2006 Kia Optima Visibility

AFTER BEING LOWERED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR NO LONGER CAN BE RETURNED TO THE UP POSITION AND HANGS IN SUCH A POSITION AS TO OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VISION. THE SUN VISOR HAS BEEN LITTLE USED AND HANDLED WITH CARE. IT APPEARS THAT THE COMPONENTS OF THE SUN VISORS ARE TOO FRAGILE. *JS

THE VISOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WON'T STAY UP. THIS WAS FIXED ABOUT 30,000 MILES AGO UNDER WARRANTY. IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE DRIVEN A HALF MILLION MILES IN MY LIFE AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH A VISOR. IT MUST BE DEFECTIVE. MY PASSENGERS ALL HIT THEIR HEADS ON IT WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE CAR. I HAVE TO REMEMBER TO KEEP REMINDING THEM. IT ALSO BLOCKS THE VISIBILITY WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. IF I EVER WILL HAVE TO STOP SHORT, I'M SURE MY PASSENGER WILL HIT HIS HEAD ON THE VISOR. THE COMPANY CLAIMS THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING AFTER THE WARRANTY IS UP, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE APPEAR TO BE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS SO MAYBE A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED. *TR

ON MY 2006.5 KIA OPTIMA, ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY SUN VISOR MECHANISMS HAVE BROKEN INTERNALLY, AND WOULD NO LONGER REMAIN IN THE UP POSITION, WHICH HAS BEEN A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME THE PASSENGER SUN VISOR HAS BROKEN AT LEAST ONCE, AND THE DRIVER SIDE HAS BROKEN AT LEAST TWICE. THE FIRST 2 TIMES, THE SUN VISOR WAS REPLACED ENTIRELY UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, ON THE 3RD TIME, I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAD TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL A NEW ONE MYSELF. (PURCHASED ONLINE FOR $80 SHIPPED FROM A DEALER.) THIS DEALER OFFERS THE NEW SUN VISOR REPLACEMENT FOR A FAIR PRICE, DUE TO REPEATED REQUESTS, BUT MANY OTHER PARTS VENDORS, INCLUDING DEALERS AND SALVAGE YARDS, CHARGE OVER $100 FOR THE VISOR, EVEN IF USED AND TAKEN OFF A WRECKED CAR, AS THEY KNOW IT IS A FREQUENTLY NEEDED REPAIR. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS NOT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE AND REPLACE, AND I WAS ABLE TO DO THE WORK MYSELF. *TR

BOTH SUN VISORS WOULD FALL DOWN WHILE IN THE "UP" POSITION. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FREE OF CHARGE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

BOTH SUN VISORS HAVE FAILED WORKING AND WILL DROP DOWN IN FRONT OF MY FACE WHILE I'M DRIVING. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR MISUSED THEM IN ANY WAY. THEY JUST SNAPPED UPON OPENING. MANY COMPLAINS HAVE BEEN POSTED ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND IT'S TIME SOMEONE STEPS UP AND REPORTS THIS BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMPLETELY FAILED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT DETECTED A BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND AVOID A CRASH. SHE NOTIFIED THE DEALER, BUT THEY HAVE YET TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 16,803.