2013 Kia Optima Complaint Log

IF THE WHEELS SLIP SLIGHTLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOPPED POSITION, THE CAR LOOSES ALL POWER AND STOPS. I REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SKID CONTROL MECHANISMS, BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE KIA DEALER IN DENVILLE NJ AND THEY CLAIM IT IS "NORMAL". THIS MORNING, I PULLED OUT ONTO A BUSY ROAD AND THE TIRES SLIPPED SLIGHTLY ON THE WET SURFACE. THE CAR LOST POWER AND STOPPED. I CAN CLOSE TO CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAFE FOR ME TO ENTER THE ROAD. *TR

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA'S BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL WILL VIBRATE/GRIND WHILE DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. IT STARTED THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. WHILE I WAS SIGNING PAPERS, IT STARTED TO RAIN. DURING THE DRIVE HOME (IMMEDIATELY) I NOTICED VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE PEDAL. I ASKED ABOUT IT AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL. SINCE IT DID IT IMMEDIATELY, NOW I SEE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND NO LONGER THINK I AM CRAZY. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE OCTOBER 2013 AND THE ISSUE PERSISTS ALSO MY BACKUP CAMERA SOMETIMES DOES NOT ENGAGE. A FEW TIMES THE RADIO SYSTEM GETS STUCK ON STUPID (WONT TURN ON), BUT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE BACK UP CAMERA HAS ISSUES. AND THIS WEEK 7/2015 MY JUKEBOX STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. LUCKILY, I FOUND THE RESET SWITCH NEAR THE VOLUME CONTROL AND IT WORKS AGAIN :) MA 10/8 UPDATED 3/22/2016*JS

STEERING WHEEL STAYS STRAIGHT BUT CAR WANDERS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IN LANE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER BUYING MY BRAND NEW 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX I NOTICED ISSUES WITH THE STEERING WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN DRIVING ON ANY TYPE OF HIGHWAY THE CAR WONDERS ONCE I REACH HIGHWAY SPEEDS (USUALLY 65MPH OR MORE). THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS IT WAS A WINDY DAY AND I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST DUE TO THE HIGH WINDS... BUT, I'VE NOTICED THIS SAME ISSUE EVERY TIME I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, EVEN WHEN THERE IS LITTLE TO NO WIND. THE CAR REFUSES TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE, CONSTANTLY VEERING LEFT AND RIGHT (EVEN ON A FLAT SURFACE). THE STEERING WHEEL BARELY MOVES, BUT THE CAR ITSELF WILL WONDER BACK AND FORTH, REQUIRING CONSTANT CORRECTION BY THE DRIVER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPEATEDLY SAID ITS THE SLOPE IN THE ROAD, EVEN THOUGH I'VE TOLD THEM I'VE EXPERIENCED IT ON MULTIPLE HIGHWAYS. NOW I AM NOTICING THE SAME PROBLEM AT REGULAR SPEEDS OF 35MPH AND MORE. THE STEERING WONDERS AND MY SUSPENSION SEEMS NONEXISTENT. SIMPLE TAR LINES IN THE PAVEMENT FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING OVER POTHOLES. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY DO FEEL A BIT OF A ROUGH RIDE, BUT SEE NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THESE ISSUES COMBINED MAKE DRIVING UNSAFE AND AT TIMES, SCARY. I HOPE SOMETHING IS DONE SOON ABOUT THE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OWNERS HAVE SUBMITTED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I LOVE THE CAR, OTHER THAN THE STEERING ISSUE.

