2013 Kia Optima Complaint Log

MY VEHICLE STARTED USING A LOT OF OIL AND WAS LOSING POWER UPON ACCELERATION. I HAD READ ONLINE THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND I KEPT HOPING FOR A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE RECALL HASN'T HAPPENED AND I AM ALMOST AT 100,000 MILES. MY CAR STARTED MAKING A TICKING NOISE WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE AND I HAD JUST HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3 WEEKS BEFORE. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS ALREADY VERY LOW. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IF I CAN GIVE THEM AT LEAST 13 RECEIPTS THEY'LL REPLACE IT UNDER THE WARRANTY THAT I PURCHASED. I DRIVE ALL OVER TOWN FOR WORK AND I HAVE MY OIL CHANGED WHEREVER I MAY BE. I WENT TO THE TWO PLACES THAT I HAVE GONE MOST FREQUENTLY BUT, ONE OF THEM SWITCHED THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS 3 MONTHS AGO AND ONLY HAS RECORDS FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS AND THE OTHER PLACE CHANGED OWNERSHIP A YEAR AGO AND ONLY HAS 2 RECEIPTS FOR THIS YEAR. THEY'RE SAYING THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET.

I BOUGHT MY NEW/USED 2013 KIA OPTIMA AT THE END OF JUNE 2016 WITH NO IDEA THAT THIS PARTICULAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR HAD SUCH ISSUES. THE CAR SEEMED TO RUN NICELY. I AM A VERY CONSERVATIVE DRIVER SO I RARELY TOOK THE RPMS UP PAST 2.5 WHEN TAKING OFF. ONE DAY, NOT EVEN 90 DAYS INTO OWNING MY KIA, I HOPED ON THE HIGHWAY. IN ORDER TO SAFELY MERGE INTO TRAFFIC I HAD TO ACCELERATE UP TO 3.5 RPMS TO REACH SPEED OF 65MPH. WHEN I DID I HEARD A STRANGE ALMOST CLICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND GRAY SMOKE POURING FROM THE BACK END OF MY CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY. JUST BACK OFF THE EXIST NEXT TO MY GYM WAS A GARAGE. I CAREFULLY MANAGED TO GET MY CAR THERE WHERE THEY TOLD ME THE DEVASTATING NEWS (THAT I'VE LEARNED NOW SO MANY KIA OPTIMA OWNERS HAVE FACED)...A BLOWN ENGINE. KIA HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM, BUT WITH SUCH LIMITATIONS THAT THEY RARELY ACTUALLY COVER THE ACTUAL REPAIR. I'VE TAKEN MY KIA TO THE DEALER (PER KIA CUSTOMER AFFAIRS REQUEST) FOR THEM TO TELL ME THE SAME THING AND NOW, BECAUSE KIA WON'T WARRANTY IT DUE TO EXEMPTIONS ON THEIR "EXTENDED" WARRANTY, I HAVE TO PAY THE DEALER $300. I HAVE A NOTE ON THIS CAR FOR 72 MONTHS. I'VE ONLY MADE 3 PAYMENTS! NO ONE CAN HELP ME AND I'M NOT THE ONLY KIA OWNER FACING THIS DILEMMA. THE ROD THAT IS DEFECTIVE IS CAUSING ISSUES WITH THE OIL WHICH IS ALLOWING METAL FLAKES TO ENTER THE ENGINE. THUS CAUSE SEIZURES IN THE MOTOR AND ENGINE FAILURE. AT HIGH RATES OF SPEED THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIES CREATING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL DRIFTED IN EITHER DIRECTION AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT WOULD CORRECT THE CONDITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

I WAS DIVING ON THE I-15 UP THE BAKER GRADE AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE A RATTLE SOUND AND THEN A LARGE BANG AND THEN SHUT OFF. NO POWER TO TRY TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A BIG RIG. ONCE GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OPENED THE HOOD AND OIL AND SMOKE EVERY WHERE IT WAS 3:00 A.M. IN THE MORNING. MY MAINTENANCE RECORD ARE IMPECCABLE AND I HAD JUST PAID THE KIA DEALERSHIP OVER 700 DOLLARS FOR A TUNE UP AND OTHER SERVICES. AFTER FINALLY GETTING A 525 DOLLAR TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP I WAS GIVEN A REPORT STATING THESE CARS FROM 2011 TO 2015 HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THE CONNECTING ROD AND THAT ENGINES ARE SEIZING. DOCUMENT ATTACHED IS SOMETHING THE SERVICE DEPT SHOWED ME BUT I NEVER HAD SEEN IT BEFORE. *TR

