2007 Kia Optima Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK , NECK AND LEFT ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. ....UPDATED 04/08/15 *BF

AIR BAG LIGHTS COM ON WITH NO ACCIDENTS INVOLVED. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS MY ISSUE NOT THEIRS. I HAVE FILED PREVIOUS TIME AND YET NO ANSWER FROM ANYONE. KIA OWNER ARE BEING LEFT OUT ON THESE RECALLS ON AIR BAGS. THEY HAD IN THE PAST RECALLS ON THE SAME ISSUE. AIR BAGS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER RESET THE PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INDICATOR ON APPROXIMATELY THREE OCCASIONS, BUT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR LESS THAN THIRTY MILES LATER. AFTER A RECENT OIL CHANGE, A DIFFERENT AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. UPDATED 01/05/17*LJ

UNLESS THE BRIGHTS ARE ON I CAN HARDLY SEE AT NIGHT. I AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS.

I WAS TRAVELING 25 MILES AN HOUR ON A ROAD AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AT A RED LIGHT. THIS HAPPEN ONCE BEFORE, I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. LUCKY THEY CAR IN FRONT OF US RAN THE RED LIGHT TO KEEP US FROM HITTING THEM. BUT ON THE 8TH OF THIS MONTH MY SISTER USED MY CAR FOR HER DRIVERS TEST, SHE TRIED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR HER TEST. THE MAN TESTING HER SAID IT DOES NOT WORK. I DO NOT HAVE THE FUNDS TO FIX THIS. I FEEL THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM SHOULD FIX IT OR REPLACE THE CAR. THIS COULD CAUSE A WRECK THAT COULD KILL OUR FAMILY. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I USED A PREMIUM OIL FILTER (NOT KIA), AND A FEW WEEKS LATER HAD A KNOCKING IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO A SHOP UP THE STREET AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE WE USED AN OIL FILTER THAT WAS NOT KIA, THE FILTER CAUSED METAL IN THE ENGINE WHICH NOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CALLED KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. WITH ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SENT TO ME IN 6 YEARS, NOT ONE PIECE STATED THAT YOU ARE REQUIRED TO USE A KIA OIL FILTER. THE SHOP THAT I ORIGINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO HAD TO DO SOME RESEARCH AND STATED THAT THERE ARE BULLETINS OUT THAT ARE ONLY AROUND 2 YEARS OLD. WHILE SPEAKING WITH CONSUMER AFFAIRS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO GO TO A KIA DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER WHICH STATED THE SAME THING. NOW, THE KICKER, THEY WILL NOT HELP IN FIXING THE ENGINE BECAUSE I AM OVER THE 100,000 MILE MARK. ON TOP OF THAT, I AM NOW CHARGED A TOW BILL AND MORE DIAGNOSTIC FEES ON TOP OF WHAT I ALREADY PAID IN WHICH THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR EITHER (SINCE THEY REQUIRED THE CAR TO BE AT A DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE). I CALL THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS LADY THAT I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH, AND SHE WILL NOT RETURN MY CALL UNTIL I CALL THE 800 NUMBER AND TELL THEM I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE OR I WILL BE GOING TO THE LOCAL MEDIA AS WELL AS ANY SOCIAL MEDIA AVENUE I CAN. THE DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM WILL ALSO NOT HONOR THE "ENGINE FOR LIFE" THAT I SIGNED UNLESS I CAN PROVIDE ALL RECEIPTS FROM THE LAST 5 YEARS ON ANY MAINTENANCE THAT I DID ON THE CAR OUTSIDE OF A DEALER (AIR FILTER, ETC). I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MARRIED AND THE ACCOUNT CLOSED. AND - WHO KEEPS THEIR RECEIPTS FOR 5 YEARS ON AIR FILTERS?? THIS IS NOT ONLY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR A LOYAL CONSUMER, BUT THE LACK OF FOLLOW THROUGH WITH WHAT YOU "AGREED" TO AND SIGNED UPON PURCHASE NOT BEING HONORED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. WHEN DRIVING ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. ..UPDATED 11/05/15*BF

