10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,579 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2017 Kia Optima miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2017 Kia Optima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Feb 182023

Optima

  • miles

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

No vehicle warning as it became engulfed in flames. Fire started from under the hood.

- Cape Coral, FL, USA

problem #21

Feb 142023

Optima

  • miles
My car was stolen on February 14, 2023 at 7pm.

- Temple Hills, MD, USA

problem #20

Oct 122022

Optima

  • miles
Forward collision avoidance system activated with no vehicle stopped in front. Brakes locked up multiple times and then unlocked.

- Garden City, GA, USA

problem #19

Sep 232022

Optima

  • miles

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

I was driving with an SUV in front of me at 18-wheeler in front of them. This is on a road where the speed limit is 65 however there's a section on 301 where there's a traffic light. All three vehicles came to a slow normal stop and the adaptive cruise control was doing a good job of slowing the vehicle down without my input. But the SUV when we were at about stopping speed but had not yet come to a complete stop, the SUV switched to the left lane. At which point I was maybe 20 ft behind the 18-wheeler and all of a sudden the car is adaptive cruise control tried to accelerate the car back up to the setting of 65. It didn't register the 18-wheeler at all It just registered that the car in front of me had cleared the space and if I had not been paying attention and immediately applied the brakes to stop the car manually It absolutely would have accelerated directly into the back of the 18-wheeler. I was maybe 5 ft and it was still accelerating when I slammed on the brakes. I've been able to since reproduce the effects, it doesn't register 18 wheelers correctly in this specific situation as vehicles. I've even had the camera recalibrated in between tests. I have everything on video but unfortunately do not have access to the car's computer logs. I would be willing to send in my ECU for whatever is needed to identify this further.

- Savannah , GA, USA

problem #18

Sep 062022

Optima

  • miles
Car can be easily stolen due to not having an engine immobilizer

- Roscoe, IL, USA

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problem #17

Jun 042022

Optima

  • miles
While driving on the freeway and NO vehicles around me, the sunroof shattered, I am reaching out to consumers to see if they have encountered the same problem. As I reached out to KIA consumers affairs and after waiting 2 months I was told to reported it to my insurance and they will cover my deductible but it will take 90 days for my deductible to be processed and issued to me. A total of 5 months to wait for my sunroof to be fixed is unacceptable. FYI - KIA Dept. of consumers affairs (800) 333-4542 you will be on hold for hours before someone can help you, so annoying-€¦ Any suggestions or help will be greatly appreciate.

- Torrance , CA, USA

problem #16

Jul 102022

Optima

  • miles

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

There is a viral trend spreading throughout the country that shows how easy it is to steal a key-start Kia or Hyundai. The perpetrators bashed my back rear window, dislodged the undercarriage of the steering wheel, and used something as simple as a USB cable to turn a knob and start the ignition. My safety was put at risk as well as others because these people that stole my car clearly do not care about their own life or others. No one steals a car for a positive reason. They drove it recklessly and abandoned it without concern for anyone. Kia and Hyundai need to address this issue or more and more of them are going to continue to get stolen and people are going to continue to get hurt, both physically and financially.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

problem #15

Jun 032022

Optima

  • miles
After driving for more than 5 or so minutes I begin to smell a burning smell. I-€™ve had my brakes inspected, my oil changed and even took it to the dealership however it continues to keep happening

- Eureka, CA, USA

problem #14

Feb 082022

Optima

  • miles
Engine is consuming excessive oil. That could cause internal parts of the engine to wear faster because of less lubrication and could lead to an engine failure while driving, which could lead to engine stopping and loss of propulsion which could cause an accident. The car went through a oil consumption test with a Kia dealership and failed by consuming more than 1 qt of oil in a 1000 miles interval. The Kia dealership proceeded to do a combustion chamber cleaning procedure and re-did oil consumption test and it failed again. They also had requested service record which where provided. Even though Kia has a service bulletin on that matter, the service advisor at the Kia dealership said that the manufacturer declined the claim. Right now I-€™m constantly refilling oil in the engine which is also an additional expense. The first time I noticed the issue was in February, 2022 when the low oil pressure alert came on.

- Davenport, FL, USA

problem #13

Mar 282022

Optima

  • miles
Since I purchased the car I have a had a issue with my vehicle misfiring. We purchased the car in 2018 and a few months in I had to bring the car in for a rattle and shaking while I was driving. It would give me a warning lamp stating that a -€œpossible engine control issue had been found-€. Since then I have taken the car in for the same issue three different time. Including the misfire and coil pack and spark plug replacement that I just had to pay nearly 600 for at the dealership. I have had this issue occur multiple time since we purchased the car and while driving on the freeway nearly putting my life at risk. This is an issue that needs to be addressed.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #12

Dec 162021

Optima

  • miles

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

Several weeks ago, we had trouble opening and closing the trunk of our 2017 KIA Optima. Then a few weeks ago, the trunk of our KIA Optima closed and would not open at all. Because of the pandemic, we didn't contact KIA. But today, 16 Dec. 2021, as my wife was driving north in heavy traffic on US Highway 25 in Albuquerque, NM, the trunk suddenly opened and blocked her view of the cars behind her. Luckily she was in the right lane and was able to exit the highway. Otherwise there might have been a serious accident. We bought the car in 2017 from Fiesta KIA in Albuquerque, NM (505-999-2745). They have been unresponsive.

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #11

Nov 152021

Optima

  • miles
During the week of November 14th, 2021, I noticed my vehicle begin to noticeably vibrate and generate an unfamiliar sound near the engine compartment. The vibration and sound was accompanied by a "check engine" light illuminating. I immediately scheduled an appointment at my local dealership and was provided a date of November 29, 2021. On November 29, 2021, I dropped off my vehicle at the dealership and learned of NHTSA Recall Number "21V844." The service representative and his technician believe the vibration and sound are a result of the recall. To date, my vehicle remains at the dealership and the matter is unresolved. The service representative has advised me that Techline / KIA Corp. is determining whether my vehicle's engine issue is due to the recall or not. It has been two weeks that the vehicle has been at the service center. As per the recall notice I received in the mail, the inspection for the recall should have been completed in a matter of hours. I reasonably believe that Techline / KIA Corp is searching for an excuse to not remedy my vehicle's engine issue, and are jeopardizing the safety of myself and my family. I have a newborn and kindergartener that I have in the car daily and am concern for their safety if the engine issue does not get fixed. I am a military veteran and active police officer. I appreciate any assistance you may provide and thank you in advance.

- Stewartsville, NJ, USA

problem #10

Sep 092021

Optima

  • miles
While driving on an interstate on-ramp, I heard a loud bang from under my hood. I exited to the shoulder and as soon as I stopped, I heard a second, larger bang from the same area. Within a few seconds, flames started coming out of the engine compartment and began to fill the cabin of my vehicle from the area of the air vents and all through the dash. Within five minutes, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. I had no problems with the vehicle up to this point and the maintenance was up to date.

- Moreno Valley, CA, USA

problem #9

Mar 032021

Optima

  • 74,200 miles
The wiring harness was replaced in my 2017 Kia Optima in 2019 at approximately 45,000 miles. Kia replaced my engine January 2020 because it was consuming large amounts of oil. I just got my car back in January 28, 2021 with a supposedly new engine. On March 3, 2021, my car caught fire while pulling out of my neighborhood actually driving down the street. Smoke and flames were coming out from underneath the hood the of the car. The entire front end of the car burned. Thankfully, the fire department got the fire out and no one was injured.

- Sevierville, TN, USA

problem #8

May 202020

Optima

  • 68,000 miles
Bought my Kia 1 ago & always had a problem w/headlights always turning on & off when in auto mode. Trunk latch had to be replaced due latch not locking when trying to close trunk. Dealership said they get 20-30 latch issues w/my make & model of Kia every week. After vehicle starts car just dies & engine light comes on. At times car will stay on but stutters like its going to die.

- Las Cruces, NM, USA

problem #7

Aug 262020

Optima

  • miles
ABS light and trac light on. Right rear hub bearing needs replacing. Vehicle only has 78,000 miles.

- Hickory, MS, USA

problem #6

Jul 022019

Optima

  • 68,000 miles
My 2017 Kia Optima, the engine light comes on at numerous times and when it does it starts to ride rough like it is in the wrong gear, seems like it is ready to die out when slowing down. Also feels like it won't pick up speed. I was driving on freeway most of the time at speeds from 40 to 70 mph. It also does this when driving in town. I am crying out for help. The dealership does not seem to care about my safety. I commute in the mid morning hours and very unsafe if I break down. My life is at stake. Thank you

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #5

Sep 072019

Optima

  • 32,000 miles
Seat beat sounds off while driving and seat belt is fasten. It dings as if the seat belt is not on. Secondly, radio plays but no lights no camera works from time to.

- Orangeburg, SC, USA

problem #4

May 152019

Optima

  • 8,800 miles
The shark fin antenna snapped off while driving. I hit nothing, just driving on the highway.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

problem #3

Aug 132018

Optima

  • 12,750 miles
I purchased a new 2017 Kia Optima in Feb of 2017 and on July 17 2018 I was driving down a street when I slowed down to a stop so a car can back out when the car violently shook then shut off. I tried multiple times to restart it but just shook again and turned off. My husband pushed me to the sidewalk where I tried again to restart it and it finally stayed on with no lights showing up. Took it to the dealership on a tow truck and was told nothing is wrong with it. They kept the car for a day and said I can pick it up it's perfectly fine. I have a case open with Kia and they told me not to restart the car because the codes will erase and that's what happened. I told Kia I will not be driving the car because it's not safe and I have children. Their response is nothing is wrong with it so I decided to drive it only to take my husband to work for the next 2 weeks and on August 13 2018 while I was driving the lights came on and I could not get any gas so I was just coasting. Luckily I was able to pull into a parking lot and park but I also took a video of what lights came on as well as when the tow truck came showing the lights were still on even though I did not completely turn the car on. I have a rental for 2 weeks and a field tech is going to drive my car for 1 week to try and duplicate the issue even though it already happen for the second time. Now I'm waiting on what the issue is.

- Cudahy, CA, USA

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