CONSTANT KNOCKING / CLICKING IN THE STEERING COLUMN. I HAVE SEEN ON MANY FORUMS THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE KIA BRAND IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STEERING COUPLER???? ATTACHING A PIC I FOUND ON A WEBSITE. IT HAS BEEN "KNOCKING" FOR OVER A YEAR.

THE CHROME ON THE WHEELS IS SEPARATING FROM THE WHEEL/RIM. ALL AROUND THE LUG NUTS AREA THE CHROME IS PEALING OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED IN MAY 2016. I HAVE ONLY HAD ONE OIL CHANGE AND THE CAR HAS 40,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT 55 MPH. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF AND I COASTED TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE IS BLOWN AND NO OIL WAS INSIDE. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO OIL LEAKS BUT THEY WON'T PAY

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER'S SHOP THINKING THAT MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY WILL TAKE CARE OF THIS. COME TO FIND OUT THE CONNECTING ROD HAS A DEFECT AND THE WARRANTY IS NULL AND VOID BECAUSE ITS TECHNICALLY NOT CONSIDERED DAMAGED....................I SAID EXACTLY WHAT YOU THE READER WOULD OF SAID. IT WASN'T PRETTY. THINKING ABOUT LAWYERING UP. *TR

HEADING UP STEEP INCLINE HWY 680 AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE CLANKING SOUND. ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AS I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE. AS I CROSSED FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC CAR DIED. MANY SEMIS COMING UP ON ME. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED 50 MILES BACK HOME AT 1AM. UPON INSPECTION. ENGINE SEIZED. MY CAR HAS HAD ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT EVER CAME ON AND CAR WAS RUNNING FINE UNTIL THAT MOMENT. KIA SAID OUT OF WARRANTY, TOO BAD. NEW MOTOR IS NEEDED ON A 2013 CAR. CAR IS NOW SITTING IN MY GARAGE TORN APART BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE MOTOR.

