14
Complaints
2
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Deaths
!

High Severity Issue

This component has been associated with crashes, fires, or deaths.

This Problem Across All Years

All Engine And Engine Cooling Complaints

Showing 14 of 14
Sep 7, 2010 89,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN HOT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE RADIATOR AND TUBING WERE REPLACED ; HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90000.

Sep 7, 2010 89,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KIA OPTIMA. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE AIR CONDITIONER HE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN HOT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE RADIATOR AND TUBING WERE REPLACED ; HOWEVER, 2 WEEKS AFTER THE REPAIR THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90000.

Apr 2, 2007 50,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 KIA OPTIMA'S WITH 50000 FAILURE MILEAGE LIGHTS, LOCKS, RADIO DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.*AK

Apr 2, 2007 50,000 mi

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2003 KIA OPTIMA'S WITH 50000 FAILURE MILEAGE LIGHTS, LOCKS, RADIO DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW ENGINE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.*AK

Nov 21, 2005 Fire 70,000 mi

2003 KIA OPTIMA WITH 70,000 MILES JUST BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED TOTALLY UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. FIRE STARTED SOMEWHERE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT PER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE PRIOR TO INCIDENT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR PASSENGERS AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY. *JB

Nov 21, 2005 Fire 70,000 mi

2003 KIA OPTIMA WITH 70,000 MILES JUST BURST INTO FLAMES AND BURNED TOTALLY UP WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. FIRE STARTED SOMEWHERE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT PER THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FINE PRIOR TO INCIDENT. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR PASSENGERS AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY. *JB

Jan 24, 2005 33,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 KIA OPTIMA ON I85 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED QUICKLY TO LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPUTTER AND BACKFIRE UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES BEFORE PROCEEDING NORMALLY. MY WIFE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND IS AFRAID OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES. THE LAST REPAIR INVOLVED PARAMOUNT KIA IN HICKORY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED MANY OF THE ASSUMED PROBLEM PARTS SUCH AS FAULTY WIRING HARNESS, ECM, MAF SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP WITHOUT RESOLVE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

Jan 24, 2005 33,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 KIA OPTIMA ON I85 AT 65 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND SLOWED QUICKLY TO LESS THAN 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SPUTTER AND BACKFIRE UNTIL I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER AND WAIT APPROXIMATELY. 15 MINUTES BEFORE PROCEEDING NORMALLY. MY WIFE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AND IS AFRAID OF BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE 4 TIMES. THE LAST REPAIR INVOLVED PARAMOUNT KIA IN HICKORY WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED MANY OF THE ASSUMED PROBLEM PARTS SUCH AS FAULTY WIRING HARNESS, ECM, MAF SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP WITHOUT RESOLVE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA ON HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *NM

Jun 15, 2004 33,335 mi

IT WAS RAINING HARD IN OUR AREA( 1 INCHES IN 1 OUR). I LIVE 3 MILES IN ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD AND IT WAS MUDDY WITH STANDING WATER. WHEN ALL THE WATER AND MUD WAS SPLASTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE WAS IDLEING ROUGH. THIS IS THE (2) SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IN APRIL WHEN WE HAD SAME TYPE OF WEATHER. TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER SERVICE DEPT AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT I HAD WATER IN MY GAS. I PUT ATLEAST TWO BOTTLES OF DRY GAS IN TANK. CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE EVEING OF 6/14/03 WHEN AGAIN WE HAD ALOT OF RAIN AND THE SAME 3 MILE WET, MUDDY, STANDING WATER DIRT ROAD. *AK

Jun 15, 2004 33,335 mi

IT WAS RAINING HARD IN OUR AREA( 1 INCHES IN 1 OUR). I LIVE 3 MILES IN ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD AND IT WAS MUDDY WITH STANDING WATER. WHEN ALL THE WATER AND MUD WAS SPLASTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE WAS IDLEING ROUGH. THIS IS THE (2) SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO IN APRIL WHEN WE HAD SAME TYPE OF WEATHER. TOOK THE CAR TO MY DEALER SERVICE DEPT AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND NOTHING WRONG AND THAT I HAD WATER IN MY GAS. I PUT ATLEAST TWO BOTTLES OF DRY GAS IN TANK. CAR RAN FINE UNTIL THE EVEING OF 6/14/03 WHEN AGAIN WE HAD ALOT OF RAIN AND THE SAME 3 MILE WET, MUDDY, STANDING WATER DIRT ROAD. *AK

Oct 28, 2003 Crash 11,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC DETECTED BOTH FRONTAL UPPER BALL JOINTS CRACKED. *AK

Oct 28, 2003 Crash 11,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. INJURIES UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS. MECHANIC DETECTED BOTH FRONTAL UPPER BALL JOINTS CRACKED. *AK

Feb 4, 2003

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AND THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STARTS. *JG PH

Feb 4, 2003

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AND THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STARTS. *JG PH