN TIMES, I HAVE TO HIT MY KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TURN THE KEY. I AM WONDERING IF THE IGNITION ISSUE AND THE AIRBAG ISSUE ARE RELATEABLE AND NEED TO SEE IF COVERED BY WARRANTY. THERE ARE 90,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND I HAVE HAD IT FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. WE PURCHASED IT USED FROM DRIVETIME. THANKS
HARD TO STEER, ALONG WITH A NOISE INSIDE THE CAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOOSE PIECE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. CAR HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAID PART IS A STEERING COLUMN COUPLER AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. COST WAS $332.00.
THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY LOOSE AND THUMPS WHEN I MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. I ALSO HEAR A THUMB UNDER THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEN I BACK UP AND WHEN I COME TO A STOP.
MY MOTOR BLEW AT 102K MILES WITH NO WARNING. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF LOSING POWER, NO KNOCKING, THE OIL WAS FULL.... THE CAR STALLED AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULDN'T RESTART. THIS OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 29, 2015. I HAD TO WALK HOME AT TEN O'CLOCK AT NIGHT AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED HOME THE NEXT DAY. WE THEN HAD THE CAR TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC. HE MANAGED TO START THE CAR WHICH IMMEDIATELY STARTED KNOCKING. I CALLED BACK LATER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE CAR HAD THROWN A MAIN BEARING AND THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER MOTOR WITH 48,000 MILES ON IT FOR $2,000 AND HAD IT SHIPPED FROM PENNSYLVANIA. THE MOTOR WAS INSTALLED AND RAN FINE. LESS THAN TWO MONTH'S LATER (ON DECEMBER 25TH TO BE EXACT, THE CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT). I MANAGED TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR, IT IMMEDIATELY BEGAN KNOCKING. I CAN ASSUME THAT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH THE SECOND MOTOR. THE COMPANY WHO SOLD THE SECOND MOTOR IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR ANOTHER TO REPLACE THE ONE I PURCHASED BUT I HAVE TO EAT THE LABOR COSTS INCURRED WHICH AMOUNTED TO OVER $1,000 ALONE. HYUNDAI HAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT MOTOR BECAUSE OF THE MAIN BEARING BUT HYUNDAI (WHO OWNS KIA) WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS JUNK MOTOR EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE REPLACING HYUNDAI'S WITH THE SAME MOTOR. AND KIA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BAD MOTOR EITHER BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT IT'S "N
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND THE CAR DIED AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SHOULDER TRIED TO START THE CAR AND ALL IT WOULD DO WAS CLICK. TOWED THE CAR HOME THINKING IT WAS AN ALTERNATOR OR SOMETHING SIMPLE. NEXT MORNING LOOKED AT THEN CHANGED THE BATTERY AND TRIED TO GET IT STARTED IN SLIGHTLY TURNED OVER BUT NOT ENOUGH TO START CALLED THE DEALER TO DROP IT OFF AND THEY SAID CAR WAS SEIZED OUT OF WARRANTY AND NEEDS THE ENGINE REPLACED. AFTER SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET AND LOOKING AT COMPLAINTS FOUND THAT MY ENGINE WAS BUILT AT THE SAME PLANT AS THE HYUNDAI SONATA SAME ENGINE, WHICH IS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME EXACT PROBLEM . I AM WONDERING WHY KIA ACTED LIKE THE CANT BELIEVE THIS WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED ALSO . WHAT CAN BE DONE HERE ? I WILL NOT LET THIS GO IT IS WRONG KIA'S SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND RECALLED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND PROCEEDING TO STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. INJURIES WHERE SUSTAINED, BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THREE OTHER TIMES AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.
WHINNING IN THE FRONT END, BRAKES ARE GRABBING AND AND THUMPING IN THE FRONT END WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP. BRAKES GRAB AND SOMETIMES GOES TO THE FLOOR. AND PULLS TO THE LEFT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR JUST QUIT RUNNING. HAD TO PULL TO SHOULDER AND USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. CAR TOWED, FIRST REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THEN TOWED TO KIA DEALER WHO WOULDN'T REALLY COMMIT ON CAUSE. BLAMED SLUDGE ON MOTOR. HAVE SERVICE RECORDS. REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES.
CAN BARLEY SEE 2 FEET AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE AFTER DARK. HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 62000 MILES.
LOW BEAMS ARE NOT ILLUMINATING.. THE REFELECTIVE PAINT INSIDE HAS BURNED OFF AND I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH OUT MY HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 2 FEET IN FRONT OF MY CAR. THE STEERING ON MY CAR STARTED THIS CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES WHEN I GO OVER THE SMALLEST BUMP ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO WEARING OUT MY TIRES AND CAUSING MY CAR TO PULL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. LUCKILY, I SAFELY MADE IT TO THE FAR SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY ONLY TO FIND THAT MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. HAD TO GET THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND THE STARTER IS ALSO FRIED. I HAVE SEEN FOUR COMPLAINTS SO FAR OF 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND AM SURE I WILL FIND MORE. THAT SEEMS LIKE TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE THAT IT HAPPENS SO FREQUENTLY WITH THESE MODELS AND THERE ISN'T ANY SORT OF RECALL. NO BREAKS AT 70 MPH IS PRETTY DANGEROUS. I HAVE CONTACTED MY ATTORNEY AND HOPE THIS MANUFACTURER WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.
