2012 Kia Optima Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AS SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX CONTINUOUSLY SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE DONE BASIC MAINTANCE AND NON HAVE SOLVED THE ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AMONGS OTHER INVOLVING ME AND MY CAR.

CAR SEEMS LIKE IS BURNING OIL AND ALSO OIL LEVEL IS GOING DOWN PRETTY QUICKLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

2012 KIA OPTIMA WITH 43000 MILES # AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AND CHECKING DIFFERENT SEATING POSITION/ RESTARTING THE IGNITION THE WARNING LIGHT STILL STAYS ON. # STEERING WHEEL FEELS STICKY WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, WHICH NEEDS IMMEDIATE CORRECTION BY MOVING LEFT /RIGHT. IF NOT IT KEEPS GOING TOWARDS ONE DIRECTION CONSTANTLY. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED TO GET THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT DONE, BUT NO IMPROVEMENT AS PER STEERING WHEEL EVEN AFTER GETTING ALIGNMENT DONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE, LOW BATTERY, OIL, AND ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ALL AT ONCE. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT CRANKED, BUT DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

BRAKELIGHTS COME ON, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. WHEN BRAKELIGHTS CAME ON DURING DRIVING, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE BRAKE. APPARENTLY THE KIA FORTE 2012-2014 HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT NONE HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE OPTIMA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY LOSES ACCELERATION POWER. VERY DANGEROUS, SPECIALLY WHEN MERGING OR PASSING ON AN EXPRESSWAY.

AS I WAS DRIVING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AT THE TIME OR PRIOR TO THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT START BACK UP. WHEN PLUGGED UP YO CABLES LIGHTS AND ALL INDICATORS COME ON BUT THE CAR NEVER STARTS AND THERE IS NO NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE . I WAS JUST LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY ON A REGULAR SIDE STREET PROCEEDING FOWARD AT MAYBE 15MPH

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL STICKS WHEN I AM TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR GOING STRAIGHT IN MY LANE. IT'S TRICKY TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEED. THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T MOVE FREELY TO PERFORM SHORT STEERING CORRECTIONS. YOU DON'T NOTICED THIS IN THE TURN BUT ON STRAIGHT ROAD DRIVING

FRONT LOW BEAMS VERY DIM, CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT. HAVE TO USE HIGH BEAMS IN ORDER TO SEE, WHICH IS DANGEROUS TO ON-COMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE READ ON VARIOUS FORUMS THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE DUE TO A DEFECT AND THAT THE COST IS UPWARDS OF $2K TO FIX WHEN THIS IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE COVERED DUE TO MANUFACTURERS DEFECT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHOTTENKIRK KIA OF WEST BURLINGTON (309 SOUTH GEAR AVENUE, WEST BURLINGTON, IA 52655, (319) 249-6627) AND THE OIL FILTER WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE ENGINE IF IT FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 70MPH AND ENGINE JUST STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT COASTING. GOT TO SHOULDER. PUT CAR IN PARK, ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CALLED TOW, THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. HUNG UP, CALLED 911 FOR POSSIBLE FIRE. AFTER HANGING UP WITH 911, SMOKE BEGAN COMING THROUGH VENTS. GOT OUT OF CAR, SAW SOME FLAMES THROUGH GRILL, CALLED 911 BACK AND TOLD WAS DEFINITELY ON FIRE AND WITH MINS ENTIRE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

ORIGINAL HID HEADLIGHTS BECAME DIM TO THE POINT IT FAILED A VIRGINIA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAS DIMINISHED.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE DOING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. A COUPLE OF MILES IT DID IT AGAIN. I THEN PLACED MY FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY CAR DROVE FINE. AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE STOPPER WAS WORN. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT WHILE YOU ARE ACCELERATING AND THE BRAKE STOPPER IS BAD, IT CAN CAUSE YOUR CAR TO GO INTO A SAFETY MODE BECAUSE IT THINKS YOU ARE BRAKING AND ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS AFFECTS THE POWER AND CAN CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION.

ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING 02/23/2019 6:05 PM PST ENGINE/VEHICLE MILEAGE: 151,409 FUEL/GAS GAUGE SHOWS ONE QUARTER FULL WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL (VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND ENGINE IDLING) ON A CITY STREET, ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING(S). FIRST TIME EVER HAPPENED. ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS COMPLETED BY A KIA DEALER.

KIA OPTIMA 2012 HAS VERY STICKY STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. IT JUST DRIFT LEFT OR RIGHT CONSTANTLY ON THE STRAIGHT DRIVE . IT HAPPENS ON ANY SPEED LIMITS AND MORE NOTICEABLE ON STRAIGHT DRIVES. IT JUST STUCKS UNTIL YOU CORRECT WITH EXTRA FORCE.THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY . THIS MODEL DOES HAVE ELECTRIC STEERING SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND GOT IT FIXED AFTER REPLACING COUPLING LOWER SHAFT STEERING SHAFT . THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

DRIVING VEHICLE AND ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING , DID NOT HAVE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE WAS NOT OVER HEATING . VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING ON I-10 -EXIT 505 KERRIVILLE TEXAS AND THICK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. NEVER HAVE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND DID PERSONAL OIL CHANGES.

SIDE MIRROR STOPPED WORKING DRIVER SIDE. THE MOTOR FROM POWER FOLD MIRROR KEEPS RUNNING NON STOP MAKING THE GRINDING NOISE AND ALSO CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN.

THETA II ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (50-65MPH) THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. SOON AFTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE OIL LIGHT. I DID PULL OVER AND CONTACT MY LOCAL KIA DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION I WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. IT HAD BEARING DAMAGE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS... SURPRISINGLY 3 MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED FOR METAL DEBRIS / ENGINE BEARING FAILURE AND NO ISSUES WERE FOUND BY THE SAME LOCAL KIA DEALER.

VEHICAL HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN COLD WEATHER FOR 3YEARS NOW. WE'VE TAKEN THE VEHICAL TO A KIA DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT OR (IT WOULD DO IT FOR US/ WELL IT STARTED FOR US). MOST RECENTLY THE VEHICAL WAS AT THE DEALER SHIP FOR 10 DAYS WHILE WE WERE VACATIONING AND THEY RETURNED THE VEHICAL ONLY FOR IT TO NOT START THE FOLLOWING MORNING. IT'S A PUSH TO START AND AS A SAFETY FEATURE THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED THERE WOULD BE A LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT WOULD INDICATE THERE WAS NOT KEY WITCH WAS NOT THE CASE. YOU COULD HAVE THE KEY PHOB IN THE CAR AND STILL WOULDN'T START. THIS WAS ONLY ON COLD DAYS. IT WOULD START JUST FINE UNLESS IT WAS BELOW 20 DEGREES. MORE RECENTLY THE CAR WILL SHOW NO INDICATOR ON THE DASH AND WON'T START IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 30-35 DEGREES. ABOVE THAT EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. WE CHANGED KEYS AND REPLACED BATTERIES IN KEYS AND MOVED THEM ALL OVER THE CAR BUT NOTHING WOULD GET THE CAR TO START UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE ROSE ABOVE FREEZING. MOST RECENTLY THIS MORNING I WENT OUTSIDE TO START THE CAR (AROUND 30 DEGREES AND RISING) AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND HIT THE START BUTTON I HEARD SPARKS AND A LOUD POPING NOISE FOLLOWED BY HISSING AND SIZZLING THE VEHICAL THEN BEGAN TO FILL WITH SMOKE. I EXITED THE VEHICAL AND TOOK A FEW STEPS BACK. ABOUT 10 SECONDS AFTER INITIALLY HITTING THE START BUTTON THE CAR THEN STARTED WITH ME STANDING ABOUT 20FT AWAY WHILE STILL SMOKING. I NEVER SAW FLAMES BUT COULD SMELL AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE CAR TO BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT WAS COMING FROM IT. MAJORITY OF THE SMOKE SEEMED TO BECOMING FROM DRIVER SEAT AREA (UNDERDASH AND ALONG DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL). AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE SMOKE DIED DOWN AND THE EVENT SEEMED TO BE OVER. I HAVEN'T TOUCHED THE VEHICALSINCEMORNIN

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND UPON CHECK THE THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR HAS MADE 3 DIFFERENT SENSORS GO. MY FUEL JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. FROM A FULL TANK TO EMPTY OR THE READING CHANGES WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO A SMELLS OF GAS THAT CAN BE SMELLED WHILE DRIVING AS WELL COMING FROM THE VENTS.

ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE DAY I WENT TO PUMP GAS AND IT IS SPITTING THE GAS BACK AT ME, I ONLY GOT TO PUT IN LIKE $1.80. WENT TO ANOTHER GAS STATION, SAME THING, IT WILL NOT LET ME PUMP GAS INTO IT. I TRY THE NEXT DAY AND I GET A LITTLE BIT OVER $2.00. I CALLED KIA, TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP AND A CANISTER, WITH LABOR COST ME $1436.76. MY DAUGHTER GETS GAS THE FIRST TWO TIMES AFTER THIS SERVICE AND LETS ME KNOW IT IS STILL SPITTING OUT GAS TOWARDS THE END OF FILLING UP. SO THE NEXT TIME (WHICH WAS A MONTH AFTER SERVICE) I GO TO FILL THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY IT KICKS THE GAS BACK OUT. I TRY PUMPING LIKE A SECOND OR TWO SECONDS OF GAS AT A TIME, THE GAS IS BUBBLES UP AND IT LITERALLY TAKES ME ALMOST 20 MINUTES TO PUMP $27 IN THE TANK. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE KIA STORE AFTER GAS TRIP NUMBER TWO AND HE THEN SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS NEW. SO AT THIS POINT I FEEL HELPLESS!! AND I AM NOT SELLING THIS CAR TO GET OUT OF IT TO BURDEN SOMEONE ELSE. I ALREADY SEE THINGS ONLINE THAT SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME JUST DRIVING THIS KIA WITH OTHER ISSUES REPORTED. NOW I HAVE A FUEL ISSUE, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A SINGLE DAUGHTER AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.

ON JANUARY 24, 2019, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHAKERS KIA IN WATERTOWN CT AGAIN. I HAD BEEN IN CT VISITING FAMILY WHEN I GOT STUCK THERE DUE TO CAR ISSUES. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF DECEMBER 7, 2018 FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO A RECALL AND I GOT IT BACK DECEMBER 31, 2018. I DROVE MY CAR HOME TO NC ON JANUARY 4, 2019 AND CAME BACK 2 WEEKS LATER FOR MY SON'S SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 23. ON JANUARY 22, THREE WEEKS AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHAKERS KIA. THEY TEXTED ME AT 9:08AM JANUARY 23 WITH A LINK TO A VIDEO SAYING MY CAR WAS READY. I PICKED IT UP AROUND 5PM AFTER MY SON'S SURGERY. I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR 4 HOURS WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TOWED. SHAKERS TOLD ME THAT I WAS GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING MY THROTTLE BODY BECAUSE I STILL HAVE OLD COMPONENTS FROM MY OLD ENGINE AND MY THROTTLE BODY WAS PART OF THAT. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW I HAVE OLD COMPONENTS IF MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED, SO I CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS. SHAKERS REPLACED MY THROTTLE BODY, NO COST TO ME. WELL, WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP ON JANUARY 30, I ASKED ABOUT THE FUEL LEAK RECALL AND IF MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AS KIA TOLD SHAKERS TO CHECK MINES EVEN THOUGH MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED BECAUSE MY CAR NEEDED TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN HECTOR THAT MY CAR WAS FINE AND IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE INSPECTED BECAUSE HE WAS VERY CONFIDENT IN HIS WORK. HE STATED THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING ENGINE FIRES BECAUSE MECHANICS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND ARE INSTALLING THE ENGINES WRONG. MY CAR DOESN'T RUN THE SAME AFTER HAVING MY ENGINE REPLACED. IT RUNS AND IDLES ROUGH. I PUT IN NUMEROUS CALLS TO KIA ABOUT ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND I'M TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT MY CASE MANAGER WILL CALL ME BUT IT'S BEEN WEEKS AND SHE HASN'T CALLED YET.

BRAKE SWITCH RECALLED ON 2011 MODELS, BUT MY 2012 WILL NOT START MOSTLY WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE, BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS AND WONT DECOMPRESS FOR ENGINE TO START, PUSH BUTTN WONT START CAR BRAKE LIGHTS DONT WORK. VEHICLE WILL LEAVE STRANDED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WILL WORK AND THEN NOT WORK, INTERMITTEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT NOTICED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL THROUGH THE AIR VENTS WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,861.

TRAVELING ON A DIVIDED HIGHWAY, APPROACHED SLOWING/STOPPED TRAFFIC. ATTEMPTED TO STOP, BUT ROADWAY WAS SLIPPERY, ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE HAD TO RESORT TO PUMPING BRAKES AND STEERING TO AVOID ACCIDENT. WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO ANOTHER CAR. NON OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COMPARTMENT INTRUSION INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, BUT THE REAR OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY COLLAPSED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED INVESTIGATION NUMBER: DP18003. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE ENGINE RECALL THE DEALER SAID IT PASSED NO NEED TO FIX. A MONTH LATER I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR GAUGES WENT CRAZY AND ENGINE SEIZED. I SAW SMOKE AND POPPED THE HOOD. I THAN SAW A FIRE IGNITE INSIDE THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS BURNT UP. I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH KIA VEHICLES STARTING ON FIRE FOR NO REASON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DON FRANKLIN SOMERSET KIA (60 HIGHWAY 2227, SOMERSET, KY 42503, (606) 679-1177) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY FUSE, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.

I HAVE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR STARTING. I HAVE READ THROUGH SOME OF THE FORUMS AND SEE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IF I HAVE THE POWER "ON" AND PUT IT IN DRIVE THEM BACK IN PARK IT STARTS AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. I HAVE HAD THE STARTED AND BATTERY TESTED AND THEY ARE NOT MALFUNCTIONING. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.

MY CAR IS A 2013 KIA OPTIMA. IT HAS BEEN CHIPPING ABOUT 1 YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED IT. NOW ITS JUST REAL REAL BAD. IT IS THE PEARL WHITE AND CHIPPED ON THE HOOD, ROOF, PASSENGER SIDE DOOR BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE, TOP OF TRUNK, SIDE OF TRUNK, FRONT OF THE HOOD. IT LOOKS HORRIBLE.

LOCKED OUT OF CAR AUTOMATICALLY WHILE KEY IS IN THE CAR ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE (JULY 2018), I WAS EN ROUTE AND STOPPED BRIEFLY, GOT OUT OF THE CAR WITH IT RUNNING WHILE THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE CAR. AS SOON AS I CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR DOORS LOCKED ME OUT AUTOMATICALLY. THIS WAS INCONVENIENT AND CAUSED MUCH DISTRESS BECAUSE I WAS AWAY FROM HOME PICKING UP MY INFANT CHILD FROM PRESCHOOL, AND DID NOT HAVE THE SECOND KEY AVAILABLE. THIS WAS ALSO EMBARRASSING AS MY PHONE ALSO WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE (DECEMBER 2018), I USED THE REMOTE START TO START THE CAR IN MY DRIVEWAY. AFTER I PUT MY INFANT CHILD IN THE CAR SEAT AND CLOSED THE DOOR, THE CAR TURNED ITSELF OFF AND ALL THE DOORS LOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. MY KEY WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR WITH MY CHILD. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE AND IT WAS COLDER THAN 40 DEGREES OUTSIDE. I HAD TO WAIT OVER 30 MINUTES TO GET MY CHILD OUT OF THE CAR. THIS IS NOT JUST CONCERNING, IT IS NEGLIGENT FOR THE MANUFACTURERS OF THIS CAR TO PUT UNSUSPECTING CAR OWNERS IN THIS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE POSITION. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE I THOUGHT WAS A FREAK ACCIDENT, BUT THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND MANY ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS SIMILAR TO MINE. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME OWNER AWARENESS ISSUED ON HOW TO RECTIFY THIS AND RESOLVING THIS ALL TOGETHER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

I'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX SINCE I PURCHASED IN 2014 LIKE CLOCKWORK. LAST MONTH, I EXPERIENCED ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY ROADS AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE GAS PEDAL. I FRANTICALLY PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN TRIED TO START IT, ONLY TO BE MET WITH A WEIRD SOUND AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. MY STARTER WAS FRIED, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND WHEN HE CHANGED THE STARTER, THE NEW STARTER BURNED AGAIN AS WELL AS THE ENGINE LOCKED UP/SEIZED. AFTER FINDING OUT A RECALL (SC147) WAS ACTIVE AT THE TIME, I CALLED KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE ISSUES AFTER CONFIRMING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ONCE I PICKED MY CAR UP, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS STARTING UP IN AN ODD MANNER BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ABOUT 3-4 DAYS LATER, MY CAR DID THE EXACT SAME THING AS THE FIRST TIME (SAME SMELL, SOUND, AND SMOKE CLOUD BUT LUCKILY I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME). I ASSUMED THE STARTER WOULD BE A PART OF THE RECALL SINCE IT BROKE DOWN THE EXACT SAME TIME AS THE RECALLED ENGINE, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO KIA, WHO TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T PAY FOR A NEW STARTER EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE RECALL CAUSED IT TO BURN UP IN THE FIRST PLACE AND IS CONSIDERED A COMPONENT OF THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED KIA CONSUMER AGAIN AND THE CASE WAS GIVEN TO AN ESCALATION MANAGER. I HAD TO SPEAK TO ABOUT 8 DIFFERENT AGENTS AND PUT AN EMAIL IN ACTION TO HER SUPERVISOR TO GET HER TO EVEN CONTACT ME ON THIS ISSUE. IT TOOK HER ALMOST A FULL MONTH TO CONTACT AND TELL ME KIA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STARTER. I'M CONFUSED AS TO WHY IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE I'VE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH MY STARTER UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILED. I AM AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT I NEED TO DO TO GET KIA TO SEE WHO IS REALLY AT FAULT. MY MECHANIC ALSO STATED THIS IS THE 1ST TIME HE'S EVER SEEN THOSE 2 PARTS BREAK SIMULTANEOUSLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2018, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE KIA OPTIMA 2012 FROM SAN ANTONIO TO HOUSTON ON I-10 E. AT 4:15 PM CST, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND MULTIPLE OTHER LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON IN THE DISPLAY AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP BEFORE EXIT 591 (SCHERTZ). SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE RIGHT-SIDE CURB OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING AND IT STOPPED COMPLETELY. SHE TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR A FEW TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START, AND SHE QUICKLY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT HOOD SO SHE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN CALLED 911 AS THE SMOKE GOT WORSE AND A FEW NEARBY DRIVERS HELPED HER QUICKLY GET AS MUCH OF HER STUFF FROM THE CAR AS POSSIBLE. THEN THEY ALL MOVED ACROSS TO A SAFE PLACE AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE (BY 4:25 PM). SEE PICTURES ATTACHED. THE POLICE ARRIVED AND BLOCKED THE HIGHWAY AND AFTER A WHILE THE FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED. IT TOOK SOME TIME TO PUT OUT THE FIRE AS THEY WERE WAITING UNTIL THE HALF TANK OF GAS COMPLETELY BURNED. I HAD A FEW RECALL LETTERS FROM KIA, SO I HAD TAKEN THE CAR ON NOVEMBER 30TH TO THE DEALERSHIP IN CONROE (COWBOY KIA) AND THEY TOOK CARE OF ALL THE RECALLS ' A TOTAL OF 3 ITEMS INCLUDING THE ACU WIRING EXTENSION INSTALLATION. THE DEALER ALSO DID A MULTI-POINT FREE INSPECTION AND REPORTED EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD CONDITION. THE CAR HAD AROUND 54,000 MILES. I ALSO HAD AN OIL CHANGE RECENTLY ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2018.

ON DECEMBER 9, 2018, I ATTENDED MY SON'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT ON A COLD SUNDAY AFTERNOON (APPROX. 30 DEGREES). DURING HALF-TIME I DECIDED TO SIT IN MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA TO WARM UP. AFTER 10 MINUTES OR SO, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE THE SMELL OF A BURNING ENGINE. I THEN NOTICED GREYISH BLACKISH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT MY CAR OFF AND BARELY EXITED THE VEHICLE IN TIME. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL AND HOOD WAS ON FIRE. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES, MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I GOT A BRAND NEW ENGINE (SO THEY SAY) INSTALLED BY KIA JUST 8 MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY ENGINE WAS BAD AND PART OF A RECALL. THEY ORDERED THE ENGINE AND HAD IT INSTALLED IN A MATTER OF DAYS. ONCE AGAIN THIS WAS JUST 8 MONTHS AGO!! I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BLAZE HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGES, WE MAY NEVER KNOW WHAT THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS IS WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME. KIA NEEDS TO GIVE ME AND THE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS TYPE OF TRAUMA SOME ANSWERS AS TO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND HOW THEY PLAN TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION! THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SIT IN MY CAR IN 30 DEGREE TEMPERATURES FOR HOURS IF I WANTED WITHOUT IT GOING INTO FLAMES. I AM PLEADING WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE REVIEW ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS BELOW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONTACT NOTICED CAR WAS MAKING A WEIRD SOUND, CONSUMER'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED EVERY TIME CONTACT PRESSED THE GAS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS SERVICED FOR PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WITHIN WEEKS OF THE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS IN A LIMP MODE AND IT FAILED TO OPERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHAKER'S KIA (1230 MAIN ST, WATERTOWN, CT 06795, (860) 417-0900) WHERE IT REMAINED FOR OVER A MONTH. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED BY THE CONTACT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH OLD ENGINE COMPONENTS LIKE THE SENSOR, THROTTLE BODY, ETC. THE DEALER ADVISED DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AS A TEMPORARY REMEDY AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE WIRING PENS WERE WET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

STEERING IS LOOSE, CLICKS, WHEEL SHAKES WHILE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A DEALER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 143,000.

