2011 Kia Optima Complaint Log

AT APPROXIMATELY 97,000 MILES, MY CAR BEGAN TO BURN AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL. BEING THAT MY CAR HAD A WARRANTY UP TO 100K MILES, I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED THE ISSUE TO KIA. THEY CONTINUOUSLY REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO EVALUATE THE OIL CONSUMPTION AT 1,000 MILE INCREMENTS. I REPORTED MY CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO THE PROCESS POSSIBLY EXTENDING BEYOND THE 100K MILE LIMITS OF MY WARRANTY. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE RECALL WOULD BE AN OPTION IF I EXCEEDED 100K MILES. UPON EXCEEDING 100K MILES, KIA REPORTED THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS THE PRODUCT OF "CHEAP OIL" AND KIA WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXCESSIVE OIL BURN. AFTER VERIFYING THAT MY MOST RECENT OIL CHANGES WERE PERFORMED BY KIA, I WAS TOLD THAT EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WAS NO LONGER A PROVISION OF THE RECALL.

2011 KIA OPTIMA HEADLIGHTS BECAME EXTREMELY DIM CREATING VISIBILITY AND SAFETY CONCERNS DURING NIGHT TRAVEL. I CHANGED THE LID BULBS HOPING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT SAME ISSUE STILL REMAINED. HIGH BEAMS WORK AS THEY SHOULD AND FOG LIGHTS PUTS OUT MORE ILLUMINATION THAN LOW BEAM. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP (FRED ANDERSON KIA RALEIGH NC) FOR DIAGNOSTIC. DIAGNOSTIC REVEALED THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAD TO BE REPLACED. PRICE TO REPLACE ASSEMBLY IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A ONGOING PROBLEM WITH SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE.

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WE RECENTLY HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE FRONT LIGHT (LOW BEAM) ON THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE BULB WAS REPLACED, AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BULB ISSUE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE BULB DIDN'T WORK WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA. KIA STATED THERE WAS POSSIBLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I'VE HEARD OF BULBS GOING OUT, BUT NEVER THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY, IN WHICH THE WHOLE FRONT BUMPER WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED. I'VE OWNED MANY OTHER CARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RECALLED BY KIA AS IT PRESENTS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR DRIVERS.

DIM HEADLAMPS DUE TO DETERIORATING REFLECTIVE COATING ON LOW BEAM HOUSING. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR FOR ABOUT 5 MINS GOING ABOUT 40 MILES I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. TURNED CAR AROUND DROVE BACK HOME AND COME TO FIND OUT I HAD TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO SIGNS NOTHING TO INDICATE SOMETHING WAS WRONG. ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO MY TURBO WENT OUT TOO. MY HUSBAND DOES OUR OIL CHANGES SO WHEN I TOOK IT TO KIA DEALERSHIP THEY WANTED TO SEE RECEIPTS WHICH WE DO T HAVE SO MY TURBO REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED. SPENT ABOUT $4000 TO REPLACE. I'M SO DONE WITH THIS CAR! I JUST FINISHED PAYING FOR IT LAST YEAR 2018 AND NOW THIS.

AS I WAS ENTERING AN INTERSECTION AND BEGINNING A LEFT TURN MY CAR WITH NO WARNING BEGAN TO BUCK AND SURGE WITH NO MOTOR POWER AND AN ONCOMING CAR AT MY PASSAGER SIDE DOOR. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT THE ONCOMING DRIVER WAS VERY ALERT TO MY CAR NO BEING ABLE TO MOVE AND MISSED MY CAR. WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP THE CAR UNDER VERY REDUCED POWER AND STILL, NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AS WE PULLED INTO THE CLOSEST PARKING LOT AND STOP I PUT THE CAR IN TO PARK AND IT COMPLETELY DIED. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP TWICE DUE TO KIA GIVING BAD INFORMATION.

