Walker, LA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The paint is defective/chipping. Now, rusting has occurred.
NHTSA complaint #11462965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2014 KIA Optima window and wiper problems
13 of the 786 complaints about the 2014 KIA Optima are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 21,000 miles.
13
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
6
46.2%
Visibility/Wiper
5
38.5%
Windshield
1
7.7%
Glass, Side/Rear
1
7.7%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every KIA Optima year
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 76,110 miles
Fairburn, GA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, GRAVEL FELL OFF OF A HEAVY TRUCK AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,110.
NHTSA complaint #11325518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Vernon, WA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WHEN WINTER (THE COLD)COMES MY BACK UP CAMERA STOPS WORKING. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH KIAS
NHTSA complaint #11280557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 46,000 miles
Bartlett, TN
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND GLASS SHATTERED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED GOSSETT KIA AT 901-328-8177 (LOCATED AT 1900 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128) AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, FILED A REPORT, AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW-UP WITH THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.
NHTSA complaint #11133275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 26,000 miles
Wellsburg, VA
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A & B AUTO SALES (100 MARSHALL ST N, BENWOOD, WV 26031, (304) 233-1480) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11114670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 21,000 miles
Makawao, HI
VISIBILITY/WIPER
DRIVING HOME AND MY ENTIRE BACK WINDOW SHATTERS OUT OF NO WHERE. LOOKS LIKE IT CRACKED AROUND THE EDGE.
NHTSA complaint #11065474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 40,000 miles
Denver, CO
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY FRACTURED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #10956317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,000 miles
East NEW Market, MD
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED AND A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND WAS HEARD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.
NHTSA complaint #10731310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 250 miles
Massillion, OH
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FACTORY DESIGN REAR VIEW WINDOW WAS DIFFICULT TO VIEW THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.
NHTSA complaint #10652181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 250 miles
Massillion, OH
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FACTORY DESIGN REAR VIEW WINDOW WAS DIFFICULT TO VIEW THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.
NHTSA complaint #10652181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20 miles
Columbiana, OH
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD LEAVE STREAKS AND SMEAR THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A VISIBILITY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. UPDATED 01/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER CHANGING THE WIPERS MULTIPLE TIMES THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO CHANGE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WINDSHIELD WITH THE FACTORY PARTS FOR A 200.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE CONSUMER DECLINED.
NHTSA complaint #10649222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,746 miles
Lansing, IL
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
AS WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARDS. THE SUNROOF IS BOWED UPWARDS AND GLASS FRAGMENTS WERE ON THE TOP AND TRUNK DECK OF THE CAR. NOTHING STRUCK THE CAR, THE SUNROOF LITERALLY EXPLODED OUTWARDS. AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES FOR EXPLODING SUNROOFS IN BOTH THE OPTIMA AND THE KIA SORENTO.
NHTSA complaint #10641693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,000 miles
Fredericksburg, VA
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-95 IN VIRGINIA, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION LIKE A GUNSHOT. MOMENTS LATER, I HEARD THE SOUND OF AIR RUSHING PAST FROM ABOVE MY HEAD AND DEBRIS VIBRATING ON THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SCREEN. I LATER FOUND THAT IT WAS BROKEN GLASS CRACKLING AND FALLING AGAINST THE INTERIOR SUNROOF SCREEN. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY TO CHECK THE ROOF FOR DAMAGE. WHAT I FOUND WAS A GAPING HOLE (8-12 INCHES IN DIAMETER) IN THE GLASS OF THE FRONT SUNROOF. I WAS NOT NEAR ANY OVERPASS OR WORK TRUCKS, NOR DID I EVER OBSERVE ANYTHING STRIKING THE CAR AT ANY TIME- NOT DURING THIS INCIDENT OR EVER BEFORE. I SERIOUSLY THOUGHT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXPLOSION OR GUNSHOT SOMEWHERE NEARBY. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. THE EXPLODING SOUND ALONE MIGHT CAUSE A PERSON TO GO OFF THE ROAD OR OTHERWISE SWERVE INTO TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10565194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.