This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
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.
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.
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.
My husband and I were on our way to the coast when we passed another vehicle and as soon as we passed the other vehicle we lost all power in the car we were able to get over to the side of the road where the check engine light came on.second try car did start but was making a loud knocking noise from the engine vehicle was towed to dealer it was an internal engine malfunction car was still under warranty dealer replace engine.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. While traveling at approximately 50 mph and attempting to slow down for a stop light, the vehicle stalled without warning and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who diagnosed that the starter burned out and that the engine seized. The dealer replaced the starter and was not able to diagnose the source of the failure. The contact was informed that a more extensive diagnosis was required and the engine needed to be taken apart. The engine failure was not repaired by the dealer. The vehicle was not able to be driven. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
- Sheffield, AL, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
This Kia has a push button start option. The vehicle would not start and the brake lights were not turning on when the brake pedal was depressed. The computer looks for a signal from the brake light switch before it starts the engine. I disconnected and reconnected the brake light switch and the problem was temporarily corrected. Two days later, the vehicle would not start again and the brake lights were not turning on. We used the procedure to bypass the brake signal (hold start button for 12+ seconds) to start the engine. Vehicle was now driving down the road with no brake lights. There was also a warning light illuminated on the instrument cluster indicating an issue with the ESC system. Dealership stated they have seen a few cars with this issue.
I have a 2011 Kia Optima LX, one night while driving home from work aloud boom sound with a jerk of the car and all power was gone at once. There was nothing, lights out, in and out and no acceleration, then after about 10 seconds all power returned, before and after this there was no warning of any kind, it has happened a total of three times so far.2nd time at an intersection and the 3rd time in heavy traffic, the only way I got out of traffic the car coasted, all the while steering was very hard, had to be towed to the dealership because power did not return. While they were about to check, once again the power returned all on its own in front of them, they run diagnostics, still not showing anything, so they keep giving me no answers, and putting me back into fear. 4 other repairs was made before these last 3 recurring incidents ;vehicle would not shut off with removal of the key; horns quit working; brake light switch, because could not get car into gear; fuse to the phone charger. Back to the shut downs the service techs.said they don't know what to fix! and the Kia Corp. Stand behind the same answer. They know how to make these cars what's wrong with fixing these problems especially electrical issues like this! I suggest to anyone who's reading this don't buy a Kia of anykind!
I was leaving work @ 5:45 pm and got in my car, but it would not start. I tried for 20 minutes before I called Kia ledgen dealership for help. They told me where to put the aux key starter inside the glove box area. After several attempts the car still would not start. They told me a would have to call the 800 number to get a jump or have my car towed. I found a co-worker who gave me a jump and the car started right up. I proceeded to a Firestone station and got a new batter ($146). Started right up and had no problems until my wife and I went to the mall today (Dec 28) and my car would no start again. I thought we were going to get stranded or needed to find a jump. After 5 attempts it finally started and I took my car back to the dealership and they said they could not duplicate the problem so there was nothing they could do. After stating that I read about other Kia owners having the same problem they decided to keep it over night. Are there other owners with similar problems that can lead me in the right direction to get this problem fixed?
This is update to ODI #10453907. Optima hybrid still experiencing power loss problems. Latest is at cold start, when it starts in ev mode, system indicates ready, shift into reverse or drive, car doesn't move. If we turn it off and re-start it, it operates normally. When this happens, dash icon indicates hybrid system malfunction. At re-start light goes off. Dealer can find no trouble codes stored.
The first episode was a dead battery. The car had 13 miles on the odometer. The second incident, car would not start, ignition issue, but later started (after 1hr). Taken to dealer, secondary to ignition issues. Problem resolved until today. Would not start again. Tried two different key fobs and still did not start. This is the third incident since having the vehicle. I will need to have the car towed for the second time.
The interior overhead lights periodically come on and go off while operating our 2011 Optima. This occurs with the switch in both on and off position and the lightbulbs tend to become overheated.they do not respond to manual operation, but go off on their own and this malfunction repeats several times in a ten minute drive. Best-case scenario results in the bulbs burning out prematurely, but I believe there is a real chance of a more serious short-circuit and potential interior fire.
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.
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.
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 sure what they did but they did some sort of repair, no prob with either since then. Today Dec 12, 2011 I have called to tell them that the horns are completely out again, "they say bring her in and we will take a look at her". I have no desire to spend a day at Kia dealer once a month. In fact, I no longer have a desire for Kia period. I am contacting BBB's lemon law assistance today.
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.
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!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Kansas City, MO, USA