2012 Kia Optima Complaint Log

CAR WILL NOT START UP. WHEN TURNING KEY I HEAR CLICKING NOISE FROM UNDER THE GOD FROM FUSE BOX AND THINKING IT'S STARTER RELAY BUT I REPLACED IT AND STILL NOTHING EVENTUALLY BY KEEP TRYING TURNING KEY TO START FOR 18 MINUTES IT STARTS UP FINALLY. NO CLUE WHAT IT COULD BE. MAYBE STARTER SOLENOID

MY ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER

ENGINE IS MAKING KNOCKING SOUND

AT FIRST IT STARTED WITH MY ENGINE OIL BURNING QUICK, AND HAVING TO DO AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 15 DAYS. NOW IT STARTED DOING THE ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE WHEN I DROVE IT 20 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY CITY STREET. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE IT NOW. I HAVEN'T DROVE IT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF DECEMBER BECAUSE I'M STILL WAITING TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR MY APPOINTMENT NEXT WEEK.

MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON WHEN THE CAR IS ON. ALSO THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, WHICH I WAS TOLD IT IS CONNECTED TO THE AIRBAG PROBLEM. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK THE CODE AND THE CODE SAID IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS A RECALL ON AIRBAGS FOR THE KIA OPTIMA BUT NOT FOR MY 2012 EX. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THE SAME AS DESCRIBED FOR THE RECALLED KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MY CAR IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE TRIED TO SEE IF IT WAS A SIMPLE CABLE CONNECTION ISSUE UNDER THE SEAT BUT THAT HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO PAY $$$$ TO GET THE AIRBAG FIXED WHEN THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH KIA OPTIMA AIRBAGS. BUT I ALSO DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY LIFE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DOES NOT WORK AND KIA WON'T FIX IT UNDER A RECALL.

LOWBEAMS SEEM WEAK/DIM. RESEARCH SHOWED VIA KIA"2011-2013 MY OPTIMA/OPTIMA HYBRID HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSION" THAT THE REFLECTOR IN THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP HOUSING MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME, RESULTING IN A GRADUAL DIMMING OF THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP. UNFORTUNATELY, IT ONLY PERTAINS TO VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN KOREA. MY VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED IN GEORGIA, BUT I BELIEVE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS THE SAME FOR BOTH LOCATIONS. BOTTOM LINE, MY LOW BEAMS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE AND DRIVING AT NIGHT IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE LIMITED VISIBILITY. I PERSONALLY COMPLETED THE PROCEDURE'S INSPECTION AS OUTLINED IN THE TSB (ATTACHED) AND DETERMINED MY VEHICLE HAS THIS PROBLEM, BUT SINCE MINE WAS ASSEMBLED IN GEORGIA THEY WON'T REPLACE AT NO COST TO ME.

AS MY STEPDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON A HIGHWAY, A LOUD KNOCK NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AT WHICH TIME SHE WAS SCARED TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE, SO SHE PARKED ALONGSIDE ROAD AND WAITED FOR SOMEONE TO COME GET HER. THE CAR WAS THEN TRAILERED TO THE HOUSE AND THEN TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP. WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED TO LOAD ONTO THE TRAILER, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OF ANY KIND ON THE DASH BUT THERE WAS AN OBVIOUS NOISE THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT WITH THE CAR. UNLOADING IT AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE NOISE BEGAN TO GET LOUDER AND AGAIN, NO LIGHTS OF ANY KIND CAME UP AS A WARNING. BEFORE TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WE CALLED KIA AND SPOKE WITH ROBERT ON 12/9/2020. ROBERT SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS CAR AND THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE CURRENT RECALL THAT IS ALL OVER THE PAPERS AND NEWS STATIONS. I ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OTHER RECALLS ON THIS CAR AND HE SAID NO. TODAY WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CALLED TO LET US KNOW THAT THE CARS ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE OF THE ROD BEARINGS, AGAIN WE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY OPEN RECALLS ON THIS CAR. WE WERE AGAIN TOLD NO. AFTER VIEWING YOUR WEBSITE, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT THERE IS, IN FACT AN OPEN RECALL FOR THE AIRBAG. I KNOW THE AIRBAG HAS NOTHING TODO WITH THE ENGINE, BUT CONSIDERING KIA WAS NOT HONEST ABOUT THAT RECALL IT WOULD LEAD SOMEONE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY AREN'T BEING HONEST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. I OPENED A CASE WITH KIA AND THAT NUMBER IS 13909518. WE AREN'T ASKING FOR ANYTHING BUT THE RIGHT THING TO BE DONE. WE JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR 3 WEEKS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. WE WERE ALREADY STRUGGLING TO PURCHASE HER A CAR AND WILL NOW HAVE TO SOMEHOW FIND A WAY TO PURCHASE ANOTHER ONE. PLEASE HELP US!

I WAS DRIVING TO PICK MY KIDS UP WHEN I SLOWED DOWN TO TURN A CORNER THE CAR STARTED MAKING A WEIRD NOISE AND KIND OF JERKED SOME. I PICKED UP 1 KID PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WHEN THE CAR JERKED AGAIN AND BARELY WAS MOVING, EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING ON THE GAS. THEN MY DISPLAY FLASHED HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE ANOTHER 200 YARDS TO PARK SAFELY AND THAT WAS IT. MY HUSBAND WENT TO PICK IT UP LATER WITH A TRAILER AND OIL WAS POURING OUT OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING AND THERE WAS NO REASON. THIS IS THE REPLACEMENT MOTOR IN MY CAR, IN 2017 WE HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AS WELL DUE TO SOME KIND OF BEARINGS. I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN YET, IT'S IN MY DRIVEWAY WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE NEWEST RECALL IS. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE WITH KIA.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR ACCELERATING WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE NEAREST DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE OR I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLEI WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ABOUT 25 MILES AN HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE NEAREST DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE OR I WAS SAFELY ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN PARK I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY CAR AND ALL I HEARD WAS A FAINT CLICK OF THE STARTER THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER I CONTACTED MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE VIA MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO REQUEST A TOW TRUCK ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TO 45 MINUTES LATER THE TOW TRUCK SHOWED UP AN MY BATTERY WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DEAD THE TOW TRUCK UNLOADED MY CAR INTO MY GARAGE WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART MY CAR AND ALL I HEAR IS A FAINT CLICK OF THE STARTER THE ENGIN WILL NOT TURN OVER I DID SOME RESEARCH AND SOME LOOKING UP AND FOUND THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE RECALL BY KIA ON MULTIPLE MODELS OF CARS WITH THE SAME ENGINE. MINE IS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA LX 2.4L AND I DID FIND OUT THAT ANYTHING FROM 2011 UP TO A 2015 KIA OPTIMA HAS ENGINE RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE STALLING OUT AN THE ENGINE SEIZING UP BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECTS IN THE ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND THE HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HE WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICE SMOKE EXIT THE HOOD. THE CONTACT STATED A POLICE OFFICER WAS NEARBY AND PARKED BEHIND HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON IT'S OWN BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO THE LOCATION. A POLICE AND FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER NORTHTOWN KIA ( 3900 SHERIDAN DR, AMHERST, NY 14226: (716) 217-2390) AND DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED DUE TO A OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE), HOWEVER THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,000.

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN I NOTICED MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX MAKING A LOUD CLICKING/TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE SUDDENLY THE CAR TURNED OFF AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE. WHEN I PULLED OVER THE CAR WAS OFF SO I TURNED IT ON AND CONTINUED TO HEAR THE LOUD CLICKING/TAPPING NOISE.

I was coming home from work doing around 75 mph on cruise control when all of the sudden the car jerked violently and lost all power, the car behind me would’ve rear ended me if they weren’t paying attention. I just hold the throttle down to get home, misfiring terribly, and the best way I can describe, it smelled hot if that makes sense. I had it looked at and was told it doesn’t have compression in one of the cylinders and that it wasn’t covered under warranty or recall. So now I’m paying for a car that I can’t drive.

