2011 Kia Optima Complaint Log

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE THAT YOU FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT IS WORSE IN REVERSE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOSTLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I REPORT THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, LAST MONTH HAPPENED ON MAY 4 , I DOCUMENTED IN MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, THEY RETURNED THE CAR 5-21-14 THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, ON JUNE 6 AGAIN THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND READY TO PUT IT IN PARK, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER UNTIL NOW DON'T HEAR FROM THEM, CALLED KIA IN CALIFORNIA LEFT MESSAGES NO CALL BACK, TODAY A GOT A HOLD WITH ANOTHER PERSON JENNY, AND SHE REPEAT LIKE A BROKEN RECORD WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY STILL KEEP THE CAR FOR A LONG TIME, I HAVE A CASE # [XXX] THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS, LIKE I EXPLAINED TO THIS LADY ENGINEERS SHOULD LOOK AT THIS SITUATION NOT THE MECHANIC, IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER, THEY JUST FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND THEIR MACHINE TELL THEM NOTHING IS WRONG, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE IN MY OTHER COMPLAINT THIS ONE IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT HAPPENED, WHAT ARE WE WAITING THAT SOME PEOPLE GOT KILL TO INVESTIGATE, LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA AND GENERAL MOTOR HAD, THEY WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIED THEN START DOING SOMETHING, THANK YOU TO THIS SITE THAT WE COULD VOICE OUR CONCERNS. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) UPDATED 1/6/2015 *JS

2011 KIA OPTIMA WAS PURCHASED IN 2014 WITH LOW HEADLIGHT BEAMS OUTPUT, HAS SINCE DETORIATED TO ALMOST NON EXISTENT. HAVE REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULBS SEVERAL TIMES TRYING TO IMPROVE LIGHT QUALITY AND HAS NOT RESOLVED THIS ISSUE IN ANY WAY. HAD PLANNED ON KEEPING THIS CAR FOREVER AS I HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE ONCE ALREADY BUT I'M AT A LOSS, U SIMPLY CAN NOT SAFELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT! SO UPON RESEARCH I FOUND THIS IS A VERY BIG AND COMMON PROBLEM FOR KIA OWNERS. CLEARLY IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO SERVICING OR RECALLS OFFERED TO CORRECT THIS FOR US DRIVERS. WITH THE SUGGESTED RESOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM BEING A NEW HOUSING/ASSEMBLY AT $1,000 OR MORE THAT IS COMPLETELY NOT A FEASIBLE RESOLUTION TO BE ACHIEVED FINANCIALLY BY WAY OF THE AVERAGE DRIVER AS THOSE REPAIRS ARE WAY TO COSTLY, KIA SHOULD HAVE ALREADY JUMPED IN AND OFFERED SOME SAFETY RECALLS! ALSO WORTH NOTING, I HAVE CHANGED THE HEADLIGHTS MANY TIMES JUST DO TO THEM BURNING OUT, NOT SURE IF THAT IS BECAUSE OF WHATEVER UNDERLYING PROBLEM THERE IS FOR THESE LIGHTS INITIALLY OR MAYBE BECAUSE OF AFTERMARKET LIGHTS, ETC. PLEASE PLEASE ADDRESS THIS ISSUE SOON!! MY REGARDS, *COMPLAINT FORM ASKS IS THERE WAS A CRASH WITH ONLY YES OR NO OPTIONS TO ANSWER AS. THERE NEEDS TO BE AN ADDED FIELD WITH "THERE IS GOING TO BE"!

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE COAST WHEN WE PASSED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AS SOON AS WE PASSED THE OTHER VEHICLE WE LOST ALL POWER IN THE CAR WE WERE ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.SECOND TRY CAR DID START BUT WAS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER IT WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE MALFUNCTION CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY DEALER REPLACE ENGINE. *TR

ON 5-4-14 I WAS DRIVING FROM WISCONSIN WHEN WE DECIDED TO STOP AT WAL-MART, WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR A PERSON TO MOVE OUT OF ITS PARKING SPOT, MY OPTIMA START TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN I HAD MY FOOT IN THE BRAKE, MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THEN THE ENGINE START RACING UP THE RPM WERE VERY FAST (WAS IN NEUTRAL), AT THE MOMENT A LADY AND HER SMALL KID WERE CROSSING IN FRONT OF MY CAR, GOD KNOWS WHAT IT WOULD HAPPENED IF I WOULDN'T MOVE THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME LAST YEAR IT DID THE SAME THING IN JULY WHEN I WAS AT THE STOP SIGN , THE SECOND TIME WAS THIS YEAR IN JANUARY WHEN I CAME BACK HOME FROM WORK THEN I WAS PARKING WHEN THE CAR STARTING ACCELERATING BUT I WAS HOLDING UP WITH CONCRETE BAR ON THE GROUND THAT IS IN MY PARKING LOT, AT THAT TIME I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, BUT IT WAS NOT MUCH OF CONCERN BECAUSE I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR IN THE STREET. NEXT DAY (5-5-14) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CONTACTED KIA TO REPORT THIS ISSUE, ON MAY 7 AT 4:20 PM A GENTLEMAN FROM KIA HIS NAME WAS [XXX] CALLED ME TO GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND TOLD HIM EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AND GAVE A CASE #2706364, THEN ON 5-7-14 ANOTHER GENTLEMAN FROM KIA CORPORATION CALLED ME, HIS NAME [XXX], AND TOLD ME THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF MY CASE NOW AND WILL CALL ME TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THIS, WELL HE DIDN'T CALL SO I CALLED HIM BACK ON 5-15-14, (10 DAYS LATER), HE TOLD ME HE WAS WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL HIM, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED BY ED THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY WERE DOING SOME TESTS, HE CALLED ME LATER SAYING THAT HE TALKED TO [XXX] IN KIA CORPORATION AND HE GAVE 11 POINT OF INSPECTION TO DO. SITUATION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NHTSA TO AVOID ANY FUTURE INCIDENTS THAT COULD CAUSE SOME SERIOUS INJURIES OR FATALITIES. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE BECAME SO DIM IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I THOUGHT MY NIGHT VISION WAS FAILING, UNTIL A FRIEND RODE WITH ME AFTER DARK AND ASKED IF MY HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. WHEN WE COMPARED THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE COMPARED TO HERS, THE DIFFERENCE WAS STUNNING. I HAD ALREADY HAD THE HEADLAMPS REPLACED IN 2015, BUT THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE. I WOULD ESTIMATE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AT LEAST A YEAR PRIOR TO THAT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP., AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE REFLECTORS BEHIND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD COLLAPSED, CAUSING THE DIMNESS. THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THIS, AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST. I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FIX IT BECAUSE IT HAD BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. UPON DOING SOME RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS WAS NOT WEAR AND TEAR. THIS WAS A DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. WHEN I HAD THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES REPLACED, I REQUESTED THE OLD ONES AND I HAVE THEM IN MY POSSESSION. ONE PHOTO SHOWS THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR IN A PARKING RAMP NEXT TO ANOTHER CAR WITH ITS HEADLIGHTS ON. MY CAR IS ON THE LEFT. YOU CAN'T EVEN TELL THE LIGHTS ARE ON.

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A MILE TO A COMMUTER RAIL STATION FOR A DROP OFF AND BACK HOME. NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS NOTED DURING THE SHORT TRIP NOR HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEEN OBSERVED IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT. SHORTLY AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON THE 5TH FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE AND ENTERING THE RESIDENCE, THE COMPLEX FIRE ALARMS ACTUATED AND ALL RESIDENTS WERE ADVISED TO EVACUATE WITHOUT ENTERING THE COMMUNITY PARKING GARAGE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE COMPLEX MANAGER VIA MY CELL PHONE THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE GARAGE. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED AND WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. (ALLSTATE). THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED IF IT HADN'T BEEN PARKED DIRECTLY UNDER A SPRINKLER HEAD IN THE GARAGE PLUS A SPEEDY RESPONSE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AN INDEPENDENT FIRE ORIGIN INVESTIGATOR WAS HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION WAS THE FIRE STARTED AT THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY. *TR

LOW BEAMS ARE NOT ILLUMINATING.. THE REFELECTIVE PAINT INSIDE HAS BURNED OFF AND I CANNOT DRIVE AT NIGHT WITH OUT MY HIGH BEAMS DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 2 FEET IN FRONT OF MY CAR. THE STEERING ON MY CAR STARTED THIS CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL RATTLES WHEN I GO OVER THE SMALLEST BUMP ON THE ROAD. IT IS ALSO WEARING OUT MY TIRES AND CAUSING MY CAR TO PULL SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED SIX FEET. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,100.

MOONROOF ON OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX MODEL EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH DECEMBER 25TH 2013 - EVENING. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 36 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. INCIDENT ALSO CAUSED BODY AND PAINT DAMAGE TO OUR TRUNK AS WELL AS PEPPERED VEHICLES BEHIND US WITH GLASS FRAGMENTS. UPON REVIEWING MULTIPLE FORUMS ON LINE IT APPEARS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT FOR KIA/HYUNDAI AS I LEARNED MULTIPLE MODELS MADE BY THIS DUO HAVE ALSO SUFFERED SIMILAR SCENARIO'S. I'M SURE NHTSA IS QUITE AWARE THAT THE HYUNDAI VELOSETER HAS RECALLED SEVERAL THOUSAND VEHICLES MFG. FOR THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE AND WE'RE COINCIDENTALLY MADE DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME OUR VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED. *TR

THE ROOF IS RUSTING JUST ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL NOTICE REGARDING MY KIA OPTIMA TIRES, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13T009. YOKOHAMA TIRE CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN 7.50R16RY215 TIRES MANUFACTURED 01/01/2006 THROUGH 08/01/2011. *TR I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WITH TIRES MADE BY HANKOOK/KUMHO/NEXEN TIRES. ARE THESE PART OF A RECALL? THE DEALER FUCCILLO KIA, 404 NE PINE ISLAND, CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA, 33909 WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR SAYS HE IS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. ARE MY CAR TIRES PART OF A RECALL? *TR

MY CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE LEFT EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PULLING. THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTERWARDS I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "FEATURE" OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS CALLED A "SMART WHEEL" AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET USED TO THIS "FEATURE". *TR

DEFECTIVE TIRES - AFTER 2 FLAT TIRES IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL 4 HAD THE SAME DEFECT - BUBBLING AND SEPARATION INSIDE THE TIRE SHOULDER, AFTER APPX 17K MILES WITH PROPER INSTALLATION AND TIRE PRESSURE. WAS OFFERED THE SAME TIRES AT A REDUCED COST. DECLINED AND PURCHASED A DIFFERENT BRAND. *TR

DRIVING DOWN EXPRESS WHEN ENGINE STARTED TO LOOSE OIL. PULLED OVER ON SHOULDER, NOTICE A CLICKING NOISE AND SMELLED BURNING OIL. DEALER FOUND HOLE IN SIDE OF ENGINE BLOCK. STATED NEEDS NEW ENGINE AND QUOTED AND ESTIMATED PRICE OF $5,875.64 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 46,000 MILES INSTALLED. HAD CAR REPAIRED AT ANOTHER PLACE FOR $5477.06 WITH 41,000 MILES. THIS SHOP SAID THE ENGINE HAD A ROD KNOCK THEN LOCKED UP. NEEDS THE ENGINE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SAME 2.4 LITER ENGINE THAT IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATAS.

MY HAND HELD PHONE DEVICE STOP WORKING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION! HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO AND AGAIN ON MAY 10TH. GOING SLOWLY TOWARDS A STOP SIGN WHILE BRAKING TO STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AND LUNGES FORWARD. STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT CAR KEEPS GOING. PUT SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE RACING AND AFTER ABOUT 2 SECONDS THE ENGINE SLOWLY DROPS TO IDLE. NO ACCIDENTS CAUSED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER ON MAY 15TH AND THEY COULD FIND NO CODES PRESENT AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *TR

POLICE OFFICER POINTED OUT MY CAR'S TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT WED NIGHT (WHILE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON). THURS, CHECKED ALL FUSES, ALL OK. DID WEB SEARCH TO FIND FUSE FOR TAIL LIGHTS. FOUND INSTEAD DESCRIPTION OF KLUDGE FIX OF REMOVING MEMORY FUSE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. REMOVED MEMORY FUSE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, PUT IT BACK IN, TAIL LIGHTS THEN CAME ON WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. *TR

ON APRIL 25TH, 2013, I DROVE FROM THE ATLANTA AREA TO SHANNON, GA. NEAR ADAIRSVILLE, GA. I STOPPED A THE GATE PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE. BEFORE I COULD GET OUT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD SMASHING THE GATE. I HIT THE BRAKE, BACKED IT UP, PUT IT IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE AND AGAIN BEFORE I COULD GET OUT IT SURGED FORWARD. THIS TIME WHEN I BACKED UP PUT IT IN PARK I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. JUMPING FORWARD IN MY STORY, I CALLED KIA AND FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS ON RECALL. I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO SEE THE NOTICES WOULD NOT BE SENT OUT UNTIL MAY 2013. KIA. IS REPLACING THE PART BUT WILL NOT FIX THE FRONT END DAMAGE. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY. KIA RAN SOME TEST AND SAID IT SHOWED NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN DOWN AND KILLED OR IN THE HOSPITAL. ALL I ASK IS FOR THEM TO FIX THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND REPLACE THE GATE. THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR SO THE MILEAGE IS AND ESTIMATE. I DID USE CRUSE CONTROL. CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HEADLIGHTS ARE SUPER DIM. I CAN BARELY SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME AND THE BULBS CONSTANTLY GO OUT. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 4 BULBS (2 ON EACH SIDE) WITHIN A 2 YEAR TIME PERIOD. I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH MY BRIGHT LIGHTS ON WHEN ITS DARK BECAUSE YOU CAN BARELY SEE IF YOU DONT.

THIS KIA HAS A PUSH BUTTON START OPTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNING ON WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE COMPUTER LOOKS FOR A SIGNAL FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BEFORE IT STARTS THE ENGINE. I DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE PROBLEM WAS TEMPORARILY CORRECTED. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNING ON. WE USED THE PROCEDURE TO BYPASS THE BRAKE SIGNAL (HOLD START BUTTON FOR 12+ SECONDS) TO START THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS NOW DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE ESC SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW CARS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE EXTREMELY DIM. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THE ONLY SAFE WAY TO DRIVE IS WITH THE HIGH BEAMS WHICH ENDANGERS OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER KIA OPTIMA DRIVERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT KIA WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE OR FIX THE ISSUE.

I WAS LEAVING WORK @ 5:45 PM AND GOT IN MY CAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE I CALLED KIA LEDGEN DEALERSHIP FOR HELP. THEY TOLD ME WHERE TO PUT THE AUX KEY STARTER INSIDE THE GLOVE BOX AREA. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. THEY TOLD ME A WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER TO GET A JUMP OR HAVE MY CAR TOWED. I FOUND A CO-WORKER WHO GAVE ME A JUMP AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. I PROCEEDED TO A FIRESTONE STATION AND GOT A NEW BATTER ($146.00). STARTED RIGHT UP AND HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE MALL TODAY (DEC 28) AND MY CAR WOULD NO START AGAIN. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET STRANDED OR NEEDED TO FIND A JUMP. AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED AND I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AFTER STATING THAT I READ ABOUT OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THEY DECIDED TO KEEP IT OVER NIGHT. ARE THERE OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT CAN LEAD ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED? *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BACK IN NOVEMBER . ACCORDING TO THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK. I CONTACTED 2 KIA DEALERS IN THE TAMPA FL AREA (BACK IN NOVEMBER) AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I GUESS THEY MUST BE TOO BUSY OR DON'T LIKE DOING WARRANTY WORK. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THIS CAR IS A POS. *TR

TAIL LIGHTS, DASH BACK LIGHTING BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE A SMART KEY SYSTEM SOLUTION FOUND ON-LINE 1.OPEN IN-DASH FUSE BOX 2.PULL YELLOW MEMORY FUSE 3.WAIT A FEW MINUTES 4.REPLACE FUSE 5.CHECK TO SEE IF THINGS ARE WORKING RIGHT (IF NOT, REPEAT PREVIOUS STEPS WITH A LONGER WAIT BEFORE REPLACING THE FUSE). *TR

2011 KIA OPTIMA FAVORS A PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH GROWS STRONGER AS THE SPEED INCREASES. THE PERSISTENCE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE IS SUBTLY DECREASED WITH A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, BUT QUICKLY RETURNS- RESULTING IN OVER 7 ALIGNMENTS IN 5 YEARS WITH ONLY 70K MILES. 3 SEPARATE KIA DEALERSHIPS HAVE INSPECTED THE ISSUE WITH ONLY A CONTROL ARM REPLACEMENT BUT NO SATISFACTORY RESOLUTION. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE WHEEL TO FAVOR THE RIGHT PULL TO CORRECT THE FRONT LEFT PULL. A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE IS WHEN INCREASING IN SPEED, THE CAR WILL HEAVILY FAVOR A INSIDE PULL TO THE LEFT WHICH IS WORRYING. I'D LIKE A REGIONAL KIA RM TO HAVE A GO AT THE SITUATION.

I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ALOUD BOOM SOUND WITH A JERK OF THE CAR AND ALL POWER WAS GONE AT ONCE. THERE WAS NOTHING,LIGHTS OUT, IN AND OUT AND NO ACCELERATION, THEN AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS ALL POWER RETURNED, BEFORE AND AFTER THIS THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND, IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES SO FAR.2ND TIME AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE 3RD TIME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ONLY WAY I GOT OUT OF TRAFFIC THE CAR COASTED, ALL THE WHILE STEERING WAS VERY HARD , HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE POWER DID NOT RETURN. WHILE THEY WERE ABOUT TO CHECK, ONCE AGAIN THE POWER RETURNED ALL ON ITS OWN IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY RUN DIAGNOSTICS, STILL NOT SHOWING ANYTHING, SO THEY KEEP GIVING ME NO ANSWERS, AND PUTTING ME BACK INTO FEAR. 4 OTHER REPAIRS WAS MADE BEFORE THESE LAST 3 RECURRING INCIDENTS ;VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WITH REMOVAL OF THE KEY; HORNS QUIT WORKING; BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, BECAUSE COULD NOT GET CAR INTO GEAR; FUSE TO THE PHONE CHARGER. BACK TO THE SHUT DOWNS THE SERVICE TECHS.SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX! AND THE KIA CORP. STAND BEHIND THE SAME ANSWER. THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE THESE CARS WHAT'S WRONG WITH FIXING THESE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY ELECTRICAL ISSUES LIKE THIS! I SUGGEST TO ANYONE WHO'S READING THIS DON'T BUY A KIA OF ANYKIND! *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX ON A RESIDENTIAL AREA. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND. AT THE TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED THERE WERE NO CARS OR SEMIS NEAR MY VEHICLE. AFTER MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I RECOVERED FROM THE INITIAL SHOCK, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY VEHICLE AND I NOTICE THE BACK WINDOW SUNROOF HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE CLOSE BY THE SHARK TALE AND WAS STILL SHATTERING. AT THAT POINT, I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE AND HAD TO DRIVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. ONCE I DROPPED HER OFF I DROPPED OFF MY VEHICLE AND A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE AND BORROWED A VEHICLE, SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFELY TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION. *TR

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HAS GONE THROUGH 2 ENGINES WITHOUT ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. BOTH TIME I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STOPPED. I CHANGE MY OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. NO LIGHTS CAME ON BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILED, THAT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WILL BE SUBMITTING A COMPLAINT TO THE KIA ORGANIZATION SHORTLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A JERKING MOTION AND FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

THIS IS UPDATE TO ODI #10453907. OPTIMA HYBRID STILL EXPERIENCING POWER LOSS PROBLEMS. LATEST IS AT COLD START, WHEN IT STARTS IN EV MODE, SYSTEM INDICATES READY, SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, CAR DOESN'T MOVE. IF WE TURN IT OFF AND RE-START IT, IT OPERATES NORMALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH ICON INDICATES HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AT RE-START LIGHT GOES OFF. DEALER CAN FIND NO TROUBLE CODES STORED. *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR CAR LAST YEAR , 5 MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR , WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) LIGHT TURN ON AND THE CAR SHAKING VERY BAD AND WE CAN NOT HANDLE THE CAR RIGHT AND THE BRAKE ITS NOT WORKING WELL, ITS VERY VERY SCARY. THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO WE TURN THE VDC LIGHT OFF, ITS GONNA BE OK FOR COUPLE DAYS , AND AGAIN IT HAPPENS. AFTER THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO FAIRFAX KIA IN VIRGINIA THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME AND THEY SAID WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR IT DIDN'T HAPPENED TO THEM, SO IT HAPPENS FOR ME ALMOST 7 TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHOULD I DO, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME WHAT SHOULD I DO? KIA MOTOR IN RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. *TR

SOMETIME AROUND JUNE 4, ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH, IT FELT LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING. THERE WAS A VIOLENT SLAM IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY TO SEE IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING. AFTER SEEING THAT I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING, I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO GET BACK ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULD HARDLY MOVE AS THOUGH IT WERE STARTING OFF IN A HIGH GEAR. I DROVE TOWARD THE NEXT EXIT AT 55 MPH AT AROUND 3500 RPM AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE NEVER SHIFTED GEARS. WHEN I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT TO RETURN HOME, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT INTO LOW, IT STAYED IN A HIGH GEAR. I DROVE HOME IN ONE GEAR AND GOT HOME TO BACK INTO THE GARAGE, AND WHEN I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE, IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR. I PARKED AND WENT INSIDE FOR THE EVENING INTENT ON GETTING THE DEALER TO SEND A WRECKER FOR THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING. I GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS STILL ACTING THE SAME WAY. I STARTED THE CAR UP AND IT DROVE PERFECT, SHIFTING THROUGH ALL OF THE GEARS AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND WE LEFT WITH OUR "REPAIRED" VEHICLE. ON JUNE 26, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 50 MPH ON A SURFACE STREET, THE SAME "SLAM" HAPPENED IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, FRIGHTENING MY WIFE. SHE THEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOPPED THE CAR, AND SHUT IT OFF. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT SHIFT AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. SHE CAME BACK HOME, PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE AND CALLED THE DEALER. SHE STARTED THE CAR ON JUNE 27 TO GO TO THE DEALER, WENT DOWN THE ROAD APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES AND THE SAME EVENT OCCURRED. SHE PULLED OVER, RESTARTED THE CAR AND DROVE TO THE DEALER. THEY NOW HAVE THE CAR AND SAY THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 12000 MILES. *TR

THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS PERIODICALLY COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE OPERATING OUR 2011 OPTIMA. THIS OCCURS WITH THE SWITCH IN BOTH ON AND OFF POSITION AND THE LIGHTBULBS TEND TO BECOME OVERHEATED.THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO MANUAL OPERATION, BUT GO OFF ON THEIR OWN AND THIS MALFUNCTION REPEATS SEVERAL TIMES IN A TEN MINUTE DRIVE. BEST-CASE SCENARIO RESULTS IN THE BULBS BURNING OUT PREMATURELY, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A REAL CHANCE OF A MORE SERIOUS SHORT-CIRCUIT AND POTENTIAL INTERIOR FIRE. *TR

I WAS SITTING IN A TURN LANE, TO TURN LEFT. THERE WERE TWO LANES TO MY RIGHT FOR TRAFFIC. I WAS WAITING FOR A CAR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAPPENED TO LOOK IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY TAKEN UP BY THIS RED OBJECT, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A CAR. IMMEDIATELY I FELT A TERRIBLE SHOCK AND MY CAR WAS LIFTED UP IN THE REAR AND THE FRONT END POINTED AT THE ROAD. THIS CAR DROVE ME APPROXIMATELY 40 YDS. UP THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY...NONE OF THEM AND THERE WAS $12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. I STILL HAVE LOWER BACK PAIN AND SEVERE CRAMPS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF NECK AND HEAD. OF COURSE THE DRIVER WAS DUI, NO LICENSE, NO INSURANCE AND LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. ON 10/22/12 MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN HOME FROM FLORIDA TO TN. SHE TURNED ON A STREET HEADING UP A HILL TOWARD OUR HOME. SHE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN AN OLDER GREY TRUCK COMING DOWN THE HILL CROWDED HER OFF THE ROAD. SHE SWERVED TO HER RIGHT AND HIT A 700 LB. MAILBOX(CEMENT & BRICKS) THIS ACCIDENT TORE THE RIDE SIDE FRONT END BACK BY 4 FEET, ALSO BUCKLING THE HOOD AND POPPING RIVETS IN THE MOTOR. THE AIR BAGS AGAIN FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S AIR BAGS. SHE BLOODIED HER NOSE AND HAD A GASH IN HER RIGHT WRIST. THERE4 IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE OF HAVING AIR BAGS WHEN THEY DON'T DO AS THEY SUPPOSED TO. THIS MUST BE EXPLORED AND THE REASON FOUND! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAIN REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE CAR FAIL TO START' THIS TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO, AND DROPPED AT THE KIA DEALER. AT THE END OF THE DAY WE CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE TECHNICIAN THAT WAS WORKING ON IT, MENTION THAT AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS UNCOUNTED FROM THE TOW TRUCK, THEY TRY AND SWITCH THE CAR; NEVERTHELESS, THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY ISSUES. HE SAID THAT THEY SWITCH IT OFF AND ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHAT AM I TO DO? ALL I WANT IS FOR THE PROBLEM TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR WITHOUT THE FEAR OF BEING STRANDED. *TR

I WAS STOPPED, 2ND IN POSITION, AT A STOP LIGHT. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A NISSAN SENTRA DOING APPROXIMATELY 50 TP 55 MPH. MY CAR WAS HIT IN THE REAR, PUSHING THE FRONT INTO A DUALLY. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I STRUCK MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I WAS WONDERING WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FRONT LEFT BUMPER WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED AS THE LEFT REAR BUMPER. IN ALL, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING 55MPH BEHIND A VEHICLE WHO SUDDENLY SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THERE WAS A CAR STOPPED IN THE LEFT HAND LANE, UNABLE TO STOP IN TIME I STRUCK THE BLACK JEEP LIBERTY IN THE REAR BUMPER MORE TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE WITH THE THE PASSENGER FRONT BUMPER OF MY CAR. ( KIA OPTIMA) MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND I DID STRIKE MY HEAD, ALTHOUGH I AM NOT SURE IF I HIT IT ON THE WINDSHIELD OR ON THE GLASS TOP. MY CONCERN IS MY SEATBELT DID NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY ALLOWING ME TO STRIKE MY HEAD. AND AGAIN THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

HAD JUST FINISH BRINGING MY WIFE HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL, AFTER SURGERY, AND NEEDED TO STOP AT THE PHARMACY. AFTER PICKING UP A COUPLE OF PRESCRIPTIONS WE GOT IN THE CAR, AND TRY TO SWITCH THE CAR ON, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I COULD TELL THAT THE BATTERY HAD PLENTY OF POWER, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT EVEN TURN. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THE IGNITION WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE REST OF THE CAR. I EVEN PUT IT ON NEUTRAL TO SEE IF I WOULD START, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. I KEEP ON TRYING FOR ALMOST HALF HOUR, AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO CALL A TOW TRUCK I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN, AND IT FINALLY TURN AND STARTED. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A CAR WITH LESS THAN 20,000 THOUSAND MILES THAT I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE I'M AFRAID IT WILL LEAVE ME STRANDED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, A ROCK STRUCK THE FRONT WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BOTTOM CORNER AND SHATTERED THE GLASS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE MOLDING AROUND THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT SECURE. THIS FAILURE RECURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,535 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,537.

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY "SAID" THEY PERFORMED A FIX ACCORDING TO AN INTERNAL KIA TSB-032 DOCUMENT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A 15,000 MILE SERVICE AND ANOTHER TIRE ROTATION THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY PULLED TO THE LEFT AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND ARGUED OVER PAYING FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO THE ALIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE AND THE TIRES WERE PUT BACK PRIOR TO THE 15K ROTATION. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE, I AM UNABLE TO ROTATE THE TIRES WITHOUT AN AGGRESSIVE PULL TO THE LEFT. JUST TODAY, 8/24/2013, THE DEALER TOLD ME KIA HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH NEXEN TIRES AND HAVE SINCE SWITCHED TO KUMHO. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE KIA USED A PRODUCT LINE THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING I HAVE TO SPEND >$1000 ON A SET OF NEW TIRES FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE I DROVE THE VEHICLE (BRAND NEW) OFF THE LOT. *TR

THE GASKET EDGE FOR THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF DRY ROTTED AND CRACKED AT AROUND 9,000 MILES. THE ENTIRE STATIONARY SECTION OF THE SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED BY THE KIA DEALER. *TR

I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX, WITH THE NAVIGATION PACKAGE. I HAD A STRANGE INCIDENT WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT. AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO REV VERY HIGH. I PUT MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE AND SHIFTED IN TO NEUTRAL, BUT IT KEPT REVVING VERY HIGH, SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT STILL REVVED VERY HIGH-- ROARING. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AGAIN AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. STARTED IT AGAIN 5 SECONDS LATER AND IMMEDIATELY THE ENGINE ROARED REVVING VERY HIGH. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AGAIN AND THEN IT STARTED NORMALLY. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE THE WHOLE TIME AND THERE WERE NO OBJECTS TOUCHING THE ACCELERATOR. *TR

THIS IS A BRAND NEW HYBRID. SINCE INITIAL PURCHASE THE CAR HAS BEEN OBSERVED TO STEER TO LEFT ON ITS OWN AT LOWEST SPEEDS. TIRE PRESSURE HAS BEEN CHECKED WEEKLY AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED AS PER SPECS. CAR STILL VEERS TO LEFT. ON RESEARCHING HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL 2011 KIA OPTIMAS INCLUDING OTHER MODELS. CONTINUOUSLY OBSERVED THIS FOR NEXT 500 OR SO MILES AND THEN TOOK TO DEALER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE BUT SAID KIA CORPORATE HAS NOT NOTIFIED THEM OF ANY ISSUE SO THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO AS THIS HYBRID CAR IS TOO NEW. THE SAME ISSUES HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER KIAS NON HYBRID AS WELL.THE DEALER WAS DULLES KIA IN LEESBURG, VA . I WOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT COSMETIC ISSUES BUT ON A BRAND NEW CAR SUCH SAFETY ISSUES ARE TROUBLESOME ESPECIALLY WHEN DEALERS HAVE NO CLUE. DEALER INDICATED THESE ARE NEW CARS WITH NEW POWER STEERING MODULES AND HENCE THEY HAVE SEEN LOT OF THESE CASES. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL AND REPLACE ASAP. NHTSA NEEDS TO ISSUES SAFETY RESEARCH. THE CAR ON HIGHER SPEEDS ALSO PULLS TO LEFT AND IS DANGEROUS WITH WINDY CONDITIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE ABNORMALLY. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SURGED FORWARD. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. BLACK SMOKE THEN BEGAN TO RISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT APPEARED ON THE SCENE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 7,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER WAS PUSHED DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE END POINT OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER INCLUDED A KNOB THAT CONTROLLED THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH EASILY ROTATED TO DEACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHTS WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIANS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOT A REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE ISSUE AND THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE COMPROMISED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,300. UPDATED 02/15/12*BF THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THERE WAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 02/29/12

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AND THE CAR PULLS HEAVILY TO THE LEFT EVEN ON STRAIGHT ROADS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY SAY IT IS WITHIN SPECS BUT IT ACTS THE SAME. IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A COUPLE SECONDS YOU'RE ON THE SHOULDER. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SECOND ISSUE IS THAT BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS WERE BOLTED DOWN IN ONE BOLT OUT OF FOUR. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE MISSING BOLTS BUT THIS MAKES ME REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE QUALITY CONTROL AT KIA. WHAT ELSE MIGHT THEY MISSED? I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION BEFORE NOTICING THIS. UNACCEPTABLE! *TR

AFTER 1-2 MILES OF DRIVING AFTER COLD START, ENGINE CONTINUES TO REV UP BUT CAR COME TO ROLLING STOP. AS IF NO POWER IS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM ENGINE TO TRANSMISSION/DRIVE SYSTEM. THEN TURN CAR OFF FOR A MINUTE, RESTART AND CAR RUNS OKAY. DASH ICON INDICATES TROUBLE WITH HYBRID SYSTEM. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE FIRST INCIDENT. DEALER FINDS NOTHING WRONG. CAUSES AN EXTREME HAZARD WHEN IT HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC. *TR

KIA OPTIMA LX 2011 WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AT 4 MILES IN ODOMETER. PROBLEM 1 LESS THAN A MONTH: STEERING VEERING TO THE LEFT AN RIGHT. HAD TO STEER THIS CAR TO TRACK STRAIGHT. THE DEALER PERFORMED MINOR ALIGNMENT IN OCTOBER. CAR CONTINUES TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT. TOOK CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TECH STATED THE FRONT END OFF BY 2 DEGREES AND STATED HE PERFORMED THE ADJUSTMENT. THE STEERING PROBLEM NOT FIXED. PROBLEM #2: CAR WAS PARKED WITH FUEL READING 42 MILES TO EMPTY. RETURNED TO START CAR. WILL NOT CRANK AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. TOWED THE CAR TO DEALER. CAR CRANKED UPON DE-TOW AT THE LOCATION. BUT STILL LEFT THE CAR FOR WHY IT WILL NOT CRANK IN THE FIRST PLACE. RETURNED 4 DAYS LATER. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE CAR WAS EMPTY OF GASOLINE, EVEN WHEN FUEL READER CLEARLY INDICATED 42 MILES TO EMPTY. KIA PAID FOR RENTAL FOR 4 DAYS ($100). I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL REGULATOR WAS REPLACED AND ON BACK ORDER. THE STEERING PROBLEMS AND THE STALLING ISSUES ARE SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE THE LANES, ARTERIAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE DAILY ARE CONGESTED. *TR