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.
1.Since 1/17/23 I've had 5 occurrences of the car yanking me to the left as I am turning right. The steering wheel gets stiffed, the dashboard lights come one, car slows down and I have to park the car and turn it off and back on. When I turn it back on, no dashboard lights are on and the everything is back to normal as if nothing ever happened. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership 3 times for a diagnostics and nothing comes up. The vehicles computer is not even tracing the times the dashboard lights have turned on as it shows zero history and that is not the case. I have taken pictures and video of the dashboard lights and have showed the guys at the dealership but since there's no record on the dashboard computer/history, they're not able to determine the problem. 2.My safety has been put at risk as I can get involved in a car accident and involve others safety at risk as well. The vehicle doesn't give any prior signs when it's going to act up when turning to the right, therefore it can happen at any given time. The first time I was leaving a parking lot and it happened on the freeway feeder. I towed my vehicle to the dealership the first time as I was in fear of driving it only to be told they can't find the issue. 3.The dealership has ran 3 different diagnostics on 3 different occasions and nothing comes up. It is still unresolved. 4. Kia service department has inspected in on 3 different occasions since the first incident. 5. No warning lamps or warnings of any sort before the first incident.
Knock sensor replaced due to engine knocking did not fix the problem the cars engine does not work it julks and pulls really hard engine noise check engine flashing left me stalled on the main highway with my 2 children with no warning the car has engine oil to adequate levels maintenance was up to date
Rear outer TAIL LAMP combination assemblies (NOT the inner lights on the trunk lid) have failed Virginia State SAFETY Inspection due to accumulation of moisture and standing water in BOTH left and right outer tail lamps, causing LEDs in the tail lamp assembly to burn out and not illuminate. There have already been multiple Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) on the matter (i.e. KIA TSB PS364, KIA TSB BOD143, KIA TSB BOD172), and the cause outlined in these TSBs has been a DEFECT in design leading to a gap between the tail lamp housing gasket and the vehicle body allowing WATER INTRUSION. KIA has neglected to inspect, fix, or add additional gaskets per their instructions during eligible warranty periods, and extended warranties refuse to fix the issue as they classify it as water intrusion. This pins the financial burden to fix the safety issue on the customer/driver, as KIA dealers have quoted $1,232.46 for replacement of these tail lamps. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Components: Rear outer tail lamp combination assemblies (both left and right) (NOT the lamps on the trunk lid). Inspection availability: LIMITED due to significant time pressure and inconvenience (since the tail lamps have caused the vehicle to fail Virginia State Safety Inspection, the car needs to be fixed ASAP to resume commute to work, etc.) How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk" Lower visibility for others, may result in incident. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Confirmed by KIA dealer themselves. Also, multiple customer complaints on internet, as well as TSBs. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? KIA dealer did not inspect during warranty. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear" No and UNKNOWN.
The driver side brake light and tail light is out. I have noticed this same problem on a few other Optimas' in my neighborhood about the same year as mine. There is a YouTube video saying it's because of the tail light connector.
On 1 30-30 2023 my vehicle spun a rod bearing no engine light came on no oil light alert. I have a lifetime warranty & I'm just learning of a recall NHTSA SAFETY ID# 21V331000, to which I did not receive any notifications or recall notices
- Hemet, CA, USA
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The lack of an ignition immobilizer facilitated an easy car theft and unauthorized use of the vehicle. A mechanic has confirmed that due to the lack of an immobilizer, anti-theft features were overridden, leading to a car theft. Insurance, police, and mechanics have all inspected the vehicle and state the cars theft was a result of the known fact that KIA ignitions can be started with a USB. The manufacturer, KIA, failed to keep up with industry standards to protect their customer's cars from theft, and now that the problem has intensified, they have not taken action to help consumers affected.
Anti Theft Security system is non-existent. There is a current known issue on the internet on the ease of theft of any Kia or Hyundai to certain years of manufacture. I am currently a single disabled person that could be a victim of vehicle theft because of a lack of this security software that Kia did not include on my 2015 vehicle. This Kia/Hyundai known issue could potentially leave anyone stranded in a dangerous situation. All other prior and current vehicles are equipped with the security software. Currently Kia & Hyundai has provided Lock bars for certain police departments to hand out, however.. not in my area. I am receiving warning letters from my Insurance company and have heard of some totally dropping coverages on all vehicles manufactured without the security software. This is a very dangerous situation and I believe that ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED SHOULD BE ISSUED AN IMMEDIATE RECALL AND SOFTWARE UPDATE PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURERS AT NO COST TO CURRENT OWNERS OF THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. A proposed class action lawsuit was started in September 2022. In the meantime.. what happens to innocent people who go to a grocery store or doctors office only to find that their car had been stolen while they were inside" Or what happens when they can no longer receive insurance coverage because of the ease of this known lack of security originally promised from the manufacturer" These particular Kia/Hyundai's are missing a "key" anti-theft device..their keys lack computer chips for theft "immobilizer" systems that other car manufacturers have as a standard theft deterrant during those same years of manufacture & currently have on all new vehicles. A MANDATORY RECALL FOR REPAIR SHOULD BE ISSUED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE ALL INSURANCE COMPANIES REFUSE TO INSURE THESE VEHICLES! Anti-Theft technology was included on the sticker price but not installed! I am afraid to go to the grocery store!!
As I was driving on the Interstate, my car lost power and I was unable to push on my gas or use my brakes to slow down to pull off the interstate. Lights begin flashing with a warning that read -€œ Check Hybrid system. Stop vehicle and turn off engine. This is the second time this has happened but before my car shut off and didn-€™t turn back on. I was going to be hit by a semi truck had he not swerved around. Also, this the 5th time this week it has happened.
2015 Kia Optima Hybrid HEV system. Months after purchasing the vehicle two different lights would come on the engine. One is the HEV warning light and the other is a flashing -€œTurn off engine and check HEV system-€. The first time it happened the vehicle turned off. It was towed to Kia, 02/2020. They change some sensor and sent me on my way. 3 weeks later the HEV warning light came on again so it was towed to Kia for the 2nd time, 03/2020. This time they said they could not recreate the issue. A month later the light came on again and again but since the light never stayed on, I kept getting told by Kia that I-€™d have to take it in when the light stayed on. 01/2021 the light came on again, with the flashing warning and the vehicle turned off, mid-drive. It was towed to a mechanic shop near me, where they replaced the wiring harness completely, but a month later the same light came on again. Over the course of the year, the warnings kept turning up and time and time I kept getting told they needed the light on at the dealer so they could determine with the codes, what is wrong. 07/2022, light came on as I was merging on to the freeway and the car shut off. I was able to make it turn on and make it home safe. The next day I towed it to the shop where they replaced the wiring harness and they stated they could not touch it further since the codes they got where -€œHigh voltage battery-€ codes and a specific tech is the only one when could work on it. I took it to Kia where it stayed 33 days. They changed a part. Two days later the HEV light came on again, so I took it back. They kept it one day, drove it 60 miles and they could not recreate the issue. I got it back on Saturday, 5 miles out the light came back again and again. I took video. Called Kia and now the car is back at the dealer while they try and figure out the issue. I-€™m scared for my life. The car gives no warning when it decides to shut off. Wheel locks on the times it does turn off. HEV system is no good.
I been reported the recall about my car engine and other problems thats going on with it but the manufacturer won-€™T fix it so what else can I do to have all these recalls fixed
For one my car is very sluggish when taking off and shifting gears Jerks badly. MY electrical is messing up on my radio and camera. Sometimes I smell rubber burning. When I have my cruise on it will speed up on its on and jerk when it does and when i press my brakesbto slow down it doesn'twant to slow down unless iash really hard. When taking off from a hill or a dead stop it doesn't want to shift and slags and rattles when it shifts. Bluetooth works sometimes and sometimes it doest it depends on when my backup camera works or not. I bought this car used in June of 2021 with a little over 92000 miles. I know when something doesn't sound right and when something is messed up, there is something wrong with my car. So far I haven't been in an accident but I don't want to be either.
Engine Failure due to rod bearing issues-faulty manufacturing parts appears to have gotten into engine preventing or binding the engine so that it will not start.
Just bought the car. Drove it off lot & engine quit on me. Wont go over 25 mph. They won-€™t refund my money. So I-€™m on phone with Kia consumer affairs. If they don-€™t get it fixed/replaced/or buy the car back then I am contacting the lawyers who have the lawsuits against Kia & add my case to their lawsuit. This is ridiculous how many people on here that I see Kia is denying them for replacement of motor due to their company!! They need to get it together or just quit making cars! They suck! I bought it in good faith hoping it was a reliable car. Now I-€™m $9k out of pocket.
Malfunctions: hazard lights severe malfunction. All Steering wheel control buttons stopped working. Center control buttons stopped working. USB charging port/Auxiliary media port/ right side auxiliary power port lost power. Battery alternator and starter had acceptable readings via multimeter. Suspect ECM failure? Symptoms similar to misfires when A/C is running. Parking break doesn-€™t always engage despite proper method. Inconsistent gas consumption drastic fluctuations
In 2020 a message saying -€œcheck hybrid system, stop vehicle and turn off engine appeared and the car stopped while I was driving. I brought it to the Kia Dealership and they -€œfixed the problem-€. On Tuesday May 31st I was driving home on the expressway and my car stopped. I luckily was able to pull off to the side and then the same message popped up and the car would not drive anymore. I have had 5 recalls with this car and it is only 7 years old.
Engine/motor failed which disabled the car on highway. Traveling on 3/4 lane highway with heavy traffic. Safety was risked due to almost being hit from behind and cars swerving out the way. Problem was assessed and thought to be repaired but occurred again causing more possible damage to engine. Warning lamp illuminated seconds before the car shut off which was not enough time to pull over safely. Car had to be towed off highway.
My 2015 Kia was one of many Kias stolen from the Milwaukee, WI area. It was stolen from a secure residential parking garage by thieves who know they simply have to break a window to gain entrance to the car, break open the ignition lock, start the car with a USB port, and drive away. The police helped me recover the car and it is currently sitting idle at the shop for the past month waiting for a new ignition lock which is on backorder nationwide because of the high demand.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Houston, TX, USA