SHORTLY AFTER CROSSING OVER TRAIN TRACKS I NOTICED THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANYMORE. I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND OBSERVED SEVERAL LIGHTS ON AND THE RPM WAS AT 0. I ROLLED TO A STOP AND TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO LUCK. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY LATER TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THEY SAID THEY ARE FILING A CLAIM WITH KIA TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO. I PREVIOUSLY GOT A LETTER FROM KIA THAT INSTRUCTED ME TO HAVE A DEALERSHIP UPDATE THE ECU SO THAT THE CAR GOES INTO "LIMP HOME" MODE IF THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIMP. THE CAR WAS AT 101000 MILES WHEN THE BREAKDOWN OCCURRED. HOPEFULLY KIA REPLACES THE ENGINE.
2015 Kia Optima complaints
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 2015 record →
THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN 2 FRONT END COLLISIONS BOTH AT DIFFERENT RATES OF SPEED. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED. IT WAS FIXED BOTH TIMES BY PROFESSIONAL SHOPS AND INSPECTED BY A KIA CARLOTTA WHERE THEY CLEARED CODES ON FAULTY AIR BAGS AND TOLD ME IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. I WANT THIS MATTER LOOKED INTO FURTHER. I HAVE CHILDREN AND NEED MY AIR BAGS TO WORK.
THIS COMPLAINT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY VEHICLE. IT IS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE'S VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE SUPER-BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS. I GET TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY THESE LATE MODEL VEHICLES WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY HEADLIGHTS (HID OR LED) WHEN THEY ARE COMING TOWARD ME. I HAVE LONG RESPECTED THE OVERSIGHT PROVIDED FOR VEHICLE SAFETY IN THIS COUNTRY AND HAVE ALWAYS TRUSTED THAT PROPER CONSIDERATIONS ARE MADE TO ENSURE VEHICLES ARE SAFE. BUT I CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME UNDERSTAND HOW THE SUPER-BRIGHT HEADLIGHTS HAVE MADE IT PAST SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS, AND THAT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REGULATED OUT OF EXISTENCE. IT SHOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO DEFINE MAXIMUM LIMITS FOR HEADLIGHT INTENSITY AND EFFECTIVE LIGHTING DISTANCE THAT WOULD PREVENT THE BLINDING OF ONCOMING DRIVERS. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE ON AMERICAN ROADS, AND I'D BE SHOCKED IF IT HASN'T ALREADY CAUSED ACCIDENTS, INJURIES, AND DEATH. PLEASE RECTIFY THIS OVERSIGHT IMMEDIATELY TO ENSURE THAT THE REPUTATION OF AMERICAN CAR/ROAD SAFETY IS RESTORED AND TO PREVENT NEEDLESS INJURIES AND DEATH.
DRIVING THE CAR, CAR JUST STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I WAS LITERALLY STALLED ON A BUSY ROAD DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR. HAD CAR TOWED TO THE LOCAL AAA REPAIR CENTER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE ALTHOUGH I GET REGULAR OIL CHANGES. THE CAR WAS WORKING FINE, NO ENGINE OR OIL LIGHTS TO ALERT THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WAS LOW.
WHEN I'M OUT DRIVING I HAVE NOTICED THAT ALL KIA OPTIMAS HAVE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE. THE BACK LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING. HALF OF THE BACK LIGHTS WENT OFF.
