This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact-??s sister-in-law owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed and the mechanic determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that his sister-in-law was informed that the VIN was included in a recall; however, the contact-??s sister-in-law was not notified of a recall prior to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the recall notification was sent to the prior owner due to the contact-??s information not being updated. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Engine oil consumption: I have owned this car since November 2022 and took my Kia Optima to Valvoline for an oil change in December 2022 because my oil light came on and it turns out that my car was 3 quarts low and they topped my oil off for me. 1 month (January 2023) later my oil light in my car did NOT come on but the check your engine light did and it seemed like it was losing power. So in order not to damage the engine I had it towed to my home when we arrived at my home oil started coming out of the car at the bottom while it was still on the tow truck lift the car was facing down hill
I took my Kia Optima to Century 3 Kia for an oil change in August of 2022. 2 months later my oil light comes in my car but I still have 2000 miles left until next oil change. I called Century 3 Kia complaining of a flashing oil light. They told me since I still have 2000 miles until the next oil Change, the mechanic must-??ve just forgot to reset the car after they did my oil Change and that-??s why it-??s flashing. They told me to come down so they can reset it. They reset it and sent me on my way without even checking my oil. After leaving I still had the oil light on so I took it to a mechanic close to home to check my oil and I barely had any in there. I topped the oil off and the light went away. I sent Kia consumer an email after this visit complaining of the bad service I received and how they made me drive with no oil. I attached the email. I then scheduled an appointment at a different Kia dealership - South Hills kia for a new oil change and told them to please check my oil because I believe it could be burning. South Hills Kia performed a multi point inspection and gave me an oil change and told me my car had no signs of leaking or burning oil and is good to go. Not even a month after the new oil change my engine blows and the dealer told me it-??s because of burning oil and I-??ll need a whole new engine. My car is a 17 Optima with 61,000 miles and just a mout of warranty. It-??s always been up to date on oil changes. It-??s upsetting because I trusted Kia and now my vehicle is down because of them and they want me to pay.
Engine oil consumption, I have owned this car since new and almost every other week I need to add oil. My car has 85k miles on it, and has been service by dealer since new, just 2 months ago Pomona kia said my oil pan gasket had a small leak and replaced the gasket, today 3500 miles after the gasket replacement my car needed 3 quarts of oil. I'm not a mechanic but I know my car should not go trough so much oil. Someone please help.
I purchase the car at the end of November of 2022 from drive time. I was driving on January 8th 2023 and the car speed reduced and the check engine light started flashing
- Warner Robins , GA, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
I am a service provider. On 9/15/2022, a customer, who owns the vehicle with attached VIN, came for an oil change in his 2017 Kia Optima. On 11/11/2022, after nearly 2 months and 2,964 miles, the customer and vehicle owner called to tell us his car was broken down on the side of the road. Upon inspection, it was found that the oil drain plug had fallen out of the vehicle after nearly 3,000 miles. As a result, there is engine failure on the vehicle. Due to the mileage, we went to Kia West Broad in Richmond, VA to ask for their opinion. They were unwilling to assist the customer. I believe this falls in line with the current investigation from the NHTSA into Kia drain pan assemblies and drain plug issues. I have repeatedly been hung up on by Kia when asking them questions surrounding their willingness to assist this customer who is without transportation. Each time that I ask about the investigation, I am put on hold and then hung up on.
On June 5th 2022 as I was traveling out of state with my wife and daughter the car lost power on the highway. I pulled over to the side when safe and noticed whitish grey smoke puffing from under the hood by the hinges. Being a fire lieutenant, I recognized this as the car being on fire. We exited the vehicle, my daughter was asleep in the back seat, so it was a panic to wake her and make sure she got out away from traffic. Within the 3 minutes I was on the phone with 911 the car was engulfed. A few minutes after the first Chief arrived the fire had reached the fuel tank and the vehicle exploded, approximately 8 minutes in. I opened a claim with my insurance and with Kia America. Kia has taken the blame but refused to replace the vehicle, instead offering me $15000 for the car with only 57000 miles on it. After fighting with Kia for 3 weeks during my claim they finally provided me with a rental vehicle paid for by their insurance. To this date they have not paid for said rental and I am now on the hook for the $930 charge. This event has caused much undue stress on me, I already have cardiac issues, my wife and daughter still have nightmares from the event. Kia inspected the vehicle which is totally burned, they found it to be an engine failure causing oil to spill onto the hot exhaust. They accepted blame. There was no warning, no noises, no lights. I never received a recall notice, I found out about the recall from my insurance after the fact. Kia has been less than helpful.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that oil was leaking from the vehicle onto the driveway of her home. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the mechanic stated that the spark plugs needed to be replaced. The sparks plugs were replaced but the failure persisted. On another occasion, the contact noticed that oil was leaking from under the vehicle again, and the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was oil cylinder #3 spark plug. The spark plug and PCV valve was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the contact would receive a call back. The failure mileage was 93,226.
For the past 5-6 months I-??m have ongoing issues with my engine and excessive oil consumption. I-??ve completed the three oil consumption test per 1000 miles. On the last test(3rd check), I was told I passed and nothing further was needed. Approximately 1 month after that my engine light illuminated and my car violently shook upon acceleration and while sitting idle. Was informed it was my spark plugs and electric coil-?? oh and a routine oil change, which I paid to have repaired at approx. $650 this was in late August/Early September. Now here we are in late October and my oil lamp is on yet again! My car does not achieve speeds no higher than 50 mph. I-??ve been to the dealership 7 times since April 2022. There-??s an expense with owning cars but this is ridiculous. I-??m currently a few hundred miles shy of 80,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made knocking sounds with the check engine, ABS, and traction control warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
Hello I've been having my car for a year I told the dealership the problem but it seem as they don't want to fix it My car wouldn't go over 60miles and also my engine just locked up this doesn't make sense when they know these problems are a recall on this type of vehicles
The motor seems to have a knocking noise accompanied by constantly burning oil and sparks plugs. Constant misfires and check engine light appearing during the year after replacing spark plugs and ignition coils.
Hey, while driving my vehicle the engine light started blinking and there was a delay in my acceleration and when I got to 60-65 mph my car begins to stall and will NOT drive any faster. Also I sent my car to the dealership for repair 08/15/22 and they still haven-??t diagnosed the car yet even after I received letter in mail for recall. Please help thank you
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the vehicle entered limp mode as several warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the dealer and was informed that his vehicle was under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V844000 (Engine), which they linked to his failure. Despite the recall repair, the failure occurred on two additional occasions. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where an additional software update was performed; however, the failure continued. The manufacturer was notified about the failure and sent an investigator to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.
Bought this car 10 months ago with 16000 miles on it my enjine light is on car wouldnt start its 2017 kia optima also my passenger seatbelt sign on my dash keeps going off and nobody is in the seat so i have to fasten the seat belt just so it will stop dinging while i drive my front passenger side brakes sound like they are scrubbing when u stop i had mechanic look at it he said he dont see nothing he resurfaced my rotors and its still making that noise
On November 16, 2020, Lucy Robinson was driving her 2017 Kia Optima when she started seeing smoke. She pulled into a gas station and the engine was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A cause and origin was conducted and it was found that the fire originated within the engine compartment. The fire was caused by the release of heated oil coming from the leaking PCV located at the top portion of the valve cover.
Check Engine Light started FLASHING on and off constantly. The car started to have a hitch and felt like it had less power. I had the code checked and it had a code of P1326. This appears to be an issue with the engine and could be quite serious.
The contact owns a 2017 Kia Optima. The contact stated after the oil was changed at 1,200 miles, the vehicle stalled and there was an excessive oil consumption failure. The contact replaced the oil more times than the manufacturer recommended interval. The oil warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed of an excessive oil consumption failure with the Hybrid models only. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Car overheated without any forewarning or indication lights being displayed. Causing hydraulic and engine to fail. Kia is not taking responsibility for the rod bearings causing the overheat. They are saying at the dealership my car was not part of this recall. They refuse to fix it and want me to pay for the new engine myself. Three mechanics have already stated that the hydraulic can be caused by the rod bearings. They are denying the claim
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Hagerstown, MD, USA