What 578 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Kia Optima

The paint on my car is just falling off. I cant even wash my car because its peeling off so easily.

NHTSA ODI 11464894

The paint is defective/chipping. Now, rusting has occurred.

NHTSA ODI 11462965

Pearl white paint has been rapidly chipping. Dealership has refused to do anything.

NHTSA ODI 11462873

Snow White paint is chipping and peeling on random parts of the car

NHTSA ODI 11454162

Pearl White paint peeling around windshield, paint bubbling and lifting on roof and trunk lid.

NHTSA ODI 11454189

Paint started peeling on both sides of front windshield and has gotten worse over the years

NHTSA ODI 11447222

My car has 80,000 miles and the paint chipping on the bumper, hood, and roof is starting to cause rust on the car body.

NHTSA ODI 11435772

I noticed a small spot of paint chipping one day. Then I was washing my car and noticed a lot of spots chipping. As I started watching them they kept chipping all over from my hood which is the worst to side of doors sides and roof around front window and front and back bumper. I looked online to research it and if anyone had this problem and it seems to be just the white kia that has this problem. I have contacted kia mutable times. I sent pictures of my car and 3 estimates. All I keep doing is getting the run around about what there going to do. It is now getting worse and starting to rust real bad.

NHTSA ODI 11431456

I noticed that the pain on the hood had a chip in it. About two months or so later there were a few spots where the paint has bubbled and peeled off. Later I noticed the the paint was doing the same along both sides of the windshield and above both doors. The spots are continuing to bubble and peel.

NHTSA ODI 11425341

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle shut off and rolled in a parking lot. There were no warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the dashboard and vents melted and the air conditioner became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was informed there were metal shavings in the engine. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who referred the contact to a local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.

NHTSA ODI 11421621

PAINT HAS BEGUN BUBBLING AND PEELING IN SEVERAL AREAS. BODY SHOPS HAVE SAID IT IS DELAMINATION.

NHTSA ODI 11407249

THE ANTENNA FIN SCREWS SHEERED OFF AND PLASTIC SCREW HOLDER BROKE INTO PIECES CAUSING THE FIN TO COME LOOSE AND FALL OFF, EXPOSING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INTERFERENCE WITH THE FIN, I OBSERVED THE FIN SLIGHTLY LIFTED ON THE FRONT END AND IT PULLED RIGHT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARKED POSITION AFTER JUST DRIVING IT 5 MINUTES. THERE IS NO EASY WAY OF FIXING THIS ISSUE, RAIN DAMAGE MAY OCCUR CAUSING ISSUES WITH RADIO AND OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEIR KIA OPTIMA ANTENNA FINS.

NHTSA ODI 11322717

2014 KIA OPTIMA SHARK FIN RADIO ANTENNA COVER BROKE OFF AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY. ALL FIVE SCREW HOLDERS CRACKED INSIDE THE HOUSING, OBVIOUSLY A FAULTY DESIGN. THE 2016 KIA OPTIMA SHARK FIN RADIO ANTENNA WAS RECALLED FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE IS STORED IN A GARAGE EACH NIGHT AND HAS NEVER SUSTAINED ANY DAMAGED TO THE ROOF AREA. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM HAPPENING TO MANY KIA OPTIMAS, GOD FORBID MY ANTENNA FLEW OFF AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE BEFORE I EXITED.

NHTSA ODI 11268741

NOTICED THE SHARK FIN MISSING. AFTER CLOSER EXAMINATION IT APPEARS THAT IT SNAPPED OFF TO REPLACE THE HEADLINER MUST BE REMOVED I ORDER A NEW ONE AND I AM UNABLE TO REPLACE IT. TAKING TO DEALERSHIP AND HOPEFULLY THE WILL IT WHEN CHECKING ON MY STEERING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11256314

SHARK FIN ANTENNA SNAPS OFF, ONLY 4TINY SCREWS HOLD IT ON

NHTSA ODI 11217436

'KIA PEARL WHITE PAINT RECALL' I HAVE HAD MY KIA OPTIMA FOR LESS THAN 2 YEARS. I AM FROM THE SOUTH AND I DROVE IT UP NORTH A FEW WEEKS AGO AND ICE AND SNOW GOT ON MY CAR AND MY PAINT HAS STARTED PEELING. IT'S $2,000 TO GET THE HOOD AND THE DRIVERS SIDE PANNEL FIXED AND ALL KIA TOLD ME IS THEIR PAINT WARRANTY ENDED IN 2016. I DID NOT EVEN OWN THE CAR AT THAT TIME. THIS IS CLEARLY AN ISSUE WITH THE WAY THEY PAINTED THE CAR. NO 2014 CAR SHOULD BE LOSING PAINT FROM DRIVING UP NORTH FOR A FEW DAYS. I ALSO CALLED KIA AND THEY STARTED A 'CASE' THEY TOLD ME TO SUBMIT A QUITE. I SUBMITTED THE NEXT DAY AND A FEW DAYS LATER THEY SAID THEY DECLINED MY REQUEST AND THEIR REASON WAS BECAUSE THE PAINT WARRANTY ENDED IN 2016. ALL PEARL WHITE PAINT CARS NEED TO GET THEIR CARS COMPLETELY REPLANTED. IF THIS IS NOT A COMMON CASE PLEASE GOOGLE THE PAINT ISSUES ON THIS CAR. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE. I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN BEFORE BUYING THE CAR. (3 PHOTOS ATTACHED)

NHTSA ODI 11191262

SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING. LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND WITHIN THE CABIN, GLASS SHARDS THEN BROKE AWAY FALLING INSIDE VEHICLE AND OUTWARD ON INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ODI 11190621

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF ALHAMBRA (1247 W MAIN ST, ALHAMBRA, CA 91801, (626) 478-1012) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM A LOOSE LICENSE PLATE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER UNKNOWN DEALER FOR A SECOND OPINION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

NHTSA ODI 11174551

MY ANTENNA SHARK COVER CAME OFF DURING WASHING IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SHARK COVER. THE OWNER OF THE CAR WASH TOLD ME THIS AND SO DID THE COLLISION CENTER AT THE REPAIR PLACE. IT IS GOING TO COST ALMOST 400.00 TO REPAIR THIS AND I THINK KIA SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THESE DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SCREWS HOLDING THE SHARK ON IS BREAKING OFF. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS.I SAW 2 OTHERS WHILE I WAS AT THE REPAIR PLACE.I DO HAVE A REPORT FROM THE CAR WASH AND THE OTHER SAYS THE VIDEO SHOWS THAT HER EMPLOYEES DID NOT TOUCH OR HIT THE SHARK.

NHTSA ODI 11150131

I WAS HEADING NORTH BOUND, CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 55 WHEN MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA THERA II MOTOR STARTED MAKING A GRINDING SOUNDS, LOST COMPLETE POWER AND STALLED OUT. CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON ANYMORE, A TEXAS STATE TROOPER AND SMALL TOWN COP HELPED ME PUSHED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR, THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE BAY. LUCKILY NO ONE GOT HURT BUT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSE AND I HAVE A FEELING KIA IS GOING TO GIVE ME THE RUNAROUND. THE THETA II DOES HAVE AN OPEN RECALL. THE MOTOR WAS CHECKED TWICE AND PASSED BOTH TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11113500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SHARK FIN FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF ABILENE (4702 SOUTHWEST DR, ABILENE, TX 79606) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11079177

THE ANTENNAE FALLS OF, IT SNAPPED. IT IS ONLY PLASTIC AND IT LEAVES COMPONENTS EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS WHICH MAY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE ROOF. ALSO IF IT SNAPS OF WHILE DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT TO THE CAR BEHIND YOU. THERE ARE MANY OF THESE OUT THERE THAT HAVE COME OFF. THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO, THEY ARE ASKING ABSORBENT PRICES TO REPAIR .IT HAPPENED WILL PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT.

NHTSA ODI 11030287

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. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565194