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA LX, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW WITH ONLY 7 MILES, IS HARD TO KEEP ON A STRAIGHT TRACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SLIGHT CORRECTIONS HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY MADE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR GOING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. THIS DRIFTING WILL HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE WIND BLOWING OR THE TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE, IT IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE CAR. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY ONE, BUT I CHALKED IT UP TO THE NEW TIRES NEEDING TO BE BROKEN IN. NOW THE CAR HAS 12,000 MILES AND TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND THE ISSUE IS STILL THERE. I'VE DRIVEN ENOUGH CARS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL. NOW I FIND OUT THAT MANY OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME STEERING ISSUE. KIA/HYUNDAI CORPORATE NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THIS STEERING ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. VEHICLE WONDERS LEFT AND RIGHT AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH OR HIGHER. HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I PURCHASED IT. *TR

STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT SEEM TO REACT WELL WITH TURNING OF THE VEHICLE. PARKING THE VEHICLE IS UNEVEN AND NOT ALIGNED TO THE CENTER OF PARKING STALLS. STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE AS IF STEERING A BOAT ON A WATERWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED AND WOULD NOT BLOW COLD AIR. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THEY HAD NOT DETERMINED A REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

Every since I purchased this car in 2013 I have had nothing but trouble out of it I have called the Kia company numberous times and they never respond all I asked them to do is replace the car I trusted in Kia I love my car but it is severely dangerous please help me before it gets me and my family hurt

VEHICLE'S STEERING WILL NOT STAY ON CENTER. PULLS PRIMARILY TO THE LEFT, MANY TIMES PULLING ME INTO THE OPPOSITE LANE OF TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS. IT'S ALSO PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTING ON MY ARMS CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REDIRECT THE STEERING TO CENTER AND ATTEMPT (UNSUCCESSFULLY) TO KEEP IT THERE. AS SOON AS THE CAR IS REDIRECTED FROM VEERING TO THE LEFT, IT THEN OVERSTEERS AND VEERS TO THE RIGHT. THERE IS NO CENTERING THIS VEHICLES STEERING. I'VE ALREADY TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE ONCE FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT WASN'T CORRECTED. I CALLED KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THE MANAGER THAT I AM AWARE OF THE MANY DOZEN COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THE KIA OPTIMA AND THAT I WANT IT CORRECTED. HE THEN SAID HE WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS "ISSUE" AND TOLD ME HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK TO ME. THERE WAS NO FOLLOW UP FROM HIM. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW KIA OPTIMA AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT WITH THE CAR NOT TRACKING PROPERLY BY EITHER VEERING TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT CONSTANTLY. IN MY CASE, I NOTICE IT IN CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, BUT AFTER A LONG DEBATE, THEY ALIGNED THE VEHICLE FINDING IT TO BE OFF ALIGNMENT SLIGHTLY. I NOTICED NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE PROBLEM, SO I CHANGED THE TIRES SINCE THEY INSTALL VERY POOR QUALITY OEM TIRES. NOT MUCH BETTER AS FAR AS STEERING, BUT WAY BETTER WET/DRY ROAD TRACTION. I WILL BE GETTING ANOTHER ALIGNMENT FROM AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, BUT I FEEL THERE IS A GREATER ISSUE WITH THE STEERING COMPONENTS, AND BASED ON ALL THE COMPLAINTS, KIA NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND COME UP WITH A FIX A.S.A.P BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. I'M STUCK WITH THIS CAR FOR 35 MORE MONTHS, HOPEFULLY, THEY'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING SOON. *TR

ON STRAIGHT A WAYS THE CAR WANDERS (PULLS) FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK AND FORTH TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR OUT. THE CAR WILL NOT TRACK STRAIGHT. WE HAVE TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT THE STEERING. BECAUSE WE TRAVEL ON A LOT OF 2 LANE ROADS WE ARE ALREADY CONSIDERING TRADING THE CAR BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS.

