2015 Kia Optima
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 1,008 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 2nd highest complaint count among 20 Optima model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 31 involved a crash and 74 involved a fire. 23 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideMay 10, 2021
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles previously recalled under recall 20V-519. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
An electrical short in the HECU increases the risk of a fire while parked or driving.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. Dealers will install a new multi-fuse, and inspect the HECU for leaks, replacing the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 2, 2021. This recall supersedes previous NHTSA recall number 20V-519. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC212.
Campaign 21V331000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideAug 27, 2020
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Optima and 2014-2015 Sorento vehicles. Brake fluid may leak inside the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), possibly resulting in an electrical short.
If the HECU short circuits, there is an increased risk of an engine compartment fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HECU for leaking brake fluid and replace the HECU if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from other vehicles and structures until the recall repair is completed. The recall began October 20, 2020. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC197.
Campaign 20V519000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, hoses, lines/piping, and fittingsDec 19, 2018
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Optima, 2012-2017 Sorento and 2011-2018 Sportage vehicles that previously received an engine replacement under recall number 17V-224, warranty, or the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) Product Improvement Campaign. The high pressure fuel pipe that connects to the fuel pump outlet may have been damaged, misaligned or improperly torqued during the engine replacement procedure, possibly causing a fuel leak.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Kia has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pipe, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC172.
Campaign 18V907000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
647 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Apr 11, 2018
I OWN A 2015 KIA OPTIMA LX. THIS PAST WEEKEND, I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN MY CAR JUST SHUT DOWN. I THEN HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD DUE TO THE CAR HAD NO POWER. I TURNED THE KEY OFF, AND TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AGAIN. BUT IT JUST CLICK ONCE AND THAT WAS IT. IT NEVER WOULD START AGAIN, I HAD THE CAR TOWED HOME AND PUT IN MY DRIVEWAY UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I CALLED JEFFERY KIA THE NEXT DAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THEM. AFTER TWO DAYS, THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZE UP AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD WITH JUST UNDER 60,000 MILES AND HAS A FULL WARRANTY. BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT SINCE I DID NOT HAVE THEM DO MY OIL CHANGES THAT THEY REQUIRED ME TO BRING THEM RECEIPTS FROM OTHER PLACES TO PROVE THE OIL WAS BEING CHANGED. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I DO MY OWN OIL CHANGES, DUE TO I DON'T TRUST OIL CHANGE ESTABLISHMENTS. THE DEALER THEN REQUESTED THAT I BRING THEM RECEIPTS FROM WHERE I BOUGHT THE OIL AND FILTER TO PROVE THAT THE OIL WAS BEING CHANGED. I TOLD THE DEALER WHO KEEPS RECEIPTS LIKE THAT!!! WHY WOULD I KEEP RECEIPTS FOR OIL THAT I BOUGHT AT A AUTO PARTS STORE. I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP SUCH RECEIPTS. BUT AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH CONCERNING THIS ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF KIA, I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. BACK IN 2014, KIA AND HYUNDAI BOTH RECALLED 1.2 MILLION VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. AND IT APPEARS, THAT IT IS STILL NO CORRECTED. THEY SHOULD BE THE ONES TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR FOR THIS ISSUE, SINCE THEY KNEW ABOUT IT FROM THE START AND FAILED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT UNTIL IT AFFECTED TONS OF INNOCENT BUYERS.
Engine, Apr 9, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PATRICK KIA (4810 NINE MILE RD, RICHMOND, VA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL IN THE ENGINE WAS NOT BEING CORRECTLY DISTRIBUTED AND RECOMMENDED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. *TT
Engine, Apr 3, 2018
I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA THAT COMPLETELY DIED ON ME ON 4/1/18. WE WERE WAITING TO TURN INTO A BUSINESS PARKING LOT AND THE ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF IN THE TURNING LANE. WE TRIED JUMPING IT AND IT DID NOTHING. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY AND BEFORE THEY EVEN LOOKED AT IT, THEY WERE SAYING THE ENGINE PROBABLY SEIZED AND SAID WE NEED TO GET OUR OIL CHANGE RECORDS TOGETHER BECAUSE WE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THEY PROCEEDED TO TRY AND BLAME IT ON US AS WE DID NOT GO TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED. WHO WOULD THINK TO SAVE OIL CHANGE RECORDS?! WE'VE OWNED MANY DIFFERENT CARS AND NEVER HAD TO DO THIS OR EVER HAD OUR ENGINE SEIZE. KIA WILL MOST LIKELY REFUSE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD COST $7,000 AND POSSIBLY TAKE UP TO A MONTH TO COMPLETE. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS CAR AND CAN'T DO ANYTHING WITH IT. SINCE WE'RE A ONE CAR FAMILY, WE WERE FORCED TO GO OUT AND BUY ANOTHER CAR LAST NIGHT. I'M DISGUSTED WITH HOW WE WERE TREATED AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AGAIN. THEY SHOULD BE PAYING OFF MY LOAN BECAUSE THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE ENGINE ISSUES IN THE 2011-2014 OPTIMAS, AND STILL SOLD US A CAR THAT WAS POSSIBLY DEFECTIVE.
Engine, Mar 19, 2018
OIL LIGHT WARNING DISPLAYED. TOOK IT TO NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. WAS TOLD THERE WAS METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. ENGINE NEEDED REPLACING. SAME DIAGNOSIS AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 17V224000 RECALL!
Engine, Mar 18, 2018
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.
Engine, Mar 9, 2018
METAL FOUND IN ENGINE. VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. HAS TO BE REPLACED.
Engine, Feb 8, 2018
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.
Engine, Feb 5, 2018
THE MOTOR STOPPED WHILE DRIVING, IT LOCKED UP.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 24, 2018
MY VEHICLE IS RANDOMLY DISPLAYING 'GOODBYE' ON THE DASHBOARD AND IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS STARTED FROM NOWHERE WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING SIGNALS. I'VE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 6 MONTHS AND IT HAS LESS THAT 30,000 MILES ON IT. THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER I'LL READ ABOUT SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. I MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE ACCORDING TO HOW KIA SUGGESTS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS I AM SOMETIMES HEADING TO WORK, GOING ABOUT 65 MILES OR MORE OR THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JUST STOPS. IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO SHUT OFF IMMEDIATELY AFTER CRANKING, AND A NOISE IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH SOUNDS LIKE METAL IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE REFRAINED FROM DRIVING THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY, DUE TO FEAR OR LOSS OF LIFE. THE SUDDEN STOPPING OF THE VEHICLE HAS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS GOING ABOUT 30-40 MPH, AS WELL AS ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH.
Engine, Dec 28, 2017
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)
Power train, Engine, Nov 21, 2017
I HAVE A 2015 KIA OPTIMA WITH 24,300 MILES I PURCHASE MY CAR BRAND NEW FROM SOUTHWEST KIA . I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE I HAD JUST RECENTLY HAD OIL CHANGE AT WALMART 700 MILES LATER MY OIL LIGHT STARTED APPEARING. I TOOK IT TO KIA BECAUSE RECENTLY HAVING OIL CHANGE AND CAR WAS NO LONGER REGISTERING OIL. KIA WENT ON TO TELL VERY LITTLE OIL WAS IN MY CAR I INFORMED THEM THAT I HAD JUST HAD OIL CHANGED 700 MILES AGO. SO FROM THERE DEALERSHIP DID OIL CHANGE. I WAS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP WEEK LATER WITH SAME ISSUE. SERVICE STATED THAT HE FOUND SLUDGE AND I STATED THAT I HAVE HELD UP MY END OF THE DEAL WITH OIL CHANGES AS WELL AS I PROVIDED MY RECEIPT OR OIL CHANGES. DEALERSHIP IS NOT WILLING TO HOLD UP THERE 100,000 POWER TRAIN WARRANTY STATING THAT I WAS NOT GETTING OIL CHANGED IN A TIMELY MANNER WHICH IS BS. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND I FOUND OTHER 2015 KIA OPTIMA OWNER WERE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS I AM HAVING WITH CAR EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE,OIL SLUDGE AND ENGINE PROBLEMS AS I AM. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH KIA CONSUMER DEPT FOR HELP. I HAVE ALSO BEEN IN CONTACT WITH CHANNEL 11 AND CHANNEL 4 CONSUMER JUSTICE DEPT. I HAVE ATTACHED COPIES OF OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. YOU WE WORK HARD TO PAY FOR AND TO HAVE A RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE DEALERSHIP NOT TO HOLD UP THERE END OF THE DEAL. I BELIEVE THAT KIA IS AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND NEGLECTING TO HELP THE BUYERS WHO HAVE PURCHASE THESE CARS. IT'S STRANGE THAT I FOUND TEN OTHER 2015 KIA OPTIMA OWNERS WITH EXACT SAME ISSUE. 2014 MODELS HAVE ALREADY HAD A RECALL I THINK 2015 MODEL SHOULD BE INCLUDED TO THE RECALL. I HAVE ATTACHED OTHER KIA OWNERS COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL CAR.
Engine, Oct 30, 2017
THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING NOISE, THEN STALLED. UPON INSPECTION AT AUTO SHOP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND WAS A COMPLETE FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY AT AROUND 65 MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR HAS HAD ALL PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AND I CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION AS TO THAT
Engine, Oct 2, 2017
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER CUT OFF, - COASTED TO A COMPLETE STOP. ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. LIGHTS/RADIO ETC ALL WORK, SO NOT A BATTERY ISSUE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS OF THIS SAME VEHICLE SPECIFIC TO ENGINE FAILTURE.
Engine, Aug 15, 2017
ENGINE SEIZED UP AT 35K MILES. KIA DID NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND SAID IT WAS DUE TO MY PERSONAL MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE. BASICALLY TOLD ME THAT IF I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO KIA EVERYTIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED. SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME JUST TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER RECALL COMES OUT AND I WOULD GET MY 6000 DOLLARS BACK
Engine, Aug 11, 2017
CAR APPEARED TO STALL WHILE ON HIGHWAY. SAFELY PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. LOCAL SHOP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NEXT DAY A VERY LOUD KOCKING STARTED, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME OF THE ENGINE RECALL. WHILE MY YEAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL THEY WOULD BE REPLACING THE ENGINE ONCE I PROVIDE RECEIPTS SHOWING MY OIL CHANGES DONE OUTSIDE OF THEIR LOCATION.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 10, 2017
KEEP HEARING A LOUD RATTLING NOISE FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. HE IS MORE SO WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND EARLY MORNING. HAS GONE TO THE SHOP TWICE FOR THIS ISSUES AND EACH TIME HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM EVEN PROVIDED A RECORDING OF THE SOUND. ALSO THE RADIO COMPLETE SHUTS OFF BY ITSELF HAS DONE THIS 3 TIMES NOW. ONCE AGAIN HAVE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WOULD NOT DUPLICATE IT'S SELF. THE PASSENGER WINDOW GETS STUCK AND HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE KNOBS IN ORDER TO GET IT TO COME BACK UP. I GOT THIS CAR JULY 21. 2017. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOW TWICE. FIRST TIME FOR A WEEK. SECOND TIME 6 DAYS. STILL NO SOLUTION. WAS TOLD BY LEMON LAW TO TAKE IT BACK AND HAVE THEM SERVICE IT AGAIN. HAS TO BE SEEN BY DEARER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BEFORE THEY WILL HELP.
Engine, Jul 28, 2017
YOUR SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE CAR JUST STALLS/TURNS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHAT SO EVER. THIS ACTUALLY JUST STARTED TODAY. AFTER LOOKING IT UP, IT SEEMS TO BE HAPPENING QUITE A BIT & NOTHING IS BEING DONE BY KIA. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, NOT TO MENTION SCARY! IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!
Engine, Jul 8, 2017
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.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 7, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR STOPPED ON ME DURING TRAFFIC FLOW. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AND I WAS ALMOST KILLED WITH MY SMALL CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITH THIS ISSUE FOR OVER A WHOLE YEAR. ON JULY 3,2017 MY MOTHER AND I WAS COMING HOME ON THE FWY AND ONCE AGAIN, DURING TRAFFIC FLOW, MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO GET A SAFE SPOT BEFORE I CRASHED BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY CARS COMING BEHIND ME SO FAST AND THE SIDE RAMPS WE'RE VERY NARROW. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICING BUT FOR SOME REASON, THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I HAVE TAKING IT IN AND EVEN LEFT WITH THEM FOR ALMOST A WHOLE MONTH AT ONE TIME AND STILL NO DIAGNOSIS. RENTAL CAR AFTER RENTAL CAR. THEY INSTALLED A DATA RECORDER IN MY CAR AND THE FIRST TIME THEY FOUND NO DATA, THEN THEY INSTALLED IT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER WEEK AND THEY CLAIM THAT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP RELAY. SO THEY INSTALLED A NEW FUEL PUMP RELAY IN MY CAR. A FEW WEEKS LATER MY CAR SHUT DOWN AGAIN ON THE WAY COMING HOME AND IN THE FREEWAY WITH MY MOTHER AND 2 YEAR NEICE. WE WE'RE ALMOST KILLED. THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AND SAYS "GOODBYE" WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING THIS IS HOW I KNOW THAT THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE. PLEASE HELP IF YOU CAN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THIS CAR AND WE ARE IN DANGER. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS IN THE CAR CUT ON AND OFF TOO.
Engine, Jun 30, 2017
ENGINE STALLS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN OR CONTINUE. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM SENSE 2015
Engine, May 28, 2017
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..
Engine, May 11, 2017
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.
Engine, May 10, 2017
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
Engine, May 3, 2017
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.
Engine, Apr 19, 2017
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.