2006 Kia Optima LX from North America - Comments

Gwinnett Place Kia Duluth, GA.

My rear defrost disconnected the FM radio.

There was a scratch on the front bumper.

The steering wheel vibrates very bad and pulls to the right.

The car has been in Gwinnett Place Kia Service Dept. 10 out of the 19 days. Purchased on 8/26/06.

The car drives very badly while you cannot take your hand off of the the steering wheel.

The front end aligment is off.

Wow! You gave the car all zeros in the ratings.

It seems that you are a bit unhappy with your Kia, or something like that.

"My car is a lemon"

- No surprise...That's why KIA = Killed In Action.

HOW DO YOU LIKE THE CAR? I mean, I understand that do hate the dealership, but what about the car. This is carsurvey. org not dealershipsurvey.org. Sounds like the dealership has done something with the car. On my KIA they gave me a year for any ajustments on the car and the rear defrost should be fix all under warranty. The paint and everything should be fixed by the dealership. So let's get this right you hate the dealership, but what about the car?

I had a problem with the dealership and my car is a lemon. I thought I was very clear.

I bought a new Kia Optima and I love it. No steering problems. Everything is just right. My wife and I believe we own the two best vehicles on the road, one of which is the Optima. It's the best deal out there for a mid-sized sedan. I'm sorry this other reviewer had such a bad experience. So far mine has been just the opposite.

Please answer the question, how do you like the car??? I don't want to hear opinions, Facts! Thanks.

Go back to the dealership and test drive another optima I love this car. maybe you got a lemon and let them know you want to drive another optima just like yours and drive it for a day. if you got a lemon contact kia or take it to a different dealership and have them look at it. I love this car mine is a V-6 and me and my wife love it.

The optima is a great car you won't find anything near it for under 16k compare ride, comfort, equipment,, this is a home run.

It seems to me that pulling and vibration issues would have been evident while test driving. It would have made perfect sense at that time to select another Optima. The scratch in the bumper most likely occurred in transit and is covered under your warranty for 60,000 miles. Any other issues are covered as well, and the drivetrain is covered for 10 years or 10,000 miles.

Looks like we have a lot of KIA employees posting on this forum. the company should be POS not KIA.

I have a Optima 2006.5 and I got it September 14th with 17,388 miles. Four days later my check engine light came on... the dealership said it was the gas cap. It wasnt when it started stalling at red lights and stop signs. Then it wasn't warming up. It ended up being the thermostat and temperature thing. It didn't get fixed right away because they forgot to order the parts. Then the parts they put in were faulty. Then they fixed that and the light came back on again. They don't know why.

I really like the car and just want it fixed.

I drove a Camry 07 and actually liked the inside of the optima way better.

Now I have a Focus for a rental...it is horrible...so loud.

Anyway that's my current problem.

I think the OP was clear: she hates the car and she hates the dealer. I don't blame her. A brand new car of ANY brand should not have alignment problems. It's a big inconvenience to have to take time off work to bring a car in time after time after time, whether it's under warranty or not. If you're going to do that, you may as well buy a Chrysler. That's a FACT. Thanks to the OP for bringing up the problems. It's very important, when researching your next vehicle, to get ALL sides, whether it's a fluke or not. You buy a car because you LIKE it; you KEEP a car because of the experience of owning and maintaining it. Therefore, pie-in-the-sky reviews from fan-boys who want people to always "root" for a particular car (what a juvenile concept THAT is) simply cannot be trusted. For MY money, I want BOTH sides, and the OP has done me a great service by giving her side. Thank you.

I have a 2000 Kia Shepia, 286,714 miles and just had my first major problem. Timing belt broke, never been replaced. Husband just got new Kia LOVES IT. NO PROBLEMS.

I LOVE MY KIA!!!

This is the second Kia I purchased. I have a Kia Sephia that has 298,741 miles and still going. The only problem I had with the Sephia is the power windows broke and to be honest I believe they broke due to multiple times of the windows be left down while it was raining (so many times I can't count).

My new 07 V6 optima I purchased in Dec 07 is running very well and not to mention looks GREAT. I have people tell me all the time now what a nice car I have. I would recommend a Kia to anyone.

Bummer that you had the problem from the onset. If you haven't spoken with the Service Department Manager yet, please do so. KIA has a 10 point scale with their service departments and they only want "10's". I don't work for KIA, but have 2 new vehicles, an Optima and a Rondo - both 07's. The previous vehicle was a 2006 Optima and it trucked along for 45k miles before I traded it in on an 07. What you have to remember is this - unlike Hyundai (excellent vehicles), the KIA is totally manufactured in South Korea. Believe me, your problems with your vehicle have trickled back to the factory, and it shouldn't happen again. On the other hand, most factory trained techs are American - nothing wrong with that - but the South Koreans have BETTER pride in their work.