GDI ENGINE BURNS OIL, CONNECTING ROD FAILED. WHITE SMOKE, AND MAKES WEIRD NOISE UNDER HOOD WHEN GETS TO 60MPH

SAME ISSUE AS EVERYONE ELSE. SHOWED RECEIPTS OF CONSISTENT OIL CHANGES AND THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY DUE TO SLUDGE. THE DEALER SAID THEY CALLED CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT THE REGIONAL MANAGER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WORK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CONNECTOR ROD IN THE ENGINE THAT WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, ON AN INCLINE WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACK. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,314. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD SUDDENLY BEGAN JERKING AND STICKING MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY STEER THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA HAS HAD DIFFICULTY REMAINING IN A SRAIGHT LINE ON THE FREEWAY. TENDS TO PULL LEFT AND RIGHT. THE RATE OF TRAVEL IS APROX. 45-65MPH. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH "OVERSTEERING" WHEN I ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE CENTER OF THE LANE. I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY OTHER CAR FOR 29YRS, AND I ASSUMED THAT NEWER CARS MAY HAVE BEEN DIFFERNT, SUCH AS BEING MORE SENSITIVE WITH STEERING. I HAVE ALMOST HAD A COLLISION ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE THERE ARE ALSO BLIND SPOTS IN SEVERAL AREAS OF THE KIA OTIMA. THIS TIME I DID END UP IN COLLISION BECAUSE OF BLINDSPOTS AND OVERSTEERING IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR NEXT TO ME, AND INSTEAD HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME ON THE OTHER LANE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MOVE OUT OF THEIR WAY THIS OCCURRED FROM SENSETIVE OVERSTEERING. OUR AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BEFORE THIS ACCIDENT, I HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM KIA STATING THEY WANTED TO KNOW IF I WOULD LIKE TO TRADE UP TO THE KNEW KIA OPTIMA. THE EMAIL STATED THEY HAD NEW FEATURES; SUCH AS CAMERAS FOR BLIND SPOTS. THIS MADE ME AWARE THAT KIA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SERIOUS .BLINDSPOTS. THE CAR WAS ALSO BEGINNING TO RUMBLE, AND I BELIEVED IT WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE,IN FACT QUITE SURE IT WAS FROM THE ENGINE. I ALSO HAD RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL FROM KIA, STATING THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINES FROM CERTAIN YEARS OF THE KIA OPTIMA MY CAR WAS WITHIN THE YEARS STATED. IT STATED THEY WOULD HONOR THIS PROBLEM IF YOU KEPT THIS LETTER IN YOUR CAR, WHEN BRINGING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. I WAS GOING TO DO THIS, BUT THE CAR IS NOW TOTALED AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEARS FAILED. THE CONTACT USED THE SHIFT LOCK RELEASE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,837. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHEN IDELING THE ENGINE WOULD START SPUTTERING. MECHANICS SAID IT NEED AN OIL CONTROL VALUE AND IT MAY FIX IT, BUT THEY COULDN'T DO THAT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT, BECAUSE I COULDN'T PRODUCE ALL THE SERVICE RECORDS. I TOOK THE CAR BECAUSE THEY SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT AS SOON AS I GOT IN THE CAR THE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID THE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. ONCE I GOT THE CAR HOME AND DROVE IT FOR ONE DAY THE CAR WOULD BE RUNNING AND JUST SHUT OFF.WHEN TURNING OR IDELING. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER KIA MECHANIC THEY PUT IN THE OIL CONTROL VALUE (SOME HOW IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY). THE MECHANICS SAID IT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW KIA IS SAYING IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AND KIA WILL NOT REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY SAID SINCE I COULD NOT PRODUCE ALL THE MAINTENANCE SERVICE RECORDS THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I CALL KIA CORP, AND ESP WARRANTY AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. AT THIS TIME I FILLED A COMPLIANT WITH THE STATE OF MARYLAND CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION. I HAVE GOTTEN A HOLD OF A NON-KIA MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS HEARD THE KIA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR ENGINES.

CAR ONLY HAS 65,000 MILES, HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER. FOUND SLUDGE IN ENGINE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. KIA WILL NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY.

CAR WAS RUNNING FINE OR SO I THOUGHT AND @ 1 WEEK AFTER GETTING MY OIL CHANGED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE EXHAUST/SMOKE AND MY SON AND I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE BAD GAS OR CLOGGED INJECTORS. WE DROVE IT TO AZ AND BACK TO NV. CAR SEEMED TO RUN OK AT THAT POINT THEN MY DAUGHTER TOOK IT TO CA AND THE OIL LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING ON AND OFF AND FINALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHE TOOK IT TO A JIFFYLUBE WHERE THEY SAID IT HAD NO OIL. WHAT?!?!?! THE OIL WAS JUST CHANGED AT 47,000 MILES. PUT 4 QTS IN AND TOOK IT AAA TO RUN AN ENGINE DIAGNOSTIC. SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE ACCORDING TO THE CODE THEY GOT AND RESET THE ENGINE LIGHT. WRONG AGAIN.. DAUGHTER DROVE AWAY AND SAME PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO AAA WHERE THEY DETERMINED IT WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM AND TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. SLUDGE EVERYWHERE IN THE ENGINE. MY CAR ONLY HAS 48,000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED AS SCHEDULED. WAITING TO HEAR WHAT KIA IS GOING TO DO, BUT FROM THE SOUNDS OF THE PRIOR COMPLAINTS, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. I CAN'T AFFORD $5,000+ TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IN MY CAR. THIS IS SO RIDICULOUS. THEY NEED TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY FOR THEIR [XXX] ENGINES. *TR 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).

OPTIMA'S DRIVER'S-SIDE SEAT BELT STOPPED WORKING AND THE BACK SEAT MIDDLE SEAT BELT, (RARELY USED), STOPPED WORKING DUE TO INABILITY TO CLICK (LOCK) INTO PLACE. CAR IS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA GDI & IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION IN EVERY OTHER ASPECT SEEN & KNOWN.

WHILE DRIVING ON A 2 LANE ROAD WITH MY SON AND A FRIEND, GOING ABOUT 25 MPH ON A CLEAR DAY AT NOON, WE HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT COME FROM THE MOON ROOF CAUSING ME TO SWERVE. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND ASSESS THE SITUATION, WE FOUND THAT THE MOON ROOF HAD "EXPLODED" CAUSING THE ENTIRE THING TO CRACK AND REMAIN CRACKING, CAUSING TINY SHARDS OF GLASS TO FORM. IT WAS IMMEDIATELY UNDRIVEABLE.

SLUDGE IN ENGINE 45,000 MILES. WARRANTY WONT COVER AND APPARENTLY SERVICE CAMPAIGN MEANS NOTHING

ENGINE SEIZED ON INTERSTATE AT 70MPH. I HAVE ONLY 70,000 MILES ON THE ENGINE AND KIA DENIED MY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I HAVE 30,000 MILES REMAINING ON THE WARRANTY.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND I COULD HEAR A CLANGING NOISE, I STOPPED AND PARKED AND IT WAS KNOCKING LOUDLY. STILL CAN'T DRIVE IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE REQUIRED TO BE JUMP STARTED SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN ORDER TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DRAINED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY SINCE 2014 I CALLED WHEN IT ORIGINALLY STARTED TO SEE IF THERE WERE RECALLS AND THEIR WASNT. THE CAR IS DEAD DUE TO BATTERY FAILURE IF YOU LEAVE IT FOR A MORE THAN 3-4 HOURS FOR EXAMPLE DRIVE IT TO WORK AND HAVE TO GET A JUMP AT THE END OF THE (5) SHIFT. IT IS WILL STOP FOR A WHILE THEN THE PROBLEM COMES BACK. IT STOPPED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND NOW IT HAS STARTED AGAIN

2013 Optima SXL Snow White Pearl Pain Has been peeling since approximately 48,000 miles This has been discussed with Kia Service reps on multiple occasions since it was first noticed. Vehicle is now at 148,000 miles and paint continues to chip away on the hood and pillars of car. It is evident the problem is not isolated to my car. Every snow white pearl car i see driving down the road has similar paint chipping.

THE KIA OPTIMA I PURCHASED HAD LOW MILEAGE ONLY 46K BOUGHT IT ON MARCH 2016 WITH CARFAX SERVICE RECORDS SHOWING UP TO 26K MILES ON 5/4/15. APPERANTLY MY ENGINE HAD SLUDGE AND KIA IS VOIDING THERE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY DUE TO LACK OF MAINTENANCE. MY TURBO AND ENGINE NEED TO BE REPLACED, I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WITH IN A YEAR A CAR CSNIBEAT DEVELOPED SO MUCH SLUDGE, SEEMS THE CAR HAD ALREADY STARTED COLLECTING SLUDGE EVEN WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES. KIA NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION AND HONOR THERE WARRANTY. NOW I CAN GO PASSED 40 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY BECAUSE LACK OF POWER

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO LACK OF OIL PRESSURE.

AT SPEEDS ABOVE 50MPH, AFTER KIA PERFORMED AND ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES INSTALLED, THE STEERING REQUIRES CONSTANT CORRECTION. THERE ALSO APPEAR TO BE ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR WILL NOT DRIVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. IT TAKES ALOT OF WORK CORRECTING THE STEERING.