KIA OF SAVANNAH ON DECEMBER 3, 2018 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR RECALL 18V363 TO HAVE AN AIRBAG WIRE HARNESS INSTALLED PER THE RECALL. UPON ATTEMPTING TO PICK MY VEHICLE UP I WAS TOLD THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE HAD SHORTED, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $825.00. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ASSOCIATE, ELISA FRANCE, THE AIRBAGS MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY UNLESS THE REPAIR WAS DONE. I ASKED HOW THE MODULE WENT BAD WHEN THEY WERE FIXING IT WITH THE NEW WIRE HARNESS AND WAS TOLD A "TECH" WOULD NEED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION. I ASKED FOR SERVICE MANAGER WHO WAS UNAVAILABLE. I CALLED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE MODULE WASN'T UNDER RECALL OR WARRANTY.AND I NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. MY COMPLAINT IS: PRIOR TO THE RECALL MY AIRBAGS LIGHT WAS NOT ON. WE RECENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR ANOTHER RECALL AND WAS NOT TOLD THE MODULE WAS BAD. BUT NOW, AFTER THE WIRE HARNESS RECALL WAS PERFORMED, THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE IS SUDDENLY BAD. FEELING THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, DUE TO THE AIRBAGS POSSIBLY NOT DEPLOYING, I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM A SERVICE MANAGER OR SERVICE TECH. TODAY MARKS DAY 4 THEY'VE HAD MY VEHICLE AND I'VE RECEIVED NO CALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

WASTE GATE ROD GOES OUT OF CORRECT SPECS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER ON VEHICLE. NOT ABLE TO ACCERLERATE FROM TAKE OFF WHILE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED

SXT MODEL 82K MILES. WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ACCELERATING TO MOVE INTO RIGHT LANE WHEN THE ENGINE CUTOFF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER LUCKILY WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THE CAR WOULD POWER ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT WERE LIT UP. CALLED FOR TOW. THE NEXT MORNING KIA EVALUATED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD ME IT WAS AFFECTED BY THE ENGINE AND COOLING RECALL 17V224000. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN MONTHS PRIOR FOR THE SAME RECALL BUT WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NOT AFFECTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN TO DRIVERS ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING TOLD YOU ARE NOT AFFECTED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STONES KIA (1222 N WOODRUFF AVE, IDAHO FALLS, ID 83401, (208) 524-2400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT IN 2015. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE ENGINE PREVIOUSLY BEING REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE WITH HEADLAMPS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POWER KIA DEALER, (3705 MARKET ST NE, SALEM, OR 97301, (503) 585-7333) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER AND INFORMED THAT THE HEADLAMPS LIGHT SWITCH CAUSED THE BATTERY TO DRAIN. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,874.

STEERING IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE UNRESPONSIVE, INCREASING ROTATIONAL OF PLAY FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. INITIALLY NOTICED JULY 2017 BUT HAS BEEN STEADILY INCREASING. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE THE DELAYED RESPONSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL MADE IT DIFFICULT TO AVOID A VEHICLE SWERVING INTO MY LANE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND RESISTED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER (UNIVERSITY KIA, 6519 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35806) WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,590. *TT*JB

THE VEHICLE REQUIRES THAT YOU HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTLY AT ALL TIMES TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM VEERING TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE, NO UNEVEN WEAR OF THE TIRES. IN ADDITION THE STEERING IS QUITE HARD REQUIRING UNUSUAL GRIP ON THE WHEEL. ALSO EVERY SLIGHT BUMP IS FELT THROUGHOUT THE CAR. THE FAILURE OF KIA TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM FOUND IN MANY OF THEIR PRODUCTS, MAKES THIS COMPANY/MNF OF QUESTIONABLE CHARACTER.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH WHEN THE PINGING STARTED. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY IT GOT LOUDER AS THE RPM DROPPED. BECOMING LOUDEST AT 3,000-4,000RPM. AT THIS POINT THE PINGING BECAME VERY LOUD. I PULLED OVER TO CONFIRM NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. ENGINE BECAME ROUGH AS KNOCKING CONTINUED. POWER LOSS ENSUED AND I DROVE THE CAR SEVERAL MILES TO MY MECHANIC. HE CONFIRMED IT WAS A ROD KNOCK. I WAS TOLD A YEAR AGO, AT SAN DIEGO KIA, THAT MY ENGINE WOULD NOT SUFFER THE RECALL ISSUED FOR MY MODEL. THIS WAS A YEAR AGO. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP WITH AND NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE I ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE.