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 the car when cold the car downshifts hard into first at about 20 mph. Almost at sometimes feeling like I have been hit from the back. My neck has started hurting from whiplash. This is a very horrible problem that needs to be fixed. In states where roads become wet, icy, and covered with snow, this can cause a lot of damage/ possibly death.
Transmission downshift very hard from 2nd to 1st. Dealer reset module 10 months ago. Solved problem. Problem recurred. Dealer reset module but problem continues. Checked internet, problem seems to be widespread.
When car is slowing down and /or approaching a stop sign it gives a hard jerk. Even if traffic slows down on the express way it gives a hard jerk. This has been going on since November 2020.
Driving at 70 mph, engine died and car started smoking. Pulled to shoulder, front end of car caught fire. Fire department extinguished with foam. Car a total loss.
Car lurches at 20 mph when slowing down to a stop. This happens after just starting the car, once driven on the highway it downshifts without lurching forward. This happened years ago around 70,000 dealer flushed transmission and it was ok until now at 120,000. Seems like this is a common reoccurring problem that should be recalled.
- Davie, FL, USA
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My 2009 Kia Optima with 90,000 miles is experiencing a hard downshift into first gear when it decelerates to about 20 mph. It is so abrupt, it feels as if the brakes have been applied very rapidly. The car jerks forward and is accompanied by a clunking sound from the transmission. It mostly happens when the vehicle is cold and goes away after it has warmed up. It just started and I have not taken it to be serviced.
Transmission shifting hard - started around 60,000 miles. Shifts hard from second gear to first gear - around 20 mph. Took it in to have the system (computer) upgrade in January of 2014 ($500) -- this fixed the issue for about 6 months. Took it back in January of 2015 ($500) for another system (computer) upgrade. It fixed the issue for several months. Took it back to Kia and the dealership recommended a new transmission. I asked the tech if he could guarantee me that this would stop the issue. He told me he could not guarantee me that installing a new transmission would stop the hard downshifting issue. It downshifts so hard that you feel like someone has slammed on the brakes.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the instrument panel indicated that the vehicle was in drive regardless of the gear shifter's position. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by engaging the emergency brake. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed, but the details of the failure were not provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 82,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. While driving 10 mph and decelerating, the vehicle jerked violently. The failure recurred when the vehicle was cold. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.
When vehicle is started at first and after slowing down between 20-30 mph applying brakes to slow down the vehicle makes a hard downshift jerk causing a harsh jolt. This happens continually up five times then decreases. This is a safety hazard and could cause death.
The contact owns a 2009 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while shifting the vehicle into the park position, the key remained stuck in the ignition switch while attempting to turn the vehicle off. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
When driving the vehicle it jerks forward and downshifts aggressively around 30 mph. Kia is aware of the issue and will not fix it because there is no recall.
Late last year (2014) in our Kia Optima 2009 got some transmission issue which is difficult to explain for. To me it looks like a manufacturing defect which Kia must resolve. This is what I experienced: In 2014 October, I started feeling a heavy jolt/jerk whenever I used the car and the engine is cold. The jolt is so strong that every passenger noticed it. This happens only when I try to slow down the car and it gets near to 20 mphr. So the factors are: 1. cold 2. downshift 3. speed 20 mphr on slippery roads it may be very dangerous which can lead to major injuries. Kia must accept this dangerous manufacturing defect before it start taking lives. It is very annoying issue too, it is always on my mind while driving which is causing distraction while driving. Kia must take an action instead of sitting quite. They must issue recall this to fix this dangerous issue. NHTSA also should support all the people with same problem so that people can believe their safety standards. I took my car 2-3 times there and explained the issue, but they could not fix it so far. If Kia's own dealers cannot fix this problem then who will? thanks for reading my complaint against Kia!
While slowing down and breaking the transmission makes a rough downshift around 20 mph. It will literally jolt the diver and passengers. The transmission will do this until it has warmed up. It is especially bad during the cold winter months. The dealer has looked at it three different times and made one adjustment to the transmission software but to no avail. I stopped by the dealer again yesterday and they said I would be charged a $105 fee just to look at it. I am afraid the transmission is going to lock-up and cause a wreck.
When I get around 20 miles per hour the car downshifts hard form 2nd gear to 1 St gear hwne it is cold...but once it warms up it is fine...this vehicle only has 53,000 miles on it... it should not be having transmission issues...it has hardly been driven...I called the dealer they said the warranty ran out... I called Kia they said the same thing...this is a issue with the transmission control module... this should be a recall... I should not have to pay for this...it is a manufacturer defect...it is said they don't stand behind their products... I am not the only one who has had this issue with Kia Optimas...please do a recall on this matter...it is getting out of hand..thanks [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
When the vehicle slows to 20 miles per hour, the car downshifts hard by itself. Car lurches forward. In researching online, I found numerous reports of the same thing. First thought it was the brakes, but mechanic said brakes were fine. It can only be the transmission / power train.
When the vehicle slows to 20 miles per hour, the car downshifts hard by itself. In researching online, I found numerous reports of the same thing. In speaking with my personal mechanic, he said this should be covered under the transmission portion of the power train warranty - new transmission software needs to be re-downloaded to the car's computer and then the computer reset - this should retrain the transmission on when to downshift.
I purchased a used Kia Optima in March 2012, but had, what I thought were "grabbing" brakes. I took it in when I found a service bulletin tsb-067. I had the car analyzed, and found it had this shifting issue. I had the reprogramming done and everything was fine for a little over a year, then not only did the downshifting issue start back up again, but now have acceleration issues as well. Now the vehicle "lopes" on acceleration - sometimes a lot. I contacted Kia about it, and they said I had to take it back for diagnosis yet again, and then they would think about reimbursement for the second service appointment. I do not understand why there is not a recall on it yet. It is destroying my transmission because of the "banging" of the transmission due to the extreme downshifting of the vehicle.
While leaving for work in the am, as I decelerate at the stop sign, when speed nears 20-25 mph the vehicle jerks hard like it's trying to downshift. Seems to disappear as the vehicle warms to running temp.
When I brake and slow down my Kia Optima and it gets to 20 mph or lower, it will jerk suddenly as if the transmission is changing abruptly and dangerously. This has been an ongoing issue and not just a recent occurrence.
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- Franklin, IN, USA