2001 KIA OPTIMA Complaints

THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN OFF CENTERED COLLISION THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE BEING TOTALED. NONE OF THE FOUR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, EVEN AFTER THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE, AND WINDOW BREAKING. OWNER SUFFERED HEAD INJURY AND CHEST TRAUMA. *AK THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS DIMINISHED. *SCC

CONSUMER NOTICED RPMS CHANGING WHILE SET ON ONE SPEED. SOON AFTER VEHICLE WOULD SURGE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT COMPUTER CHIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHR INFORMATION.*AK

DURING SPRING/2002 NOTICED HESITATION OF CAR DURING ATTEMPTS TO PASS OTHER CARS ON THE HIGHWAY. HESITATION/DELAY WORSENED OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IT THEN DEVELOPED HESITATION AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND WOULD AT TIMES STALL OR SUDDENLY "LUNGE" AS ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED. THIS BECAME A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE WHEN COLD. AFTER A FEW MINUTES WITH THE ENGINE WARMED-UP IT SEEMS TO RUN FAIRLY WELL WITH EXCEPTION OF THE HESITATION/STALLING SENSATION WHEN PASSING. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM ON JULY 18. INITIALLY, THEY BELIEVED IT WAS THE COMPUTER, AN AIR SENSOR OR FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, KIA NOW STATES THE PROBLEM IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM LINKED TO SPRING/SUMMER GAS FORMULATION. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO MAKE SURE THE CAR WARMS UP SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE DRIVING AND THAT THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY IN THE FALL. OBVIOUSLY, IT WILL RECUR NEXT SPRING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PROVIDED US A RENTAL CAR AT NO CHARGE D/T THE WARRANTY. THEY HAVE BEEN EXCEPTIONALLY POLITE. KIA HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT SLOW ON THEIR END COMMUNICATING WITH US BUT POLITE AND CORDIAL. HOWEVER, THE CONCERN REMAINS WITH THE PROBLEM OF KNOWING HOW LONG TO WAIT TO WARM THE ENGINE AND THEN WHEN YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR ADAPTING TO THE SPEED THAT IS SOMEWHAT ERRATIC. THE CAR IS OFTEN PARKED IN PARKING GARAGE AND THIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR REPRESENTS SOME CONCERN WITH PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES MOVING IN A CONFINED SPACE.*AK

INSIDE TRUNK RELEASE WAS FAILING TO OPERATE. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BLOWER MOTOR STOPPED OPERATING, VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS BEFORE CORRECTION WAS MADE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS, CAUSEING PROBLEM WITH PULSATING AND VIBRATION WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS; HOWEVER, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

POWER LOCKS ON BOTH DOORS WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILLOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING, WON'T RESTART TURN KEY AND NO RESPONSE, DASH LIGHT COE ON BUT NORTHING FROM STARTER, WILL RESTART AFTER SITTING A WHILE, AC STOPS BLOWING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AT 300-40 MPH HEAD-ON AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK