RoadVitals

2014 Kia Optima Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest May 1, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 580 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Kia Optima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureVisibility
Filed May 1, 2022

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

NHTSA ID
11462965
Incident
Dec 1, 2020
Visibility
Filed May 22, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, GRAVEL FELL OFF OF A HEAVY TRUCK AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE REPAIRED OR INSPECTED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,110.

NHTSA ID
11325518
Incident
May 22, 2020
Mileage
76,110 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 16, 2019

WHEN WINTER (THE COLD)COMES MY BACK UP CAMERA STOPS WORKING. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH KIAS

NHTSA ID
11280557
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Visibility
Filed Oct 4, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE SUN ROOF EXPLODED AND GLASS SHATTERED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED GOSSETT KIA AT 901-328-8177 (LOCATED AT 1900 COVINGTON PIKE, MEMPHIS, TN 38128) AND WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE AND THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, FILED A REPORT, AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW-UP WITH THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,000.

NHTSA ID
11133275
Incident
Oct 3, 2018
Mileage
46,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 30, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING HIGH SPEEDS, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A & B AUTO SALES (100 MARSHALL ST N, BENWOOD, WV 26031, (304) 233-1480) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11114670
Incident
Jul 30, 2016
Mileage
26,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 28, 2018

DRIVING HOME AND MY ENTIRE BACK WINDOW SHATTERS OUT OF NO WHERE. LOOKS LIKE IT CRACKED AROUND THE EDGE.

NHTSA ID
11065474
Incident
Jan 27, 2018
Mileage
21,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SUDDENLY FRACTURED AND THE GLASS SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUN ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
10956317
Incident
Feb 13, 2017
Mileage
40,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 30, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE IN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY INCREASED AND A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND WAS HEARD. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

NHTSA ID
10731310
Incident
Jun 29, 2015
Mileage
37,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 3, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FACTORY DESIGN REAR VIEW WINDOW WAS DIFFICULT TO VIEW THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.

NHTSA ID
10652181
Incident
Oct 27, 2014
Mileage
250 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD LEAVE STREAKS AND SMEAR THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A VISIBILITY HAZARD TO THE DRIVER DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WIPER ARM WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. UPDATED 01/05/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER CHANGING THE WIPERS MULTIPLE TIMES THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO CHANGE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WINDSHIELD WITH THE FACTORY PARTS FOR A 200.00 DEDUCTIBLE. THE CONSUMER DECLINED. *JS

NHTSA ID
10649222
Incident
Jan 3, 2014
Mileage
20 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 6, 2014

AS WE WERE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED OUTWARDS. THE SUNROOF IS BOWED UPWARDS AND GLASS FRAGMENTS WERE ON THE TOP AND TRUNK DECK OF THE CAR. NOTHING STRUCK THE CAR, THE SUNROOF LITERALLY EXPLODED OUTWARDS. AFTER DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES FOR EXPLODING SUNROOFS IN BOTH THE OPTIMA AND THE KIA SORENTO. *TR

NHTSA ID
10641693
Incident
Oct 6, 2014
Mileage
9,746 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 20, 2014

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 ID
10565194
Incident
Feb 20, 2014
Mileage
1,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .