89 of the
10,355 complaints filed about the KIA Optima
are about the stability control —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
89
Complaints
1%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
4
Fires
Stability & Traction Control complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the traction control, Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and auto high-beam warning lights were illuminated. The contact also stated that the four windows failed to function as needed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000.
NHTSA complaint #11605865 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an unknown recall repair which included a system update and while driving 45 MPH after the recall repair, the vehicle experienced inadvertent braking, without another vehicle nearby. The contact coasted the vehicle until the vehicle regained normal acceleration functionality. The contact stated that the Forward Collision Avoidance, Traction Control, ABS, and Blind Spot Detection system's warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the mechanic linked the failure to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000
NHTSA complaint #11504733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, there were knocking sounds before the engine suffered a failure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled over safely and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed with an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) unit software not being updated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,000.
NHTSA complaint #11480213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Electronic stability control activates (flashing light on dash) inappropriately; when not actually experiencing a traction issue. Most often occurs when accelerating from a stop at an intersection with any type of “dip” or unevenness between the roadways, such as lip from driveway to street. When it activates in these situations the engine power reduces significantly resulting in little to no torque and the vehicle is unable to properly accelerate. This becomes very dangerous when pulling onto roadways with through-traffic, as it is not possible to clear the intersection in the anticipated timeframe had the electronic stability control had not improperly engaged. My common reaction when this happens is to provide more acceleration, which the vehicle responds to once the roadway becomes even and results in an instant burst of engine power. This causes the tires to spin, reduced ability to control steering and a total loss if in a turn.
NHTSA complaint #11422213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING NOW IT STAYS ON PERMANENTLY. GOT AN INSPECTION AND FAILED BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAG LIGHT. THEY CAN NOT GET THE SPECIFICS OF WHY THE LIGHT IS ON
NHTSA complaint #11372663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KIA KIRBY VENTURA HAS REMOVED (2) OR MORE ACTIVE DANGEROUS RECALLS FROM VIN# OF THE VEHICLE THAT IS UNFORTUNATELY IN MY NANE. RECALL 1, STEERING WHEEL MDPS UNIT. I HAVE A LETTER NOTIFICATION DATED APRIL 24 2017 NO RECALL#. PLUS RECALL 18V363000 AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT THAT SHOULD APPLY BUT NEVER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. RECALL#17V224 ENGINE STALL/FREEZE ISSUE I HAVE RECALL NOTIFICE PLUS A NOTICE FROM THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ABT SPECIFIC RECALL THAT DOES EFFECT CAR. I MADE 2 ATTEMPTS AT KIA KIRBY VENTURA LAST YEAR, BEFORE COVID19, TO GET ENGINE RECALL FIXED CAR WAS EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS AS DESCRIBED ALMOST CASUED SERIOUS ACCIDENTS ON FREEWAY. I WAS DENIED BY SERVICE MANAGER DAVID BODJANAC SINCE DEALERSHIP, DURING 2ND VISIT TO HAVE ENGINE RECALL FIXED, KIA KIRBY VENTURA REMOVED RECALL FROM VIN# ASKED ME WHERE DID I GET RECALL NOTICE FROM? ENGINE ISSUE NOT FIXED. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY, THURS 10/15/20 EARLY EVENING IM COMING UP TO CORNER ENGINE STALLED TWICE AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN APPROCHING, TURNING. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING AT SLOWER RATE OF SPEED. COMING OUT OF TURN CAR ULTIMATLY MADE INTO MY PARKING LOT W/OUT CRASHING LUCKILY NO ONE WAS OUT WALKING. ENGINE CAR FROZE. LUCKILY IN FRONT OF PARKING SPACE, MANAGED TO FORCE CAR IN PARKING SPOT. NOW DISPUTING W/KIA KIRBY VENTURA, SM DAVID BODJANAC, WHO DENIED ENGINE RECALL OR ANY RECALL. KIA KIRBY VENTURA SERVICE W/UNDOUBTEDLY TELL ME ISSUE W/CAR HAS NOTHING TO DO W/ANY RECALLS. HAD I BEEN ON FWY WHICH I DRIVE ON 2, 3 TIMES A DAY OR BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHER RATE OF SPEED ON STREET AS I WAS I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. KIRBY KIA VENTURA SAID THEY W/GIVE 0 FOR CAR NOT RUNNING DUE TO RECALL BUT STILL IN GOOD CONDITION FULLY LOADED. IF CAR RUNNING THEY MITE GIVE ME $5500-$6000MAX..PER KB NOT RUNNING CARS VALUE $6923- $8852 IN FAIR CONDITION /MECHANICAL ISSUES & $7851-$9790 IN GOOD CONDITION.
NHTSA complaint #11364816 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT BEGAN WHEN WE WOULD TRY TO START THE CAR IT SEEMED TO HAVE BATTERY ISSUES AND HAVE TROUBLE STARTING, AND FINALLY THE BATTERY DID DRAIN BUT ISN'T HOLDING CHARGE BUT TOOK IT IN TO GET CHECKED AND BATTERY IS FINE. THE HEADLIGHTS WILL RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT LIKE IF THE SENSOR WERE IN THE DAY TIME. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING IT AND WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS IT JERKS THE CAR AFTER 20 MPH. THIS HAPPENS ON AND OFF WHERE IT WILL BE FINE THEN SUDDENLY START DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN EVERYTHING ALSO HAPPENS IN DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
NHTSA complaint #11363314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DOING ABOUT 45 WHEN I HEARD A SMALL POP & ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON & I LOST EVERYTHING. CAR CLICKS WHEN TRYING TO RESTART BUT DOES NOT START. OIL LIGHT, BATTERY LIGHT, EPS LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON NOW. I WAS TOLD THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE CARS AND WOULD LIKE TO GET IT FIXED ASAP AS IT'S MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.
NHTSA complaint #11361296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I GO TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION; THE CAR STALLS AND TURNS OFF AND THEN IT TURNS ITSELF BACK ON. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I DRIVE OVER 50 MPH THE CAR/TIRES START TO VIBRATE.
NHTSA complaint #11360439 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR IS GETTING A P2562 CODE WHICH IS FOR THE TURBOCHARGER BOOST CONTROL POSITION SENSOR. I'M HAVING A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY.
NHTSA complaint #11359972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE IN MOTION THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON BY THEMSELVES AT RANDOM TIMES DURING THE DAY. ABS WARNING LIGHT, BSD WARNING LIGHT, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. ON THE WAY TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ALL WENT OFF. THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE SEES THAT THE WARNING LIGHT WERE ON, BUT THEIR COMPUTER IS NOT DETECTING A PROBLEM. IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN BRING IT BACK. WELL, THEY'RE ON AGAIN. THE CAR HAS BEEN STATIONARY SINCE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SUNDAY EVENING MY SON SENDS ME A PIC OF MY CAR, THE LIGHTS ARE ON!
NHTSA complaint #11353452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON 8/28/2020 AND A WARNING LIGHT CAME ACROSS THE DASHBOARD THAT READ MY FORWARD COLLISION CAMERA WAS NOT WORKING AND IT STAYED LIT FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES WHILE DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY WENT OFF BEFORE I PARKED THE CAR. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR IF THE BRAES MAY FAIL.THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION INITIALLY APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WHEN THE MESSAGE CAME ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. I WAS ON A CITY STREET DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #11351939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SO FROM THE START I BOUGHT THE CAR $5000 CASH FROM A DEALERSHIP WHO PROMISED A 3 MONTH WARRANTY 3 WEEKS INTO HAVING THE CAR I DECIDED TO TAKE A ROAD TRIP FOR MY GRADUATION PARTY FROM HIGH SCHOOL I'M ABOUT 2 HOURS OUT FROM MY CITY GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAR JUST STOPS ACCELERATING AND FLASHING A ENGINE LIGHT WHILE I'M ON A ONE WAY HIGHWAY TRACTOR TRAILERS AND CARS ARE GOING 80MPH BEHIND MEANWHILE MY CAR CAN'T ACCELERATE LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT LOSING MY LIFE SO I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND HE HANGS UP AND SAYS THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO THERE'S NO WARRANTY AT ALL AND I'M JUST IN SHOCK I'M STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH NO ONE NEAR ME THAT I KNOW SO I END UP PAYING THE TOW TRUCK $600 TO GO BACK TO MY CITY TAKE THE CAR TO MECHANIC HE SAYS IT'S THE KNOCK SENSOR HE ' FIXED' IT ON THE WAY HOME FROM PICKING IT UP FROM THE MECHANIC I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN THE CAR DOES THE SAME EXACT THING BUT THIS TIME IT WAS WORSE BECAUSE CARS WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME AND SWERVED AND ALMOST TOOK THERE OWN LIFE AND MY CAR JUST WON'T ACCELERATE ANYMORE AND SOUNDS HORRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND WHILE CARS ARE COMING STRAIGHT BEHIND ME I PULLED OVER EVENTUALLY GOT IT TOWED BACK TO THE MECHANIC AFTER PAYING HIM HE SAYS HE'S STILL TRYING TO FIX IT I HONESTLY JUST WANT TO BE SAFE IN MY CAR THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GET ME TO COLLEGE NOW IM OUT OF A CAR AND COLLEGE FUNDS DUE TO FIXING THE CAR AND CAN'T EVEN GO DUE TO LACK OF SAFETY ON VEHICLE IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIZING AND IMPACTING ON MY LIFE .
NHTSA complaint #11350733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
KIA OPTIMA 2011 TOOK A TURN FOR THE WORST ON JULY 2 2018, MY KIA OPTIMA CAUSED ME TO PLUMMET INTO TRAFFIC AFTER MY BRAKE DIDN'T PERFORM L. THAT'S CAR HAD BEEN TAKEN TO KIA FOR ALL SERVICE NEED AND CAR STILL PERFORM POORLY. HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR MULTIPLE TIME JUST FOR IT TO ACT RIGHT. CAR STOPS ONE ME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET ONE DAY. I HAVE A 3 OLD AND THAT DAY SHE COULD HAVE BEEN WITH ME. I LOST MY LICENSE AND MY MONEY I INVESTED FOR A SAFE CAR FOR ME AND MY CHILD.
NHTSA complaint #11326474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD AND A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF US (WHILE ONLY GOING 25MPH) THEN THE CAUTION FRONT SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR HAD A NOTIFICATION THAT POPPED UP SAID FRONT CAMERA IS BLOCKED. STAYED ON FOR 5 MINUTES THEN JUST SHUT OFF.
NHTSA complaint #11325495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I DROVE MY CAR TO WORK GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND LOOK. I SAY I AM PARK BAD SO I GOT BACK IN MY CAR TO PARK BETTER. I PUT THE KEY IN AND TRY TO TURN THE KEY BUT I COULDN'T TURN KEY MY WHEEL WAS LOCK WHEN I TRY TO PUSH MY BRAKE DOWN IT WOULDN'T GO DOWN. SUPPOSED I WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN THAT HAPPEN.
NHTSA complaint #11324614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HIS WIFE WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO THE DESTINATION. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RETRIEVED SEVERAL UNKNOWN DTC CODES USING A DTC SCANNER TOOL. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CODES WERE INCORRECT. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,402.
NHTSA complaint #11322034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.