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, MY STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK. I AM CONSTANTLY OVER CORRECTING TO GET IT UNSTUCK AND STAY ON THE ROAD. IT HAPPENS TO THE LEFT AS WELL AS TO THE RIGHT. *TR

-1ST PROBLEM- HEADLIGHTS/ FOG LIGHTS SEEM TO BURN OUT WAY TOO OFTEN. I'VE OWNED CARS FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BULBS AS OFTEN AS I DO WITH THIS CAR. -2ND PROBLEM- STEERING SEEMS TO BE DIFFICULT TO KEEP ON ROAD AND WHEEL SEEMS TO BE STICKING. I FIND MYSELF OVER-CORRECTING TO "UNLOCK" THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAVE A LONG DAILY COMMUTE, 184 MILES ROUND TRIP, SO MY 3 YEAR OLD CAR HAS OVER 100,000 MILES. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AND NEVER HAD THE STEERING PROBLEM UNTIL RECENTLY. THE HEADLIGHTS BURNING OUT HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR. OTHER THAN THOSE 2 THINGS, THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT WITH GREAT GAS MILEAGE, GOOD RIDE, ETC. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PROBLEM SCARES ME NOW.

The white paint on my car (Snow White Pearl) has been chipping and peeling off near the windshield and rails on the side as well the hood. This is a known problem for KIA's with this particular white colored paint and KIA should really address is. Touching up just the locations it's happening in is not a fix ... The car needs to be properly repainted to fix the issue. KIA has not addressed this for customers and really need to as this happens for spanning several years and different models.

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN, MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THE ROOF WAS OPEN AND THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND APPROACHING 70*.

IN MARCH OF 2016 MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA DIED AT AN INTERSECTION IN TOWN. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY MALFUNCTION, (NO LIGHTS, NO ABNORMAL BEHAVIORS), BUT THE OIL LIGHT DID COME ON VERY BRIEFLY RIGHT BEFORE THE ENGINE DIED. I PUT GAS AND 1 QUART OF OIL IN THEN JUMPED THE BATTERY AND DROVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. KIA INFORMED ME THAT I NEEDED A NEW BATTERY AND THAT MY OIL WAS TOO THICK, DIRTY, AND VISCOUS AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE AN OIL CHANGE AND HAVE A SPECIAL TREATMENT PUT IN THE CAR, (SEAFOAM), TO HELP CLEAN THE ENGINE OUT. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN 500 TO 1000 MILES (AGAINST MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS), TO FLUSH THE TREATMENT OUT OF THE ENGINE AND CHANGE THE OIL AGAIN. WE RETURNED WITH THE CAR A LITTLE OVER 500 MILES LATER AND KIA INFORMED US THAT IT NEEDED ANOTHER SPECIAL TREATMENT BECAUSE THE OIL REREMAINED DIRTY SO THEY PUT ANOTHER TREATMENT IN THE CAR AND THEN INSTRUCTED US TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN IN 500 TO 1000 MILES BUT AFTER 4 DAYS THE CAR STARTED MAKING A VERY LOUD TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND SOON AFTER THE ENGINE WAS RUINED ALL TOGETHER DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTING ROD BEARING IN THE CRANKSHAFT. WHEN WE DRAINED THE OIL 4 DAYS AFTER KIA CHANGED IT , IT WAS BLACK, THIN LIKE WATER AND FULL OF DIRT AND SEDIMENT. AFTER THE LOUD ENGINE NOISES BEGAN I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO KIA WHO THEN INFORMS ME IT WOULD COST ANOTHER $350 TO DIAGNOSE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. FEELING LIKE THEY HAD TREATED THE ENGINE IMPROPERLY ALREADY I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND DECLINED ANY MORE OF THEIR SERVICES. I HAD COMPLETED MY OIL CHANGES ON TIME DESPITE NOT HAVING MY RECORD AT THE TIME OF MY SERVICE HOWEVER KIA REFUSED TO HONOR MY EXPENSIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY STATING THAT I COULD NOT HAVE POSSIBLY DONE THE OIL CHANGES AT REGULAR INTERVALS DUE TO THE HIGH AMOUNT OF SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE.

AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN BARELY TURNING LEFT TO RIGHT, AND ALSO SHAKES WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. THE CLUNK NOISE OCCURS ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN IN PARK AND TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT. FEELS AS THOUGH IT'S SOMETHING GOING BAD IN THE STEERING SHAFTS OR COLUMN.