STEERING WHEEL STICKS AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. IT TAKES SOME ADDITIONAL FORCE TO GET OVER THE 12 O'CLOCK HUMP CLOCKWISE AND COUNTERCLOCKWISE. THIS OCCURS DURING ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS
I WAS DRIVING ON MY DRIVEWAY GOING LESS THAN 10MPH AND ALL THE SUDDEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE I WAS BEING SHOT AT. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND GOT OUT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND NOTICED MY SUN ROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARDS
MY CAR IS USING OIL BUT ITS NOT LEAKING OIL BUT EVERYTIME I GET A OIL CHANGE ITS OLNY A QUART IN MY CAR MAYBE. I HAVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH TO MAKE SURE I HAVE OIL IN MY CAR CAUSE IT STOPPED ON ME AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME THEY PUT OIL IN IT A LIL LATER AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. BUT NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OIL INDICATORS COME ON I NEED TO KNOW WHY AND WHY IS THIS OIL BURNING OFF MY ENGINE AM I IN ANY DANGER IF MY CAR CATCHING FIRE?? PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW CAUSE THIS HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH IT JUST BURBS THE OIL UP I DONT KNOW WHY?? PLEASE IF U COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, THE STEERING WOBBLED AND LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REDDING KIA (888-778-5635, LOCATED AT 418 E CYPRESS AVE, REDDING, CA 96002) AND KEPT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE YOKE IN THE STEERING BOX WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS BACK ORDERED. THE CONTACT WAS LATER INFORMED TO RETURN THE LOANER VEHICLE BECAUSE HER VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE WHILE WAITING FOR THE PART. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND PROMISED TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE BRAKES DID NOT WORK CAR SHUT OFF HAD TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR IN NEVER CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT TOTAL LOSS
I WAS DRIVING THE ROAD WHEN OUT OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE STOPS AND SOMETIMES TURNS ON ON ITSELF,ITS SEEMS LIKE THE ENGINE LOCKS AND THE CARS STOPS SUDDENLY.IT ALSO HAPPENS AND I TURN ON INTERSECTIONS,WHEN I ACCELERATE TO GAIN SPEED IT TURNS OFF AND I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR ON NEUTRAL AND TURN IT ON. ON ALL OF THESE OCCASIONS MY FAMILY TRAVELING WITH ME.
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY INTERSTATE 70. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED DUE TO THE FIRE. YOU CAN SEE THE BURNED SQUARE SHAPE ON THE HOOD WHICH SHOWS THE DESTRUCTION UNDERNEATH THE HOOD.
ON JANUARY 15, 2019 MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL SMELL FIRST THEN TIRED TO STOP THE CAR. THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK SO SHE HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKES. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD POPPED THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE.
TAKATA RECALL MY SON AND I WAS RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND WE HEARD A LOUD BOOM! AND THE CAR STARTED SMOKING WE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR WE CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD ONLY TO SEE FIRE! WE IMMEDIATELY STARTED RUNNING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SCARED FOR OUR LIFE'S. SINCE THAT DAY I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE OR RIDE INSIDE OF ANY VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. WHEN THE HOOD WAS LIFTED UP, THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AND ONLY SMOKE REMAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS PRESENT AND STATED THAT THE EXHAUST HAD BURST AND OIL LEAKED OUT, WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
I WAS TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AND LEVEL HIGHWAY IN MY KIA OPTIMA (WHICH HAS LESS THAN 60,000 MILES), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST ALL POWER. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. CAR WAS TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE BROUGHT TO A DEALER. BARRY HENDERSON, THE REPAIR SHOP MANAGER, SAID THERE IS A POSSIBLE WIRING ISSUE AND IF THE WIRING IS OKAY, THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T REPAIR SO THE CAR WAS TOWED TO HYMAN BROTHERS KIA IN MIDLOTHIAN, VA. ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ON THIS CAR AND HARD COPIES OF ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS HAVE BEEN PLACE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AS PROOF.
2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH APPROX 68,000 MILES. GOING UP HILL UP A RAMP TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY AROUND 40 MPH WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE OIL AND BATTERY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND CAR COASTED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE INTO SHOULDER AS I COULD. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. SAT ON THE ON-RAMP FOR QUITE A WHILE PARTIALLY BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HAD SOME NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS PASSING AND HONKING AT ME. TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP SAME MORNING. TECH BELIEVES MY ENGINE HAS SEIZED BUT NO OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A LOANER CAR AT NO CHARGE. I AM ORIGINAL OWNER AND HOPE KIA WILL REPLACE MY ENGINE AT NO COST AND BUY MY CAR BACK. I AM SCARED OF THE VEHICLE FIRES THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THESE ENGINES FOR OTHER PEOPLE. MY CAR GAVE ME NO FAILURE WARNING UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE.