CAR SWAYS BACK AND FORTH. HARD TO KEEP ON THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY ADJUSTED THE STEERING FROM SPORT TO STANDARD. GAVE IT A TRY AND IT STILL CONTINUED TO HANDLE TERRIBLE. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND LEFT IT FOR A FEW DAYS. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE CAR IS ACTING NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SERVICE MANAGER MADE A COMMENT THAT 5 GALLONS OF GAS AND A MATCH WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, THEN SAID HE WAS KIDDING. I DIDN'T FIND IT FUNNY BECAUSE IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR KILLS ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. I HATE THE CAR AND FEAR DRIVING IT. I'VE ONLY HAD IT 7MONTHS AND IT HAS ABOUT 5,500 MILES ON IT. CAR STILL DOES IT AND I'M EXHAUSTED FROM TRYING TO KEEP IT ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF NECK INJURIES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD ERRONEOUSLY ENGAGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD DURING NORMAL TRAFFIC (4:30PM EST) MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE LARGE RATTLING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT I HAD PICKED UP SOMTHING ON THE ROAD, BUT AS I ACCELERATED/DECCELERATED THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER/SOFTER. I IMMEDIATLEY CONTACTED MY KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN NEXT WEEK SINCE THAT WOULD BE THE SOONEST IT COULD BE LOOKED AT. I INFORMED HIM THAT I DID'NT THINK I COULD EVEN MAKE IT HOME LET ALONE WAIT A WEEK TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN. HE STATED I COULD DROP IT OFF, BUT IT WOULD NOT BE LOOKED AT UNTIL NEXT WEEK. EITHER WAY, WITHIN 10 MIUTES OF DRIVING A LARGE BANGING NOISE WENT OFF UNDER THE HOOD, ENGINE OIL SPRAYED THROUGHT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND I HAD COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 2 WEEKS OLD AND HAD 600 MILES WHEN THIS OCCURED. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP I WOULD NOT WANT A VEHICLE WITH A REPLACED ENGINE AND THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IS MY ONLY OPTION. I WILL NOT BE PURCHASING FROM KIA AGAIN AS THERE WAS NO SUPPORT FROM THEIR CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE EITHER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STAND STILL POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,320.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. ONCE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL, HE LOST CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE SWERVED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. AS A RESULT, BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE BEGINNING TO WEAR. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SYSTEM. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE . THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE MORNING TO WORK WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE, A LOUD SOUND LIKE A BOMB OR EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN MY CAR, THEN GLASS FROM MY SUNROOF FELL DOWN. MY SUN ROOF ON MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EXPLODED. THE MINUTE THIS HAPPENED I LOOKED UP BECAUSE I COULD HEAR AND FEEL AIR FROM UP ABOVE. MY SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED IN TINY PIECES. THE NOISE BY ITSELF WAS SO STARTLING AND FRIGHTENING THAT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT IF I WOULD HAVE REACTED TO THE SOUND SOMEHOW WHILE DRIVING. ONCE PULLED OVER, IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE GLASS SHATTERED OUT AND UP NOT DOWNWARD SO IT WAS FAIRLY APPARENT NOTHING LANDED ON TOP OF MY ROOF TO CAUSE THIS. I FILED A CLAIM WITH MY AUTO INSURANCE. HOWEVER, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I HAVE NOW RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET THIS ISSUE AND FROM WHAT I AM READING ON LINE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE. I HOPE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING THIS BEFORE THIS CAUSES A REAL TRAGEDY TO SOMEONE'S LIFE! PLEASE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND SPEED REDUCTION INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE DECELERATING AND HAD TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL TO INCREASE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 09/15/14*LJ UPDATED 1/8/2015 *JS