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CAR FAILS TO STAY UPRIGHT LIMITING VISIBILITY. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO POOR THAT IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE WHEN DRIVING ON A DARK ROAD AT NIGHT. IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE ROAD LEADING OUT PROVIDES LITTLE TO NO LIGHT AND I WOULD CONSTANTLY HAVE TO RIDE WITH THE BRIGHT ON TO BE ABLE TO SEE INCLUDING THE FOG LIGHTS. BOTH ARE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR SOMEONE BEING SERIOUSLY HURT. I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT NO FURTHER ACTIONS HAVE BEEN INITIATED. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TODAY THE CAR SUDDENLY WENT FROM A SPEED PF 65 TO 20 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE. I SUDDENLY TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS TO LET THE CARS BEHIND ME KNOW THAT THEIR WAS A PROBLEM. THANK GOD I WAS HIT AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CAR OVER ON THE RAMP. I CALLED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED BUT IN HOUSTON (THIS LABOR DAY) NO ONE IS ABLE TO LOOK AT THE CAR SO I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TOWED TO AUTO ZONE. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND THE TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODES APPEARED. I WAS TOLD ONLY KIA CARRIES THE PART. I WAS SO SCARED FOR MY LIFE AND I DON'T WANT TO EVER BE IN THAT POSITION AGAIN BECAUSE MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. I WAS READING COMPLAINTS ON SEVERAL WEBSITES AND IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR A WHILE. IT'S SAD THAT KIA HASN'T OF YET ISSUED A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS THIS WAS WAKE UP CALL FOR ME I CAN HONESTLY SAY I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO LOSE MY LIFE WHEN MY CAR DROPPED DAWN FROM SPEEDS OF 65 TO 20. I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR LOSING POWER BUT IT WOULD QUICKLY REGAIN POWER BUT NOTHING OF THIS INSTANCE. VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR NOT ONLY ME BUT FOR THE SAKE OF MY CHILDREN THAT WERE PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/FAULTY-THROTTLE-POSITION-SWITCH-355 I JUST RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THEY RELEASED A BETTER PERFORMING PART BUT OTHERS ARE STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM EVEN AFTER THE REPLACEMENT PART. KIA COULD OF AT LEAST NOTIFIED ITS CUSTOMERS OF THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN MANY OF US FINDING OUT THE HARD WAY. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY. THE NEXT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. *TR

NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE NOTIFIED KIA ON AIR ISSUES AND THEY FALL DEAF EARS. CAR WITH LESS THAN 100, 000 MILES AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. IT SEEMS THAT KIA HAS NO CONCERN ON AUTO SAFETY. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE ACTUALLY DIES FROM THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *TR

I WAS DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED. I MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT STARTED SMOKING AND A SMALL FIRE FROM ENGINE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. I PURCHASED THE CARE BRAND NEW IN 2007 AND HAD ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE INCLUDING NEW TIRES. THIS CAR JUST STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED, BUT IT WAS LATE AND NO TRAFFIC. I THE WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALER. THE SAID THE ENGINE IS SHOT. I TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER, THEY SAID THERE IS A WHOLE IN THE ENGINE. REPAIR COST $7,000. THE CAR ONLY HAS 62,000 MILES ON IT. I'M APPALLED! *TR

BACK WHEN THE CLOCK SPRING HAD A RECALL WE HAD IT FIXED, SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON THEY TOLD US IT WAS UP TO US TO REPAIR WITH A COSTLY BILL. OUR STATE INSPECTION RAN OUT AND THE CAR WAS REJECTED DUE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON. THEY RAN DIAGNOSIS AND IT CAME BACK TO THE OCS SENSOR MAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THAT WILL COST ME $1800. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART IN THE SAME YEAR RANGES ON THE RIO. I WOULD BET THEY USED THE SAME BRAND AND SENSOR IN PROBABLY ALL THE CARS IN THESE YEARS, SO WHY ONLY RECALL ONE MODEL ? THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS DUE TO THEM HAVING ONE RECALL OUT ALREADY. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD PAY TO HAVE MY CAR REPAIRED WHEN RIO OWNERS DON'T FOR THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

LIGHT TURNED ON FOR AIR BAG WHILE TURN VEHICLE ON. NO ACCIDENT. CALLED KIA ON THIS ISSUE. AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SC0094. AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE SORRY BUT THAT CAMPAIGN IS OVER. SO THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN ON AIRBAG SAFETY. UPDATED 3/18/2015 *JS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WERE EXTREMELY DIM. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE VISIBILITY WAS IMPAIRED WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY. THE INDICATOR STAYS ON MOST OF THE TIME WHEN A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. KIA DEALERS WERE TOLD ABOUT THIS OVER THE YEARS, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. THEY TRIED TO CONVINCE US THAT PASSENGER WAS NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT PROPERLY, AND NEEDED TO SIT A CERTAIN WAY FOR IT TO WORK.

I BOUGJT THIS CAR IN 2014. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS, TWICE, A BRAKE LIGHT, BOTH REAR BLINKERS, A FRONT BLINKER, AS WELL AS BOTH HIGHBEAMS. I HAVE NEVER REPLACED EVEN HALF THE NUMBER OF LIGHTS IN THE ENTIRE LIFETIME OF OWNERSHIP OF ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS RECALL ISSUE BASED ON SAFETY AS WELL AS QUALITY IF KIA CARED. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY HIGH-BEAMS ON AND I NEVER GET FLASHED OR PULLED OVER. IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO SEE VS. ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE CAR AND HAVE SHARED THE STORY. AND EVERYONE SAYS THE SAME THING, ITS LIKE THE BRIGHTS IN THIS CAR IS EVERYONE ELSE'S REGULAR LIGHTS. IN FACT, MANY PEOPLE SAY THE HIGH-BEAMS ARE NOT AS BRIGHT AS MOST VEHICLES LOW-BEAMS. IT IS RIDICULOUS AND UNFAIR THAT US OWNERS HAVE TO SPEND $10-$35 ON A BULB OR TWO AN AVERAGE OF EVERY 5-8 WEEKS. CRAZY....KIA STEP UP AND FIX THIS QUALITY AND SAFETY ISSUE. GOV'T I GUESS WONT STEP IN WITHOUT SOMEONE DYING FIRST AND IT MAKING THE NEWS BECAUSE I SEE I AM NOT THE FIRST BY ANY MEANS, AND WONT BE THE LAST!

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR. I PUT THE BRAKES ON BUT TO NO AVAIL. I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE SPEED. THIS IS ALL HAPPENING GOING IN REVERSE. I CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING NEXT TO THE PARKING LOT. THE FLOOR MAT WAS SEATED PROPERLY AND YES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. *TR

I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIME'S IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS IN A CRASH AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR BACK FROM THE BODY SHOP THE CAR HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING ! THE 2.7L HAS STUMBLE ON AND AT ACCELERATION THE FAILURE IS THE THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ALL DRIVER'S THAT DRIVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE MALFUNCTION OCCURS FIVE TIMES IN ONE DAY. THIS PROBLEM MAY CAUSE SEVERE OR FATAL INJURIES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE OLD THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH IS AVAILABLE! I REALLY THANK THAT THIS IS FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECT THAT AFFECTS SAFETY AND THE AUTOMAKERS NEED VOLUNTARILY ANNOUNCE A RECALLS ON ALL THE 2007 KIA OPTIMA THAT HAVE THE SAME THROTTLE POSITION SWITCH AS THIS VEHICLE. *TR

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS, KEEP REPLACING BULBS, EXACT BULBS REQUIRED BY KIA. ALTERNATING EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OR THE PASSENGER. BESIDE THIS PROBLEM, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO LOW THAT AT NIGHT I HAVE BEEN RUNNING WITH HIGH BEAMS ON FOR OVER A YEAR NOW; ON-COMING CARS DON'T SEEM TO BE BOTHERED BY THE HIGH BEAMS. USUALLY HIGH BEAMS CAUSE ON COMING VEHICLES TO FLASH THEIR HIGH BEAMS, BUT THIS IS NOT THE CASE, WE'VE DISCUSSED WITH FIRESTONE, THEY TESTED THE BULBS AND BELIEVE IT IS ELECTRICAL. SINCE REVIEWING YOUR ON-LINE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, WE'D EXPECT A RECALL BY KIA! WE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT, AT NO COST, INSTEAD OF IT BEING OUR EXPENSE. I HAD SEVERAL CHEVY CAMARO FOR YEARS, NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. ONLY RECALLING HEADLIGHTS BEING REPLACED ONE OR TWICE! *TR

THE MECHANISM INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE SUN VISOR BROKE AND THE VISOR WILL NO LONGER STAY UP. THIS BLOCKS VISIBILITY TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I SEARCHED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND FIND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2006-2008 KIA OPTIMA AND ALSO HYUNDAI THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL SO KIA REPLACES THESE VISORS BEFORE THEY BREAK AND EVEN AFTER WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. IF THE VISOR BREAKS WHILE SOMEONE IS DRIVING IT CAN CREATE A HAZARD AS THEY DRIVER CAN'T SEE OR NEEDS TO HOLD THE VISOR UP WITH ONE HAND WHILE TRYING TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 KIA OPTIMA AND IT HAS TERRIBLE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. PER FORUM DISCUSSIONS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. *JS

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED SHAKING AND SLOWING DOWN ON IT'S OWN. THEN IT JUST CUT RIGHT OFF ON ME. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE ...TO NO AVAIL.....THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING GOING ON.....I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THAT HE FELT IT WAS EITHER THE STARTER OR THE ALTERNATOR...HE REPLACED THE STARTER FIRST AND THEN TOLD ME THE ENGINE HAD CEASED AND I WOULD NEED A NEW OR REBUILT ON PUT IT. I HAD JUST CHANGED MY OIL A WEEK OR TWO AGO...SO IT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN THAT...SO I'M HOPING BY WRITING THIS SOMEONE WILL LOOK INTO IT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT LESS THEN A YEAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN WHEN PLACED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNEXPECTEDLY SEIZED. AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS, THE IGNITION KEY BEGAN TO TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V014000 (AIR BAGS) BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000. *TR

BOTH THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE VISORS WILL NOT STAY UP. THEY HANG DOWN MAKING IT UNABLE TO SEE THE SIGNAL LIGHTS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BUT HAVE NOT SEEN A RECALL. *TR

THE VISOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE ALL OF A SUDDEN DOES NOT STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. IT JUST HANGS OBSTRUCTING MY VIEW. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR KIA OPTIMA'S. THE DEALERSHIP IS GOING TO CHARGE ME OVER $200 TO REPLACE IT AND I DID NOTHING TO BREAK IT. I JUST USE THE VISOR NORMALLY AND DO NOT HANG ANYTHING FROM IT. I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ONE DAY AND IT JUST FELL DOWN. MY CAR IS A LITTLE OVER 5 YEARS OLD SO IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I JUST FINISHED PAYING IT OFF SO THIS IS VERY UPSETTING. I FEEL THAT IF THE DRIVER'S VIEW IS OBSTRUCTED THEN IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW WORKING PART. IT IS VERY DISTRACTING TO DRIVE WITH THE VISOR DOWN ALL THE TIME. IT GETS IN THE WAY. MANY PEOPLE PROBABLY DO NOT REALIZE THEY CAN REPORT THIS ISSUE SO I AM PROVIDING SOME LINKS FOR FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE STATING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. PLEASE REPORT THIS ISSUE. THIS PART NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/KIAMOTOR/OPTIMA/WIPER-PROBLEMS.PHP HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/KIA/OPTIMA/2006/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/SUN_VISORS_WILL_NOT_STAY_FOLDED_UP.SHTML HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2007/KIA/OPTIMA/VISIBILITY/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2007 KIA OPTIMA AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ELECTRICAL AND ENGINE POWER. I MANAGED TO STEER TO THE SHOULDER WHERE I CAME TO A STOP. ONCE MY OPTIMA CAME TO A STOP, WHITE SMOKE BEGAN BILLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. MY WIFE AND I GOT OUT. ONCE WE DID, THERE WAS ANOTHER EXPLOSION FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH SENT BURNING SHRAPNEL OUT FROM UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR ERUPTED IN FLAMES. *TR

HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS, THE LIGHTS ARE SO BAD AT NIGHT, THAT YOU CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE ON DARK ROADS AT ALL . NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AS OF YET, ONLY DRIVE AT NIGHT AND VERY SCARED, CAREFULLY ONLY IF IT IS NECESSARY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN USED CONDITION, ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS NOW, HAD THE LIGHTS REPLACED AND WORKED ON BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK PROPERLY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER FORTY YEARS WITH MANY DIFFERENT VEHICLES BUT THIS ONE IS THE ONLY ONE IN MY LIFETIME THAT HAS EVER HAD A HEAD LIGHT PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS, IF ITS NOT TAKEN CARE OF, ITS DANGEROUS TO PEOPLE OUT WALKING AT NIGHT, ANIMALS, AND TO THE DRIVER W/PASSENGERS. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, BORROWED THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THIS CAR, SO DISAPPOINTED IN IT, DID NOT PERSONALLY EVEN OWN A CAR UNTIL NOW. MY DREAM WAS TO BE ABLE TO TAKE VACATIONS AND LONG TRIPS IN MY LATER YEARS BUT THIS HAS PUT AN END TO THAT DREAM. I KNOW I WANT BE ABLE TO GET HELP WITH THIS MATTER, BUT WOULD LIKE TO LET OTHERS KNOW BEFORE THEY PURCHASE A 07 KIA OPTIMA, DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, FOR ALL TO BE AWARE AND DO NOT BUY A CAR UNTIL YOU'VE DRIVEN IT AT NIGHT. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON/ WOULD NOT GO IN GEAR. *TR

AFTER REGULAR USE, BOTH SUN VISORS HAVE LOST THEIR TENSION. ALSO ON THE DRIVER SIDE THE CYLINDER THAT CLIPS INTO THE HOLDER AT THE TOP JUST CRACKED AND BROKE OFF. THEY WILL NOT STAY UP, AND JUST FLOP AROUND. I CAN NOT SEE WHEN I AM APPROACHING A STOPLIGHT IF IT IS RED/YELLOW/ETC.IF I PUSH IT TO THE SIDE , IT HITS ME OVER THE SIDE OF THE HEAD WHEN I MAKE A TURN. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND KIA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING HERE. TO REPLACE BOTH WOULD COST ME ABOUT $200 OR MORE, WHICH I SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SUN VISORS WOULD FALL FROM THEIR HOUSING SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE SUN VISORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,450. *TR

BOTH SUN VISORS ARE UNABLE TO STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I WAS UNABLE TO USE BOTH VISORS AS THEY WOULD HANG LOOSELY DOWNWARD FLAPPING ABOUT AIMLESSLY WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO ANCHOR THEM TO THE ROOF OF THE CAR TO DRIVE. DEALER STATES COST TO REPAIR IS ALMOST $500.00 AND THEY NEED MY CAR FOR THE DAY. PARTS MUST BE ORDERED TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR CONTAINS A DEFECTIVE COMPONENT AND DOESN'T REMAIN IN A LOCKED POSITION. WHEN I TRY TO MOVE IT TO THE LOCKED POSITION AGAINST THE CEILING, IT FALLS DOWN INTO CLEAR SIGHT. THIS IS GREAT WHEN THE SUN IS IN YOUR EYES, BUT NOT DURING ALL OTHER TIMES. IT SEVERELY DECREASES VISION WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB AND KIA SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, BUT THEY HAVE OFFERED NO RESOLUTION OR RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE SUN VISOR. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE VISOR WILL NOT FOLD UP OUT-OF-THE-WAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME SORT OF TENSION PREVENTING THE VISOR FROM BEING PLACED IN THE FOLD-UP POSITION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WOULD NOT REMAIN UPRIGHT, IMPAIRING THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SUN VISOR ALSO BEGAN TO PRESENT THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE SUN VISORS WERE NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,000.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME 1 THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL SAY ON WITH AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT!!1 VISORS DO NOT STAY UP! HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM . I'VE CHANGED THEM OUT TO A FEW DIFFERENT TYPES STILL DIM CANNOT SEE AT NIGHT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPMITA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE TRUNK LOCK FAILED PREVENTING HIM FROM UNLOCKING OR LOCKING THE TRUNK. THE CONTACT HAD TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THE LOCK SYSTEM FAILED, BUT THEY WERE NOT SURE IF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,404.

THE LOW BEAMS ARE VERY DIM. THE FOG LIGHTS LIGHT UP THE ROAD BETTER THAN THE LOW BEAMS. I REPLACED THE LOWBEAM BULBS WITH SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR ULTRA BULBS WHICH ARE VERY BRIGHT IN MY OTHER CAR, THEY STILL ARE VERY DIM.

I HAVE ALREADY TAKEN MY OPTIMA TO THE DEALER FOR THIS RECALL ALREADY AND THEY FIXED THE RECALL THE FIRST TIME, BUT I TOOK IT AGAIN LAST WEEK FOR THE SAME THING AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC FEE SO THEY CAN TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS ? THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS AND IT IS A DEFECT AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR IT. THIS A RECALL AND THEY NEED TO FIX IT AND NOT ME PAY FOR IT.... *TR

AIR BAG DASH BOARD LIGHT CAME ON. BEFORE THIS THE PASSENGER SENSOR WOULD BE HIT OR MISS. DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS A SHORT IN THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $1400.00. IT COST ME $60 JUST FOR THEM TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE WAY TOO MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE FOR THIS TO BE OK. *TR

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR WILL NO LONGER STAY IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. I DROOP ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN OBSCURING VISION. MUST BE HELD UP BY HAND. *TR

KIA IS FULLY AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THEIR SUN VISORS. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH WILL TURN UP THOUSANDS OF CASES. THE VISOR COMPONENTS BREAK CAUSING THEM TO HANG LOOSE, OBSTRUCTING VISION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE DEFECT HAS EXISTED FOR A LONG TIME (MY WIFE?S 2003 SORRENTO EXPERIENCED THE ISSUE IN 2004) AND IT CONTINUES TODAY. MY 2007 OPTIMA HAS BOTH VISORS HANGING PRESENTLY. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THESE VISORS, AND THE COST TO REPAIR THEM IS 100-200 EACH. *TR

SUNVISORS BOTH WILL NOT STAY UP. *TR

I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PROCEEDED TO TURN LEFT WHEN I NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AS I PULLED OVER THERE I NOTICED A THICK CLOUD OF BLUE SMOKE OUT OF MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FLAMES AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AROUND THE TRANSMISSION AND AIRCONDITIONER AREA OF THE CAR. FLAMES CONTINUED UNTIL THE INTERIOR BEGAN BURNING AND WINDSHIELD BROKE. *JS

AIR BAG SRS LIGHT STAYS ON.... TALKED TO DEALER.. THEY SAID KIA HAVEN'T RECALL THIS PART YET. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENOR IN THE SEAT NEED TO BE RESET. VEHICLE CAN'T PASS INSPECTION. *TR

BOTH SUN VISORS BROKE AND WILL NOT OPERATE

AT 63,000 MILES, THE RED AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THE ADULT/CHILD SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR NEITHER FRONT AIRBAG WOULD WORK. ESTIMATE WAS $1,600 PREPAID. PRIOR TO THIS, NO PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG SENSORS IN THIS VEHICLE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,533 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 40,353.

2007 KIA OPTIMA AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAY ON AND WILL NOT GO OUT UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUTOFF. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS OF COMPLAINTS TO KIA CONCERNING THIS PROBLEMS.THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA NEEDS TO FIX THE PROBLEMS. NHTSA PLEASE INVESTIGATED KIA AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT PROBLEMS. *TR