2016 KIA OPTIMA Visibilitywiper Problems

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.

All 4 of my windows regulators went out within a week without any warning the two front windows went down and I can’t get them back up the two back windows are up but I have something holding them up which is dangerous because I can’t put the child lock on for my children because I can’t let the windows in case I have to get them out

My complaint is regarding the rear windshield, which came with the vehicle when I purchased it new in 2016 from a Kia dealership (Santa Fe Kia, Santa Fe, New Mexico). The Optima has never been in an accident. Over the last several years, the rear windshield has become increasingly blurry making it difficult to see traffic behind me. This situation is worse particularly at night. The blurriness is both from the outside looking in and inside looking out. I have called several Kia dealers and they claim that they are not aware of the problem, and have told me that the windshield is not warranted.

3 of the 4 windows have had failures in the window regulators and the windows do not work.

Three of the 4 window regulators have unexpectedly failed leaving the window partially open. The passenger rear failed on 11/2022. The driver's side rear failed on 8/2022. The passenger front failed on 3/2023. On each occasion, the window failed where it was partially open. And none of the windows were in the process of being raised or lowered. The gears on each of the regulators had basically disintegrated. The window regulators are around $200 each for just the parts and they are not covered under the warranty. The new regulators come with a blue gear instead of the original white gear.

THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW SUDDENLY ROLLED DOWN WHILE DRIVING. CHECKS REVEAL THAT THE MOTOR THAT CONTROLS THE UPWARD/DOWNWARD MOVEMENT WAS INOPERABLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRM THE MOTOR NEEDED CHANGING. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I AM THE ONLY USER OF THE CAR AND THE BACK SEAT HAS NEVER BEEN USED, THEY STILL CHARGED $650 TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. SIX MONTHS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE REAR LEFT WINDOW. I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO PAY ANOTHER $650, SO I TRIED TO PLACE PAPER IN THE SPACE TO HOLD THE GLASS IN PLACE. NOW TODAY THE RIGHT FRONT GLASS JUST ROLLED DOWN WHILE DRIVING. I SPOKE WITH A KIA DRIVER I SAW IN THE PARKING LOT AT WALMART AND HE STATED THAT HE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS.

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT THIRTY MILES PER HOUR IN TRAFFIC I HEARD A BANG AND MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. THANKFULLY THE SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED OR SHARDS OF GLASS WOULD HAVE HIT ME. THE CAR BEHIND ME SWERVED PROBABLY TO AVOID THE GLASS. IT WAS SCARY AND I INITIALLY THOUGHT AN ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO FIGURE OUT HOW THIS HAPPENED AND CHANGE THE DESIGN TO PREVENT IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE WINDOWS TO MOVE UPWARD AND CLOSE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO KIA DELRAY (LOCATED AT 2255 S FEDERAL HWY, DELRAY BEACH, FL 33483, 561-637-5500) WHO STATED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATORS FAILED FOR ALL FOUR WINDOWS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED AUTHORIZATION TO REPAIR THE REAR WINDOWS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13306734. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.