THE STEERING WHEEL HAS DEVELOPED A POPING OR CLICKING WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. IT STOPS AFTER YOU'VE TURNED THE WHEEL MORE THAN A 1/4 TURN BUT IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING IS NOT RESPONSIVE UNTIL YOU'VE GOTTEN PAST THAT INITIAL 1/4 WHEEL TURN. IT STARTED A WHILE BACK BUT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE. IT WILL MAKE THE SOUND ANYTIME THE WHEEL IS TURNED IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL.

BLOWN ENGINE

EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR, NEW I HAVE NOTICED A TUGGING OR PULLING WHEN I AM DRIVING OR TURNING. THE STEERING SEEMS TO 'STICK' AND SOMETIMES CAUSES ME TO OVER TURN. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS 'IT'S PART OF THE CAR'. I DON'T AGREE AND FEEL THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO, I SEE ALL THESE COMPLAINTS AND THEY ARE OF THE SAME ISSUE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CABLE DAHMER OF KANSAS CITY LOCATED AT (555 W 103RD ST, KANSAS CITY, MO 64114 (816) 284-7240) WHERE, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TURBO OIL FEEDER LINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V100000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED ON THIS CAR. IF YOU WOULD HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD WHILE ACCELERATION THE CAR WOULD DETECT A SPINNING CONDITION AND CAUSE MAJOR DECELERATION BEING VERY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING A FREEWAY IN MODERATE TRAFFIC TAKING THE VEHICLE FROM 60+ MPH TO VIRTUALLY 40 MPH WITH NO WARNING AND NO BRAKE LIGHTING TO WARN APPROACHING TRAFFIC. AFTER MANY VISITS TO KIA DEALER REMAINED UNADDRESSED UNTIL CONTACTING CORPORATE KIA AND FINDING A POSTING ON KIA OPTIMA FORUM WITH ANOTHER USER THAT HAD SAME ISSUE AND WAS FINALLY RESOLVED WITH SOME HYDRAULIC PART REPLACEMENT THAT COSTS $1,600 AND WAS BEING AVOIDED BY DEALERS. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS TO KIA CORPORATES ATTENTION THEY AGREED TO REPLACE WITH THAT PART WHICH DID ALMOST RESOLVE THAT ISSUE EXCEPT ON RARE INSTANCES CAR WILL STILL HESITATE WHEN ENCOUNTERING A BUMP ON ACCELERATION. AFTER THAT REPAIR HOWEVER THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ARE NOW FAILING WITH ERRATIC PULSING ON HARD BRAKING AND LESS EFFECTIVE BRAKING.

RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. WHEN TURNING OR PULLING OUT CAR TENDS TO STALL AND THE ACCELERATE S.

STEERING WHEEL STICKS IN MIDDLE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MAKES A CLICK WHEN IT BREAKS LOOSE. CAR IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO HOLD STRAIGHT DRIVING

The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the engine warning light was illuminated. While driving at approximately 30–40 MPH, the vehicle started to smoke. There was an abnormal clunking sound heard. The vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called an independent mechanic and was referred to the local dealer. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle and to tow the vehicle to the local dealer. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A DEER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

PURCHASED A USED 2013 OPTIMA WITH 24,952 MILES ON 3/13/14. COMPLETED SCHEDULED 7500 MILE OIL CHANGES WITH SOME ONE OTHER THAN THE DEALERSHIP. AT 56337 MILES, THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A CLATTERING NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. SOON AFTER THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATLY BROUGHT THE CAR INTO DEALSHIP AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER 4 HOURS OF WAITING, SERVICE TECH TOOK ME TO THE BACK AND SAID I HAD SLUDGE IN MY OIL AND NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AND WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE THE OIL HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED ON SCHEDULE. I ARGUED THE POINT KNOWING I HAD ALL CHANGES DONE. HE GAVE ME OTHER REASONS ...CHEAP OIL, WRONG OIL, ETC. DID SOME RESEARCH...THER ARE QUITE A FEW OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY A LITTLE BIT OF FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S MOTHER WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE HER FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE STEERING ABILITY FAILED AND PREVENTED HER FROM TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT'S MOTHER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, PENDING THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S INVESTIGATION AND ANALYSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,500.