DRIVING AT NIGHT HAS BEEN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. I HAVE GONE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS WITH NO RESULTS. THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR DID NOT SHOW SIGNS FOR THE RECALL. *TR

I AM DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AND JUST AS I GET THROUGH, WHILE STILL IN MOTION, ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD FLASHED OR TURNED ON. I LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE GAS PEDAL, LOST POWER STEERING, AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I COULDN'T GET TO A PARKING SPOT AND WAS LEFT STUCK AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. I PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED IT AWAY FROM THE ENTRANCE AFTER TRYING TO TURN IT OFF AND START IT BACK UP SEVERAL TIMES. I WAS FORCED TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO GET TOWED TO MY REPAIR SHOP AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE ENGINE BLEW A BEARING AND WILL NEED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT.

I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL KIA OPTIMA 2011. I BEEN HAVE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALL JACK UP. THE PROBLEM IS THE PARTS THEY PUTTING IN THE CAR ARE CHEAP PARTS YES YU GET WHAT YU BUY. BUT KIA HAVE BEEN DOING A GOOD JOB REPLACING PARTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW HOW CHEAP THEY ARE. NO ONE SHOULD BE RIDING AROUND THE CITY AND THE CAR MAKING LOUD NOISES WHEN YOU HIT I HOLE IN ROAD OR EVEN A MAN HOLE ITS SOUND CRAZY. ITS LOUDER THEN MY RADIO. MY RADIO STAY ON MAX SO I TOOK MY KIA TO KIA WEST IN CLEVELAND OHIO. THE MECHANIC CALL BACK THIS MORNING 03 12 2019 STATED THAT THE STEERING RACK/ ASSEMBLY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I UNDERSTOOD WHY IT NEEDED REPLACE. NOT BECAUSE I WEARED IT OUT . THE STEERING COUPLERS WAS START OF THIS PROBLEM. WITH A QUALITY PARTS THESE PROBLEMS WOULDNT COME UP. THE REPAIR BILL WAS 1035 WITH OUT LABOR COST. KIA HAVE TO DO RIGHT THING BY THE PEOPLE. THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL NEED TO BE PUT UNDER RECALL. OR SOMEONE GOING BE KILLED BY THIS ISSUE. WE ALL KNOW NO ONE WANT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A DEATH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. IN 2017, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING METAL DEBRIS THAT WAS LEFT IN THE ENGINE, WHICH CONSTRICTED OIL FLOW TO THE VITAL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A PINGING AND KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE'S OIL CHANGED, BUT THE NOISE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

MY HEADLIGHTS ARE SO DIM THAT ****SAFE DRIVING AT NIGHT IS IMPOSSIBLE*** FOR ME AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT'S TOO DARK TO SEE! I'VE HAD NEW LIGHT BULBS INSTALLED, ONLY TO NO AVAIL. THIS PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 80K MILES. I SPOKE TO KIA'S REGIONAL REP ONLY TO FIND THAT HE HAS A POMPOUS ATTITUDE AND NO REGARD FOR CONSUMER SAFETY. HE TOLD ME THAT DESPITE SAFETY CONCERNS, IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THE WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED AT 40K MILES AND KIA "CAN'T" DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. OF COURSE THEY CAN, BUT HE ASSURED ME THEY WONT. I ADVISED HIM THAT ACCORDING TO THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, THIS DEFECT TYPICALLY OCCURS AT 75K+ MILES, MEANING THAT THEIR WARRANTY WOULD NEVER COVER IT ANYHOW. IT'S A CATCH 22 AND KIA APPARENTLY KNOWS THIS, ACCORDING TO THE REP. HIS SUPERVISOR, JULIE MILLER, IS SUPPOSED TO CONTACT ME WITHIN 48 HOURS. I HOPE SHE HAS MORE COMPASSION FOR HUMAN LIFE THAN HER EMPLOYEE. THIS IS MY 3RD KIA VEHICLE, AND HOPEFULLY NOT MY LAST, SINCE THEIR VEHICLES AND SERVICE HAVE BEEN GREAT UP UNTIL NOW. KIA, RECALL THIS DEFECT BEFORE PEOPLE DIE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S GRANDSON WAS DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED UNDER CASE NUMBER: 19-036086. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TOW FACILITY. THE CONTACT CALLED WEST PALM BEACH KIA (735 SOUTH MILITARY TRAIL, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33415, (561) 433-1511) AND WAS REFERRED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE LOWER CONTROL ARM INNER AND OUTER TIE ROD AND CV AXLE 2 TIME BECAUSE PARTS ARE CHEAP AND SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF FORCE SUCH AS HITTING A CURB CAUSES MASSIVE SUSPENSION DAMAGE. BOTH TIMES CAR WAS RUNNING UNBER 20 MILES AN HOUR AND HIT A CURB AND IT DESTROYED SUSPENSION. SECOND TIME TIE ROD BROKE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND LOST CONTROL AND ENDED UP HITTING GUARD RAIL AND SAME THING DESTROYED SUSPENSION.

WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE AT 3:30 AM, OIL LIGHT FLICKERED OCCASIONALLY, VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, AND ENGINE EVENTUALLY STALLED, AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD AAA TOW IT TO A TRUSTED REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SIEZED. HAD VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME, PENDING DECISION ON WHAT TO DO NEXT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED BY A KIA DEALER UNDER THE SC147 ENGINE RECALL ON 9/22/2017 (16+ MONTHS EARLIER) AT ODOMETER 89,547 MILES AND EVIDENTLY PASSED THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE PER KIA'S TSB. I BELIEVE DEBRIS FROM THE ENGINE MANUFACTURING PROCESS BLOCKED OIL LUBRICATION PASSAGEWAYS NOT ONLY TO THE ENGINE BEARINGS, BUT ALSO TO THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE INSPECTION PROCEDURE DEVELOPED BY KIA TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ENGINE IS OK OR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IS 100% EFFECTIVE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO PROJECT ENOUGH LIGHT, WHICH MADE DRIVING DIFFICULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE HIGH AND LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE CHANGED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

HEADLIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED SINCE THE LAST RECALL FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT, DONE IN AUGUST 2017. HIGH BEAMS ARE INSUFFICIENT, AND THE NORMAL BEAMS ARE VERY DANGEROUS -- DOESN'T APPEAR THAT HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AT ALL.

HEAD LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON WHEN FIRST STARTED IT UP LAST FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE SO LITTLE, ONLY LIGHTING APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR. THIS HAS BECOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.

TAKATA RECALL I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH ON I-95 SOUTH BACK HOME TO FL FROM VISITING MY FAMILY IN SC WHEN I STARTED TO SMELL GASOLINE FUMES IN MY MOVING VEHICLE. I WOKE MY GIRLFRIEND UP AND ASKED IF SHE SMELT IT AS WELL. SHE STATED 'YEAH, I CAN SMELL GAS A LITTLE BIT.' THEN I ROLLED THE WINDOW DOWN AND THE SMELL BECAME EXTREMELY STRONG. I STARTED TO FEEL LIGHT HEADED AND TOOK THE IMMEDIATE EXIT (EXIT 33). I PULLED INTO AN EXXON STATION AND PARKED MY VEHICLE. I OPENED THE HOOD OF MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX AND NOTICED GAS SPRAYING ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL LINE WHERE THE BOLT CONNECTS. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT MY CAR OFF. I FILLED MY GAS TANK TO FULL BEFORE LEAVING MY BROTHERS APARTMENT AND MY FUEL WAS NOW AT HALF A TANK. I DROVE 57.5 MILES, SO I SHOULD HAVE ONLY USED ABOUT 2.3 GALLONS OF GAS NOT APPROXIMATELY 9.25 GALLONS. THEREFORE, THIS MEANS I LOST APPROXIMATELY 6.95 GALLONS IN THE HOT ENGINE BAY. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE BECAUSE IT'S LIKELY THAT MY GIRLFRIEND AND MYSELF WOULD NOT BE ALIVE. I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THIS PART ON MY OWN DUE TO IT BEING BEFORE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE RECALL (18V907). I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO KIA ONCE THE 18V907 RECALL CAME OUT AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN REPLACE THE (FUEL LINE) WORK I DID. THEY SAID IT PASSED THE "TEST." I KNOW I DID NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR BY THE PROPER PROCEDURE AND I'M SHOCKED THAT THEY ARE OKAY WITH THAT AND STATING THE RECALL AS COMPLETED. I FEEL LIKE I AM AT A VERY HIGH RISK OF ANOTHER FUEL LEAK AND TERRIFIED WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR NOW. ESPECIALLY WITH ALL OF THE KIA FIRES THAT HAVE BEEN OCCURRING.

The paint is delaminating and peeling in the section just above the windshield. This started in 2019 and has steadily getting worse. My car color is "Snow White Pearl". I have attached pictures. I had assumed that this was due to the age of the car until I started looking for solutions to fix it and keep it from getting worse. I have found that this is apparently an issue with the paint and is not due to age as there are hundreds of testimonials of other KIA owners with the exact same issue, especially owners with the "Snow White Pearl" paint color.

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT STARTED TO ACT SLUGGISH SO I PULLED OVER AND MINUTES AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE CAR IT STARTED ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT NOT BEFORE THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS

ENGINE FAILURE..BOUGHT IN 2013 W 14,000 MILES.CURRENTLY HAS 68,000.CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR.KIA WOULD ONLY PAY FOR 1 SPARK PLUG.THEN,L PAID TO HAVE A NEW FI SYSTEM PUT IN.L WAS NEVER REIMBURSED.DEC 20,DRIVING DOWN A BUSY HIGHWAY W MY KIDS AND ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITH NO WARNING.THEN,THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH WEIRD SMELLS OF GAS AND BURNING.TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND NO ISSUE.TOOK IT BACK AGAIN ON DEC 21,BUT NO TECHS AVAILABLE.DEC 23,L WAS DRIVING MY KID TO WORK,ENGINE SHOOK,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHED AND A BIG BOOM.CAR WAS GOING 5MPH WHILE IT WAS CLICKING.L GOT IT TOWED(AFTER KIA MOTORS HAD THE AUDACITY TO TRY TO MAKE ME PAY FOR A TOW@99.00,BUT L REFUSED)THRU MY INSURANCE CO.AS THE CAR SAT,A BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM THE ENGINE,WE THOUGH THAT IT WAS CATCHING ON FIRE.CALLED KIA MOTORS....OMG,THE WORST.L JUST GOT A RENTAL TODAY AND APPROVED FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AFTER MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS.MY BROTHER BOUGHT HIS OPTIMA BRAND NEW IN 2003 AND SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2 MONTHS.KIA CONTINUES TO NOT RESOLVE HIS DANGEROUS ISSUE AND L AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT,LET ALONE HAVE MY KIDS IN IT.

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON MY WAY HOME MY CAR LOST POWER SO I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AFTER A CAR ALMOST HIT ME FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I THEN TURNED MY CAR OFF AND IT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON.

LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON WHILE DRIVING / HEAR CLICKING SOUND WHILE MY DASH BOARD FLICKERS AS WELL. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PARKED AND IN MOTION

2011 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIRBAG CONTROL UNIT SAFETY RECALL. *LD *JS

THIS CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A NON-COLLISION/SPONTANEOUS FIRE. THERE WHERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF CAR DEFECTS. THE CAR WAS MOVING ON A CITY ROAD WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEKALB COUNTY GA FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND TOOK A REPORT. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW REPLACEMENT MOTOR INSTALLED BY KIA WITH A WARRANTY. THE NEW MOTOR HAD APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES ON IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE STARTER, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE MOTOR WAS LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN MOTION AROUND 25 MPH. I WENT TO ACCELERATE TO GET ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR JUST STALLED ON ME WITH NO WARNING. I HAD TO PULL OVER ,CUT THE CAR OFF AND LET IT SIT FOR A MIN. AFTER 5 MINS, IT STARTED TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT THERE WAS STILL LACK OF ACCELERATION

My Kia Optima is peeling paint around the top of the windshield. My car is beginning to rust. This is not normal. Reading online about this issue, and many people are seeing the exact same issue. My car is snow white in color.

THE LOW BEAMS ON MY CAR ARE DANGEROUSLY DIM. I'VE REPLACED THE LIGHT BULBS WITH FACTORY RECOMMENDED TO NO AVAIL. I CAN SO NO MORE THAN 5 FEET IN FRONT OF ME WHILE DRIVING - I HAVE TO LIMIT MY NIGHT TIME DRIVING, WHICH IS TOUGH WHEN DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A DAILY BASIS. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE AND ISSUE A RECALL AS I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES APPEARED UNDERNEATH THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS BURNT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE VEHICLE SOLELY BEING STATIONARY. THE STEERING WHEEL JUST HAD MORE GIVE BEFORE IT WOULD ENGAGE THE TIRES. IT'S CONSISTENTLY GOTTEN WORSE TO WHERE NOW, WHILE DRIVING, HITTING A BUMP ON ANY KIND OF ROAD CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAKE A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN LOUDER AND LOUDER. IT SEEMS TO BE LESS EXTREME IF YOU HIT A BUMP WHILE TURNING. MY VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 60K MILES ON IT.

RIGHT LOW BEAM NEEDED CONSTANT CHANGING (1 EVERY 4-6 MONTHS). WITHIN THE LAST 6 MONTHS, I HAD CHANGED THE BULB, 2 WEEKS LATER, THE LOW BEAM LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN. NOTICED A WHITE FILM ON INSIDE OF LIGHT ASSEMBLY. UPON INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THE WIRING CAUGHT FIRE AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR FOR THE LIGHT BULB. I PURCHASED A NEW ASSEMBLY, ONLY TO HAVE THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPEN. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. FIRSTLY, THE LOW BEAM LIGHTING IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE IN THIS CAR TO BEGIN WITH, NOW I'M RUNNING OFF OF ONE LIGHT. AFTER LOOKING INTO COMPLAINTS ONLINE, I SEE THIS PROBLEM IS PREVALENT ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THIS CAR. KIA IS A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR COMPANY, YOU NEED TO STAND BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT AND HAVE THE MINDSET OF PUTTING YOUR CUSTOMERS SAFETY AS A PRIORITY. I WORK AS A FIREFIGHTER/EMT AND I'D HATE TO ARRIVE ON SCENE OF SOMEONE THAT WAS KILLED DUE TO KIA'S FAULTY UNSAFE PRODUCT. ESPECIALLY OF ONE THAT COULD BE PREVENTED BY FIXING THESE PROBLEMS THAT YOU KNOW IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. SHAME ON YOU KIA FOR PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK.

WHILE PARKED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS (ON STREET, AT GAS PUMP, IN PARKING LOTS), AND ON ABOUT 8-10 OCCASIONS, I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO START AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE AND START BUTTON ON MY CAR. ALL THE LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE RADIO WENT ON AS WELL - THE REST OF THE CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WORKED FINE. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME VERY STIFF AND WAS HARD TO DEPRESS. I PUT MY KEY FOB INTO THE BYPASS IN THE TRUNK AND IT STILL WOULD NOT START. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE CAR TO START WAS TO DEPRESS THE STIFF BRAKE PEDAL, THEN SHIFT FROM P TO D AND BACK AGAIN. THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMED TO LOOSEN UP AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR SUCCESSFULLY. I HAD RESEARCHED THE REMEDY THROUGH YOU TUBE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS OCTOBER 2, 2018 AND IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 8-10 TIMES SINCE THEN. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NOT OF THE SOLUTION THAT I FOUND ONLINE, THEREFORE I AM UNABLE TO ATTACH ANY DOCUMENTATION. I NOTICED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SWITCH WAS "VOLUNTARY" NHTSA # 13V-114, BUT FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDATORY FIX INSTEAD SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED SO OFTEN TO ME. JUST LAST WEEK WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I REMEMBERED WHAT TO DO QUICKLY AS I WAS STUCK IN A LONG LINE AT THE GAS STATION JUST LAST WEEK, WITH CARS HONKING AT ME TO MOVE WHEN I COULD NOT. IT HAPPENED TO ME THE LAST TIME JUST YESTERDAY 10/8/2019 INSIDE MY GARAGE. PLEASE LOOK INTO MAKING THIS A MANDATORY RECALL. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LOCAL DEALER THIS WEEK AS WELL. THANK YOU.

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA HAVE BEEN SLOWLY GETTING SO DULL THAT IT IS GETTING DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. I COMMUTE OVER 100 MILES A DAY AND LEAVE AT DARK AND GET HOME AT DARK. SO ALL MY DRIVING IS NEEDING MY HEADLIGHTS. I STARTED NOTICING THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND JUST THOUGHT MY BULBS WERE GETTING OLD. I WENT OUT AND BOUGHT NEW SYLVANIA SILVERSTAR BULBS AND I ALSO BOUGHT A SET OF SYLVANIA ULTRA. THAT DID NOT HELP. I ENDED UP EVEN TRYING TO CHANGE MY BULBS AND CONVERT OVER TO LED HEADLIGHT BULBS. I DID ALL THE WORK AND CONVERSION AND STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. COME TO FIND OUT IT'S NOT THE BULBS THAT ARE THE ISSUE, BUT THE ACTUAL HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS THE ISSUE. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES WHICH IS REALLY TERRIBLE. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FROM FAULTY MANUFACTURING JUST SO I CAN SEE AND BE SAFE WHILE DRIVING. BUT I FEEL THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING THE WAY MY CAR IS RIGHT NOW. I FEEL KIA SHOULD BE FIXING THE ISSUE AND SUPPLYING A HIGHER QUALITY HEADLIGHT HOUSING TO FIX THIS ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES WERE HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY TAKEN TO KIA OF BEDFORD (440-735-4000, LOCATED AT 18180 ROCKSIDE RD, BEDFORD, OH 44146) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND AN UNKNOWN RECALL. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CLICKING AND KNOCKING NOISES. THE FAILURES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED.

I HAD A FRONT END ACCIDENT ON 1 OCT 2018. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE ON 18 OCT 2018. I HAVE CONTACTED KIA CONCERNING THIS MATTER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY WILL NOT RESPOND TO ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED OUTWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE SUN ROOF GLASS WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED KINGDOM KIA AT (573) 426-3100 (LOCATED AT 2600 N BISHOP AVE, ROLLA, MO 65401) AND WAS INFORMED TO CONTACT HIS INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ENGINE AND IGNITION REPLACED DUE TO BEARING WEAR RECALL. TRANSMISSION REPLACED 2 WEEKS AGO FOR REBUILT ONE, AND NOW CAR WON'T START. IT'S BEEN 2 DAYS AND KIA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE REASON I WANTED TO SUBMIT THIS COMPLAINT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN THESE VEHICLES. KIA WANTED ME TO WAIT FROM 10 SEP TO MID DEC BECAUSE THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE ON BACK ORDER. WHICH MEANS THERE'S SO MUCH DEMAND THAT DEC IS THE EARLIEST THEY COULD RECEIVE IT. THEIR SHOP IS FULL, MOSTLY OF THESE CARS (OPTIMA). THEY EXPECTED ME TO WAIT 3 MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM TIME. IT JUST BOGGLES MY MIND THAT THEY COULD DO THIS. THE CRAZIEST THING IS THAT EXPECT EVERYONE TO WAIT THIS LONG. I TALKED TO 3 DIFFERENT COSTUMERS WHO ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE SAME CARS, AND THEY WERE TOLD THE SAME THING. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2014 USED, ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, NEVER HAD ANY ACCIDENTS, NOW HAS 111,000+ MILES. ALWAYS DID ALL MAINTENANCE CHECKS, OIL & FILTER CHANGES, TUNE UPS, FLUIDS CHANGE AND YEARLY INSPECTIONS. ONLY USED FOR GOING TO WORK AND COMING HOME 5 DAYS A WEEK (APPROX. 54 MILES PER DAY). I DECIDED TO REPAIR TRANSMISSION AT OTHER PLACE & ENDED UP SAVING $1100. KIA WANTED TO CHARGE $2,700 FOR REBUILD TRANSMISSION & FOUND A GUY THAT CHARGED ME $1,600 FOR REBUILD ONE. KIA NEVER GAVE ME QUOTE COPY. JUST TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE. HOW CONVENIENT! GUY TOLD ME THE WAY THESE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BUILT IT'S SIMPLY BAD ENGINEERING. AND SHOWED ME THE PART OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT BROKE. WOULD UPLOAD THE DOCUMENTS , BUT I LEFT IN MY CAR! CAN STILL PROVIDE THEM THOUGH! THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS THAT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY IN HOUSTON! THE CAR SIMPLY DIED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. SO I CAN ONLY ASSUME YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FEELS LIKE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ELECTRICAL ODOR. SECONDS LATER, BLACK SMOKE APPEARED AND FLAMES ROSE FROM THE HOOD. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. THE VEHICLE THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,300.

CAR STALLED OUT WHILE IN MOTION. CAR BEGAN LEAKING OIL AND WOULD NOT RESTART.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KOONS KIA OF WOODBRIDGE (703-494-3333, LOCATED AT 14208 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, WOODBRIDGE, VA 22191) AND REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER THE AIR BAG INDICATOR FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 126,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

BAD PART IN STEERING COLUMN , THE PLASTIC COUPLER IS BROKEN AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE SOUND AND WITH THAT PART BEING BAD IT COULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP. I FIRST HEARD THIS NOISE DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM AND PROVIDED POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS PROJECTED A TRIANGLE SHAPE, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM SEEING THE ROAD. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE SIDES OF THE VEHICLE COULD BE CLEARLY SEEN, BUT NOT THE FRONT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,988.

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY AIRBAGS ON 8/15/2018 ON 8/16 I WAS REAR ENDED BY A BIG WORK TRUCK AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. 5 CARS INVOLVED. MY VEHICLE IS TOTALED THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY

EVERY TIME I STOP TO PUT GAS IN MY CAR, IT TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR SO BEFORE IT STARTS AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR HAS A JERKING MOTION. KIA EXCHANGED THE CARBON CANISTER BUT IT DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM.

THE ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL 10 MONTHS AGO WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 170,000 MILES IN IT. THAT IS, THE OIL GOES BELOW THE LOW MARK WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 800 MILES AFTER THE OIL CHANGE, AND KEEPS GOING DOWN TO THE EMPTY LEVEL WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVEN ABOUT 1,200 MILES. I ALSO HEAR OF RATTLING-LIKE SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING. I HAVE TO CHECK AND ADD OIL EVERY 500 MILES. I WAS RECENTLY TOLD THAT THIS ISSUE MAY LEAD TO THE FIRE ON THE ENGINE AND NOTICED THAT KIA RECALLED REGARDING THIS SIMILAR ISSUE FOR MANY OTHER CARS. I DIDN'T SEE ANY SIGNS OF LEAKING WHEN I CHECKED SEVERAL TIMES THE FLOOR IN A SPOT WHERE I PARKED. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WAS RELATED, BUT THE ENGINE DIED, ABOUT 4- MONTHS BEFORE I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED CONSUMING OIL, WHEN I DROVE UP HILL. THE CAR WAS TOWED IN TO A KIA DEALERSHIP IN THAT AREA, AND WHAT A TECHNICIAN SAID IS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL LINE OR PUMP. THEY CHARGED $700 FOR THIS JOB.

TURBOCHARGER, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, GASKET-EXAUST MAN IF, INTERCOOLER I'M HAVING THE THE ENGINE PROBLEM WANT TO FIND OUT IF THIS CAR WAS RECALL,

MY CAR IS NOT SPEEDING UP.ENGINE PROBLEM AND THE ENGINE IS HEATING UP TURBOCHARGER, GASKET-EXHAUST PIPE, GASKET-EXAUST MANIF, INTERCOOLER

OVER THE PAST 7 YEARS I'VE REPLACED BOTH HEADLIGHTS-LOW BEAM ON AN AVERAGE OF TWICE A YEAR. LOW BEAMS ARE SO LOW IN LIGHTING AND I'M CONCERNED IF THEY ARE ON WHEN DRIVING IN THE DARK. RECENTLY I CHANGED THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM LIGHT, 2 WEEKS LATER IT WENT OUT AGAIN. HOWEVER PRIOR TO CHANGING THE BULB THE FIRST TIME, I NOTICED THE LENS COVER WAS SO HAZY ON THE INSIDE, LIKE WHITEISH CHALKY LOOKING. I TOOK BULB #2 OUT BUT NOTICED IT WASN'T BURNT OUT. HOWEVER THE WIRES AND THE HOUSING FOR THE BULB PRONGS WERE MELTED. FORTUNATELY IT ONLY MELTED THE PRONG CONNECTION POINT AND WIRES AND DIDN'T SPARK A FIRE. BUT NOW I'M LEFT REPLACING THE WIRING AND LENS COVER ASSEMBLY. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MY CAR IS 7 YEARS OLD, HOWEVER THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS ON THIS CAR HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT AN ISSUE FROM DAY ONE AT ZERO MILES. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE RECALLS AND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. LESSON LEARNED....WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA