8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$500
Average Mileage:
35,000 miles
Total Complaints:
2 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. upgrade software (2 reports)
2009 Kia Optima transmission problems

transmission problem

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2009 Kia Optima Owner Comments

problem #2

Jan 012014

Optima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Started in January of 2014 the transmission would downshift HARD from second to first - right around the 20 mph mark. We had the software upgrade in 2014 for $500 and it stopped the hard downshifting for about 6 months. We took the car back to the dealership at the beginning of 2015 and had the software upgraded again - to the tune of another $500. It stopped the hard downshifting for a few months. Now, we just deal with it. We were told by the dealership that we needed a new transmission. I asked them - "Can you guarantee me that this will NOT happen with a new transmission?" Their answer - no. So, we have just been dealing with it.

- Margi D., Cypress, TX, US

problem #1

Nov 132012

Optima LX

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles

i got the optima 2009 around 2010 as new from the dealer. 2011 the car started jerking at 20mph when decelerating. first time i took it to the dealers, they said it software needed reset. the issue came back in 6 months and i was told that the software needed to be upgraded. the issue has not happened again since the last fix 2012. So far, kia dealership has not been the most friendly to work with. I am not happy with how my local dealership in Durham, NC has handled my business so far.

- jkk, Durham, NC, US

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