2011 KIA OPTIMA Complaints

I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I LOST ALL BRAKES AND STEERING AND LUCKILY WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A NEARBY SAFE PLACE. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I BROUGHT IT TO A NEARBY MECHANIC AND AFTER A THOROUGH INSPECTION STARTING AT THE STARTER, THEY DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED I HAVE DONE REGULAR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGES THE LIFE OF THE OPTIMA. THE ENGINE ONLY HAD 130,000 MILES AND THE OIL EXPLANATION WAS POSSIBLE BAD BEARINGS FROM FACTORY IN THE ON THE CRANKSHAFT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND WHEN I CALLED KIA THEY GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND WITH NO EXPLANATION. ITS OVER $4000 TO REPLACE WITH ANOTHER USED MOTOR WITH NO GAURANTEES THAT THE USED INSTALL WILL BE ANY BETTER. KIA REALLY NEEDS TO BACK THIS WITH A RECALL. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR FACTORY DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS OUT OF POCKET. NOR WILL I CONTINUE MAKING PAYMENTS ON A JUNK CAR. NOT ONLY IS THIS COSTING ME HARDSHIP BUT NOW POSSIBLY MY CREDIT SCORE!!

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE THAT YOU FEEL IN STEERING WHEEL, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. IT IS WORSE IN REVERSE.

STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLICKING SOUND WHEN TURNING. BOUGHT IT INTO A COLLISION CENTER, THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT IT WAS A SERVICE RECALL ON OPTIMA. HE KNEW THAT SOUND BEFORE I DESCRIBED IT TO HIM. BRAKE LIGHT BULB BLOWS AS SOON AS YOU PUT THEM IN. THE TECH SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

WHILE DRIVING ON STREETS OR HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH AND UP, A CONSTANT RATTLE IS HEARD INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN. A LOUD CLUNK/RATTLE IS HEARD IF DRIVING OVER A BUMP. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE PARKED, THERE IS A THUD AND A THUD IS ALSO FELT. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED ME THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MILEAGE ON CAR WHEN BROUGHT TO DEALER WAS 63,000(61,000) WHEN APT WAS INITIALLY MADE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A 2 DOLLAR PART BUT WOULD COST 350 TO REPLACE IT. THE WARRANTY FOR STEERING WHEEL PARTS EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. PART WAS NOT REPLACED AT THAT TIME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,106.

STEERING COLUMN FEELS LOOSE ESPECIALLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR RAILROAD TRACKS. GOING TO TAKE IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT TODAY. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS AND GETTING WORSE WHEN I LAST DROVE IT ON 9/23/15.

WHILE BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPACE, HEARD AND FELT A LOW THUD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND ALSO TO THE RIGHT. WHILE DRIVING SPEEDS ABOUT 20-30 MPH IT APPEARS FINE. IT IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS >10MPH AND GOING OVER BUMPS OF ANY KIND WHILE TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS DEFINITELY ON THE UPPER STEERING COLUMN CLOSE TO STEERING. MAKING APPOINTMENT TO HAVE KIA DEALERSHIP TO LOOK INTO THIS.

DRIVING DOWN EXPRESS WHEN ENGINE STARTED TO LOOSE OIL. PULLED OVER ON SHOULDER, NOTICE A CLICKING NOISE AND SMELLED BURNING OIL. DEALER FOUND HOLE IN SIDE OF ENGINE BLOCK. STATED NEEDS NEW ENGINE AND QUOTED AND ESTIMATED PRICE OF $5,875.64 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 46,000 MILES INSTALLED. HAD CAR REPAIRED AT ANOTHER PLACE FOR $5477.06 WITH 41,000 MILES. THIS SHOP SAID THE ENGINE HAD A ROD KNOCK THEN LOCKED UP. NEEDS THE ENGINE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SAME 2.4 LITER ENGINE THAT IS BEING RECALLED FOR THE HYUNDAI SONATAS.

WHILE SITTING WITH THE CAR RUNNING THE STEERING WHEEL HAS PLAY AND MAKES A KNOCKING SOUND WHILE MOVING THE WHEN BACK AND FORTH. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL GARAGE AND THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE TELESCOPING LINKAGE FROM THE RACK AND PION STEERING BUT THE LINKAGE WAS FINE AND TIGHT LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO BE. THE TECH STATED IT HAS TO BE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU DRIVE OVER A BUMP YOU CAN HEAR THE RATTLING IN THE STEERING WHEEL.

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES CLUNKING NOISE, LEFT TO RIGHT PLAY. THE VEHICLE'S STEERING COLUMN ALSO RATTLES LOUDLY OVER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, $350 REPAIR.