SUDDENLY AT 89,000 MILES THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT CAUSED A SEVERE VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT A SPEED OF 50 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF PLAY AND A CLICKING SOUND IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE STANDING OR MOVING. THE CAR IS A 2011 CAR PURCHASED IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER OF 2011 SO IT HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR
LEFT A STOP LIGHT AND CAR HESITATED SO I GAVE IT A LITTLE MORE GAS. THEN THERE WAS LOUD METAL TO METAL NOISE FROM ENGINE AND AN EXPLOSION WITH WHITE SMOKE. ABLE TO GET INTO A PARKING LOT AND OPENED THE HOOD TO A SMALL FIRE. FOUND THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN BACK OF ENGINE AND CRACKED THE FRONT. IN THE OIL PAN WAS THE ATTACHMENT ARM FROM THE CRANK IN MANY PIECES. THERE IS A RECALL WITH HYUNDAI BUT KIA SAYS IT IS NOT RELATED TO THIS ENGINE WHEN THERE IS AN ARTICLE STATING THE ENGINE DID GET PLACED IN THE KIA OPTIMA. I HAD JUST UNDER 100K MILES AND AN OIL CHANGE JUST 2 WEEKS PRIOR DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE. THIS WAS DONE AT A KIA DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BUT CHANGED THE OIL AT $70 DOLLARS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? SEE PICTURE OF PARTS ATTACHED.
I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I LOST ALL BRAKES AND STEERING AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A NEARBY SAFE PLACE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I BROUGHT IT TO A NEARBY MECHANIC AND AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION STARTING AT THE STARTER, THEY DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED I HAVE DONE REGULAR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES THE LIFE OF THE OPTIMA. THE ENGINE ONLY HAD 130,000 MILES AND THE OIL EXPLANATION WAS POSSIBLE BAD BEARINGS FROM FACTORY IN THE ON THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND WHEN I CALLED KIA THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND WITH NO EXPLANATION. ITS OVER $4000 TO REPLACE WITH ANOTHER USED MOTOR WITH NO GAURANTEES THAT THE USED INSTALL WILL BE ANY BETTER. KIA REALLY NEEDS TO BACK THIS WITH A RECALL. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR FACTORY DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS OUT OF POCKET. NOR WILL I CONTINUE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A JUNK CAR. NOT ONLY IS THIS COSTING ME HARDSHIP BUT NOW POSSIBLY MY CREDIT SCORE!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE GOT ABNORMALLY HOT. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE UNLOCKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE THAT YOU FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT IS WORSE IN REVERSE.
STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. BOUGHT IT INTO A COLLISION CENTER, THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS A SERVICE RECALL ON OPTIMA. HE KNEW THAT SOUND BEFORE I DESCRIBED IT TO HIM. BRAKE LIGHT BULB BLOWS AS SOON AS YOU PUT THEM IN. THE TECH SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS OR HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH AND UP, A CONSTANT RATTLE IS HEARD INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. A LOUD CLUNK/RATTLE IS HEARD IF DRIVING OVER A BUMP. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE PARKED, THERE IS A THUD AND A THUD IS ALSO FELT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON CAR WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER WAS 63,000(61,000) WHEN APT WAS INITIALLY MADE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A 2 DOLLAR PART BUT WOULD COST 350 TO REPLACE IT. THE WARRANTY FOR STEERING WHEEL PARTS EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. PART WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,106.
STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. GOING TO TAKE IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT TODAY. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND GETTING WORSE WHEN I LAST DROVE IT ON 9/23/15.
WHILE BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPACE, HEARD AND FELT A LOW THUD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND ALSO TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS ABOUT 20-30 MPH IT APPEARS FINE. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS >10MPH AND GOING OVER BUMPS OF ANY KIND WHILE TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS DEFINITELY ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN CLOSE TO STEERING. MAKING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE KIA DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO THIS.
THE STEERING HAS 1-2 INCHES OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
DRIVING DOWN EXPRESS WHEN ENGINE STARTED TO LOOSE OIL. PULLED OVER ON SHOULDER, NOTICE A CLICKING NOISE AND SMELLED BURNING OIL. DEALER FOUND HOLE IN SIDE OF ENGINE BLOCK. STATED NEEDS NEW ENGINE AND QUOTED AND ESTIMATED PRICE OF $5,875.64 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 46,000 MILES INSTALLED. HAD CAR REPAIRED AT ANOTHER PLACE FOR $5477.06 WITH 41,000 MILES. THIS SHOP SAID THE ENGINE HAD A ROD KNOCK THEN LOCKED UP. NEEDS THE ENGINE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SAME 2.4 LITER ENGINE THAT IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATAS.
WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TELESCOPING LINKAGE FROM THE RACK AND PION STEERING BUT THE LINKAGE WAS FINE AND TIGHT LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE TECH STATED IT HAS TO BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, $350 REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE ENGINE DID NOT START. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ *CN
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2011 Kia Optima → · Every Optima year → · How the figures are calculated →