MY WIFE'S 2013 OPTIMA HAS VERY STIFF STEERING WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE OR LONG STRETCH ROAD. IT'S VERY HARD TO STAY IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE STEERING LOCKS WHEN GOING STRAIGH AND IT FEELS LIKE IT CATCHES WHEN YOU TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. I IGNORED IT FOR THE FIRST FEW MONTHS THINKING MAYBE A "BREAK IN" STAGE. STILL AT 40K MILES IT'S THE EXACT SAME WAY. IT'S VERY UNSAFE. I NOTICED I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HOPE KIA FIXES THIS PROBLEM. MAY BE MY LAST KIA CAR!!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,100. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT OR AROUND 50 MPH THE CAR STARTED DRIFTING LEFT THEN RIGHT. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE TO COMMUTE EVERY 3 WEEKS FROM PHOENIX TO LAS ANGELES AND TRAVEL I-10. I CURRENTLY HAVE 12,000 MILES AND THE LAST 3 TIMES I MADE THE TRIP I HAVE REPEATEDLY ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELING 70+MPH FROM BLITHE, AZ TO BANNING, CA. THE CAR DRIFTS, AND IS WORSE WITH WIND GUSTS, IT IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP FROM BLOWING OFF THE ROAD. ONLY WITH IMMEDIATE REDUCTION IN SPEED BELOW 70-MPH IS THERE IMMEDIATE CONTROL OF THE CAR. I CONTACTED KIA MOTOR COMPANY AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND TAKE IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED A DEALER IN THE INDIO, CA AREA AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF A PROBLEM AND TO BRING IT IN ON MY NEXT TRIP TO CA. I WAS TOLD THAT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING AND ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL I MIGHT NEED ADJUSTMENT OR MAYBE THERE IS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE FOR THE COMPUTER INSIDE THE CAR. THEY WOULD CONFIRM THAT "ALL COMPARATIVE VALUES" ARE SET PROPERLY WITH THE "BLACK BOX." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,900. *TR

PURCHASED A NEW 2013 KIA OPTIMA ON 4/30/13 AND THE CAR WANDERS LEFT THEN YOU HAVE TO CORRECT CONSTANTLY. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER TWICE AND THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. AFRAID TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAY FOR FEAR OF HURTING SOMEONE. THE CAR HAS 400 MILES ON IT NOW. PLEASE HELP ,CHECKED ON INTERNET AND THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET IN MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN OUT OF NOWHERE, MY SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED!!! WHEN I CALLED KIA, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AERODYNAMICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SUNROOF TO JUST SHATTER AND THAT A ROCK OR A BIRD HAD TO HAVE HIT IT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THE AERODYNAMICS HAS TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT IT JUST SHATTERED BUT, WHATEVER. NOTHING HIT IT, IT JUST SHATTERED. IT WAS THE CRAZIEST, SCARIEST FEELING EVER. I FEEL LIKE THAT THEY THINK I'M JUST MAKING IT UP SO THAT I CAN GET THEM TO PAY FOR IT. THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT! BOTH MY GIRLS WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND LUCKILY MY YOUNGEST ONLY GOT A SMALL CUT ON HER LEG. THEY NEED TO FIND THE PROBLEM!! *TR

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE, ENGINE MADE LOUD, CLANKING NOISE. PUSHED ON GAS AND NOISE GOT LOUDER AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN. CAR DID NOT RESPOND WHEN GAS PEDAL APPLIED. TURNED ON HAZARD LIGHTS AND WORKED WAY OVER TO OUTER LANE AND FINALLY TO SIDE OF ROAD. WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED WHEN HAPPENED; CAR SLOWED WAY DOWN. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. REPLACED FUEL PUMP BUT NOISE STILL OCCURRING. A WEEK LATER, INFORMED HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE. WEEK LATER ENGINE, AND NOW PARTS, WERE ON BACK ORDER. FOLLOWING WEEK, INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP, KIA WOULD NOT PUT NEW ENGINE IN CAR BECAUSE OVER 5,000 MILES (ONLY 6600). A REMANUFACTURED WOULD BE USED. ASKED TO SEE CAR AND ASKED IF THEY DISCOVERED WHAT WAS WRONG. ENGINE OUT OF CAR AND COMPLETELY APART. INFORMED THE "END" PISTON BROKE. LOOKED AT PISTON, AND PORTION APPEARED TO HAVE BROKEN OFF. THEY SAID THE BROKEN PART HAD FALLEN INSIDE AND WAS CAUSING NOISE. NOT HAPPY WITH KIA. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT... *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A NOISE WAS EMITTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. UPDATED 09-18-13 *BF UPDATED 09/27/2013 *JS

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM GERALD KIA IN AURORA ILLINOIS. CAR PULLS LEFT THEN RIGHT. ASSUMED IT WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT. MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT OBRIEN KIA IN CHAMPAIGN, IL TO CHECK IT OUT ON WEDS, 5-8. MADE AP[POINTMENT ON TUESDAY, 4-30. LOOKED ON GOOGLE AND FOUND OUT THIS IS A PROBLEM ON 11,12 AND 13 OPTIMAS. THERE IS EVEN A VIDEO SHOWING THIS PROBLEM ON UTUBE. I BELIEVE I BOUGHT A LEMON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS IF YOU LOOK AWAY FOR A SECOND, YOU COULD HIT SOMEONE HEAD ON. I WANT TO GIVE THEM THERE CAR BACK. ALSO I CAN'T GET THE PART TO COME UP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT INDEPENDENTLY IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT HELD TIGHTLY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED A NEW SETTING OPTION FOR THE STEERING WHEEL AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO APPLY THE NEW SETTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,530. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

FIRST, THE TIRES WERE WORN/DRY ROT WITH ONLY 3000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. SECOND, VEHICLE STALLS WHEN THERE IS ANY MOISTURE ON THE ROADWAY CAUSING SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE. THIRD, BACK UP CAMERA IS NOT WORKING. FOURTH, RECALL NOTICE FOR UNDERBODY RUST. FIFTH, RECALL NOTICE FOR ENGINE SEIZURE WHILE THE CAR IS DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8000.

DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON A SLOW 35MPH ROADWAY AND NOTICED OPTIMA PULLS TOWARD THE CROWN (CENTER) OF THE ROAD (WHICH IS AGAINST SLOPE). DROVE VEHICLE ON 45MPH AND 60MPH ROADWAY AND SAME SITUATION. ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 3,400 MILES DUE TO PISTON #3 FAILING. BASED ON CURRENT ISSUES TO DATE, I WOULD NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER OPTIMA. *TR

REGARDING TO THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, VEH WAS TAKEN TO DEALER ON 3/15/2013 TO ADJUST THE ALIGNMENT UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT ISSUE STARTING AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 3,400 BY THE DEALER. LEFT THE DEALER AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOW TURNED TO THE LEFT AND THE VEHICLE WAS PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT SIGNIFICANTLY. THE SAME DEALER WAS CONTACTED ON 3/18/13 REGARDING THE ISSUE. DUE TO THE RECENT ENGINE REPLACEMENT, ONE ALIGNMENT TRIP AND A DISTANCE OF ROUGHLY 50 MILES TO THE SHOP, THE DEALER AUTHORIZED A LOANER TO BE BROUGHT TO MY PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT SO THAT THE DRIVER COULD TAKE THE VEH TO HE SHOP. VEH WAS PICKED UP THAT EVENING AT THE DEALER AND STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO BE LEVEL. THERE IS STILL A LEFT TO RIGHT CONSTANT HANDLING ISSUE AND VEHICLE SEEMS TO HAVE A VIBRATION UNDER 35 MPH. VEH HAS NOW SPENT 11 DAYS IN THE SHOP (9 DAYS FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT AND 2 DAYS FOR TWO ALIGNMENTS) AND HAS BEEN OWNED FOR JUST UNDER 12 WEEKS. VEH IS ALSO SLOW/SLUGGISH LEAVING A STOPPED POSITION AND MPG'S ON CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 60MPH HAVE FALLEN FROM 33MPG TO 29.5MPG SINCE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. DATE COMPLAINT FILED: 03/13/2013 COMPONENT(S): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING DATE OF INCIDENT: 03/11/2013 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10502730 MANUFACTURER: KIA MOTORS CORPORATION VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NO. (VIN): 5XXGN4A70DG... SUMMARY: DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS ON A SLOW 35MPH ROADWAY AND NOTICED OPTIMA PULLS TOWARD THE CROWN (CENTER) OF THE ROAD (WHICH IS AGAINST SLOPE). DROVE VEHICLE ON 45MPH AND 60MPH ROADWAY AND SAME SITUATION. ENGINE WAS REPLACED AT 3,400 MILES DUE TO PISTON #3 FAILING. BASED ON CURRENT ISSUES TO DATE, I WOULD NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER OPTIMA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH, THE SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE RESULTS OF THE INSPECTION WERE INCONCLUSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 12,000. *TR

BY READING UP ON THE KIA OPTIMA 2013 I NOW SEE THAT THERE ARE ALOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE STEERING. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE NUMEROUS DEATHS WILL OCCUR BECAUSE ITS CONSTANT WANDERING ON THE ROAD. IT GOES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND A STRUGGLE TO KEEP IT BETWEEN THE LINES. THE TROOPERS ARE GOING TO STOP YOU BECAUSE THEY WILL THINK YOU ARE DRUNK AND IT IS ALL THE CAR. *TR

THE SUNROOF ON MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EXPLODED OUT WARDS RAINING BROKEN GLASS DOWN ON MY HEARD. THE CAR WAS NOT STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT AND NO CARS WERE AHEAD OF ME ON THE ROAD. THERE WAS A SLIGHT CREAKING NOISE AND THEN A VIOLENT EXPLOSION LEAVING AN UP TURNED CRATER IN THE GLASS ROOF. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER AND THEY DENY ANY KNOWLEDGE OF PROBLEMS WITH ANY SUNROOFS DISPUTE THE RECALL ON SIMILAR ROOFS ON OTHER KIA AND HYUNDAI MODELS. *TR

CAR SOMETIMES WILL NOT START WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED & ING SWITCH IS PRESSED ??? *TR

MY 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX BRAKE WILL VIBRATE/GRIND EXTREMELY BAD UNDER MY FOOT. THE CAR BRAKE DOES THIS EVERY TIME I AM DRIVING IN WET CONDITIONS. THE FIRST TIME, WHICH WAS ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER GETTING MY CAR, WAS AFTER I HAD IT WASHED. IT ALSO DOES IT WHILE DRIVING IN WET ROAD CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED KIA AT THE FIRST OCCURRENCE AND WAS TOLD IT WAS MY ABS SYSTEM, FOLLOWED BY A DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THAT MEANS AND IT'S FUNCTION. HOWEVER, I KNOW THIS IS NOT NORMAL ABS PERFORMANCE, AS WOULD ANY OTHER DRIVER. NOT ONLY DOES THIS MALFUNCTION DISTRACT MY ATTENTION WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT CONTRADICTS THE PURPOSE OF ABS! IT SCARES ME WHEN IT IS HAPPENING, ENOUGH FOR ME TO LOOSE FOCUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR APPROXIMATELY 28 MONTHS SO FAR.

I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK. WITHIN THE FIRST TWO DAYS I NOTICED A SLIGHT DRIFTING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 40 MPH, BUT DISMISSED IT AS BEING CAUSED BY THE HIGH WINDS THAT WERE OCCURRING DURING THAT TIME. OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, THESE DRIFTING EXPERIENCES LINGERED. THE WORST EXPERIENCE OCCURRED 02/14/13, BETWEEN 5:30PM AND 6:15PM, A HIGH TRAFFIC PERIOD, ON A FREEWAY WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT ONTO THE FREEWAY, I PROCEEDED INTO THE LEFT LANE. WITHIN A FEW FEET, OR ACCELERATION TO 50 MPH OR SO, THE FRONT WHEELS, BEGAN TO PULL TOWARD THE RIGHT. BOTH OF MY HANDS WERE ON THE STEERING WHEEL THE ENTIRE TIME, BUT I HAD TO STEER SLIGHTLY LEFT TO CORRECT TO AVOID GOING INTO THE RIGHT LANE. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE SAME SCENARIO OCCURRED AS ABOVE. I NEXT CHANGED TO THE RIGHT LANE AS MY EXIT WAS NEARING. WITHIN 3/4 MILE THERE IS A SLIGHT CURVE LEFT, WHICH THE CAR HAD ISSUES CORNERING AND AGAIN LED TO MY HAVING TO STEER TO CORRECT. THIS IS SAFETY CONCERN, A SERIOUS ONE. THIS IS NOT A RANDOM, EVERY SO OFTEN OCCURRENCE. IT IS DAILY, FREQUENT, IF I TRAVEL ON A FREEWAY OR ANYTIME SPEED LIMITS ARE ABOVE 35 MPH. THERE ARE OTHER INSTANCES OF WHAT APPEAR TO BE CORNERING ISSUES. LEFT TURNS ARE AWKWARD IF YOU FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE FOR TURNING INTO THE LANE CLOSEST TO YOU. MOST TURNS END UP WIDE, AS IF YOU'RE DRIVING A WIDER CHASSIS VEHICLE, I.E. A PICK-UP OR SUV. THE STEERING DEFECT EVEN APPEARS NOTICEABLE UPON PARKING, AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS ALWAYS A HAIR OFF CENTER WHEN YOU PARK STRAIGHT IN A STALL OR SPACE. IN THE CITY I RESIDE IN THE STATE OF NEVADA, CONSTANT ROAD CONSTRUCTION, LANES THAT CHANGE FROM HORIZONTAL TO ZIG-ZAG EVERY FEW FEET, THE LAST THING NEEDED IS A CAR THAT HAS ANY HINT OF A FAULT WITH STEERING OR SUSPENSION. *TR

VERY HARD TO KEEP ON A STRAIGHT TRACK AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SIGHT CORRECTIONS HAVE TO BE CONSTANTLY MADE TO THE STEERING WHEEL TO KEEP THE CAR GOING IN A STRAIGHT PATH. THIS DRIFTING WILL HAPPEN NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE WIND BLOWING OR THE TYPE OF ROAD SURFACE, IT IS DEFINITELY COMING FROM THE CAR. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING SINCE DAY ONE. I'VE TRIED REDUCING THE AIR PRESSURE IN MY TIRES AND IT HELPED A LITTLE, BUT ONLY A LITTLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THIS IS NOT NORMAL. NOW I FIND OUT THAT MANY OTHER OPTIMA OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME STEERING ISSUE. KIA/HYUNDAI CORPORATE NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THIS STEERING ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT. REQUEST RESEARCH HELP. *TR

CAR DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT WHILE DRIVING OVER 55MPH. DRIVER HAS TO CONTINUALLY CORRECT WHEEL TO KEEP CAR STRAIGHT ON ROAD. *TR

REAR SEAT BELTS IN CLOTH SEAT CONFIGURATION DO NOT HOLD THE BUCKLE IN AN EXPOSED POSITION SO THAT A CHILD OR AN ADULT CAN REASONABLY OPERATE IT. MOST VEHICLES HAVE A PLASTIC SHEATH THAT HOLD THE BUCKLE EXPOSED SO THAT IT IS ACCESSIBLE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILD SEAT ON THE SEAT AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BUCKLE A CHILD IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS USERS WILL BE FRUSTRATED AND OMIT USING THE REAR SEAT BELTS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE VEHICLE SWAYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK. WHEN IT RELEASES, THE VEHICLE WILL ALMOST OVER CORRECT SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE "JERKY" STEERING/DRIVING. IT HAS DONE THIS FROM THE BEGINNING, I ASSUMED IT WAS BECAUSE IT WAS A NEWER VEHICLE, BUT IT'S STILL DOING IT. AND ON LONGER ROAD TRIPS, I GET WORN OUT FIGHTING THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT TO MENTION IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD.

VEHICLE WANDERS FROM SIDE TO SIDE. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE ROAD IS FLAT OR CROWNED. THE STEERING IS SIMILAR AT ANY SPEED. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 11/27/2012 AND THEY ROAD TESTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT HANDLED NORMALLY. THEY FOUND THE TOE SLIGHTLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND RESET. THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING AND HAS A DIFFERENT FEEL THEN A CONVENTIONAL TYPE. I AM TRYING TO CHANGE THE WAY I HAVE BEEN STEERING CARS FOR 59 YEARS. THE END RESULT IS THE CAR STILL WANDERS ON ANY ROAD I DRIVE ON. SEEING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS IN THIS FILE TELLS ME THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ON THESE CARS. WE NEED A FIX. *TR

2013 KIA OPTIMA. HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE STEERING, HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I DRIVE FOR A LIVING AND FIGHTING THIS PROBLEM IS REALLY GETTING STRESSFUL. I WOULD SUGGEST KIA LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BEFORE A MAJOR INCIDENT OCCURS DUE TO A FAILURE. *TR

ABOUT A DAY AFTER I BOUGHT MY BRAND NEW 2013 KIA, I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT. I TOOK IT BACK THAT WEEKEND TO GET AN ALIGNMENT AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WASN'T AN ALIGNMENT, BUT THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS OFF. SO, THEY ADJUSTED THAT. WHEN I TOOK DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE AGAIN, THE ISSUE WAS STILL THERE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM AGAIN, AND THIS TIME, THEY SAID THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TWISTED. I THEN MOVED FROM VA TO FL TWO DAYS LATER. AT THIS POINT I ONLY HAD ABOUT 1200 MILES ON MY CAR. DURING THE TRIP, I NOTICED THE STEERING DOING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM TO JUST TELL ME WHAT THE ISSUE WAS WITH THE CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS MADE WITH A BATCH OF OTHER VEHICLES THAT HAD THIS ISSUE AND THERE IS A TECHNICAL BULLETIN INVOLVED WITH IT. SHE SAID ITS PROTOCOL TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN MULTIPLE TIMES SO THAT THEY CAN RULE OUT CERTAIN ISSUES. SHE STATED THE NEXT STEP WAS TO REDO THE SUSPENSION. UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, I HAD TO GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR THIS BECAUSE I WAS NOW IN FL. ALSO, UNFORTUNATELY FOR ME, THE FIRST DEALER DIDN'T RECORD WHEN I WENT IN THE FIRST TWO TIMES. SO WHEN I GO TO THIS NEW DEALER AT 2500 MILES, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, GIVE ME AN ALIGNMENT THAT DOESN'T SOLVE THE ISSUE AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THIS IS TRULY RIDICULOUS. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR TO AVOID THESE ISSUES. AND KIA NEEDS TO OWN UP AND FIX THESE STEERING WHEEL ISSUES PROPERLY. I'M GOING BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN TOMORROW. PLEASE RECALL THIS STEERING WHEEL ISSUE. *TR

NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRACK IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE WANDERS (DRIFTS) LEFT OR RIGHT. I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO NUDGE THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LEFT OR SLIGHTLY RIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. I NO LONGER TAKE A MUG OF COFFEE WITH ME AS I DRIVE TO WORK. I HAVE TO KEEP MY EYES DIRECTLY ON THE ROAD AHEAD, ONLY GLANCING BRIEFLY IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR SIDE MIRRORS TO CHECK TRAFFIC. IT ALSO DOES THIS AT LOW SPEEDS ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS. HELP! I AM TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER A SECOND TIME ON 11/16. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THE SAME VEHICLE, MODEL AND PROBLEM. IT WOULD SEEM THERE IS NO FIX! HAS THE NHTSA CONTACTED KIA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? *TR