2011 Kia Optima complaints

THE GASKET EDGE FOR THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF DRY ROTTED AND CRACKED AT AROUND 9,000 MILES. THE ENTIRE STATIONARY SECTION OF THE SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED BY THE KIA DEALER. *TR

AFTER 1-2 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER COLD START, ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV UP BUT CAR COME TO ROLLING STOP. AS IF NO POWER IS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION/DRIVE SYSTEM. THEN TURN CAR OFF FOR A MINUTE, RESTART AND CAR RUNS OKAY. DASH ICON INDICATES TROUBLE WITH HYBRID SYSTEM. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE FIRST INCIDENT. DEALER FINDS NOTHING WRONG. CAUSES AN EXTREME HAZARD WHEN IT HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC. *TR

HAD JUST FINISH BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, AFTER SURGERY, AND NEEDED TO STOP AT THE PHARMACY. AFTER PICKING UP A COUPLE OF PRESCRIPTIONS WE GOT IN THE CAR, AND TRY TO SWITCH THE CAR ON, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I COULD TELL THAT THE BATTERY HAD PLENTY OF POWER, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THE IGNITION WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE REST OF THE CAR. I EVEN PUT IT ON NEUTRAL TO SEE IF I WOULD START, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I KEEP ON TRYING FOR ALMOST HALF HOUR, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO CALL A TOW TRUCK I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN, AND IT FINALLY TURN AND STARTED. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH LESS THAN 20,000 THOUSAND MILES THAT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAIN REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE CAR FAIL TO START' THIS TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO, AND DROPPED AT THE KIA DEALER. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE TECHNICIAN THAT WAS WORKING ON IT, MENTION THAT AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS UNCOUNTED FROM THE TOW TRUCK, THEY TRY AND SWITCH THE CAR; NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. HE SAID THAT THEY SWITCH IT OFF AND ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHAT AM I TO DO? ALL I WANT IS FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING STRANDED. *TR

I WAS STOPPED, 2ND IN POSITION, AT A STOP LIGHT. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A NISSAN SENTRA DOING APPROXIMATELY 50 TP 55 MPH. MY CAR WAS HIT IN THE REAR, PUSHING THE FRONT INTO A DUALLY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS WONDERING WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT LEFT BUMPER WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AS THE LEFT REAR BUMPER. IN ALL, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TOWARDS THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND A CAMBER KIT WAS INSTALLED ON THE SUSPENSION BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

I WAS TRAVELING 55MPH BEHIND A VEHICLE WHO SUDDENLY SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THERE WAS A CAR STOPPED IN THE LEFT HAND LANE, UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME I STRUCK THE BLACK JEEP LIBERTY IN THE REAR BUMPER MORE TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE WITH THE THE PASSENGER FRONT BUMPER OF MY CAR. ( KIA OPTIMA) MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I DID STRIKE MY HEAD, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF I HIT IT ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE GLASS TOP. MY CONCERN IS MY SEATBELT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY ALLOWING ME TO STRIKE MY HEAD. AND AGAIN THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A ROCK STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BOTTOM CORNER AND SHATTERED THE GLASS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MOLDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT SECURE. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,535 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,537.

THIS IS A BRAND NEW HYBRID. SINCE INITIAL PURCHASE THE CAR HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO STEER TO LEFT ON ITS OWN AT LOWEST SPEEDS. TIRE PRESSURE HAS BEEN CHECKED WEEKLY AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS PER SPECS. CAR STILL VEERS TO LEFT. ON RESEARCHING HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL 2011 KIA OPTIMAS INCLUDING OTHER MODELS. CONTINUOUSLY OBSERVED THIS FOR NEXT 500 OR SO MILES AND THEN TOOK TO DEALER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE BUT SAID KIA CORPORATE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THEM OF ANY ISSUE SO THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AS THIS HYBRID CAR IS TOO NEW. THE SAME ISSUES HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER KIAS NON HYBRID AS WELL.THE DEALER WAS DULLES KIA IN LEESBURG, VA . I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT COSMETIC ISSUES BUT ON A BRAND NEW CAR SUCH SAFETY ISSUES ARE TROUBLESOME ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALERS HAVE NO CLUE. DEALER INDICATED THESE ARE NEW CARS WITH NEW POWER STEERING MODULES AND HENCE THEY HAVE SEEN LOT OF THESE CASES. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPLACE ASAP. NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUES SAFETY RESEARCH. THE CAR ON HIGHER SPEEDS ALSO PULLS TO LEFT AND IS DANGEROUS WITH WINDY CONDITIONS. *TR

I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX, WITH THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAD A STRANGE INCIDENT WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT. AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO REV VERY HIGH. I PUT MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED IN TO NEUTRAL, BUT IT KEPT REVVING VERY HIGH, SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT STILL REVVED VERY HIGH-- ROARING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AGAIN AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. STARTED IT AGAIN 5 SECONDS LATER AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE ROARED REVVING VERY HIGH. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THEN IT STARTED NORMALLY. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME AND THERE WERE NO OBJECTS TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. *TR

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2011 AND WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS, NOTICED THE CAR WOULD PULL LEFT AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN OR EVEN CHANGING LANES TO THE LEFT. THINKING IT WAS JUST AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE 6 TIMES, EACH TIME THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT. RECENTLY I NOTICED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY, WITH LESS THAN 14000 MILES, AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TIRES. SINCE THE NEW TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, LIKE IT WAS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW AT THE DEALER FOR THE 6TH TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT KIA HAS NEW ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS, THE 3RD SET OF ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS KIA HAS HAD IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I WAS TOLD ALSO TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE WAS IN PART DUE TO THE NATURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AN EXCUSE, NOT A REASON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER WAS PUSHED DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE END POINT OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER INCLUDED A KNOB THAT CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH EASILY ROTATED TO DEACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE ISSUE AND THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE COMPROMISED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300. UPDATED 02/15/12*BF THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 02/29/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ABNORMALLY. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. BLACK SMOKE THEN BEGAN TO RISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,000.

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AND THE CAR PULLS HEAVILY TO THE LEFT EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROADS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN SPECS BUT IT ACTS THE SAME. IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A COUPLE SECONDS YOU'RE ON THE SHOULDER. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE BOLTED DOWN IN ONE BOLT OUT OF FOUR. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE MISSING BOLTS BUT THIS MAKES ME REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY CONTROL AT KIA. WHAT ELSE MIGHT THEY MISSED? I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BEFORE NOTICING THIS. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW KIA OPTIMA IN MAY 2011. FROM THE ONSET THE REMOTE START NEVER WORKED ON THE FIRST TRY, EVENTUALLY IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. IN AUG NOTICED THAT THE HORN WASN'T SOUNDING RIGHT, EVENTUALLY IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE HORN TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A BAD FUSE. 1 WEEK LATER HORN WAS OUT AGAIN. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD ORDER 2 NEW HORNS AS THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE. BOUGHT THE CAR IN TO HAVE HORNS INSTALLED THEY SAY "WE NEED TO ORDER A NEW MODULE FOR YOUR CAR" ALTHOUGH THE HORNS WERE WORKING, I FIGURED THE MODULE WAS THE REASON THE HORNS WENT BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. I CALL TO WEEKS LATER, THEY STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PARTS (STRANGE). I MENTION THAT NOW THE REMOTE START IS COMPLETELY OUT THEY SAY "WE KNOW, THAT IS WHY WE ORDERED THE MODULE" (WHY WASN'T THIS EXPLAINED TO ME??). OCT 2011 I SPEND YET ANOTHER SAT MORNING AT THE DEALER. AN HOUR AND A HALF IN THEY SAY WE CANT FIGURE THIS OUT WE NEED TO ORDER THE SCHEMATICS ON THIS CAR...YOU WILL NEED TO DROP THE CAR OFF NEXT WEEK. I LEAVE THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK, THEY CALL TO SAY THEY ARE ORDERING A WHOLE NEW REMOTE START SYSTEM. WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR THE REMOTE START IS STILL WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, THE ALARM IS GOING OFF AT RANDOM AND THE SUNROOF WILL NOT CLOSE. I RETURN THE CAR THE FOLLOWING WEEK THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE START, ALARM HASN'T SOUNDED AND THEY JUST NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE FOR THE ROOF. I AM NOT

KIA OPTIMA LX 2011 WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT 4 MILES IN ODOMETER. PROBLEM 1 LESS THAN A MONTH: STEERING VEERING TO THE LEFT AN RIGHT. HAD TO STEER THIS CAR TO TRACK STRAIGHT. THE DEALER PERFORMED MINOR ALIGNMENT IN OCTOBER. CAR CONTINUES TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT. TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECH STATED THE FRONT END OFF BY 2 DEGREES AND STATED HE PERFORMED THE ADJUSTMENT. THE STEERING PROBLEM NOT FIXED. PROBLEM #2: CAR WAS PARKED WITH FUEL READING 42 MILES TO EMPTY. RETURNED TO START CAR. WILL NOT CRANK AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER. CAR CRANKED UPON DE-TOW AT THE LOCATION. BUT STILL LEFT THE CAR FOR WHY IT WILL NOT CRANK IN THE FIRST PLACE. RETURNED 4 DAYS LATER. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAR WAS EMPTY OF GASOLINE, EVEN WHEN FUEL READER CLEARLY INDICATED 42 MILES TO EMPTY. KIA PAID FOR RENTAL FOR 4 DAYS ($100). I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AND ON BACK ORDER. THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND THE STALLING ISSUES ARE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE THE LANES, ARTERIAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE DAILY ARE CONGESTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT TWICE AND BOTH THE STRUTS AND THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,672. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 01/23/12*JB

PURCHASE AS A NEW CAR ON JUNE 20,2011 FROM KIA DEALERSHIP. FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHIN FIRST MONTH. THE REMOTE START CONTINUALLY FAILED AT STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHEN PRESSING THE REMOTE START BUTTON THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE CAR ALARM WOULD SOUND OFF IMMEDIATELY. SECOND PROBLEM THAT OCCUR WITHIN FIRST MONTH IS THE GAS DOOR ON OUTSIDE WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN PRESSING THE GAS BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT REQUIRED YOU TO KEEP PRESSING GAS BUTTON REPEATEDLY BEFORE IT WOULD OPEN THE OUTSIDE DOOR TO PUMP GAS. THIRD PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE THIRD TO THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE PURCHASED VEHICLE IS THE SOUND TO THE CAR HORN FAILED. WHEN I WENT TO BLOW MY HORN, THERE WAS NO SOUND WHICH ALSO LEAD TO NO SOUND ON THE CAR TO INDICATE THAT I HAD LOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE CAR-LOCK. THE LOST SOUND TO THE HORN AND TO THE VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME AFTER RECENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND SOMETIMES TO THE RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO HANG ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. THE PULLING TO THE LEFT IS MORE PROMINENT. I TOOK IT IN ON SEPT 20TH FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY SWITCHED THE WHEELS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON OCT. 7TH AND AT THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED STILL. ON OCT 9TH I WAS DRIVING OFF A THRUWAY RAMP WHEN THE CAR ALMOST SWERVED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT BACK ON OCT. 13TH BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THEY STILL HAVE SAID VEHICLE. *TR

DEFECTIVE KEY FOBS. THEY CANNOT BE REPROGRAMMED AND YOU BECOME STRANDED WITH NO WAY OF STARTING THE AUTO. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED FOUR TIMES TO REPROGRAM THE KEY FOB WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE IS NO WAY TO START OR OPERATE THE CAR WITH THE MECHANICAL KEY. CAN BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU ARE IN AN ISOLATED AREA! *TT

THE OWNERS MANUAL, SECTION 3, PAGE 8 DESCRIBES THE "FORWARD AND BACKWARD ADJUSTMENT" OF THE HEADRESTS IN THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE HEAD RESTS DO NOT ADJUST AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINS THIS AS A "TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR." THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HEAD REST IS DESIGNED SO THAT IT THRUSTS DRAMATICALLY FORWARD. IF THE SEAT IS SITTING UPRIGHT ONE MUST TILT ONES HEAD FORWARD TO ACCOMMODATE THE HEAD REST OR THE SEAT MUST BE LEANED BACKWARD SUCH THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS 5' 2" TALL CAN NOT SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

I PURCHASED MY OPTIMA SX TURBO WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. I GOT THE TURBO WITH 274 HP BECAUSE IT WAS THE CLOSEST I COULD GET TO A HOT ROD WITH FOUR DOORS. I HAVE SEND THIS INFORMATION TO KIA IN HOPES OF RESOLUTION. THE CAR'S ACCELERATION IS FANTASTIC, ESPECIALLY FROM 40-50 WITH GAS PEDDLE FLOORED. HERE IS THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT END RISES AND THE WEIGHT SHIFT MAKES THE CAR FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT TO PULL A WHEELIE. AT THIS POINT I QUESTION THE TRACTION OF THE FRONT TIRES. IT CANNOT BE THE SAME AS WITH NO SEVERE ACCELERATION. THIS TAKES AWAY THE REASON I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE. ALSO THINK ABOUT THIS SCENARIO. A FAMILY IS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN. THEY WANT TO PASS AN 18 WHEELER GOING UP A GRADE. ACCELERATION IS INCREASED AND WITH WEIGHT SHIFTED BACK OFF THE FRONT WHEELS, THEY CRASH. THE CAR NEEDS EITHER STIFFER SUSPENSION OR ABILITY TO CHANGE THE SUSPENSION. WHEN I FLOOR IT, THE WEIGHT RATIOS OVER ALL WHEELS MUST NOT CHANGE. *TR

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD OFTEN VEER TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A STORM HER VEHICLE WAS FLOODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE VENTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WERE DESIGNED TO LET WATER OUT BUT SINCE IT WAS SITTING IN THE WATER IT SEEPED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WOULD BE APPLID TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,425.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,036.

2011 KIA OPTIMA LX. CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AT ALL SPEEDS BUT MOST SIGNIFICANTLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. THIS CAN MAKE FOR VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS THE CAR DRIFTS IN ALL SITUATIONS TO THE LEFT. IF THE ROAD IS CROWNED TO THE LEFT THE CAR WILL PULL ALMOST VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. I HAVE ALMOST HIT MEDIAN BARRIERS AND/OR GONE VEERED OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. I CAN CONSIDER MYSELF A GOOD DRIVER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST 12 YEARS AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. KIA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, KIA HAS NOT COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH WHEN REVERSING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

PURCHASED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX ON 5/18/11. CAR CONSTANTLY PULLED LEFT SO BAD THAT YOU WOULD END UP INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A TWO LANE ROAD IN YOU DIDN'T CONTINUALLY CORRECT TO THE RIGHT. HAD THE DEALER ALIGN VEHICLE TO FACTORY SPECS WITH NO CHANGE. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER WHO REALIGNED TO NEW SPECS RECEIVED FROM KIA TECH SUPPORT. VEHICLE NOW ONLY HAS A TENDENCY TO PULL LEFT BUT WILL DRIFT LEFT IF YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AGAIN AND CLAIMS THE VEHICLE DRIVES BETTER THAN A NEW ONE ON THE LOT. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR ME AND REFERRED ME TO KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS. *TR

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA PULLS LEFT AND THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MEETS FACTORY ALIGNMENT SPECS BUT STILL PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. *TR

CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. *TR

ON 04/15/2011 OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA WAS DAMAGED BY MICE EATING WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE NEED AN ENGINE HARNESS REPLACED. DEALER TOLD US THAT THE PART IS NOT IN THE US. THEY ALSO TELL US THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE FOUND. ON 5/3/2011 WE WERE TOLD THAT IT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE ON 6/112011. THIS CAR HAS APPROX. 1050 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER HAS BEEN GREAT IN KEEPING US UPDATED. OUR PROBLEM IS WITH THE LAX ATTITUDE I RECEIVED FROM KIA CS, AND THE "PARTS MANAGER OF THE REGION" FROM NJ THAT CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT. WHILE WE MAKE OUT MONTHLY LEASE PAYMENTS TO KIA. HOW IS THAT A COMPANY CAN HAVE NO PARTS TO REPAIR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND STILL MAKE MONEY FROM US? *TR

I PURCHASED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX ON 12/28/10 FROM KIA COUNTRY OF SAVANNAH. KIA COUNTRY OBTAINED THE AUTO FROM AN ORLANDO KIA DEALER AND DRIVE IT 269 MILES TO SAVANNAH WHERE I TOOK DELIVERY. THE STEERING PULLS/DRIFTS LEFT WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS DRIFTED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. KIA COUNTRY ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT, BUT IT STILL DRIFTS LEFT. KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND ARE NON RESPONSIVE. *TR

I AM ALSO HAVING THE LEFT PULL ISSUE WITH MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA. I ALERTED THE DEALER AS SOON AS IT LEFT THE LOT AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON 5/2/11. SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE TECH TODAY (5/4) AND HE SAID THAT ALL OF THE ALIGNMENT SPECS WERE WITHIN FACTORY STANDARDS BUT THE CAR IS STILL PULLING LEFT. CURRENTLY AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM KIA'S CORPORATE ENGINEERS. THIS PRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER AS THE CAR WILL SWITCH LANES UNLESS CONSTANT PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

WHEN I BOUGHT THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX I WENT AROUND THE BLOCK AND CAME BACK TO THE KIA DEALER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT IT AND I LEFT. I CAME BACK A WEEK LATER FOR THE SAME ISSUE SO DEALER DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY SENT A DISTRICT MANAGER TO LOOK AT IT. LATER ON KIA SENT A DISTRICT TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT AND RE-DO THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I UNDERSTOOD BY OTHER KIA DEALERS THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S.

ON 4/11/11, WE WERE DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD GONE FOUR MILES FROM OUR HOUSE, WHEN WE THOUGHT WE HAD HIT A DEER! THE CAR MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND AND LURCHED VIOLENTLY, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, FRIGHTENING US BOTH. THE LURCHING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT IT MAY WELL HAVE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE CRASHED. WE THEN FOUND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT OF OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX. WE BOUGHT THE KIA NEW AT O'BRIEN AUTO PARK IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, ON 1/8/11. THE CAR HAD 3600 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS WAS OUR FIRST KIA PURCHASE, AND WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE SHOCKED BY THIS DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE! WE VERY EASILY COULD HAVE HAD TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES FOR US AND OUR FELLOW COMMUTERS. WE ARE NO LONGER CONFIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. WE FIND THIS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY AND ASKED KIA TO REPLACE OUR VEHICLE WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE. KIA REFUSED, BASICALLY SAYING 'WE DON'T OWN IT ANYMORE'. THEY DID REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.

2011 KIA OPTIMA PULLS TO LEFT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATE NOTHING IS WRONG AND IT IS WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECS. THE CAR WILL CHANGE LANES IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU HAVE TO HOLD TENSION ON THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT IT WILL STAY STRAIGHT. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND BY THE TIME I GET TO WORK MY ARM HURTS. THIS CAR IS A DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO ANYTHING MORE FOR ME. I SURE HOPE THIS GETS LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES BECAUSE OF THIS. IF SOMEONE WOULD LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A SECOND THE CAR COULD CROSS OVER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MANUAL BRAKE SHOULD ALWAYS BE APPLIED IN A MANUAL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 626.

UPON DRIVING HOME FROM TAKING DELIVERY OF MY NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA ON 2/11/11, MY HUSBAND I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT SUBSTANTIALLY. IF YOU LOOSEN THE GRIP OF THE WHEEL THE CAR IMMEDIATELY PULLS TO THE LEFT. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 2/18, 3/5 AND 3/14. EACH TIME I HAVE RECEIVED THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER, THEY INDICATE THAT IT IS WITHIN KIA SPECS AND IS 'TRACKING' STRAIGHT. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP LAST NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT. *TR

IT'S HAPPENING ON MY BRAND NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA. I DRIVE AN HOUR TO WORK BOTH WAYS, SO ANY PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE CAN EASILY PRESENT ITSELF. ON MY FIRST DAY OF WORK, I REALIZED THE CAR PULLED LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN MY HEAD OR SIMPLY THE CROWN OF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF IGNORANTLY THINKING IT WAS JUST ME, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, IT HOLDS SLIGHTLY LEFT. THUS, THE CAR PULLS LEFT. IT DOES THIS ABOUT 85 PERCENT OF THE TIME. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAITED THREE HOURS. THEY ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED THE TIRES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR STILL PULLED LEFT. I TOOK IT IN FIVE DAYS LATER. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR FOR TWO DAYS WHILE THEY TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY CALL ME AND SAID IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE THEY READJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL AND REPLACED A TIRE (AND REALIGNED IT AGAIN). I GO AND PICK IT UP, TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEIR HEAD TECHNICIAN RIDES WITH ME BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY (THEY NEVER TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY). HE SEES THE PROBLEM AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE CAR PULLED LIKE THAT. HE SAID SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN TELLS ME TO TAKE THE CAR HOME FOR THE WEEKEND AND WE'D SET SOMETHING UP. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT UNLESS IT WAS FIXED SO I AM STILL WITH THE LOANER CAR FIVE DAYS LATER. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN ONE WRECK ALREADY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY LEFT PULL. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONS

PURCHASED A NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA SX WITH PREMIUM TOURING PACKAGE. THE CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. SEEMS TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE THE FASTER YOU GO. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD I WILL BE IN THE NEXT LANE IN A SECOND OR TWO UPON LETTING GO OF THE STEERING REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD CROWN I AM ON. I ALSO NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL DOES SHIFT LEFT DURING THIS AND IS OFF CENTER. *TR

SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. DEALER DECLARED THAT IT WAS FIXED. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE PULL TO THE LEFT PERSISTED AS IT HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. ANOTHER ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED. THE GENERAL MANAGER PROMISED THIS WOULD HAPPEN, AND ALSO PROMISED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD RIDE ALONG WITH ME UPON PICKING UP THE CAR TO ENSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY, AND WHEN I DROVE HOME, IT WAS STILL PULLING LEFT. RETURNED THE CAR TO SERVICE. UPON CALLING THE SERVICE DEPT. TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND A PROBLEM, THE SERVICE MANAGER DECLARED THAT THEY HAD FOUND A BAD TIRE, AND HAD SWAPPED IT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE MANAGER THAT I DID NOT WANT A BAD TIRE LEFT ON MY CAR. HE FINALLY CONCEDED, AND SAID HE WOULD TAKE A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE OF A NEW CAR AND SWAP IT WITH THE BAD ONE. DROVE THE CAR HOME. SEEMED A LITTLE BETTER, BUT STILL WAS PULLING LEFT, AND JUST FELT UNSETTLED, WITH VERY POOR ON CENTER FEEL. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEY SENT OUT 2 ENGINEERS WHO VALIDATED THE HANDLING PROBLEMS. REPLACED LEFT STRUT, TIGHTENED REAR SUSPENSION, TALKED ABOUT SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING, BUT NOT SURE EXACTLY

CAR PULLS TO LEFT 100% OF THE TIME. CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY KIA SERVICE AND MEETS ALL FACTORY SPECS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. KIA REQUIRES ALL 2011 OPTIMA'S TO BE REALIGNED PRIOR TO BEING SOLD. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. SAID THAT ONE OF HER TEC. REPS. DRIVES A 2011 OPTIMA AND IT ALSO PULLS LEFT.

PURCHASED A NEW 2011 VEHICLE, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPT. AND ASK THAT THE ORDER SOME SEAT BELT EXTENDERS FOR ME. THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD AFTER 5 WEEKS I CALLED THE PARTS DEPT. HE TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOT COME IN YET. ANOTHER WEEK GOES BY THEN I GET A CALL FROM THE REGIONAL PARTS MANAGER STATING THEY DID NOT OFFER THEM. PERIOD NO AND IF OR BUTS NO. IN YOUR FMVSS 209 REQUIRE MANUFACTURES TO PROVIDE LONGER BELTS OR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS TO ACCOMMODATE EXTREMELY LARGE PEOPLE. I WAS 480 LBS DOWN TO 360 BUT I STILL NEED SOME. I EVEN ASKED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME. SENSE I AM ON SSI. THEY REFUSED BUT THEY DID TELL ME WHERE TO GO TO FIND THEM. SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, THE PART THAT THE SHOULDER BELT SNAPS IN TO THAT GOES IN THE LATCH, I AM A LARGE MAN AND HAVE EXTREME PAIN IN SHOULDERS AND ARMS. WITH BURCIDES AND AUTHORITIES, DEALER REFUSES TO SUPPLY EXTENDERS, ITS FUNNY EVERY OTHER VEHICLE DEALERS CARRY THEM. THEIR LINES OFFER THEM PLANES OFFER EXTENDERS. KIA DOSE NOT AND REFUSED TO HELP CONSUMERS WITH DISABILITIES. THE PARTS MANAGER EVEN SAID WHEN HE WORKED FOR MERCEDES THE CARRIED 6 INCH 8 INCH AND 12 INCH. EXTENDERS. I DO NOT HAVE THE 40.00 EACH I NEED TWO PASSANGERSIDE DRIVERS SIDE. NOTHING FOR THE BACK SEAT I CAN?T FIT THERE... THE PERSON THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO IS [XXX]CONSUMER S AFFAIRS ANALYST SOUTHERN REAGION. KIA MOTORS KAIS CASE # [XXX] HER DIRECT NO IS 1-800-225-3193 EXTENSION OR OPTION 4. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATE