2011 Kia Optima Complaint Log

FIRST NOTICED ABNORMAL TIRE WARE ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. SO I HAD TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT. RECEIVED THE SPEC SHEETS AFTER. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT .15 DEGREES RF, .01 DEGREES LF, .19 DEGREES LR, .13 DEGREES RR. VEHICLE WAS SET BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS, AND DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE MIS ALIGNMENT ON MICHIGAN ROADS. CAR WAS SET TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED 1500 MILES LATER OR 30 DAYS. 2ND TIME IN THE SHOP FOR ALIGNMENT CHECK AND WAS OUT . 09 DEGREES LF, .11 DEGREES RF, .02 DEGREES LR, .04 DEGREES RR. DEALERSHIP SET THE ALIGNMENT BACK TO FACTORY SPECS. CAR AGAIN WAS SET 30 DAYS LATER OR 1500 MILES FOR ANOTHER ALIGNMENT CHECK AND WAS OUT ONCE AGAIN. .21 DEGREES LF, .13 DEGREES RF, .26 DEGREES LR, .02 DEGREES RR. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 22300. AFTER THE 3RD TIME TO THE DEALER AND TAKING THEIR ADVICE TO GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE END , THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, YET EVERY TIME IT WAS THERE THE ALIGNMENT HAD TO BE ADJUSTED AND PUT BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBER OF DEGREE CHANGES, MORE THAN .05 DEGREES IS ASTRONOMICAL WHEN IT COMES TO TOE SETTINGS ON ANY CAR. THIS CAR HAS A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, YET KIA, NOR THE DEALERSHIP IS STANDING BEHIND THE PRODUCT, THEY MANUFACTURE OR SELL! *TR

DEFECTIVE KEY FOBS. THEY CANNOT BE REPROGRAMMED AND YOU BECOME STRANDED WITH NO WAY OF STARTING THE AUTO. DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED FOUR TIMES TO REPROGRAM THE KEY FOB WITHOUT SUCCESS. THERE IS NO WAY TO START OR OPERATE THE CAR WITH THE MECHANICAL KEY. CAN BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU ARE IN AN ISOLATED AREA! *TT

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEERING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE STEERING WOULD OFTEN VEER TO THE LEFT AND THEN TO THE RIGHT. *JB

THE OWNERS MANUAL, SECTION 3, PAGE 8 DESCRIBES THE "FORWARD AND BACKWARD ADJUSTMENT" OF THE HEADRESTS IN THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE HEAD RESTS DO NOT ADJUST AS DESCRIBED IN THE MANUAL. KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPLAINS THIS AS A "TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR." THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HEAD REST IS DESIGNED SO THAT IT THRUSTS DRAMATICALLY FORWARD. IF THE SEAT IS SITTING UPRIGHT ONE MUST TILT ONES HEAD FORWARD TO ACCOMMODATE THE HEAD REST OR THE SEAT MUST BE LEANED BACKWARD SUCH THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS 5' 2" TALL CAN NOT SEE OUT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE'S EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WOULD DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900.

THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT AND SOMETIMES TO THE RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO HANG ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. THE PULLING TO THE LEFT IS MORE PROMINENT. I TOOK IT IN ON SEPT 20TH FOR THE FIRST TIME. THEY SWITCHED THE WHEELS BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. I TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON OCT. 7TH AND AT THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED STILL. ON OCT 9TH I WAS DRIVING OFF A THRUWAY RAMP WHEN THE CAR ALMOST SWERVED INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT BACK ON OCT. 13TH BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THEY STILL HAVE SAID VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER A STORM HER VEHICLE WAS FLOODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE VENTS ON THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WERE DESIGNED TO LET WATER OUT BUT SINCE IT WAS SITTING IN THE WATER IT SEEPED INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,200.

PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW KIA OPTIMA IN MAY 2011. FROM THE ONSET THE REMOTE START NEVER WORKED ON THE FIRST TRY, EVENTUALLY IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. IN AUG NOTICED THAT THE HORN WASN'T SOUNDING RIGHT, EVENTUALLY IT DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE HORN TO BE REPAIRED AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A BAD FUSE. 1 WEEK LATER HORN WAS OUT AGAIN. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO SAID THEY WOULD ORDER 2 NEW HORNS AS THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT WAS THE CAUSE. BOUGHT THE CAR IN TO HAVE HORNS INSTALLED THEY SAY "WE NEED TO ORDER A NEW MODULE FOR YOUR CAR" ALTHOUGH THE HORNS WERE WORKING, I FIGURED THE MODULE WAS THE REASON THE HORNS WENT BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. I CALL TO WEEKS LATER, THEY STILL HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE PARTS (STRANGE). I MENTION THAT NOW THE REMOTE START IS COMPLETELY OUT THEY SAY "WE KNOW, THAT IS WHY WE ORDERED THE MODULE" (WHY WASN'T THIS EXPLAINED TO ME??). OCT 2011 I SPEND YET ANOTHER SAT MORNING AT THE DEALER. AN HOUR AND A HALF IN THEY SAY WE CANT FIGURE THIS OUT WE NEED TO ORDER THE SCHEMATICS ON THIS CAR...YOU WILL NEED TO DROP THE CAR OFF NEXT WEEK. I LEAVE THE CAR FOR OVER A WEEK, THEY CALL TO SAY THEY ARE ORDERING A WHOLE NEW REMOTE START SYSTEM. WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR THE REMOTE START IS STILL WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, THE ALARM IS GOING OFF AT RANDOM AND THE SUNROOF WILL NOT CLOSE. I RETURN THE CAR THE FOLLOWING WEEK THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE START, ALARM HASN'T SOUNDED AND THEY JUST NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUSE FOR THE ROOF. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THEY DID BUT THEY DID SOME SORT OF REPAIR, NO PROB WITH EITHER SINCE THEN. TODAY DEC 12, 2011 I HAVE CALLED TO TELL THEM THAT THE HORNS ARE COMPLETELY OUT AGAIN, "THEY SAY BRING HER IN AND WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT HER". I HAVE NO DESIRE TO SPEND A DAY AT KIA DEALER ONCE A MONTH. IN FACT, I NO LONGER HAVE A DESIRE FOR KIA PERIOD. I AM CONTACTING BBB'S LEMON LAW ASSISTANCE TODAY. *TR

I PURCHASED MY OPTIMA SX TURBO WITH LESS THAN 50 MILES ON IT. I GOT THE TURBO WITH 274 HP BECAUSE IT WAS THE CLOSEST I COULD GET TO A HOT ROD WITH FOUR DOORS. I HAVE SEND THIS INFORMATION TO KIA IN HOPES OF RESOLUTION. THE CAR'S ACCELERATION IS FANTASTIC, ESPECIALLY FROM 40-50 WITH GAS PEDDLE FLOORED. HERE IS THE PROBLEM. THE FRONT END RISES AND THE WEIGHT SHIFT MAKES THE CAR FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ABOUT TO PULL A WHEELIE. AT THIS POINT I QUESTION THE TRACTION OF THE FRONT TIRES. IT CANNOT BE THE SAME AS WITH NO SEVERE ACCELERATION. THIS TAKES AWAY THE REASON I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH THIS SPECIFIC ENGINE. ALSO THINK ABOUT THIS SCENARIO. A FAMILY IS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE RAIN. THEY WANT TO PASS AN 18 WHEELER GOING UP A GRADE. ACCELERATION IS INCREASED AND WITH WEIGHT SHIFTED BACK OFF THE FRONT WHEELS, THEY CRASH. THE CAR NEEDS EITHER STIFFER SUSPENSION OR ABILITY TO CHANGE THE SUSPENSION. WHEN I FLOOR IT, THE WEIGHT RATIOS OVER ALL WHEELS MUST NOT CHANGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONSISTENTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. THE CONTACT HAD THE DEALER PERFORM AN ALIGNMENT TWICE AND BOTH THE STRUTS AND THE BOLTS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT BELIEVED THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,672. UPDATED 12/12/11*LJ UPDATED 01/23/12*JB

PURCHASE AS A NEW CAR ON JUNE 20,2011 FROM KIA DEALERSHIP. FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED WITHIN FIRST MONTH. THE REMOTE START CONTINUALLY FAILED AT STARTING THE VEHICLE. WHEN PRESSING THE REMOTE START BUTTON THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE CAR ALARM WOULD SOUND OFF IMMEDIATELY. SECOND PROBLEM THAT OCCUR WITHIN FIRST MONTH IS THE GAS DOOR ON OUTSIDE WOULD NOT OPEN WHEN PRESSING THE GAS BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. IT REQUIRED YOU TO KEEP PRESSING GAS BUTTON REPEATEDLY BEFORE IT WOULD OPEN THE OUTSIDE DOOR TO PUMP GAS. THIRD PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITHIN THE THIRD TO THE FOURTH MONTH OF THE PURCHASED VEHICLE IS THE SOUND TO THE CAR HORN FAILED. WHEN I WENT TO BLOW MY HORN, THERE WAS NO SOUND WHICH ALSO LEAD TO NO SOUND ON THE CAR TO INDICATE THAT I HAD LOCKED THE VEHICLE WITH THE REMOTE CAR-LOCK. THE LOST SOUND TO THE HORN AND TO THE VEHICLE HAS RECENTLY FAILED FOR A SECOND TIME AFTER RECENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON A FLAT SURFACE WITH THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY FEET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,036.

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA PULLS LEFT AND THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MEETS FACTORY ALIGNMENT SPECS BUT STILL PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT. *TR

2011 KIA OPTIMA LX. CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT AT ALL SPEEDS BUT MOST SIGNIFICANTLY AT SPEEDS ABOVE 60MPH. THIS CAN MAKE FOR VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AS THE CAR DRIFTS IN ALL SITUATIONS TO THE LEFT. IF THE ROAD IS CROWNED TO THE LEFT THE CAR WILL PULL ALMOST VIOLENTLY TO THE LEFT. I HAVE ALMOST HIT MEDIAN BARRIERS AND/OR GONE VEERED OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES. I CAN CONSIDER MYSELF A GOOD DRIVER WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST 12 YEARS AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. KIA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND IS WORKING ON THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, KIA HAS NOT COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. *KB

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE REPLACEMENT RECALL NOTICE AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT INFORMATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE FAILED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE 17-V224 AND REQUESTED TO BE ADVISED IF THIS REPAIR WAS ALREADY COMPLETED. UPDATED 09/11/2017*JS

PURCHASED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX ON 5/18/11. CAR CONSTANTLY PULLED LEFT SO BAD THAT YOU WOULD END UP INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A TWO LANE ROAD IN YOU DIDN'T CONTINUALLY CORRECT TO THE RIGHT. HAD THE DEALER ALIGN VEHICLE TO FACTORY SPECS WITH NO CHANGE. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER WHO REALIGNED TO NEW SPECS RECEIVED FROM KIA TECH SUPPORT. VEHICLE NOW ONLY HAS A TENDENCY TO PULL LEFT BUT WILL DRIFT LEFT IF YOU TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER TEST DROVE THE CAR AGAIN AND CLAIMS THE VEHICLE DRIVES BETTER THAN A NEW ONE ON THE LOT. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR ME AND REFERRED ME TO KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS. *TR

CAR PULLS TO THE LEFT. *TR

I AM ALSO HAVING THE LEFT PULL ISSUE WITH MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA. I ALERTED THE DEALER AS SOON AS IT LEFT THE LOT AND TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ON 5/2/11. SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE TECH TODAY (5/4) AND HE SAID THAT ALL OF THE ALIGNMENT SPECS WERE WITHIN FACTORY STANDARDS BUT THE CAR IS STILL PULLING LEFT. CURRENTLY AWAITING GUIDANCE FROM KIA'S CORPORATE ENGINEERS. THIS PRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER AS THE CAR WILL SWITCH LANES UNLESS CONSTANT PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD PULL TOWARD THE LEFT. IN ORDER TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, EXCESSIVE PRESSURE WOULD BE APPLID TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,425.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TOWARDS THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND A CAMBER KIT WAS INSTALLED ON THE SUSPENSION BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

ON 04/15/2011 OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA WAS DAMAGED BY MICE EATING WIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE NEED AN ENGINE HARNESS REPLACED. DEALER TOLD US THAT THE PART IS NOT IN THE US. THEY ALSO TELL US THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE FOUND. ON 5/3/2011 WE WERE TOLD THAT IT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE ON 6/112011. THIS CAR HAS APPROX. 1050 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER HAS BEEN GREAT IN KEEPING US UPDATED. OUR PROBLEM IS WITH THE LAX ATTITUDE I RECEIVED FROM KIA CS, AND THE "PARTS MANAGER OF THE REGION" FROM NJ THAT CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT. WHILE WE MAKE OUT MONTHLY LEASE PAYMENTS TO KIA. HOW IS THAT A COMPANY CAN HAVE NO PARTS TO REPAIR A BRAND NEW VEHICLE AND STILL MAKE MONEY FROM US? *TR

ON 4/11/11, WE WERE DRIVING TO WORK AND HAD GONE FOUR MILES FROM OUR HOUSE, WHEN WE THOUGHT WE HAD HIT A DEER! THE CAR MADE A VERY LOUD SOUND AND LURCHED VIOLENTLY, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, FRIGHTENING US BOTH. THE LURCHING WAS SO VIOLENT THAT IT MAY WELL HAVE CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE. WE WERE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE CRASHED. WE THEN FOUND THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION HAD GONE OUT OF OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX. WE BOUGHT THE KIA NEW AT O'BRIEN AUTO PARK IN CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS, ON 1/8/11. THE CAR HAD 3600 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME OF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THIS WAS OUR FIRST KIA PURCHASE, AND WE ARE VERY DISAPPOINTED. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE SHOCKED BY THIS DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE! WE VERY EASILY COULD HAVE HAD TRAGIC CONSEQUENCES FOR US AND OUR FELLOW COMMUTERS. WE ARE NO LONGER CONFIDENT IN THIS VEHICLE. WE FIND THIS TOTALLY UNSATISFACTORY AND ASKED KIA TO REPLACE OUR VEHICLE WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE. KIA REFUSED, BASICALLY SAYING 'WE DON'T OWN IT ANYMORE'. THEY DID REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.

THE FIRST EPISODE WAS A DEAD BATTERY. THE CAR HAD 13 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SECOND INCIDENT, CAR WOULD NOT START, IGNITION ISSUE, BUT LATER STARTED (AFTER 1HR). TAKEN TO DEALER, SECONDARY TO IGNITION ISSUES. PROBLEM RESOLVED UNTIL TODAY. WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TRIED TWO DIFFERENT KEY FOBS AND STILL DID NOT START. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE. I WILL NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE WHEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE MANUAL BRAKE SHOULD ALWAYS BE APPLIED IN A MANUAL VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 626.

CAR PULLS TO LEFT 100% OF THE TIME. CAR HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY KIA SERVICE AND MEETS ALL FACTORY SPECS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. KIA REQUIRES ALL 2011 OPTIMA'S TO BE REALIGNED PRIOR TO BEING SOLD. CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. SAID THAT ONE OF HER TEC. REPS. DRIVES A 2011 OPTIMA AND IT ALSO PULLS LEFT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THROUGH WHEN REVERSING. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,400.

2011 KIA OPTIMA PULLS TO LEFT ALL THE TIME. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES AND THEY STATE NOTHING IS WRONG AND IT IS WITHIN ALIGNMENT SPECS. THE CAR WILL CHANGE LANES IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. YOU HAVE TO HOLD TENSION ON THE STEERING WHEEL SO THAT IT WILL STAY STRAIGHT. THIS IS THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I DRIVE 50 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK AND BY THE TIME I GET TO WORK MY ARM HURTS. THIS CAR IS A DANGER ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO DO ANYTHING MORE FOR ME. I SURE HOPE THIS GETS LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR DIES BECAUSE OF THIS. IF SOMEONE WOULD LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR A SECOND THE CAR COULD CROSS OVER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

IT'S HAPPENING ON MY BRAND NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA. I DRIVE AN HOUR TO WORK BOTH WAYS, SO ANY PROBLEM WITH A VEHICLE CAN EASILY PRESENT ITSELF. ON MY FIRST DAY OF WORK, I REALIZED THE CAR PULLED LEFT. I THOUGHT IT COULD HAVE BEEN IN MY HEAD OR SIMPLY THE CROWN OF THE ROAD. AFTER A FEW DAYS OF IGNORANTLY THINKING IT WAS JUST ME, I NOTICED THAT WHEN I LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, IT HOLDS SLIGHTLY LEFT. THUS, THE CAR PULLS LEFT. IT DOES THIS ABOUT 85 PERCENT OF THE TIME. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAITED THREE HOURS. THEY ADJUSTED THE ALIGNMENT AND ROTATED THE TIRES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR STILL PULLED LEFT. I TOOK IT IN FIVE DAYS LATER. THEY GAVE ME A LOANER CAR FOR TWO DAYS WHILE THEY TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY CALL ME AND SAID IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE THEY READJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL AND REPLACED A TIRE (AND REALIGNED IT AGAIN). I GO AND PICK IT UP, TAKE IT ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEIR HEAD TECHNICIAN RIDES WITH ME BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY (THEY NEVER TOOK IT ON THE HIGHWAY). HE SEES THE PROBLEM AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE CAR PULLED LIKE THAT. HE SAID SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY WRONG. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN TELLS ME TO TAKE THE CAR HOME FOR THE WEEKEND AND WE'D SET SOMETHING UP. I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT UNLESS IT WAS FIXED SO I AM STILL WITH THE LOANER CAR FIVE DAYS LATER. I AM STILL WAITING TO HEAR BACK. I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN ONE WRECK ALREADY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY LEFT PULL. IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONSIDERING THE TYPES OF ROADS I MUST DRIVE ON EVERYDAY. *TR

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2011 AND WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS, NOTICED THE CAR WOULD PULL LEFT AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN OR EVEN CHANGING LANES TO THE LEFT. THINKING IT WAS JUST AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS ISSUE 6 TIMES, EACH TIME THEY DID AN ALIGNMENT. RECENTLY I NOTICED BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE WEARING EXCESSIVELY, WITH LESS THAN 14000 MILES, AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH TIRES. SINCE THE NEW TIRES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE, LIKE IT WAS WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. NOW AT THE DEALER FOR THE 6TH TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT KIA HAS NEW ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS, THE 3RD SET OF ALIGNMENT SPECIFICATIONS KIA HAS HAD IN LESS THAN A YEAR. I WAS TOLD ALSO TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE WAS IN PART DUE TO THE NATURE OF ELECTRONIC STEERING. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND AN EXCUSE, NOT A REASON. *TR

PURCHASED A NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA SX WITH PREMIUM TOURING PACKAGE. THE CAR HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. SEEMS TO BE MORE NOTICEABLE THE FASTER YOU GO. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON A STRAIGHT ROAD I WILL BE IN THE NEXT LANE IN A SECOND OR TWO UPON LETTING GO OF THE STEERING REGARDLESS OF WHICH SIDE OF THE ROAD CROWN I AM ON. I ALSO NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL DOES SHIFT LEFT DURING THIS AND IS OFF CENTER. *TR

UPON DRIVING HOME FROM TAKING DELIVERY OF MY NEW 2011 KIA OPTIMA ON 2/11/11, MY HUSBAND I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT SUBSTANTIALLY. IF YOU LOOSEN THE GRIP OF THE WHEEL THE CAR IMMEDIATELY PULLS TO THE LEFT. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 2/18, 3/5 AND 3/14. EACH TIME I HAVE RECEIVED THE CAR BACK FROM THE DEALER, THEY INDICATE THAT IT IS WITHIN KIA SPECS AND IS 'TRACKING' STRAIGHT. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP LAST NIGHT AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT. *TR

IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED POINTED SLIGHTLY DOWN HILL OR SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND SITS FOR 15-20 MINUTES THERE IS VALVE CLATTER WHEN STARTED AS IF THERE IS NO OIL. HAPPENS EVERY TIME PARKED AS ABOVE. DEALER SAYS A FIX IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

SINCE THE DAY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN OFF THE LOT, ON THE EXPRESSWAY, IT PULLED TO THE LEFT. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. DEALER DECLARED THAT IT WAS FIXED. ON THE DRIVE HOME, THE PULL TO THE LEFT PERSISTED AS IT HAD DONE PREVIOUSLY. RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER. ANOTHER ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE ISSUE WAS REPAIRED. THE GENERAL MANAGER PROMISED THIS WOULD HAPPEN, AND ALSO PROMISED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER WOULD RIDE ALONG WITH ME UPON PICKING UP THE CAR TO ENSURE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR, THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD LEFT FOR THE DAY, AND WHEN I DROVE HOME, IT WAS STILL PULLING LEFT. RETURNED THE CAR TO SERVICE. UPON CALLING THE SERVICE DEPT. TO SEE IF THEY HAD FOUND A PROBLEM, THE SERVICE MANAGER DECLARED THAT THEY HAD FOUND A BAD TIRE, AND HAD SWAPPED IT TO THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAD TO ARGUE WITH THE MANAGER THAT I DID NOT WANT A BAD TIRE LEFT ON MY CAR. HE FINALLY CONCEDED, AND SAID HE WOULD TAKE A NEW WHEEL AND TIRE OF A NEW CAR AND SWAP IT WITH THE BAD ONE. DROVE THE CAR HOME. SEEMED A LITTLE BETTER, BUT STILL WAS PULLING LEFT, AND JUST FELT UNSETTLED, WITH VERY POOR ON CENTER FEEL. CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER RELATIONS. THEY SENT OUT 2 ENGINEERS WHO VALIDATED THE HANDLING PROBLEMS. REPLACED LEFT STRUT, TIGHTENED REAR SUSPENSION, TALKED ABOUT SOFTWARE UPGRADES TO THE ELECTRONIC ASSIST POWER STEERING, BUT NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID TO IT. DROVE THE CAR HOME. CAR PERFORMED BETTER THAN IT EVER HAD, BUT NOW THE STEERING WHEEL IS COCKED LEFT, AND THE MORE I DRIVE IT, THE MORE IT PULLS LEFT AGAIN, AND IS REVERTING TO THE VERY POOR ON CENTER FEEL. CONSUMER RELATIONS IS STARTING TO GET IRRITATED WITH MY CONTINUING PHONE CALLS. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I FEEL I DESERVE COMPENSATION UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

WHEN I BOUGHT THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX I WENT AROUND THE BLOCK AND CAME BACK TO THE KIA DEALER BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER TECHNICIAN LOOKED AT IT AND I LEFT. I CAME BACK A WEEK LATER FOR THE SAME ISSUE SO DEALER DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT THAT DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I CONTACTED KIA DIRECTLY AND THEY SENT A DISTRICT MANAGER TO LOOK AT IT. LATER ON KIA SENT A DISTRICT TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT IT AND RE-DO THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE IS STILL PULLING TO THE LEFT AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I UNDERSTOOD BY OTHER KIA DEALERS THAT IT IS AN ISSUE WITH A LOT OF 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S.

I PURCHASED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX ON 12/28/10 FROM KIA COUNTRY OF SAVANNAH. KIA COUNTRY OBTAINED THE AUTO FROM AN ORLANDO KIA DEALER AND DRIVE IT 269 MILES TO SAVANNAH WHERE I TOOK DELIVERY. THE STEERING PULLS/DRIFTS LEFT WHILE DRIVING. IT HAS DRIFTED SINCE I PURCHASED IT. KIA COUNTRY ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT, BUT IT STILL DRIFTS LEFT. KIA CORPORATE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND ARE NON RESPONSIVE. *TR

PURCHASED A NEW 2011 VEHICLE, WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPT. AND ASK THAT THE ORDER SOME SEAT BELT EXTENDERS FOR ME. THE MANAGER SAID HE WOULD AFTER 5 WEEKS I CALLED THE PARTS DEPT. HE TOLD ME THEY HAVE NOT COME IN YET. ANOTHER WEEK GOES BY THEN I GET A CALL FROM THE REGIONAL PARTS MANAGER STATING THEY DID NOT OFFER THEM. PERIOD NO AND IF OR BUTS NO. IN YOUR FMVSS 209 REQUIRE MANUFACTURES TO PROVIDE LONGER BELTS OR SEAT BELT EXTENDERS TO ACCOMMODATE EXTREMELY LARGE PEOPLE. I WAS 480 LBS DOWN TO 360 BUT I STILL NEED SOME. I EVEN ASKED THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REIMBURSE ME. SENSE I AM ON SSI. THEY REFUSED BUT THEY DID TELL ME WHERE TO GO TO FIND THEM. SEAT BELT EXTENDERS, THE PART THAT THE SHOULDER BELT SNAPS IN TO THAT GOES IN THE LATCH, I AM A LARGE MAN AND HAVE EXTREME PAIN IN SHOULDERS AND ARMS. WITH BURCIDES AND AUTHORITIES, DEALER REFUSES TO SUPPLY EXTENDERS, ITS FUNNY EVERY OTHER VEHICLE DEALERS CARRY THEM. THEIR LINES OFFER THEM PLANES OFFER EXTENDERS. KIA DOSE NOT AND REFUSED TO HELP CONSUMERS WITH DISABILITIES. THE PARTS MANAGER EVEN SAID WHEN HE WORKED FOR MERCEDES THE CARRIED 6 INCH 8 INCH AND 12 INCH. EXTENDERS. I DO NOT HAVE THE 40.00 EACH I NEED TWO PASSANGERSIDE DRIVERS SIDE. NOTHING FOR THE BACK SEAT I CAN?T FIT THERE... THE PERSON THAT I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO IS [XXX]CONSUMER S AFFAIRS ANALYST SOUTHERN REAGION. KIA MOTORS KAIS CASE # [XXX] HER DIRECT NO IS 1-800-225-3193 EXTENSION OR OPTION 4. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED... I NEED A 8 INCH. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I was driving down the road with my 3 sons in the vehicle and all of a sudden the vehicle and engine seized completely up and turned off. I contacted kia dealership who advised me to bring it to kia of Johnson. I took it there and my vehicle has just been setting there. It's under warranty and backed by a theta2 class action lawsuit. And they still won't touch it and are very rude.