Let me know if any of you have experienced this. I purchased a new Optima red top battery in December of 2004 for my Ford Bronco. The last month or so I have left my vehicle at work for a week at a time. When I go to start my truck it barely turns over. I even disconnected the battery for a week and the truck would not start. I took my battery back to O'Reilly's since it is still under warranty. They checked it and said it was weak but still good. They also advised Optima Red Tops are famous for draining and need a trickle charger if not used on a daily basis. I contacted Optima and they stated the red top is recommended only for daily drivers and will discharge if left for a period of time. I explained the website for the red top battery states, "Ideal for seasonal use, fully charged, it can sit unused for up to 12 months at room temperature (or below) and still start a car." Now Optima wants me to take the battery to Autozone and if it fails their test then they will ship me a new one in two weeks. I have to go without a battery for two weeks plus the battery is discharging over a week and they tell me to trickle charge the battery even though their website states it can sit for 12 months. I'll never again buy another Optima battery. I can get one that will keep a charge for months for half the price and I don't have to wait two weeks to get it in the mail. Let me know what you think.

 

The quality of optima batterys has gone down a lot since they came out, and it sounds like the customer service sucks!

For the price, I'd get a Odyssey battery, but I really don't need that unless I had a winch, so I'm just going to get a good battery with a good bit of CCAs.

 

The very same thing happens to me... but I don't ever have a problem getting it replaced and about every year now for the past 4 years I have returned it for a new one. I also had an Orbital that just went bad a couple of weeks ago for the same reasons but it was past the 2 year warranty so they wanted $80.00 for a new one. I got the Optima instead because it carries a 3 year return warranty. So now I have 2... I am going to try out a solar powered trickle charger on the one I don't use often that being on the Bronco.

 

Thanks for the replies. Even if they are willing to replace my battery I will have to wait two weeks for the battery to arrive by mail. How am I suppose to wait for two weeks for a battery. I will never buy an Optima battery again. I want a company that stands behind their product and be truthful from the begining. Not a company that tells you the battery is perfect for seasonal use and will hold a charge and start a vehicle after 12 months of being idle. Then you have a problem and they tell you need to install a trickle charger because the battery losses it's charge. They even told me to buy a yellow top battery and that would fix my problems. Why in the heck would I buy a yellow top when I've already been cheated on one $160 battery that I bought. Thanks guys for listening to my rant. This is not like me but I do not like being lied too when I purchased something so expensive that I could have bought alot cheaper and had better service. Thanks again guys.

 

I have experienced this with one optima that I have - I thought I left the dome light on, but it happened again when I was sure I didn't. I have other ones that have not done this like the two in my backhoe which I don't use for months at a time and it starts right up, but the one that discharged only sat a week or so. This is disappointing if it's a trend, not a fluke on just a few of them, considering how expensive they are.