2001 KIA OPTIMA Complaints

ON NOVEMBER 3, 2007 MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER BROUGHT OUR 2001 KIA OPTIMA TO ATLANTIC KIA IN LINDENHURST NY FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. AFTER WAITING SEVERAL HOURS, MY WIFE WAS TOLD THAT THE ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE DONE ON THE CAR DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES, AND TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO WHERE THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED. THE TIRES ARE 4 MONTHS OLD. SHE THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO PEP BOYS IN PATCHOGUE, NY. THEY SAID THEY WOULD INSPECT THE TIRES AND OFFERED TO DO THE ALIGNMENT. AFTER SEVERAL MORE HOURS, A TECHNICIAN BROUGHT MY WIFE TO THE LIFT WHERE THE CAR WAS AND SHOWED HER WHY THE CAR COULD NOT BE ALIGNED. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME OF THE CAR, BECAUSE THE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR UP WAS THE TIRE. THE TECH THEN TOLD HER THAT THE CAR SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND ASKED WHERE THE DEALER WAS LOCATED. SINCE THE DEALER IS LOCATED ABOUT 20 MILES FROM THAT SHOP, MY WIFE WAS TOLD THAT SHE COULD NOT DRIVE IT THERE, THE CAR WAS VERY UNSAFE. ATLANTIC KIA WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. SHE WAS TOLD TO CALL BACK ON MONDAY THE 5TH. SHE DID, AND WAS GIVEN RUDE AND UNACCEPTABLE TREATMENT FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER. SHE WAS ALLOWED TO DRIVE A HAZARDOUS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER AND THEN IN TURN WAS TREATED VERY BADLY. ATLANTIC KIA WANTS TO TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CAR EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR OTHER PROBLEMS IN THE PAST. *TR

INPUT AND OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR FAILURE. FAILURE OF SENSORS CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO DROP FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD GEAR. FROM THERE TRANSMISSION CAN ONLY SHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR USING "SPORT SHIFT-STICK" . ON A GOOD DAY WITHOUT PROBLEMS ENGINE IS SLUGGISH. VERY SCARY TO DRIVE. *TR

I HAVE SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN ENGINE DROPPED INTO 3RD GEAR AND WOULDN'T GET OUT OF IT. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AT THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND THE SPEED SENSORS WERE SHOT. IF I KEEP DRIVING IT LIKE THIS I AM GOING TO BLOW THE TRANSMISSION, IF IT IS NOT ALREADY BLOWN! I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THEY WERE SHUT DOWN. I CALLED ANOTHER DEALER TO LOOK UP MY WARRANTY INFORMATION ONLY TO FIND THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED 1 MONTH BEFORE THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHERE I PURCHASED IT TOLD ME THAT I WOULD BE COVERED WITH A 10 YEAR OR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 6 MONTHS. I BOUGHT IT USED, AND IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! THEY SOLD ME THIS CAR UNDER FALSE PRETENCES, AND APPARENTLY, IT IS GOING TO COST ME $180.00 TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE PART. I HAVE 36,000 MILES ON THIS CAR, AND THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING THEY CAN DO. I HAVE HAD BETTER CARS THAT HAVE RUN BETTER THAN THIS! I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA AGAIN!*AK

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2001 NEW. I HAD MANY PROBLEMS SINCE THEN. THE ALTERNATOR AND AXLES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN 2005. THE LOCKS ARE MALFUNCTIONED. THEY AUTOMATICALLY LOCK CAUSING US TO GET LOCKED IN THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A WHILE. THE CAR STALLS, JERKS WHEN I AM DRIVING. THE CAR FAILED INSPECTION NOVEMBEER 30-EMISSIONS RELATED. THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED IN OCTOBER. I HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY REPAIRING THIS CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I PURCHASED IT FROM KIA /BRONX. MY CAR WAS THERE FOR 4 DAYS. THE SERVICE MECHANIC REFUSED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS AND TOLD ME TO PICK UP MY CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED AND I AM STILL UNABLE TO GET IT INSPECTED. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER. THEY ARE OF NO HELP. THEY TELL ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER. THEY ALSO KEEP REMINDING ME THAT THE BASIC WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERS THE POWERTRAIN. HOWEVER, IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION, THEY MAY ASK FOR MAINTENANCE RECORDS. THE CAR IS CLEARLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE TWO RECALLS ON THE 2001 KIAS WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT. THE TWO RECALLS MAY BE THE PROBLEMS MY CAR IS HAVING. I AM CLASSIFYING MY CAR AS A LEMON AND WOULD LIKE HELP IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 01V156000, REGARDING THE AIRBAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

JUST PUT MY 2 YR OLD DAUGHTER IN HER CAR SEAT, LOADED THE GROCERIES INTO THE CAR ALONG WITH MY PURSE AND KEYS. SHUT THE DOOR. DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. HAD TO CALL 911 FOR POLICE TO COME AND GET MY DAUGHTER OUT OF CAR. ALSO HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR, HAD THE KEYS AND STILL COULD NOT GET DOORS UNLOCKED. THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A FLUKE UNTIL I READ OTHER REPORTS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENING IN KIAS. *NM

WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT THE CAR AND DROVE IT, THE LIGHTS BECAME DIM IN THE INSIDE AND THE HEADLIGHTS. THE RADIO TURNED OFF AND ON, TOOK IT TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES FOR PROBLEM AND THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR DOESN'T PICK UP SPEND WHEN GOING OVER HILLS NOT EVEN LITTLE ONES. THE GAS NEEDLE DOES NOT READ FULL EVEN WHEN THE TANK IS PRACTICALLY OVERFLOWING WITH GAS. READING A FULL TANK OF GAS HAPPENS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON . HAVE TAKEN TO SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY SPEND SENSOR IS GOING OUT AND THAT IS WHY THE CAR IS GOING FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR AND SKIPS 2ND ALTOGETHER I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR ONE YEAR THE WARRINTY IS GONE AND I WAS NEVER OFFERED THE EXTENDED WARRINTY AND REALLY DIDN'T THINK OF IT SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YR OLD. BACK BRAKES HAVE ALSO GONE OUT AT LEAST I THINK SO THEY STARTED GRINDING WITH NO WARNING 2 DAYS AGO I'M GOING TO HAVE THEM CHECKED THIS WEEKEND. AIR (NEVER USED BEFOE THIS SUMMER)DOESN'T GET COLD LIKE IT SHOULD. DOOR LOCK MAKING A CRAZY SOUND ON DRIVERS SIDE, BELIEVE THE MOTOR IS GOING OUT ON POWER LOCKS THEY ALSO TEND TO NOT WANT TO UNLOCK SOMETIMES. ATENNA BROKE.AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T TURN OFF. ALSO HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF ANY RECALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN FIXED ON MY CAR OR NOT OR IF THEY STILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALERS AGREED TO REPLACE THE AIR BAGS BUT WITH A CHARGE FOR LABOR. ONE MONTH LATER THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT TRAVELING 15 MPH IN RESIDENTIAL AREA. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES INCURRED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPDATED 7/7/2006 - *NM

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING & WOULD GO OUT REPEATEDLY. WHEN I CALLED THE KIA 800 NUMBER WAS TOLD PROBABLY NOTHING. BUT YOU MIGHT WANT TO SCHEDULE IT IN WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER. I ASKED "DO I NEED TO BE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY". HE SAID PROBABLY NOT, IF YOU ARE CONCERNED THAT IT MIGHT DEPLOY YOU ARE BETTER OFF NOT DRIVING IT. I TOLD HIM I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT AIRBAGS, HE REPEATED,"IF I BELIEVE THERE IS REASON TO BE CONCERNED, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY JUST PARK IT." I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR CENTER THAT IS NEAR MY HOME & WAS TOLD THAT THE "CLOCK SPRING" IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN & THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY AT ANYTIME WITHOUT CAUSE OR IN A COLLISION IT MAY NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER BACK & ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS ON THE AIRBAG FOR A 2001 KIA OPTIMA LE & WAS TOLD THEY WILL NOT DISCUSS RECALLS WITH ME AT ALL WITHOUT THE VIN #. I ASKED SPECIFICALLY ABOUT AIRBAG PROBLEMS FOR THE OPTIMA 2001& TOLD HIM I DIDN'T HAVE THE VIN# BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE SHOP. HE STATED THEY WOULD NOT DISCUSS ANY RECALLS WITHOUT MY NAME, ADDRESS AND/OR THE VIN#, I SAID I WOULD FIX IT THEN SUBMIT CHARGES IF RECALLED THE 800# SAID THAT IF IT IS RECALLED AFTER I REPAIR IT I MAY NOT GET REIMBURSED IF IT WASN'T DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO SCHEDULE IT, THEY SAID TO BRING IT IN. I TOLD THEM I WOULD BE TOWING IT IN & THEY WANTED TO KNOW WHY TOWED IN. I TOLD THEM THE REPAIR CENTER SAID THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT NOTICE, THEY SAID IT COULD BUT NOT NECESSARILY. I BELIEVE THAT KIA HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THE FACT A PERSON COULD DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS PROBLEM AROSE WITHOUT ANY INDICATION & I ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM & NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, I HOPE THE NHTSA WILL. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AT 15 MPH AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUFFERED NO INJURIES DUE TO THE FACT THE SEAT BELT WAS WORN. THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND PROVIDED A WRITTEN REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DEEMED IT TOTALED. UPDATED 05/04/06