2001 Kia Optima Complaint Log

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEW. DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *MR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING. DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THE PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.

THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN OFF CENTERED COLLISION THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE BEING TOTALED. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, EVEN AFTER THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE, AND WINDOW BREAKING. OWNER SUFFERED HEAD INJURY AND CHEST TRAUMA. *AK THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DIMINISHED. *SCC

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN,VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE. NONE OF THE AIR DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. CAUSING INJURIES TO DRIVER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN SQUEALING LIKE NOTHING I HAVE EVER HEARD. BRAKES WERE CHECKED OUT AT A LOCAL BRAKE SHOP AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR BRAKES. AT THAT TIME THE CAR ONLY HAD 15,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 29,000 MILES ON IT AND THE NOISE IS EVEN LOUDER. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IF THERE ISN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BRAKE CHECK AND THE REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR BRAKES. BRAKES DON'T NORMALLY GO BAD THAT FAST UNLESS SOMETHING IS WRONG!! *JB

INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE WAS FAILING TO OPERATE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING, WON'T RESTART TURN KEY AND NO RESPONSE, DASH LIGHT COE ON BUT NORTHING FROM STARTER, WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING A WHILE, AC STOPS BLOWING.*AK

THIS VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FAIL ALONG WITH NONWORKING LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONER, LOCK FAILURE, BATTERY AND ALTRENATOR FAILURE. CAR HAS BEEN WORKED ON FOR SAME PROBLEMS MORE THAN 5 TIMES. CAR HAS HAD (THAT I KNOW OF) 3 BATTERIES AND 2 ALTERNATORS. ONCE THE LOCKS ON THE CAR FAILED AND I WAS TRAPPED INSIDE VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. LOCKS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY RELOCK FASTER THAN YOU COULD OPEN THE DOOR.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT 300-40 MPH HEAD-ON AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

POWER LOCKS ON BOTH DOORS WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DURING SPRING/2002 NOTICED HESITATION OF CAR DURING ATTEMPTS TO PASS OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. HESITATION/DELAY WORSENED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IT THEN DEVELOPED HESITATION AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND WOULD AT TIMES STALL OR SUDDENLY "LUNGE" AS ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. THIS BECAME A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN COLD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE WARMED-UP IT SEEMS TO RUN FAIRLY WELL WITH EXCEPTION OF THE HESITATION/STALLING SENSATION WHEN PASSING. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON JULY 18. INITIALLY, THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AN AIR SENSOR OR FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, KIA NOW STATES THE PROBLEM IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM LINKED TO SPRING/SUMMER GAS FORMULATION. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO MAKE SURE THE CAR WARMS UP SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING AND THAT THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY IN THE FALL. OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL RECUR NEXT SPRING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PROVIDED US A RENTAL CAR AT NO CHARGE D/T THE WARRANTY. THEY HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY POLITE. KIA HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT SLOW ON THEIR END COMMUNICATING WITH US BUT POLITE AND CORDIAL. HOWEVER, THE CONCERN REMAINS WITH THE PROBLEM OF KNOWING HOW LONG TO WAIT TO WARM THE ENGINE AND THEN WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR ADAPTING TO THE SPEED THAT IS SOMEWHAT ERRATIC. THE CAR IS OFTEN PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE AND THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR REPRESENTS SOME CONCERN WITH PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES MOVING IN A CONFINED SPACE.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

WHILE APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM WHEELS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AKI

THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWN SHIFT, AND LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WOULD OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. MR THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR. *JG *JB

DT: ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO UPON PURCHASE OF VEHICLE OWNER BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMING ON. THE DEALERSHIP HOOKED UP AN INSTRUMENT TO THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON, AND IS ON AT THIS TIME. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX IF IT OWNER PAYS. OWNER DOES NOT FEEL SHE SHOULD PAY SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVER SINCE THE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN ACCIDENT IN A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER DOES NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF ACCIDENT. *NM *JB

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL DIE OUT DUE TO ALTERNATOR NOT PRODUCING ENOUGH POWER TO CHARGE BATTERY, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK

I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW CAR ON AUGUST 31,2001. I STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS 9 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT. I NOW HAVE A LIST OF PROBLEMS FROM ELECTRICAL TO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, FUEL SENSORS, 2 NEW BATTERIES ETC. I HAVE A LONG LONG LIST OF REPAIRS THAT NOBODY CAN SEEM TO FIX. I AM TOLD THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED AND THEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND I AM TOLD THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS. MEANWHILE, I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THESE PROBLEMS, I HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED OUT OF MY OWN DRIVEWAY TO DUE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO TELL KIA CORPORATION THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE ANY LONGER AND NOBODY IS LISTENING. THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM EVEN AGREES AND FEELS THIS CAR TO BE VERY UNSAFE AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I HAVE TRIED TO TALK TO JOE PETAZONI(SPELLING) WHO IS SUPPOSED TO BE A KIA REPRESENTATIVE THAT WOULD DECIDE WHAT TO DO, HE HAS BEEN NO HELP AT ALL. I FEEL THAT KIA CORPORATION SHOULD BUY BACK MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF ALL THE UNSAFE ISSUES I HAVE HAD. I FEEL I BOUGHT A LEMON AND IF I CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH THE COMPANY, I WILL BE FORCED TO CONTACT THE STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE REGARDING THIS LEMON OF A VEHICLE!!!!! I HAVE LEFT MESSAGES FOR DEBBIE WOJCIECHOWSKII AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALLS. I HAVE TOLD THE PEOPLE AT 800-333-4-KIA HOW UNSAFE I FEEL AND NOBODY PUTS THAT INFORMATION INTO THE SYSTEM. *LA

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK IN SNOW MUST BE REPAIRED OFTER .WINDOWS REGULATORS NEED TO BE REPLACED HOWEVER DEALER THAT IS SUPPOSE TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS SEEMS TO BE UNABLE TO DO SO .KIA NEEDS TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WILL REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS . VEHICLE HAS BEEN PLACED IN SHOP 5 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN CAR IS STARTED AFTER IT HAS SAT FOR EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME AND PUT IN DRIVE CAR HESITATES AND DOES NOT MOVE WHEN ACCLERATOR IS PRESSED. HAVE TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT KIA DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH SAY NOTHING IS WRONG.*AK

A/C SYSTEM TAKES 15 MINUTES TO START BLOWING COLD AIR AND EVEN THEN AIR IS NOT AS COLD AS IT SHOULD BE. I HAVEN TAKEN TO TWO KIA DEALERSHIPS AND BOTH OF THEM SAY THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG.*AK

I'VE TAKEN MY 2001 KIA OPTIMA INTO THE SHOP GOING AT LEAST 6 TIMES. MY BRAKES ARE A PROBLEM. THEY SQUEAK AND MY FRONT END VIBRATES. THE DEALER, GALEANA KIA, SAYS THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, JUST BRAKE DUST. THEY'VE TRIED TO FIX IT, BUT THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. KIA GAVE ME 500 DOLLARS (CUSTOMER SATISFACTION MONEY) AND THEY SAID THEY'D FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK THE MONEY, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. BOUGHT CAR WITH 18 MILES ON IT... AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY. CAR NOW HAS 20 THOUSAND MILES. *NLM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE, CLOCK SPRING, AIR BAG HARNESS CAMPAIGN, AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT, AND TITIAN PIN PLUG CONNECTOR FOR DSAB. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE GAS DIAL WOULD NOT READ FULL EVEN WHEN THE TANK WAS PRACTICALLY OVERFLOWING WITH GAS. TOOK TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS CORRECTED, HOWEVER PERIODICALLY IT WILL GO WEEKS WITHOUT READING A FULL TANK OF GAS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY FOR NO REASON AT ALL. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER WHO CAN NOT FIND PROBLEM IN SYSTEM. *LA

03/06/02 PURCHASED A OPTIMA KIA 2001, STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 2/6/06. PROBLEMS WITH AIRBAG, ENGINE, AND LOCKS FROM THE DATE OF THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR. CAR BROUGHT IN FOR AIRBAG LIGHT PROBLEM 14 TIMES SINCE 2002 TO PRESENT DATE 2005 AND STILL NOT FIXED AS WE SPEAK. ENGINE BROUGHT IN 6 TIMES, AND LOCKS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TOO. LAST TIME SERVICE ON AIRBAG WAS 6/5/05 LIGHT BACK ON. KIA KNOWS THIS CAR CAN NOT BE FIXED AND REFUSE TO GIVE ME A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY 11 YEAR OLD SON

BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED OPERATING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM WHENEVER THE A/C OR THE HEATER WAS TURNED ON. THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER BOTH AGREED THAT WAS THE NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THAT VEHICLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

MY VEHICLE HAS SPENT MORE THAN 35 DAYS IN A KIA AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP INCLUDING TRANSMISSION REPAIRS SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE. I HAVE CARRIED THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS MORE THAN SIX TIMES. THE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE HAVE NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND A LIABILITY TO OTHERS AND MYSELF WHILE IT IS ON THE ROADS. SOME OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD, BUT HAVE BEEN CORRECTED ARE 1. KEYS WOULD NOT OPEN TRUNK 2. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD MALFUNCTION AND LOCK ITSELF. MANUAL RELEASE OF THE LOCK COULD ONLY OCCUR FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN MYSELF HAVE TO CLIMB OUT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, CAUSEING PROBLEM WITH PULSATING AND VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING FROM 20 MPH. VEHICLE WOULD RESTART WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH DOOR LOCKS ENGAGED NUMEROUS TIMES, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER SINCE THEN. SAFETY THEFT PROTECTION LOCK SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND WAS ON BACKORDER, ACCORDING TO DEALER. PLEASE ADD FURTHER COMMENTS. *AK

POWER DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES TRAPPING THE DRIVER. THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. BOTH WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY/SIMUTANEOUSLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER SHOP, AND HAD COMPUTER MODULE REPLACED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. *AK

01 V 156 000/SIDE AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS: REPORTING DEALER ( PERFORMANCE KIA; NICHOLASVILLE, KY; PHONE # 1-800/203-8445 OR 859/887-4737) SOLD VEHICLE BEFORE CORRECTING RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER.*AK

DT: THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THE KEY DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. ALSO THE REMOTE IS NOT ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOORS. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED IN 7-2001. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY WERE STILL WAITING FOR THE PART. THERE ALSO WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO GET THE GEARS TO SHIFT SMOOTHLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FRONT SENSOR FOR THE TRANSMISSION THE FIRST TIME. THE DEALERSHIP RECENTLY REPLACED THE REAR SENSOR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *MR

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHILE DRIVING.*MR THE AIR CONDITION, AUTO CHECK LIGHT AND AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT REMAIN UNLOCKED TRAPPING THE DRIVER.*TS *JB

POWER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DOORS OPERATE ERRATICALLY. CONSUMER CANNOT UNLOCK DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WITHOUT LOCKING ALL OF DOORS AT THE SAME TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK

AUTO; KIA; OPTIMA ...................TIME AND CHAIN ,GEAR WEARS OUT ,DUE TO COLD WEATHER, LOOSING BRAKES AND STEERING WHEN THE MOTOR STOPS RUNNING ,WHEN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE 75MPH WHEN FRONT END LOCKED UP. TRANSMISSION DROPPED TO 2ND GEAR, AND CAUSED STEERING TO LOCK UP. VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO SKID. NOTHING WAS HIT WHEN VEHICLE SKIDDED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE SAFE MODE SENSOR WIRE CAME LOOSE.*AK

A/C CONDENSATION BUILD UP ON THE INSIDE OF CAR HAD AT DEALER 2 TIMES BEFORE THEY FIXED .#2 REPLACED RIGHT HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN1 1/2 YR NO FINGER ON BULBE! #3 AFTER SITTING OVER NIGHT ON FIRST START UP TRANSMISSION WILL NOT MOVE AT FIRST #4 GAS GAUGE FROM DAY 1 WOULDN'T READ FULL AFTER 3 TRIP TO SHOP THEY FIXED IT

CONSUMER NOTICED RPMS CHANGING WHILE SET ON ONE SPEED. SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH IN RESULT OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD CONSUMER IN SEAT IN RESULT OF CONSUMER HEAD HITTING WINDSHIELD. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATE WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH IN RESULT OF REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE CONSUMER VEHICLE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB

PROBLEMS WITH BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.*MR CONSUMER HAD NUMEROUS FAILURES AND REPAIRS AND THE RESULTS DIDN'T WORK. ONCE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, THE CONSUMER WAS TRAPPED INSIDE THE VEHICLE FOR ONE AND A HALF HOURS BECAUSE THE DOORS LOCKS MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO THE ALTERNATOR SHUTTING DOWN. THE DOORS WOULDN'T UNLOCK. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE A REFUND. *PH *JB