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING JUST GOT ON THE FREEWAY AND MY KIA OPTIMA WITH 107K MILES DECIDED TO SHUT OFF OUT OF KNOWHERE. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE OIL AND NOTICED IT WAS PRETTY MUCH EMPTY WHEN IT SHOULDNT HAVE BEEN. I CHECK IT REGULARLY AND KEEP IT IN GOOD SHAPE ALSO HAD IT CHANGED A MONTH OR SO BACK. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. IT TOOK THEM 2 WEEKS AND VARIOUS TEST INCLUDING A COMPRESSION TEST AND INSTALLING NEW SPARK PLUGS. AFTER ALMOST 700$ SPENT THEY GOT IT RUNNING FOR 15MINS AND THE CAR SHUTOFF AGAIN. THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW ENGINE...SO AFTER I GET IT TOWED ALL THE WAY BACK HOME I HEAR THAT KIA HAS A MASSIVE SETTLEMENT GOING ON FOR THIER ENGINES FAILING. NOT SURE IF I WILL GET A RECALL BUT I HAVE MY FINGERS CROSSED. I HOPE THAT ANYONE HAS THIS PROBLEM CAN FIND A WAY TO SOLVE THIS. NOT TO MENTION I JUST PAYED IT OFF AND IT FORCED ME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE SOON AFTER REFUELING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ORR KIA OF SHREVEPORT (1111 E. BERT KOUNS INDUSTRIAL LOOP, SHREVEPORT, LA 71115) WHERE SHE WAS PROVIDED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE WHICH SHE DECLINED. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED ORR KIA OF BOSSIER CITY (3601 BENTON RD, BOSSIER CITY, LA 71111) WHERE SHE WAS ALSO GIVEN ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC FEE WHICH SHE ALSO DECLINED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED HER FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED CAUGHT ON FIRE AND COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN.

I JUST BOUGHT THE THIS CAR A FEW MONTHS AGO . THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. THE CAR APPEARED AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO DIE THE ENGINE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF WITHOUT WARNING . I PULLED OVER TO A SAFE AREA TURNED THE CAR OFF . I WAITED A FEW MINUTES BEFORE TRYING TO RESTART . MY CAR WOULDN'T START . AFTER SEVERAL MECHANICS LOOKING AT THE CAR THEY BELIEVE IT'S THE ENGINE AND TOLD ME THE CAR HAD A RECALL. I CALLED KIA DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAS BEEN ADDRESSED ON TOP OF THAT THE TURBO IS LEAKING FLUIDS . THIS CAR IS A MESS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TURNING OFF AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. DUE THE FAILURE, THE BATTERY WAS DRAINED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS REQUIRING A JUMP START TO BE ABLE TO START-UP AND DRIVE THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE WITHIN TWO MONTHS. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO VISION KIA OF EAST ROCHESTER (201 E LINDEN AVE, EAST ROCHESTER, NY 14445) WHERE THEY INFORMED HIM THAT THE EXTERIOR WIRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

I BOUGHT MY CAR 3 MONTHS AGO. NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES, MAKE SURE I DO MY OIL AND ALL,NO LIGHTS HAVE COME ON ON MY DASH BOARD EXCEPT THE AIRBAG LIGHT AS OF RECENTLY. I WAS DRIVING IT TO PICK UP MY SON AND MY CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND I NOTICED MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON SO I PULLED OVER TO THE GAS STATION AND CHECKED MY OIL. NO ISSUE I JUST GOT AN OIL CHANGE THE WEEK BEFORE. MY ENGINE IS KNOCKING NOW. WITH NO WARNING OR ANYTHING.

WHEN ACCELERATING, ENGINE SEEMS TO HAVE A POWER LOSS AND THEN IT CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AFTER A FEW SECONDS. I AM IN MOTIONG WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY/STREET.

MY 2012 KIA IS SHUTTING OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING. I LIVE IN A BUSY AREA AND THAT'S VERY DANGEROUS. I JUST GOT THE CAR FROM A USED DEALERSHIP AND MY MECHANIC CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR IT HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES AND NOW IT WILL NOT START.

DRIVING AT THE SPEED OF 55 MPH ON TWO LANE ROAD COMING DOWN A MOUNTAIN AND KIA OPTIMA SX 2.0L TURBO STARTED LOSING POWER THEN AT 45 ENGINE SHUT DOWN. COASTED TO SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WILL NOT START. TOWED TO HOME THEN TOWED AGAIN TO SHOP WAITING ON REPAIRS. KIA SAYS NO RECALL AND NOT PART OF THE 618000 KIA OPTIMA SX TURBO 2.0L RECALL

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WITH LOW POWER AT 50 MPH WITH ALL LIGHTS WORKING. COMPUTER HAS CAR SHUT DOWN AND CAN NOT START.

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND. WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF MY EXIST I NOTICE THE CAR WAS NOT ALLOWING ME TO START IT UP AND MOVE. I KNEW IT WASN'T MY BATTERY BECAUSE I JUST GOT I KNEW ONE, BUT I NOTICE HOW MY ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. SO I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET WITH NO WAY TO MOVE MY CAR OUT OF THE INTERSECTION. I HEARD THEIR WAS A RECALL ON MY CAR SO I'M CHECKING TO SEE WHY I HAVEN'T HEARD ANY INFORMATION FROM KIA.

CAR WILL NOT GET OUT OF IMMOBILIZATION PHASE, WITH EITHER KEY FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK TO USE PUSH TO START. ISSUE IS WASTE GATE ACTIVATOR FAILURE OR NEEDS ADJUSTMENT.

RECALL INFO SHOWS IT WAS REPAIRED BUT KIA FOUND METAL SHAVINGS AGAIN IN THE ENGINE AND SO EITHER THE RECALL WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY OR THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE HAS THE SAME ISSUE. I WAS GOING DOWN THE 59 FREEWAY AND ALL THE SUDDEN MY ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING SO I ATTEMPTED TO VERY OFF THE FREEWAY BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELLERATE. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ONLY 8 MONTHS AND KIA SAID THE MOTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED. MY DAD AND MY BROTHER ARE BOTH MECHANICS SO I AM FAMILIAR WITH WHAT CAUSES METAL SHAVINGS TO BE FOUND IN THE ENGINE. I HAVE NOT DROVE THE CAR NOT NEGLECTED THE MAINTENANCE THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. THERE IS A RECALL WHERE THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE. I THINK IT WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY. I AM REQUESTING FOR INVESTIGATION TO BE DONE ON THE WORK PERFORMED FOR THAT RECALL. AND I AM REQUESTING FOR KIA TO PAY FOR THIS 2ND REPAIR DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS FOUND AGAIN. I ALSO NEED A RENTAL CAR TO BE PAID FOR DURING THE TIME KIA STILL HAS MY VEHICLE. AT FAMILY PARKWAY KIA IN KINGWOOD, TEXAS. ALSO I GOT A CLAIM FORM MAILED TO BE TO BE PAID FOR ANY REPAIRS I PAID FOR OUT OF MY POCKET. THE KIA DEALERSHIP HAS ALL THE DOCUMENTATION.

MY GEAR SHIFT IS STUCK IN DRIVE I CAN NOT PUT IT IN PARK IF I TURN MY CAR OFF IT WON'T CRANK BACK UP PLEASE HELP I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AN THIS IS MY EVERYDAY CAR

MY CAR SLOWED DOWN IN WOULDN'T REACH OVER 2000 RPM AND THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT BLINKING AND WHEN I PUT IT ON A COMPUTER ENGINE CODE P1326 POPPED ON. IT'S CALLED THE IGNITION CONTROL MODULE COMBUSTION QUALITY INPUT SIGNAL AFTER KIA DEALERSHIP OF SKIBO ROAD SUPPOSEDLY ALREADY FIXED THE PROBLEM BACK IN JUNE 2019 NOW IT'S SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 N IT CAME ON AGAIN N YES LAST YEAR HAD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING ON A STREET IN THE MORNING ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 WHEN IT HAPPENED AND IT WAS RAINING.

KIA OPTIMA 2012 ABRUPTLY POWERED DOWN IN MIDDLE OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WARNING. THE ABRUPT LOSS OF POWER NEARLY CAUSED A VEHICLE TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND. AFTER ENGINE SHUT DOWN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND READ CODE P1326. CAR WILL NO LONGER START.

KIA REPLACED MY ENGINE AFTER IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING. NOW IT HESITATES AND SOMETIMES JERKS LIKE IT'S ABOUT TO RUN OUT OF GAS. THE SKID LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN IT'S DRY. THE BREAK LIGHT POPS ON EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE ISN'T IN USE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR FUEL PIPE DAMAGE AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT BUT THEY WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT OR EVEN INSPECT MY VEHICLE KNOW IT CAN CAUSE A FIRE

ENGINE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. ABSOLUTELY NOT SAFE AT ALL. MY 2012 OPTIMA HYBRID IS ROUGHLY AT 115K MILES. AFTER SEEING ALL THE COMPLAINTS HOW'S KIA NOT ISSUING A RECALL ON THIS SAFETY ISSUE! VERY DISAPPOINTED AND HOPING TO SEE A RESOLUTION FROM KIA.

WHEN I MOVE MY STEERING WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE I HEAR A WEIRD CLUNKING LIKE NOISE. I FIRST NOTICED THIS WHILE PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY. IT OCCURS WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING STILL, HOWEVER HAVE NOT TRIED IT WHILE CAR IS MOVING. ALSO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY LAST WEEK (APPROX 60 MPH) MY STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE MODERATELY. I HAD NOT NOTICED THE VIBRATION PRIOR TO LAST WEEK OR THE CLUNKING NOISE BEFORE 9/26/20. I HAVE A VIDEO WITH CLUNKING NOISE OCCURRING IF NEEDED

I WAS DRIVING 75MPH, I WAS COMING UP OVER A HILL, AND THE VEHICLE CUT OUT, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT CAME FROM THE ENGINE, AND I WAS TOLD TO PULL OVER, THE LIGHT WAS FLASHING HYBRID BATTERY LOW, PLEASE CHECK AND ADVISE. I TRIED TO START THE CAR BUT IT WOULDN'T COME ON. WARNING LIGHT ON DASH STATED TO NOT START THE VEHICLE. THE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS ONLY AROUND 110,000.

THE CAR HAD BROKE DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE TOTALING THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS NOT IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET

CAR ENGINE BEGAN MAKING INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISES. PULLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK IT OUT. TURNED OFF THE CAR THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND CAR ENGINE MADE EVEN LOUDER KNOCKING SOUNDS. MECHANIC TOOK A LOOK AND SAID IT WAS A INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM/FAILURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HE HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STOKES KIA (202 S. GOOSE CREEK BLVD, GOOSE CREEK, SC 29445, (843) 572-7300 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER SOUTHWEST KIA OF ROCKWALL LOCATED AT 1790 I-30 FRONTAGE RD, ROCKWALL, TX 75087, (469) 402-2900 AND THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT EXIT THE VEHICLE AND SAW METAL PARTS AND OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND THEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE THAT THE BEARING ROD WENT THROUGH THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL THOUSAND MILES THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE NEW ENGINE. THE CONTACT THE CALLED THE CABLE DAHMER KIA OF LEE'S SUMMIT (400 NE COLBERN RD, LEE'S SUMMIT, MO 64086, (816) 207-6200) AND WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V750000 (ENGINE). THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OVER 150,000 MILES. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE AND THE MANUFACTURER AGREED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE FREE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,000.

WE WERE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET SLOWING DOWN FOR A SIGNAL. THE CAR STALLED AND A MESSAGE CAME UP SAYING TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED 4 MILES TO THE DEALER. NO OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING ANY PROBLEMS.THE DEALER TOLD US WHILE THEY WERE CHECKING FOR THE PROBLEM THE ENGINE CEASED UP. THEN THEY SAID THE BELT HAD COME OFF. I THINK THE ENGINE CEASED CAUSING THE BELT TO COME OFF.TRYING TO FIGURE OUT IF THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE PROBLEMS KIA HAS BEEN HAVING.

BUT MY MOM WAS DRIVING HER CAR ONE DAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BEARING OR SOMETHING CAME LOOSE AND OIL SQUIRTED ALL OVER THE GROUND AND THE CAR DIED AND AND WE HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AT A COST OF ABOUT 4500 BUCKS AND NOW THE HYBRID LIGHT SYSTEM KEEPS COMING ON THE DEALERSHIP THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING THEY HAD TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER KIA PLACE AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ONAND NOW WITH THE MOTOR REPLACE THE HYBRID LIGHT SYSTEM KEEPS COMING ON THEY DON'T KNOW WHY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE JERKED AND FELT AS THOUGH SOMETHING HAD BLOWN OUT AND WAS MAKING A RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF CERRITOS (18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703), AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BELT WAS MELTED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALLBACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000.

I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT MY CAR HAS BEEN HACKED DUE TO AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AFTER BEING AGGRESSIVELY FOLLOWED BY A MYSTERIOUS BLACK NISSAN SUV WITH PITCH-BLACK TINTED WINDOWS AT MY WORK LOCATION. DURING THE INCIDENT IN QUESTION, I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH 911, WITH THE BLUETOOTH OF MY CAR AND PHONE ON AND CONNECTED, CALLING ABOUT A RED CAR THAT APPEARED TO BE FOLLOWING ME. I DROVE AROUND MY BLOCK AND LOST THE RED CAR BUT WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO THE STREET WHERE I LIVE, I SLOWED DOWN AS I NOTICED A SLOW-MOVING BLACK SUV WITH PITCH-BLACK DARK TINTED WINDOWS (REMINDING ME OF THE BLACK NISSAN SUV THAT I ENCOUNTERED A WEEK PRIOR AT WORK). I REMEMBER ITS HEADLIGHTS BEING OFF. THIS TIME, I WAS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE BLACK SUV- IT WAS ON MY LEFT SIDE DRIVING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION AND IT ALSO APPEARED TO SLOWED DOWN AND GOT PARALLEL TO MY VEHICLE). WHEN MY CAR AND THE BLACK SUV WHERE ALMOST NEXT TO EACH OTHER, ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS OF MY VEHICLE TURNED ON AND I HEARD A SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE ALL THE DOORS UNLOCKED. AS A PETITE FEMALE WHO WAS DRIVING ALONE AT 10PM OR LATER THAT NIGHT ON AN EMPTY BACK STREET, I GOT TERRIFIED AND QUICKLY PUSHED ON THE GAS TO GET AWAY FROM THE BLACK SUV. WITH ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE AT NIGHT, I HAD NO VISIBILITY WHATSOEVER, SO I KEPT PUSHING THE LIGHT SWITCH BY THE DRIVER'S SIDE, BUT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I MOVED THE SWITCH, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT TURN OFF. AFTER DRIVING, I ESTIMATE, 1000+ FEET, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED OFF AND I REGAINED VISIBILITY. AT THAT POINT I COULD SEE MY APARTMENT WAS COMING UP SO I QUICKLY DROVE INTO THE GATED PARKING AREA OF MY APARTMENT COMPLEX. AS I RECALL THE INCIDENT, THE LIGHT SWITCH WAS ON "DOOR" WHEN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN IT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS INCIDENT REVEALS SECURITY/SAFETY VULNERABILITIES IN MY VEHICLE.

DRIVING CAR FOR NO LONGER THAN 45 MINUTES. WHEN APPROACHING A GREEN LIGHT MY CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE LIGHT TURNED RED SO I HAD TO COME TO A STOP. AS I DID, ALL MY DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY CAR SPUTTERED. THE CAR THEN TURNED OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART, BUT NOTHING. IT BEGAN TO SMOKE BADLY AND I RUSHED OUT OF MY VEHICLE. THERE WAS A COP, CONVENIENTLY CLOSE, WHO STOPPED AND POURED WATER WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM. IT CONTINUED TO SMOKE BUT NOT AS BAD AS BEFORE. THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN OVER STILL AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER SITTING, WITH ENGINE OFF, THERE IS STILL A STING BURNT SMELL COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND INSIDE MY CAR.

LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD BY KIA IF MY STEERING WHEEL CLICKED TO BRING IT IN ASAP, AT THE TIME IT WASN'T DOING THAT. A MONTH AGO IT DID, I BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED. THE CLOCK SPRING ASSY FAILED. PLUS IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. SOME ARE COVERED OTHERS ARE NOT, EXPLAIN TO ME PLEASE THAT IF THEY ALL ARE DOING THE SAME THING WHY AREN'T THEY ALL COVERED? PLEASE HELP! THANK YOU.

I GOT A OIL CHANGE CAME HOME AND THE NEXT DAY STARTED MY CAR AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN KNOCKING MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE

ENGINE KNOCKING WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY , WHEN PRESSING GAS PETAL OR CRANKING UP ! CAR WON'T ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING, OIL LIGHT & CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS ON & OFF WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY ! CUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY !

MY 2012 OPTIMA WAS TAKEN TO IMPERIO KIA IN DANA POINT FOR A MANDATED ENGINE INSPECTION. AFTER THE INSPECTION, I NOTICED THE ADVISER ACTING STRANGELY. MY CAR ENGINE STARTED TO HESITATE, AND BEGAN TO SMELL RUBBER BURNING. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVER ANSWER THE PHONE, AND WITH 4 WEEKS THEY CLOSED DOWN. MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AT KIA OF IRVINE, WHO DETERMINED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR, IT HAD METAL PIECES AND RUBBER PIECES IN IT, THE HOSES WERE DISCONNECTED AND THERE WAS RUBBER MELTED ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THERE WERE MISSING CLAMPS AND NUMEROUS OTHER PROBEMS. KIA REPLACED MY ENGINE AND TURBO WITH REBUILT PARTS, AFTER A WAIT THAT LASTED 4 MORE WEEKS. KIA PROVIDED ME A 5 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY ON ALL THE COMPONENTS THAT WERE REPLACED AND DAMAGED IN THIS CASE #12538291. IN 2019, ANOTHER MANDATED INSPECTION OCCURRED FOR THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM AND FUEL PIPE IN THE VEHICLES THAT PREVIOUSLY REQUIRED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE, BECAUSE THERE WAS A DANGER OF FIRE. ON JULY 28, 2020, THE OPTIMA STARTED TO LOSE ITS POWER, AND CHOKED AND HESITATED UPON STARTUP WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I REOPENED THE ENGINE CLAIM AND TOOK THE OPTIMA INTO THE IRVINE DEALERSHIP. THEY CLAIN THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY, THAT IT DOES NOT EXIST! THEY ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INSPECTION OR LACK THERE-OF FOR THE FUEL PIPE, AND CLAIM THAT THE WARRANTY AND RECALL DO NOT COVER THE FUEL PUMP. AGENTS ARE WORKING FROM HOME DUE TO COVID-19, AND THERE IS NO CUSTOMER SERVICE TO SPEAK OF. THE QUOTE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IS EXTREMELY HIGH AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME A HIGH DIAGNOSTIC FEE AS WELL. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH ENOUGH TRAUMA BECAUSE OF KIA, AND I WANT THEM TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEIR WARRANTY RECORDS ARE A DISGRACE.

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 60MPH . SUDDENLY ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES. CAR IMMEDIATELY MAKES AWFUL SOUND AND LOOSES POWER AS I'M PULLING OVER TO GET OFF ROAD. HAD TOWED IN TO HOME. OUR NEIGHBOR MECHANIC THINKS THREW A ROD. NO WARNING LIGHTS BEFORE THIS HAPPENED! LOUD KNOCKING SPUD UNDER HOOD.

TRANSMISSION ISSUES: BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. WOULD LAG THEN JERK THE CAR WITH SOME TORQUE ONCE IT CAUGHT 3RD GEAR. HAD TO GET 2 REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSIONS BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. ALSO ENGINE SEIZER ISSUE, MY ENGINE STARTED TO SEIZE WHEN I WAS GOING 45 MILES AN HOUR WITH ALOT OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED MAKING LOUD THUNKING NOICES THEN A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND THEN I WAS STUCK ON A ROAD NOT BEING ABLE TO GET ABOVE 22 MILES AND HOUR, THERE WAS NO SHOULDER TO PULL OVER. AND I WAS STUCK TRYING TO GO UPHILL AND ALL THESE CARS BEHIND ME. I ENDED UP HAVING TO STOP THE CAR AND LEAVE IT IN THE MIDDLE OF A 2 LANE ROAD ON A HILL WITH THE EMERGANCY BREAK ON. KIA KNEW IT WAS ANOTHER SEIZED ENGINE WHICH I THOUGHT IT WAS MY TRANSMISSION AGAIN WHICH I HAD BROUGHT IN BECAUSE THIS 3RD TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING THE SKILLING ISSUES AROUND 20-25MILES AND HOUR, BUT AFTER THEY KNEW I WASNT GOING TO BUY ANOTHER KIA AGAIN THEY WOULDNT FIX MY TRANS THAT SHOULD PROBABLY BE RECALLED ANYWAYS. BUT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS ANOTHER OPTIMA SEIZED ENGINE, AND EVEN THOUGH ALL OPTIMAS ARE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE, THEY SAY THAT MINE ISNT COVERED BECASUE ITS A HYBRID AND HAS A MOTOR IN THE CAR ALSO SO ITS DIFFERENT SET UP. BUT THERES ARE OTHERS ONLINE WITH THIS KIA OPTIMA 2011-2013 HYBRID ENGINE SEIZER JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER OPTIMAS. AND I THINK THE HYBRIDS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. AS WE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE

I WAS GOING DOWN HIGHWAY 80 AND LINCOLN NEBRASKA WHEN MY ENGINE JUST DIED ON ME IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSED NO PILE UP MEL MY ENGINE BURLY STARTS UP MAKING KNOCK NOISE I HAD THE TALK BACK HOME TO WICHITA KANSAS