CAR USED TO COMMUTE 50 MILES EACH DAY TO WORK AND BACK. ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING A LOT OF OIL (A QUART EACH WEEK). KIA DEALER SAID ENGINE IS BLOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE HAZARD LIGHTS. THE CONTACT CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO LOU FUSZ KIA (1025 N LINDBERGH BLVD, ST LOUIS, MO, 63132). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY HAD TO BE CHANGED ON TWO OCCASIONS BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
AROUND 55,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING LOW OIL AND HAVING TO ADD OIL, SHORTLY I HEARD SOME RATTLING UNDER THE HOOD. AT THIS TIME I ALSO STARTED TO NOTICE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY SAYING I DID NOT MAINTAIN THE PROPER OIL CHANGES. I OFFERED PROOF OF ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS AND THEY STILL DENIED TO FIX IT. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE FIX THEY SAY NEEDED TO BE DONE SO I JUST DECIDED I WOULD JUST ADD THE EXTRA OIL TO THE ENGINE EVERY WEEK HOWEVER AROUND 63,000 THE ENGINE BLEW. NOW CURRENTLY THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND I AM AWAITING TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS EXACT ISSUE ON THIS CAR AND I EXPECT THEM TO FIX MY CAR.
THE STEERING HAS BECOME DIFFICULT, JERKY, STICKS AND REQUIRES MUCH EFFORT TO CONTROL. THIS OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS BUT OF COURSE IS MORE PREVALENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. KIA INDICATED THAT THE MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING IS DEFECTIVE AND THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SIMILAR ISSUES MULTIPLE TIMES. AS THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY KIA IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR DEATH TO ME AND MY FAMILY. I WOULD LIKE KIA TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IN GOOD FAITH TO US AS A LOYAL CUSTOMER. KIA CLAIM # IS 12961775. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT JIM BUTLER KIA IN CHESTERFIELD MO AWAITING AN ESCALATION TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME, MOST LIKELY SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW, BUT HAS RECENTLY BECOME MORE NOTICEABLE AND MORE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE.
HAD OIL CHANGED AND A MONTH LATER NOTICED THE CAR MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE AND SKIPPING WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET AND HIGHWAY. HAD THE OIL RECHECKED AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF OIL. FIRST THOUGHT THAT THE OIL PLACE FORGOT TO PUT OIL IN. HOWEVER, IT WAS LATER DETERMINED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE VALVE WAS GONE IN THE ENGINE AND I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE AT 130,000 MILES IN A 2015 KIA OPTIMA LX. THE CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 BUT I WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SIDE.
VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE A KNOCKING NOISE GOING DOWN THE HEY AT 60 MPH. CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WAS DIOGNOSED. KIA COMMISSIONSERS WAS NOTIFIED.
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND THE ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS JUST SHUT OFF. THIS IS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, AND WITH NO WARNING SIGNS. LUCKILY I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER. STILL HAVE NO LUCK GETTING IT RESTARTED AFTER BEING TOWED TO MY RESIDENCE
IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS I HAVE NOTICED MY CAR SHUDDERS AND SHAKES A LOT WHEN IT IS STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT OR WHEN PARKED WITH THE ENGINE IDLING IT USED TO BE THAT I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE CAR WAS RUNNING IN EITHER OF THESE POSITIONS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE ROAD SHOULDER, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S HOME. THE CONTACT CALLED DUTCH MILLER KIA OF CHARLESTON (335 MACCORKLE AVE SW, SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV 25303, (855) 739-5369) AND WAS INFORMED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE VIN SINCE THIS WOULD BE THE SECOND ENGINE THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I BOUGHT A 2015 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAND NEW OFF THE LOT IN OCTOBER 2014. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR MODULES. THE FIRST ONE THAT BROKE (PASSENGER) IN MARCH 2016 AND WAS TOLD BECAUSE THE WINDOW SHATTERED ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TO REPLACE THE MODULE AND WINDOW IT WAS $700. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT BAD IN JULY 2017. THAT WAS $250 TO REPLACE SINCE THE WINDOW STAYED IN TACT. HERE WE ARE NOVEMBER 2018 AND FOR THE SECOND TIME THE PASSENGER SIDE REGULATOR HAS GONE BAD. THAT'S 3 TIMES I HAVE REPLACED THE SAME PART WITH KIA GENUINE PARTS (PURCHASED FROM KIA) IN 4 YEARS. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE SAME THING.
AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 A.M. ON NOVEMBER 12, 2018, THE ENGINE BECAME FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED ON THE STREET IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AND TURNED OFF. NO ONE HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR SEVERAL HOURS. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR, MELTED THE TIRES AND FILLED THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WITH SMOKE. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE IT SPREAD TO THE GAS TANK.
VEHICLE SMOKING FROM EXHAUST AND STALLING, (26,630 MILES ) TAKEN TO DEALER ( RUSTY WALLACE KIA ) ON 05/15/18. CLEANED OIL FROM INTAKE. VEHICLE SMOKING AND STALLING,TAKEN BACK TO DEALER ON 05/28/18. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER FOR 30 DAYS. DEALER SAYS NO PROBLEMS FOUND. VEHICLE STILL SMOKING AND NOW VERY LOW ON OIL,VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ON 11/12/18.
VEHICLE CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST WEEK. ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE ON THE CITY STREETS.
LEAKING CLEAR LIQUID THAT,STAINS DRIVEWAY. SEE WHEN CAR IS MOVED.FIRST NOTICED 8/18.HAD CHECKED BY DEALER.NO LEAK WAS FOUND.
ENGINE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT AROUND 86,000 MILES. NOW HAS 95,000 MILES. HAS SHAKING, BURNING SMELLS, AND SUSPECTED POWER SURGING. DEALER STATES CAN NOT REPLICATE SMELL OR SURGING. ALTHOUGH A RESISTOR WAS BURNT UP. THEY SAY THE SHAKE IN THE CAR IS NORMAL DUE TO ENGINE DESIGN. ENGINE DID NOT START SHAKING UNTIL 40,000 MILES. KIA CORPORATE REFUSES TO SEND A TECH OUT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,500.
I NOTICED THAT WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT WOULD FIRST MAKE A NOISE AND THEN RIGHT AFTER IT WOULD STALL AND SPUTTER/ JERKING LIKE IT WANTS TO CUT OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO A KIA DEALERSHIP FIRST IN ALEXANDRIA,VA WHERE THEY ONLY DID MY OIL CHANGE AND NOTHING ELSE BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD TAKE A WHILE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT MY CAR AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE A LOANER FOR ME, SO I THEN TOOK MY CAR TO THE FALLS CHURCH, VA LOCATION AND I EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH MY CAR AND FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS I WAS BRINGING MY CAR BACK AND FORTH THERE FOR OIL CHANGES BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO SEE IF IT WOULD STILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUES AND NO MATTER HOW MANY OIL CHANGES THEY DONE MY CAR WOULD STILL DO THE SAME THING. MY CAR WAS CLOSE TO THE MAXIMUM MILES FOR WHERE IT WOULD STILL BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY TO GET FIXED AND I TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO GET THE ISSUE FIXED BEFORE MY WARRANT RUNS OUT. SO FINALLY THEY KEEP MY CAR SITTING IN THE SHOP FOR 1 MONTH WITHOUT ANYONE LOOKING AT IT AND COME TO FIND OUT THE GUY THAT WAS GOING TO BE WORKING ON MY CAR NO LONGER WORKS THERE, I WOULD CALL THEM TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF MY CAR AND MOST TIMES I COULD NEVER REACH ANYONE AND THEY DIDN'T CALL ME TO KEEP ME UP TO DATE ON THE PROGRESS, SO AFTER ABOUT 1 1/2 MONTH THEY CALL ME AND TELL ME THAT THEY CAN NOT FIX MY CAR DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE AND UP KEEP BY ME AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, MY CAR ONLY HAD 57,000 MILES ON IT AND IT WILL COST ME $5000 + TO GET MY CAR FIXED. I'M STILL DRIVI
RELOCATING TO LAS VEGAS AND MY ENGINE WENT OUT. THE CAR JUST STOP MOVING. I BOUGHT THIS CAR 13 MONTHS AGO AT PAUL BLANCO STOCKTON AND IT WENT OUT AFTER ONLY HAVING 84,000 MILES
BACK UP CAMERA FAILED IN VEHICLE AND KIA DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE $1000.00 TO FIX IT THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 55,000 MILES .
BODY PAINT IS PEELING ON HOOD AND REAR BUMPER ; KIA DEALER SAID KIA ONLY WARRANTS THE PAINT JOB FOR ONLY 3 YEARS. I AM CONTENDING KIA KNOWS THIS AND IS DECEIVING ITS CUSTOMERS FROM DAY 1; UNACCEPTABLE !
ENGINE ( AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ) SHUT DOWN (3 TIMES) COMPLETELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY , WHILE CAR WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS( TWICE) AND ONCE WHILE AT TOLLS. ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN YOU TURN KEY OCCASIONALLY , ITS LIKE BATTERY IS DEAD. I BELIEVE THAT FIRST AND SECOND TIMES I WAS FLASHING HI BEAMS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER THESE EVENTS HAPPEN , THE MILEAGE GUAGE RESETS, AND CLOCK IS WRONG. ALSO NOTICE THAT THE RADIO FLICKERS,, AND OR TURNS OFF ON ITS OWN. ALSO, NOT ABLE TO RESET TRIP MILEAGE, AND NOTICED THAT SHIFTER BUTTON INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT DEPRESS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW WAS JAMMED IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. PRESTIGE AUTO SALES (N8890 WI-57, BRILLION, WI) DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,620.
2015 OPTIMA SXL WITH 130K MILES REGULARLY MAINTAINED WITH ALL HIGHWAY MILES. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A MILD KLANKING SOUND. SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A LOUD BANG OCCURRED UNDER THE HOOD AND ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. PULLED OFF THE ON THE SHOULDER AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE ENGINE AND A FEW OTHER LIGHTS WERE ON. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CONTINUED TO BURN. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. NO PRIOR SOUNDS OR NOISES SUGGESTING A PROBLEM. ALL KIA UPDATES OR MAINTENANCE NOTICES WERE HANDLED BY A KIA DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED WITH ALL OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE DONE BY A SHOP. HAVE HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THIS IS NOT ONLY A SURPRISE BUT A CONCERN AS THIS IS MY SECOND KIA (PRIOR ONE IS STILL OWNED).
FRONT HEAD LAMPS KEEPS GOING OUT, PER AUTO SHOP SHORTAGE IN WIRING FOR RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT HEAD LAMPS(LIGHTS) HAS TO REPLACE EVRY THREE WEEKS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR EXHAUST PIPE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED AN ODOR OF OIL BURNING. IN ADDITION, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: KIA12818043. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,168.
EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY KIA OPTIMA WITH ONLY 14K MILES ON IT PRE-OWN FROM THE DEALER... THE EMERGENCY BRAKE (PARKING BRAKE) HAS BEEN LOOSE AND IT HAS NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY. WHEN I PARK MY VEHICLE ON A DOWNHILL AND APPLY PARKING BRAKE WITH THE NEUTRAL MODE POSITION JUST TO SEE IT'S WORKING, THE VEHICLE SLOWLY MOVES DOWNHILL EVEN IF THE ROAD IS NOT THAT STEEP. IT WORRIES ME THAT IF I EVER LOSE THE BREAKS THE EMERGENCY BREAKS WON'T STOP THE CAR. FIXING THIS PROBLEM ON MY OWN WILL COST ME LOTS OF MONEY BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAME OUT OF THE FACTORY LIKE THAT. I'VE HEARD FROM OTHER OWNERS THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.
KIA OPTIMA 2015 WITH 20K MILES CAUGHT FIRE. ENGINE STOPPED WHILE AT RED LIGHT, IN DRIVE. STRONG SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. CALLED 911. VEHICLE BEHIND ME CALLED REPORTING SEEING FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. KIA REPLACED ENTIRE ENGINE WITH NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED.
THE ISSUE I AM HAVING, IS MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED FOR THE FORTH TIME SINCE LEASING THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2015. AFTER THE FIRST TWO OCCURRENCES WHICH TOOK PLACE A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, I TOOK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE SITTING AT STOP LIGHT IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IT COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER SAFELY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. IT RUNS FINE OTHERWISE. I AM ALWAYS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE RIGHT BACK UP. I BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE 2011 - 2014 OPTIMA ENGINE FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE. I AM TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THIS AFTERNOON. I AM DEFINITELY DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING NOISE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STOPPED. TRIED RESTARTING IT BUT IT WOULD SHUT DOWN AGAIN WITH A CLUNKING SOUND LIKE METAL TO METAL GRINDING. HAD TO PUSH THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS AT THE RIGHT LEVEL AS I HAD RECENTLY CHANGED THE OIL A FEW WEEKS AGO. I TRIED RESTARTING IT A COUPLE MORE TIMES BUT IT JUST SHUTS DOWN AND THE ENGINE REALLY SOUNDED BAD WITH A SCREECHING SOUND. I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR A MONTH NOW SINCE I DON'T HAVE ANY FUNDS TO GET IT FIX.
