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.
My car simply -??just quit-?? leaving me stranded on the road. I called my nearest Kia dealer who said it would be at least 6 weeks until they could see it. Apparently according to a quick search, these cars are blowing engines rather regularly. Why wasn-??t there a recall before engines were blown? Since my car is no longer covered under warranty, I-??m expecting a hefty bill even though there-??s an obvious defect. Kia will not return my calls.
My Kia has a weird sound coming from the engine when it is on parked on when I'm driving and I have the break on. I took it to 2 mechanics, and they both told me that it was the bearings wearing of from the engine and that the motor is working harder than it should and using the motor oil more than it should. Both mechanics told me that it would need a new motor soon but to make it last longer to monitor the motor oil to ensure it always has some. Both mechanics also say that my kia should have a recall, but when I look at my vin, there is no recall for the bearing wear of the engine. It is unacceptable that my kia has a recall for the bearing wear of the engine but not specified for my car and now I have to be worried that my car will break down or worse cause an accident. The recall is 17v224000 SC147
My 2013 KIA Optima caught fire about three weeks ago I don't know what caused it, but it started under the hood of the car where the motor is. Initially the car stopped when I had an oil change and I thought it was the starter. I had a new one put on and it started. I drove it and it caught fire. Now it is sitting at my home and the fuse compartment have been stollen out of the car. If someone will let me know what to do about the situation and what caused the fire, I would really appreciate it. Also, if someone could let me know if the fire was caused by one of the recalls for that car. Thank you, Doris W Sadler.
My car paint as been chipping off. I see a lot of cars like mine in the street with the same isssue, specially Perales white kias. They look like junk cars. Paint was not good
- Madera , CA, USA
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I was turning into some parking spots so i could put my car in reverse and park closer to building i needed. I did not get a chance to putin reverse, the vehicle surged forward and was accelerating. My foot was not on the gas pedal. I was trying to brake. I turned steering wheel so I didn't hit brick building. I swiped the building and 2 vehiles on my right AND still did not stop right away. I kept on the brake and the plants, rocks, landscaping I think helped it to stop. I can get police report in few days.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power and stalled. Several attempts to restart the vehicle failed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 57,000.
Every since I purchased this car in 2013 I have had nothing but trouble out of it I have called the Kia company numberous times and they never respond all I asked them to do is replace the car I trusted in Kia I love my car but it is severely dangerous please help me before it gets me and my family hurt
I was driving to work and started hearing a very loud knocking noise. I got to a stop light and my car just shut off. When I restarted the car it was making the noise and shut off again. Sounds louder as you push on gas paddle.
The front of the car rattles the engine, rattles and makes noise, my engine already blew up and it had to be replaced, I don-??t think the dealer put the engine back in the right way with all the mounts, I-??ve also brought the car in for service several times, and I-??ve mentioned the rattling and they-??ve done nothing about it, I believe it-??s gonna cause a car fire because it-??s not properly secure from when they replace the engine under recall
recall is extremely dangerous and I was informed very late. Was not given a rental for the time being. Difficult to find service immediately. Do not feel safe driving.
Car stopped at a light and didn-??t want to turn back on. Tried to have it jumped with no luck. The car turns on but the engine won-??t turn over at all.
Engine light on camshaft position chain sensor is reading on scanner an is not common for kia I believe kia had a recall for Engine I would like a whole new motor
On June 12th myself and two friends were traveling on a rural two-way traffic hwy. As I was attempting to pass another vehicle, the car lost all power. I was barely able to avoid a head on collision. I pulled over to the side of the road which had only enough shoulder to fit my car and there was white smoke coming from under the hood. All the dashboard lights were lite after I pulled over, but nothing prior to the car losing power. I was on a curve in a dead zone for our cell phones. After opening the hood, white smoke was billowing out, and I could smell what smelled like burnt rubber. Once the car cooled off, I was going to attempt to start it, but I could not depress the brakes. The brake pedal was stuck. We managed to get a ride to an area where I could call to have the car towed to a private mechanic, who told me the motor had seized. I just purchased this car in March 2022. Nothing was ever mentioned to me by the dealer of any recalls or any other issues with the car. They made me sign a paper stating I was buying the car as is, which I see now should have been a red flag. The Dealer was San Jose Kia in California, and I'm very angry that they would knowingly sell me a defective car, risking not only my self but my family and friends.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking and then lost motive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the brake lights remained on while the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle also experienced phantom braking while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that an unknown sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
The contact owned a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated while her son was driving approximately 35-40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and was flashing; however, he continued driving the vehicle. The contact stated that she later took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the knock sensor and an unknown component needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, 6 hours later while her son was driving 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed back to the independent mechanic. The independent mechanic then informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer who confirmed that the engine needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced by the local dealer approximately in October of 2021. The contact then stated that on March 13, 2023, while her son was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle crossed the center line and crashed into a tree on the other side of the road. The contact stated that the air bags deployed; however, her son was pronounced deceased at the scene. A Police report was filed. The contact stated that the Police Officer informed her that the speedometer was reading 90 MPH at the time of the crash and that the Event Data Recorder (EDR) was destroyed. The contact stated that the engine and transmission dislodged from the vehicle approximately 30-feet. The contact was concerned that the crash might have been caused by unintended acceleration. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine had seized. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. However, the dealer declined the engine replacement because the contact did not have an unknown engine recall repair performed prior to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that she had not received the unknown engine recall notification. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Marietta , GA, USA