Kia Optima Visibility problems by year

Concerning my Optima KIA's OEM front windshield. At certain times of the day when the sunlight is shining on a certain angle it is difficult to see through the windshield due to the glare which creates a visual impairment. There were a quite a few instance's where I almost got into serious accidents. With my observation the glass looks like there are thousands of microscopic pits like a light sandblasting embedded within the lamination and not the surface of the glass. It seems prominent at night also. This seems...

On December 26, 2023, this vehicle received a complete engine assembly replacement at an authorized dealership under a manufacturer warranty repair order. Following the engine overhaul, the vehicle developed a severe, raw gasoline smell entering the passenger cabin through the climate control AC vents while sitting at an idle.The vehicle was brought back to Kia Store East on September 10, 2026, specifically to report this volatile safety issue. On September 17, 2026, the dealership technician explicitly duplicated...

Window falls into the door. The rear two windows have been repaired 3 times. They are currently both broken again along with the front drivers side. I currently have three windows being help up by tape. They are taped to the frame of the door to stop the window from falling into the door. I don't know why this wasn't a recall. I see there is a TSB BOD300. The dealership repaired once but never informed me about the known defect.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH, the front driver's and passenger's side windows lowered unintendedly. Neither the dealer nor an independent was contacted. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The rear driver's and passenger's side windows were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance since the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 107,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was loud banging sound coming from the vehicle and there were shards of glass on the right elbow of the contact. No warning light was illuminated. Upon further inspection, the contact stated that the sunroof glass panel had shattered outward. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,500.

All window regulators failed before 100K miles. This does not allow for windows to open in case of emergency, This problem has been personally confirmed by dealer and also in service bulletin SA418. This is a common problem in this car make/model/year. This component has been known to the manufacturer for defect. No warning lights, just instant lack of window use.

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at 30 MPH, the contact pressed on the horn, and the horn failed to function as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, upon starting the vehicle and attempting to adjust the driver's side mirror, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the side-view mirror motor. The contact stated that several days later, the abnormal clicking sound ceased, and the driver's side mirror failed to...

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving in inclement weather on several occasions, all four windows of the vehicle became intermittently inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

This is about paint damage on my Optima is a known factory paint defect.This factory paint defect, specifically paint delamination causes bubbling, peeling then flaking off in large chunks while driving, has been reported on 2015 KIA Optima with white pearl paint. The damages ares are exposed to the metal, subject to rust and corrosion. On 5/30/35 KIA in Ontario, Ca. Body Shop Manager Yvonne Ramirez inspected my vehicle and immediately confirmed the paint damages to the exterior of my vehicle is a known factory...

The contact owns a 2020 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to make a right turn, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear driver's side window. The contact discovered that the glass had shattered. The contact stated that the Police Department advised her to contact the dealer where the vehicle was purchased, not the Insurance Company. The contact was informed that the failure was caused by a manufacturing defect. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be inspected or repaired. diagnoses. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,009.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to operate properly. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local Good Year Service Center where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery, alternator, and drive belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, several miles later the engine seized. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact stated...

The contact owns a 2015 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while attempting to activate the defroster, the defroster failed to active to defrost the windshield. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the heated steering wheel failed to operate as needed. The contact also stated that the front driver's side and front passenger's side heated seats were inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.

My 2015 Kia Optima has always had issues with the passenger side window getting stuck. Apparently there was a technical service bulletin, and recalls for the 2016 model but not 2015. My son was driving the vehicle the window got stuck and then shattered into 3 pieces. This is a HUGE safety issue and KIA does not want to take any accountability for this. A recall needs to be issued immediately to protect people from shattering glass!!!!! I did open up a case with KIA and so far NOTHING case#[[redacted]]. ...

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the front passenger's side window failed to roll up or down as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was unaware of the diagnostic result, nor the parts that needed to be replaced to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The contact owns a 2016 Kia Optima. The contact stated that both the driver's side and passenger's side windows opened independently without the driver or occupant input, and the windows failed to roll up while depressing the window switches. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,600.