SHARK FIN ANTENNA COVER FELL OFF. THIS IS REPORTED TO HAPPEN TO MANY 2015 KIA OPTIMAS. THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FIN AND TO FIX THE ISSUE A WHOLE ANTENNA KIT HAS TO BE INSTALLED. APPARENTLY THE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE ANTENNA FIN DOWN RUST OVERTIME AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE FIN TO POP OFF. THIS PRESENTS A PROBLEM THAT WOULD ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE DAMAGE.
BOUGHT A BRAND-NEW 2015 KIA OPTIMA IN FEBRUARY 2016 - 2.5 YEARS AND 34,000 MILES IN, IT DIED ON ME WHILE GOING 70MPH ON I85N IN ATLANTA IN MORNING RUSH HOUR. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR AND NO WARNING SIGNS WHATSOEVER - I WENT TO CHANGE LANES AND ACCELERATE AROUND A SLOW-MOVING VEHICLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH LIT UP - THE ENGINE WAS DEAD AND I WAS COASTING. COULD NOT GET OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO TRAFFIC, SO HAD TO PUT IT AS FAR TO THE LEFT AS I COULD, WHICH ENDED UP HALFWAY IN THE HOV LANE - EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WOULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY ALL OF MY SERVICES AND OIL CHANGES HAD BEEN DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR FROM (RICK CASE KIA IN GWINNETT, GA). SO THEY HAD NO WAY TO TRY TO WIGGLE AROUND THE WARRANTY. I AM SEEING THIS EXACT ISSUE BEING DESCRIBED AT THE EXACT MILEAGE RANGE FOR DOZENS AND DOZENS OF 2015 KIA OPTIMAS ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM. IT APPEARS THAT KIA AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE GETTING AROUND PAYING FOR WHAT OBVIOUSLY IS AN ENGINE DEFECT BY ASKING THAT THE DRIVERS PROVE THEY HAD THE OIL CHANGED BY PRODUCING RECEIPTS FOR EVERY SERVICE. WHEN/IF THEY CAN'T, KIA IS NEGATING THE WARRANTY AND ASKING THE DRIVER'S TO PAY $7K-8K FOR A NEW ENGINE. IT'S DESPICABLE. MY DEALERSHIP COULDN'T GET AROUND THE WARRANTY SINCE I HAD DONE EVERY RECOMMENDED SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS AM THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE HAS B
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER (KIA OF DAYTON, 8560 TROY PIKE, HUBER HEIGHTS, OH 45424, (888) 461-2115) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM ANY RECALL CAMPAIGNS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. I MAKE SURE TO GET REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND I AM NOT A HARSH DRIVER. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH ON A 2 LANE ROAD. THE LIGHT AHEAD TURNED YELLOW AND I SLOWED DOWN TO STOP. ONCE MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT THE RED LIGHT, IT MADE A WEIRD NOISE LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF BUT DIDN'T. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO PRESS THE GAS AND IT SEEMED AS IF IT WAS STALLING AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY. THE ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT POPPED ON SO I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, TURNED MY CAR OFF AND WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES. I CRANK THE CAR BACK UP AND THE ONLY LIGHT REMAINING ON WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT AND MY CAR STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE EVERY TIME I PRESSED THE GAS. I PROCEEDED TO GO HOME AND DECIDED SINCE IT WAS A HOLIDAY I WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. I WENT TO CRANK MY CAR UP THE NEXT MORNING AND THE KNOCKING NOISE HAD GOTTEN LOUDER. I STARTED DRIVING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME BUT IT TURNED OFF AT A RIGHT LIGHT. I WAS TOO AFRAID TO TRY AGAIN SO I CALLED AAA AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. SINCE I WAS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, THE ENGINE WAS APPROVED TO BE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER, I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE WAS VERY SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED BEING THAT I HAVE HAD ZERO OTHER PROBLEMS NOR DID ANY HAZARD LIGHTS APPEAR ON MY DASH BEFOREHAND. MY VIN WAS CHECKED FOR ENGINE RECALLS AND DID NOT APPEAR TO BE ON THE
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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 2015 Kia Optima → · Every Optima year → · How the figures are calculated →