2015 Kia Optima Complaint Log

MY VEHICLE STARTING DRIVING SLUGGISH AND MAKING AN INCREASINGLY KNOCKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I TOOK THE CAR FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND 2 WEEKS LATER CHECKED IN A NORMAL RIDE TO WORK I REALIZED MY VEHICLE WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD FROM THE EXHAUST AND A HORRIBLE SMELL OF BURNT OIL FILLED THE INTERIOR. I TOOK THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT. LESS THEN A WEEK LATER I GET A RECALL LETTER FOR THE ENGINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED IN TO KIA THEY RAN A TEST MY ENGINE HAS BLOWN THEY PUT ME IN A RENTAL FOR 16 DAYS THIS BEGAN 6/20/17. I CAME TO GET MY CAR ON 7/8/17 AND DIDN'T EVEN GET DOWN THE STREET BEFORE GETTING PULLED OVER AND NOTIFIED THAT MY CAR IS ROARING SMOKE THE EXHAUST AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT BACK. THEY DROVE IT WITH ME AND ALSO AGREED IT WAS STILL SMOKING AND HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH OLD OIL BURNING OFF AND NOW MY A.C. IS ACTING WEIRD. THEY PLACED ME BACK IN A RENTAL AND TOLD ME THEY WOULD OPEN A TICKET. TO BE VERY HONEST I'M TRYING TO KEEP PRESENT BUT I'M VERY VERY SCARED AND CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING BACK IN THE CAR. I FEEL TRAPPED AND I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON SOMETHING I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE AND FEEL UNSAFE IN.

MY CAR STARTED SMOKING ONE DAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING ABOUT 25-30MPH IT WAS SO BAD PEOPLE STARTED YELLING!!! GET OUT .. GET OUT ..YOUR CAR ON FIRE..I PULLED OVER SO EMBARRASSED.... AND I GOT OUT...THE SMOKE HAD THE BACK OF THE .CAR BLACK...FROM THE SMOKE OUT OF THE TAILPIPE.SO I WAITED 30-45 HAD CAR TOWED BACK HOME ...I STAY 35 MINS FROM KIA DEALERSHIP SO I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL NEXT DAY TO TAKE OVER THERE. AND SURPRISELY THEY TOLD ME SLUDGE OIL.AT THIS POINT IT WAS ONLY 32,000 MILES. I ASKED HOW CAN I FIX THE PROBLEM THEY SAID..THEY DONT FIX SLUDGE OIL... AND MADE IT VERY CLEAR THEY WAS VOIDING MY WARRANTY BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FROM PREVIOUS OIL CHANGES. AND THIS COME FROM LACK OF MAINTENANCE... OK. SO I GOT OIL CHANGES EVERY 2,000 PROBLEM SLOWED DOWN.. NO SENSORS WAS ON OR NOTHING.... ONE DAY WENT TO STORE CAME HOME AND PARKED NEVER CRANKED...55K MILES TOWED TO ST.AUGUSTINE KIA DEALERSHIP SAID THE ENGINE IS SHOCKED...IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY NOISE COMING FROM ANYWHERE.. WE THOUGHT IT WAS A DEAD BATTERY OR STARTER..KIA SAID ENGINE I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND..

VEHICLE TENDS TO STEER ITSELF AND CAN AT TIME OF FREEWAY SPEEDS BE HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE IN A STARING LINE. VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL CAN GET STIFF AND WITH AND MOVEMENTS THE VEHICLE TENDS TO OVER CORRECT ITSELF. WHILE GOING DOWN A FREEWAY OR LONG STRAIGHT AWAY THE VEHICLE TENDS TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS BEING HELD TIGHT ON ONE PLACE.

MY CAR IS USING OIL BUT ITS NOT LEAKING OIL BUT EVERYTIME I GET A OIL CHANGE ITS OLNY A QUART IN MY CAR MAYBE. I HAVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH TO MAKE SURE I HAVE OIL IN MY CAR CAUSE IT STOPPED ON ME AND I HAD TO GET IT TOWED HOME THEY PUT OIL IN IT A LIL LATER AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN. BUT NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OIL INDICATORS COME ON I NEED TO KNOW WHY AND WHY IS THIS OIL BURNING OFF MY ENGINE AM I IN ANY DANGER IF MY CAR CATCHING FIRE?? PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW CAUSE THIS HAS BECOME EXPENSIVE TO GET MY OIL CHANGED EVERY MONTH IT JUST BURBS THE OIL UP I DONT KNOW WHY?? PLEASE IF U COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS WOULD BE HELPFUL AND WHAT SHOULD I DO ABOUT IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK OPTIMO H724 TIRES, SIZE: 225/45R/18 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIVE STAR TIRES ON MERIDIAN ROAD IN YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING ABNORMAL WITH THE TIRES AND THAT THERE WAS NO SIGN OF ROAD DAMAGE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,310.

ENGINE LOCKED UP DURRING ACCELERATION TO 40 MPH WHY MERGING INTO TRAFFIC FOUND OUT ENGINE HAS A BENT ROD. OIL AND COOLENT WHERE SUFFICINT BUT KIA WILL NOT FIX OR REPLACE. COULD OF CAUSED MY WIFE TO CRASH OR BE HIT BY TRAFFIC

THE OPTIMA HAS STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON BOTH THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS. WHEN THE CAR STALLS EVERYTHING SHUTS OFF COMPLETELY AND IT'S IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER HAS BEEN IN THE CAR DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC A COUPLE TIMES WHILE THIS HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE CALLED BOTH KIA CORPORATE AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE THE WAS PURCHASED AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHY THE CAR IS STALLING. AFTER 3-5 WEEKS OF GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE KIA CORPORATE AND THE DEALERSHIP THEY HAVE FINALLY TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FOURTH PISTON FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SLUDGE IN THE OIL PAN CAUSED SLUDGE TO ENTER THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL DIAGNOSIS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY DUE TO THE SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

THE VEHICLE STARTED IDLING ROUGHLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. STOPPED AT THE NEAREST AUTOMOBILE CENTER, THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INDICATED THAT THERE MAYBE A DEFECT TO THE ENGINE AND THAT MY ENGINE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED.

TAKATA RECALL: DRIVING THE CAR DOWN A CITY STREET WHEN IT SUDDENLY CEASED TO ACCELERATE. THE POWER STEERING STOPPED AS IT COASTED INTO A SIDE STREET TO GET OFF THE BUSY ROAD. I COULD SMELL WIRES BURNING AS A ELECTRICAL FIRE.I IMMEDIATELY GOT MYSELF AND FAMILY OUT OF THE CAR AFRAID IT WAS ON FIRE. THE INSIDE OF THE CAR FILLED WITH ELECTRICAL SMELL AND SMOKE. I CALLED THE 360 KIA TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE I BOUGHT A "GOLD" WARRANTY WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THEY LITERALLY LOST MY CAR FOR SIX DAYS AND THEN CALLED ME WANTING MY SERVICE RECORDS STATING THE CAR HAD NO OIL IN THE MOTOR. THIS IS A OUTLANDISH LIE! MY CAR HAD PLENTY OF OIL IN IT ...I NEVER SAW A ENGINE LIGHT COME ON INDICATING THAT I HAD MOTOR PROBLEMS NOR DID I SMELL OIL . THIS WAS A "SUDDEN " MALFUNCTION. MY CAR NEVER RAN HOT NOR DID MY GAUGES EVER INDICATE A PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR FOR RIGHT AT 40K MILES AND HAD A OIL CHANGE DUE AGAIN AT THE END OF APRIL.

I HAVE TWO KIA, ONE 2013KIA SOUL, AND KIA OPTIMA 2015, FIRST THE KIA SOUL WON'T START, LOOKS LIKE NO BATTERY AT ALL, DEALER SAY IT WAS A BAD BATTERY, BUT THE PROBLEM START AGAIN, JUST THIS TIME LOOSE ALL POWER WHEN RUNNING, THEY TOWING BACK TO THE DEALER THIS TIME, THEY SAY THIS TIME WAS CRANK PISTON SENSOR, NO COST AT THIS TIME, THIS HAPPEN ON 08/01/2016, NOW THE KIA OPTIMA, SAME, I DRIVE ALL MORNING, THE DAY WAS HOT, AND I STOP AT THE STOREFOR WATER, DON'T TAKE MORE THEN 5MIN. WHEN I GET BACK TO MY CAR, CARS UNLOCK THE DOOR, BUT HAVE NO POWER AT ALL, I CHECK THE BATTERY WITH A FLUKE MULTIMETER, READS 12 VOLTS WHEN I DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE POST, AND 6 VOLTS WHEN I CONNECTED BACK TO THE BATTERY, THEN MY FRIEND STOP BY, AND JUMPSTART MY CAR, SAME THING, I DISCONNECT THE NEGATIVE POST AND I TAKE CHASSIS GROUND FOR THE JUMPSTART, SAME THING, THEN I TOOK OF THE BATTERY FROM A CHEVY 2002 SILVERADO, MY FRIENDS TRUCK, AND I CONNECTED DIRECT TO MY CAR, SAME THING, I ENDED TO CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE FOR KIA MOTOR, TO TAKE IT TO THE KIA DEALER, THE TOWING TRUCK DRIVER SAY, THEY PICKUP A LOT OF KIA'S CARS FOR THE SAME REASON, THIS TIME HAPPEN ON 04/05/2017, I DID CLAIM TO KIA MOTOR, THEY SAY WAS THE BATTERY, AND I JUST THINK THEY WANT SALE A 300 AND SOMETHING BATTERY, AND A HAVE TO BUY A NEW BATTERY EVERY TWO YEARS, WITH THE NEW KIA AND HYUNDAI RECALLS I THINK THEY SHOULD RECALL THIS TWO CARS!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO MAINTENANCE RELATED ISSUES AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY, ON THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD BOOM, SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. LOOKED IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW BLACK STUFF FLYING OFF THE BACK END OF THE CAR INTO THE STREET. THEN HEARD WIND AND FELT WET, SO OPENED THE INTERIOR SHADE TO MY SUNROOF AND THERE ARE A HUGE OPEN HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF MY SUNROOF.. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY, NO OTHER CARS AROUND ME. IT WAS RAINING, BUT A LIGHT MIST TYPE RAIN. THE SOUND THAT I HEARD SOUNDED LIKE A EXPLOSION OR GUNSHOT AND THE ROOF'S GLASS WAS MISSING AND SOME CAME INTO THE CAR WHEN I OPENED THE SHADE. THE GLASS LOOKS AS IF IT BLEW OUT FROM INSIDE.. IT WAS MUSHROOMED NOT CAVED IN.

I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND THOUGHT THAT MY ENGINE WAS BURNING. I LOOKED DOWN TOWARD THE FLOOR AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT. ALTHOUGH THE SEAT WARMER IS NOT ON, I ALSO NOTICED THE SEAT SEEMS TO BE HEATING. I NOTICED WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT AFTER HAVING DRIVEN ABOUT A MILE OR SO.

ENGINE FAILED ON MY 2015 KIA OPTIMA WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY. THE CAR WAS MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, STARTED SMOKING, STARTED TO LOSE POWER, AND STALLED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED INTO A KIA DEALERSHIP. KIA ISSUED RECALLS FOR THIS PROBLEM ON SEVERAL MODELS THROUGH THE 2014 MODELS. THEY FAILED TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR 2015 MODELS. THEY INITIALLY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY AND WANTED CLOSE TO $6,000 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. FINANCIALLY, THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR ME AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR VOLUNTARILY REPOSSESSED. I FILED A FORMAL, WRITTEN COMPLAINT AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, INCLUDING THE FACT THAT I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR REPOSSESSED. AT THAT POINT, THEY RESPONDED WITH A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT STATING THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY, IF I RELEASED THEM FROM FURTHER RESPONSIBILTY. THIS OFFER WAS NOT FEASIBLE, AS I NO LONGER HAD THE VEHICLE. AT THIS POINT, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO FOR ME. I ASKED FOR A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD THEY CANNOT DO THAT.

AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE UP, AND STARTED TO HEAD DOWN A BUSY ROADWAY THE ENGINE OF MY VEHICLE SEIZED UP AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE ONLY REASON BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER ARE GIVING ME ITS BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF MAINTENANCE BUT THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON DECEMBER 16 2016, AND I WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FUNCTIONING. THIS SAME PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY GOING ON WITH THE 2011-2014 VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE BUT THE COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LATER VERSION MY HAVE THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE.

WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, SUDDENLY A BATTERY WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ACROSS MY DASHBOARD AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER. I DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT WITHIN SPEEDING TRAFFIC TRYING TO REACH THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I DIDN'T MAKE AND MY VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN EXIT OFF RAMP. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS SWERVING AND COMING TO ABRUPT STOPS TO AVOID SLAMMING INTO THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE. I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND STOOD ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, IN FEAR OF BEING KILLED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. A POLICE OFFICER PUT OUT FLARES AND THEN STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION EMERGENCY TOW, MOVED MY VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, OUT OF THE WAY OF SPEEDING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED BY KIA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY HAVE DIAGNOSED MY VEHICLE WITH "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE AND BURNT OUT STARTER, REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE AND STARTER. I HAVE PROVIDED ALL SERVICE RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES CONDUCTED AS REQUIRED WHICH WERE ALL PROVIDED BY KIA. CAR IS BRAND NEW UNDER WARRANTY, TWO YEARS OLD, WITH 18,561 MILES AND NO HISTORY OF WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE 2-3 BUSINESS DAYS FOR A DECISION. IT'S BEEN 6 BUSINESS DAYS AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A LOANER/REPLACEMENT VEHICLE NOR APPROVAL FOR THE REPAIR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A RATTLING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

VEHICLE CUTOFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE CUT LOST SPEED AND CUT OFF.

20K MILES- 2015 KIA OPTIMA- WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE- VEHICLE CUTTING OUT /ALMOST STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING. NO INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED REGARDING OIL OR ENGINE ISSUE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP- DIAGNOSED WITH "SLUDGE" AND TOLD NEED NEW ENGINE -QUOTE $6500-$8000 AND WAS TOLD MY OPTIONS WERE A.) FIX IT OR B.) DON'T FIX IT- PROVIDED OIL CHANGE RECEIPT HAD ON HAND- HAVE TO DIG & RESEARCH TO OBTAIN PAST SERVICE- WARRANTY CLAIM DENIED- KIA- UNWILLING TO ASSIST- BAD BUSINESS-

THE CAR ENGINE DIED ONE DAY WHEN I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL IN HEAVY RAIN ON A VERY BUSY TWO WAY STREET WITH FOUR LANES ACROSS. WE'RE LUCKY WE WEREN'T INJURED BECAUSE OTHER CARS COMING UP BEHIND US COULDN'T SEE THAT WELL IN THE RAIN. THERE WAS NEVER ANY KNOCKING OR INDICATION OF ANYTHING WRONG. IT JUST DIED OUT OF THE BLUE. WE TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY SAID THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE. I HAD TO GET THE ENGINE REBUILT ON MY OWN DIME ($3000 PLUS TOWING ETC.) BECAUSE KIA REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS ONLY ABOUT A YEAR OLD AT THAT POINT. THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GIVE THEM ALL RECEIPTS SHOWING OIL CHANGES ETC. AND EVEN WHEN I BROUGHT THE RECEIPTS THEY SAID IT WASN'T ENOUGH AND THAT IT WAS MY FAULT. NOT TO MENTION KIA HAS ALREADY RECALLED THIS SAME ENGINE IN EARLIER MODELS AND IT'S THE SAME ENGINE (THETA II) THAT IS IN THE HUYUNDAI SONATA WHICH WAS ALSO RECALLED FOR SEIZING/SLUDGE. IT IS PRETTY OBVIOUS THIS ENGINE IS FAULTY AND KIA NEEDS TO RECALL IT BUT THEY AREN'T INCLUDING THIS 2015 IN THE RECALL WITH THE 2014, 2013 AND 2012 MODELS.

THIS CAR HAS GIVEN ME PROBLEMS FIRST THE ENGINE WENT UP JUST LOCKED UP. THE BRAKES PULSATE WON'T STOP AND I HAVE CHANGED THE ROTORS AND BRAKES 3 TIMES. THE DEALER SAID NOTHING IS WRONG. SUSPENSIONS CAR ROCKS AND BOUNCES . NOW THE RADIO IS OUT. AND MY WINDOW WON'T GO UP IF PUT DOWN. THE WAS IN MOTION FOR ALL.

FRONT HEAD LAMPS KEEPS GOING OUT, PER AUTO SHOP SHORTAGE IN WIRING FOR RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT HEAD LAMPS(LIGHTS) HAS TO REPLACE EVRY THREE WEEKS

I HAVE HAD MY 2015 KIA FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS AND JUST STARTED TO NOTICE MY STEERING WOULD STICK WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I HAVE TO JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGH SPEEDS AND IT FEELS VERY UNSAFE! I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE, ALSO HAD THEM LOOK AT THE PROBLEM I WAS ENCOUNTERING. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR CAR JUST NOT MY CAR. ALSO THAT I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT AND CONTINUE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AS UNSAFE AS IT MAY SEEM UNTIL THERE WAS A RECALL. I WAS NOT VERY HAPPY. I COULD BE ON THE HIGHWAY OR ANY OTHER LOCATION, ANYTIME I GO OVER 45 I NOTICE THIS ISSUE. *TR

The paint on my vehicle has been bubbling and chipping off for years. I did buy my vehicle used and was a certified pre owned. It was in great condition at the time of purchase. The paint became a problem soon after owning the vehicle. I didn’t think much of it till it continued to peel off more and rust in certain areas. I noticed more vehicles like mine had the same problem. I began looking into it and seen that others were complaining of the same issue as mine online. I did contact Kias main corporate office and they wanted estimates and pictures. I did not go thru with this because they said it was a process to even get approved and if they approved it they would only paint certain parts, and not the whole car. I figured why paint parts if the same paint was used originally to paint the entire car then chips could happen anywhere else. And if paint was approved on certain areas I could only file once and to me that didn’t seem worth it at the time so I decided to see if this would become a recall and have been waiting patiently. Im very unhappy with KIA regarding this issue. It’s clearly a problem amongst multiple customers. I have this nice car and it’s embarrassing to drive like this. I hope this message reaches someone who will do something about this. Thank you

VEHICLE VEERS BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY KEEP CORRECTING THE WHEEL. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER AND THEY MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS BUT WAS NO BETTER. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY SAID THAT'S ALL THEY CAN DO.

RECENTLY MY TRANSMISSION CASE CRACKED AS IT PASSED OVER A MANHOLE COVER ON A STREET BEING RESURFACED. MY DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THIS HAS HAPPENED A LOT. I WAITED NINE WEEKS FOR THE PART TO COME IN. I LOST $1,100.00ON CAR RENTALS. CAR'S TRANSMISSION CASE IS TOO LOW TO THE GROUND.

TAKATA RECALL: THE TIRE LOW LIGHT ON HE DASH IS ALWAYS ON NO MATTER WHAT I DO. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD MY TIRES CHANGED FROM THE DEALER NEVER FROM A THIRD PARTY. THIS IS INCONVENIENT FOR ME BECAUSE THIS IS THE IDENTIFICATION FOR A LOW TIRE. SO ANYTIME I SUSPECT A LOW TIRE I HAVE TO STOP MY VEHICLE WHERE EVER I MAY BE GET OUT AND WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE TO MANUALLY TEST THE PRESSURE IN MY VEHICLES TIRES..

COMING OFF AN OFF RAMP ON GREENBRIAR SOUTH IN CHESAPEAK VIRGINIA, I HEARD A CRACKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE CAR. THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD NOR WAS THERE ANY POT HOLES. THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND WHEN I STARTED PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT I CONTINUED TO DRIFT RIGHT. I THEN LANDED INTO A GUARD RAIL AT APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS A WITNESS BEHIND ME THAT CAN ATTEST TO THIS INCIDENT. THE TIE ROD END HAD BROKEN CLEAN IN HALF AS IF IT WAS CUT WITH A PAIR OF SICCORS WHICH CAUSED ME TO LOSE ALL STEERING CAPABILITY THEN ULTIMATELY CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE GUARD RAIL. BASICALLY DESTROYING MY FRONT END AND THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WAS DEPLOYED. I WAS MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT HAND CURVED TURN ON AN OFF RAMP. OFF HIGHWAY 64.

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE OIL LIGHT. I STOPPED TO CHECK OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIPSTICK. I CHECKED FOR LEAKS. FOUND NONE. I ADDED 2 QUARTS. THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. BUT WOULDN'T REPLACE IT. IT WOULD COST ME $7200. SO I TRIED TO DRIVE IT HOME, AND IT QUIT.THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED HOME. THIS WAS IN NOVEMBER 2016. AND IT IS STILL DOWN. THEN I HEARD KIA IS GETTING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM, FOR OIL FLOW ISSUES. I'M STILL PAYING ON THE CAR. I FINANCED THROUGH MY CREDIT UNION. SO THEY ALREADY GOT THERE MONEY. I THINK THAT IS WHY THEY ARE SCREWING ME OVER. TO BE CLEAR I HAD JUST LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WHEN IT QUIT. IT NEVER MADE A SOUND, THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT 3 DAYS.

WHILE DRIVING LONG DISTANCES THE STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO "STICK" AND THE WHEEL HAS TO BE JERKED A LITTLE TO MAKE STEERING FLUID ONCE AGAIN. I HAD THE WHEELS CHECKED TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T NEED AN ALIGNMENT AND IT IS BEING CHECKED NOW FOR THE STEERING ISSUE. *TR

WE PURCHASED OUR 2015 KIA OPTIMA NEW IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX. AT ABOUT 11,000 MILES OUR PROBLEM STARTED. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL GETS REAL JERKY AND LOCKS UP. I HAVE TO JERK IT TO GET IT TO RELEASE AND THEN IT GOES THE OTHER DIRECTION. I HAVE TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL TO CONTROL IT. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT COULD EASILY CAUSE A TERRIBLE HEAD ON ACCIDENT. OUR DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AFTER DRIVING IT A COUPLE MILES. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, STRESSFUL, AND MAKES MY SHOULDERS HURT SEVERELY. WE ARE VERY UNHAPPY AND NEED THIS FIXED. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SAFETY ISSUES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES TO GET THEM FIXED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUIDE WIRE AND A TREE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE LEFT ARM AND LOWER BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND HAD AN OIL CHANGE THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND AN AUDIBLE CLICKING OR TAPPING NOISE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. MY WIFE HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO PULL OFF INTO A LOCAL BUSINESS AND PARKED THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY ADVISED THERE WAS "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE AND WE HAD NOT BEEN MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. OFFERED TO PRODUCE RECORDS BUT THEY ADVISED THEY STILL WOULD NOT COVER IT. *TR

2015 KIA OPTIMA WAS OUT OF OIL @ 22,000 MILES AND NO INDICATOR LIGHT HAD GONE ON WHEN IT WAS TAKEN TO AN OIL CHANGE. THE OIL CHANGE PLACE WAS THE ONE THAT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO OIL IN IT. IT STARTED MAKING SOME RATTLING NOISE SPECIALLY GOINT UPHILL SO I TOOK IT IN TO KIA SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THEY DIAGNOSED IT WITH "SLUDGE" IN THE ENGINE AND ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO PROVE 3 PREVIOUS RECEIPTS OF OIL CHANGES OTHERWISE THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I DO NOT HAVE THOSE RECEIPTS AND 16 DAYS LATER TOOK IT TO THE SAME PLACE I DID MOST RECENT OIL CHANGE BECAUSE OIL LIGHT HAD TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE AGAIN HAD NO OIL IN IT. THE TOPPED IT OFF BUT MENTIONED THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL FOR SUCH A RECENT MODEL TO BE BURNING OIL. VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING BUT MAKES RATTLING NOISE ONCE IN A WHILE, PRODUCES WHITE SMOKE OUT OF EXHAUST PIPE AND I HAVE TO PUT OIL IN IT EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW ENGINE. I AM A SINGLE MOM AND NEEDS A RELIABLE VEHICLE TO GET TO WORK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE OIL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION WITH NO LEAKS VISIBLE

VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY FROM MISSISSIPPI TO PENNSYLVANIA, WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED THERE WAS NOT ANY OIL IN THE CAR. MY SON HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST WALMART, PURCHASED 3 QUARTS, AND CONTINUED. FOUR HOURS DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING.HEI WAS CLOSE TO BIRMINGHAM AROUND 11 AT NIGHT. HE STAYED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY UNTIL MORNING CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND TOOK TO RIVERSIDE KIA WHERE AN ENGINE ANALYSIS WAS DONE. HE TOLD MY SON THE IS OWNER NEGLIGIENCE. HE TOLD HIM ACCORDING THE MILES ON THE VEHICLE HE SHOULD HAVE HAD AT LEAST 9 OIL CHANGES, BUT THERE WHERE ONLY 3 RECEIPTS IN THE CAR. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENCE HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN BROKEN INTO. HE WAS ABLE TO LOCATE OTHER RECEIPTS. HE HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3 WEEKS BEFORE THIS (OCT 29, 2016)

DRIVING HOME FROM THE STORE LAST NIGHT AND MY CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND STALLING, A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM MY EXHAUST PIPES. I PARKED IT CALLED MY DAD AND HE TOLD ME TO CHECK THE OIL. THERE WAS BARELY ANY OIL ON THE DIPSTICK EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST GOT MY OIL CHANGED 10 DAYS EARLIER. I HAD THE COMPANY THAT CHANGED MY OIL CHECK IT OUT. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOMETHING INTERNALLY CAUSING THE OIL TO BURN OFF THEREFORE IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS ISSUE AND IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE CLOSEST KIA DEALERSHIP AND WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS. MY CAR ONLY HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT, I HAVE ONLY HAD IT A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONTACT SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED IMMEDIATELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK PORCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING MY 2015 OPTIMA TO THE STORE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I STARTED MY CAR AND HEARD A RATTLING OR TICKING SOUND, THIS WAS ON LABOR DAY, SO I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. DUE TO HOLIDAY THE SERVICE DEPT WAS NOT OPEN. I CALLED THEM AGAIN ON TUESDAY SEPT 6TH AND WAS ADVISED THEY WOULD HAVE IT TOWED. I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL ON TUESDAY EVENING STATING MY MOTOR HAS SLUDGE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

2015 KIA OPTIMA, ONLY 47K MILES....ENGINE FAILURE...THE DEALERSHIP SAYS ITS SLUDGE... AND I HAVE TO PROVIDE ALL MY MAINTENANCE RECORDS. IT STARTED WITH WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAILPIPE AND LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATED, THEN THIS PAST SATURDAY, IT STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON . I HAD TO GET IT TOWED. THIS IS KIA'S FAULT!!! NOT MINE. I'VE DONE THE SAME ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON MY TOYOTA AND HONDA WHICH HAD OVER 100K MILES WITH NO PROBLEMS! I AM BEING TOLD BY KIA THAT IT WON'T BE COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.

SUNROOF EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

WHEN TURNING ON THE A/C SYSTEM I GET A REALLY STRONG MILDEW/HORRIBLE SMELL FROM THE VENTS. I BELIEVE IT RESULTS IN WATER ACCUMULATING IN IT, PROMOTING THE GROWTH OF THE MOLD, AND WHENEVER YOU TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS GET HIT WITH A BLAST OF MOLDY AIR ALSO, WHEN A/C IS OFF IT HAS A VERY STRONG SMELL AS WELL WHICH I NEED TO OPEN THE WINDOWS BECAUSE IT GETS ME DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS. I DON'T THINK THIS IS SAFE AND IT'S A HEALTH HAZARD. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEMS WITH KIA CARS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. MANY HAVE COMPLAINED TO KIA, BUT KIA HAS NOT TAKEN AN APPROACH TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD IT CAN BE FIXED FOR $150.00, BUT I WAS TOLD IT'S NOT GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. I'VE MADE A COMPLAINT TO KIA MOTORS AMERICA COOPERATE, BUT HAS ADVISED THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NOT VERY HELPFUL. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A FORMAL COMPLAINT.

ENGINE FAILURE AT 15 MONTHS OLD AND 42,000 MILES. KIA DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE I COULD NOT PROVE OIL CHANGES. SAME COMPLAINT AS THOUSANDS OF OTHER KIA VEHICLES, HAPPENED ABRUPTLY, CAR STARTING MAKING LOUD RATTLING NOISE ON ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING, NO WARNING, SLUDGE IN ENGINE. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A NEW ENGINE TO BE INSTALLED WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM KIA OR MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP.

Paint is coming off vehicles has been since I purchased it

BOTH ESC AND AUTO HOLD LIGHTS OCCASIONALLY GO YELLOW AT THE SAME TIME. USUALLY GOES BACK TO NORMAL AFTER SOME PERIOD OF TIME. THIS STARTED MAYBE COUPLE MONTHS AGO. BROUGHT TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULDN'T DETECT ANY ERROR CODES.

ENGINE FAILURE WITH MY NEW 2015 KIA OPTIMA AT 42,000 MILES. KIA DENIED WARRANTY COVERAGE DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO PROVE ALL OIL CHANGES. KIA ALSO DENIED KNOWING THERE WAS AN ENGINE DEFECT ON THIS 2.4L GDI ENGINE. TODAY I SEE AN ENGINE RECALL FINALLY FROM KIA, HOWEVER THEY STOPPED PREMATURE AT THE 2014 MODEL. I HAD TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE TO BE INSTALLED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET ON A BRAND NEW VEHICLE.