2012 Kia Optima Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE CONTACT STATED MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CRUISE THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND WHEN LIFTING THE HOOD SAW FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER RAN TO HIS EMPLOYER AND WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH 5 FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. THE CONTACT STATED NO ONE WAS INJURED OR SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO FIRE OR POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE FOUND SEVERAL UNKNOWN RECALLS ON LINE THAT WAS RELATED TO THE VEHICLE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOTICED A FAINT FUEL SMELL AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF. ALSO NOTICED AFTER STARTING ENGINE. WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING I TOOK ENGINE COVER OFF AND FUEL WAS SPRAYING OUT OF THE TOP B-NUT FITTING ON THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE. FUEL LINE IS ON THE UPPER PART OF ENGINE. THIS IS THE SAME FUEL LINE IN RECALL SC172. ENGINE WAS REPLACED IN 11/2019 UNDER RECALL.*DT

WHILE PASSING ANOTHER CAR ON A HIGHWAY MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I PULLED OVER AND IT WON'T START CUZ IT IS SEIZED UP. LUCKY FOR ME I COULD MAKE IT TO A OFF RAMP. TOWED IT AND THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS THE BEARINGS THAT ARE BAD AND I NEED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE AND I HAVE LESS THAN 50000 MILES ON THE CAR😤

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING T 65 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHUDDER. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW. THE CONTACT DROVE APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO PARAMOUNT KIA OF ASHEVILLE (1000 RIDGEFIELD BLVD, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES STARTED TO GIVE OUT.

HI ENGINE KEEP LOSING POWER BECAUSE THE EWGA VOLTAGE IS INCORRECT. I'VE HAD THIS ADJUSTED 3 TIMES SO FAR OVER 60,000 MILES BUT IT KEEPS COMING BACK. NOW I NEED TO GO IN AND SPEND ANOTHER 200 DOLLAR TO HAVE IT FIXED OFR THE 4TH TIME. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE DESIGN AND IT IS DANGEROUS AS THE ENGINE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. HOW TO ADJUST THE EWGA VOLTAGE IS DESCRIBED HERE: HTTPS://STATIC.NHTSA.GOV/ODI/TSBS/2013/SB-10090612-5448.PDF IT SHOULD BE MADE A MANDATORY AND PERMANENT FIX PAID BY KIA FOR THE LIFE TIME OF THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT HAD INITIALLY TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO ARAPAHOE KIA (9701 E ARAPAHOE RD, CENTENNIAL, CO 80112) FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND HAD ALSO INFORMED THEM THAT HER VEHICLE HAD BEEN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) PLACED ON HER YEAR MODEL VEHICLE HOWEVER, KIA COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE UNLESS THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. A WEEK LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN CLEARED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A CASE WOULD BE OPENED. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A TEXT FROM THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL WITH DIAGNOSING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PULLING OUT OF HER DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DORSCHEL KIA (3817 W HENRIETTA RD, ROCHESTER, NY 14623) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH POWER STEERING FAILURE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

6/17/20 I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX (2.4L GAS DIRECT INJECTION 4-CYL ENGINE) AND HAD JUST STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION FOR A RED LIGHT. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I ACCELERATED TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO MY DESTINATION. SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING THE INTERSECTION, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING MADE A CLUNK SOUND, THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH FLASHED AND THE ENGINE DIED. I WASN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED SO I QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COASTED UNTIL I REACHED A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND PARK THE VEHICLE. I TRIED RESTARTING IT BUT IT JUST MADE A CLICK SOUND AND WOULD NOT START. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE A COUPLE MORE TIMES THERE WAS A LITTLE SMOKE THAT CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD / ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT KIND OF SMELLED LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT'VE BEEN SOME SORT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRIC SHOP FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT THE NEXT DAY. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE THIS MORNING AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED UP AND THAT THE ENGINE WAS BONE DRY OF OIL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS EVEN POSSIBLE WHEN I NEVER RECEIVED ANY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, CHECK OIL LIGHT, NO OIL LEAKS ON THE MOTOR, NO OIL LEAKS IN MY DRIVEWAY OR ANYTHING. HOW DOES A VEHICLE THAT IS SERVICED REGULARLY ALL OF A SUDDEN SEIZE UP WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHAT SO EVER? I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ONLINE THAT INDICATES KIA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR CERTAIN 2011-2014 KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES. HOWEVER, WHEN I LOOK UP THE SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER FOR MY VEHICLE IT SAYS I DON'T HAVE ANY CURRENT RECALLS. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW FROM A KIA DEALER AND DEFINITELY WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT HAD I KNOWN THAT THE MOTOR WOULD SEIZE UP ONLY 8 YEARS LATER. I EXPECT AN ENGINE FROM KIA TO LAST LONGER THAN 8 YEARS. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WASN'T TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. SAD KIA CUSTOMER. *TR

FIRST, I WAS ON IN A ROAD TRIP TO ARIZONA FROM SOUTH CAROLINA. SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A CLICKING NOISE AND SMELLED LIKE OIL WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AND LOST ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY TOLD ME IT NEEDED MORE OIL WHEN MY LIGHT NEVER CAME ON AND I STILL HAD 1000MI LEFT UNTIL MY NEXT OIL CHANGE. SO THEY PERFORMED THE OIL CHANGE AFTER GETTING IT TOWED THERE AND HAVING TO THEN COME BACK FOR IT (4 DAYS AFTER GETTING IT TOWED THERE). AFTER THAT, WE TRIED ONCE AGAIN TO GO TO ARIZONA AND ABOUT HALF WAY THERE GOING ABOUT 73MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR MADE A LOUD BOOM NOISE, SAW LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT, AND COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. HUSBAND'S STEP DAD CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS COMPLETELY GONE. WE WENT TO GRAB MORE OIL AND WHEN WE POURED IT THROUGH, IT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE BOTTOM. AFTER HOURS OF TRYING TO GET IT ON THE BACK OF OUR OTHER TRUCK TRAVELING WITH US WE FINALLY GOT IT TO A KIA AND THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED. LONG STORY SHORT, WE RENTED A BETTER TRUCK FOR $480 TO HAUL MY CAR BACK TO ARIZONA. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED AND UPSET. MY CAR IS NOW AT A KIA IN TEMPE, AZ AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S NOT APART OF THE ENGINE RECALL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT EVEN THOUGH AN ATTORNEY TOLD ME IT WAS. *TR

MY VEHICLE STEERING MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING IT. IT HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING AND WHILE CAR IS IN PARK. I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS WITH KIA'S(STEERING COUPLING) AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. I NEED TO KNOW IF ESTABLISHED AS A RECALL SO I CAN TAKE TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO CONTINUE DRIVING LIKE THIS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS SON WHO OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SON WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ENGINE CEASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HIS SON THAT THE ENGINE THREW A ROD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SENT AN EMAIL TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT'S WIFE SPOKE WITH TWO UNKNOWN DEALERS WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE AND PROVIDED HER WITH THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE MANUFACTURER. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000. *LN CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE CORPORATE OFFICE.*JB

DRIVING NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM AND ENGINE SEIZED HAD TO BE TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC TOLD THE ENGINE SEIZED AND HAD PLENTY OF OIL AND OIL HAD JUST BEEN CHANGED? TOWED TO KIA DEALER IN LOWELL TO BE LOOKED AT AND HAVE NOT HEARD A WORD FOR 2 WEEKS..CALLED THE KIA HOTLINE AND NO WORD FROM THEM EITHER? IT IS EQUIPPED WITH A 2.4 THERA II ENGINE... NOW I'VE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM ENGINE AND IT APPEARS IM STUCK WITH A 6500 DOLLAR LAWN ORNAMENT!!!! THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL SC147 BUT WHEN I LOOK UP MY VIN NUMBER ITS NOT INCLUDED NOT SURE SAME ENGINE AND SAME PROBLEM? A NEW DRIVER BUT WAS ABLE TO GET SAFELY OFF ROAD WAY. *TR

VEHICLE WAS RUNNING BUT WOULDN'T GO PAST 40 MPH ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SLOWED DOWN TO 20 MPH AND COMPLETELY STOPPED AND TURNED OFF AT A STOP SIGN. IT DID NOT WANT TO START ANYMORE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED, WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SAFFORD KIA OF FREDERICKSBURG (5204 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540)-891-7400. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE CODE AT THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AT THE SAME DEALER UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). AS PART OF THE RECALL REPAIR THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE WAS INSPECTED BUT WAS NOT REPLACED BECAUSE THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO FAILURE WITH THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL PIPE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,227. *LN*JB

RECENTLY WHEN DRIVING I'VE HEARD A PRONOUNCED "KNOCKING" NOISE COMING FROM MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT CAN ALSO BE HEARD AT LOWER SPEEDS AS WELL. I WAS AWARE OF A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HAD BEEN PLACED ON MY ENGINE BECAUSE OF IT. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A KIA SERVICE CENTER FOR THEM TO RUN THE AUDIO TEST REQUIRED BY THE RECALL. ALTHOUGH THEY ADMITTED THAT THE KNOCKING WAS COMING FROM THE ISSUE STATED IN THE RECALL, THEY SAID IT WAS STILL "IN SPEC" AND IT WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH YET TO WARRANT REPLACING THE ENGINE FREE OF CHARGE. THEY ALSO MENTIONED TO BRING IN THE CAR AGAIN IF IT GOT WORSE. JUST A FEW DAYS LATER DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE KNOCKING WAS SO LOUD I COULD NOT HEAR MY RADIO. MY WIFE AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR AND I ALSO DON'T BELIEVE I WILL BE ABLE TO SELL IT IN THIS CONDITION. IF KIA IS ADMITTING FAULT WITH THE ENGINE ISSUE, WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR? IS THIS SAFE? IF THEY ARE WAITING FOR IT TO FAIL BEFORE REPLACING IT, I COULD HAVE MY ENGINE SEIZE ON THE HIGHWAY OR CATCH FIRE BASED ON WHAT THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS TARGETED AT. *TR

THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL EXTREMELY I CAN GET A OIL CHANCE AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT I'M SO FEW MILES MY OIL STICK IS ON LOW AND THE CAR IS MAKING A TICKING NOISE LIKE IT'S TRYING TO COOL OFF EVERYTIME THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AFTER DRIVING. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING 45MPH, I HEARD A RIDDLING NOISE. AFTER HEARING THE NOISE I SAW MY MALFUNCTION LIGHT WAS BLINKING SO I PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS THE NOISE. AS I WAS SEARCHING I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WASN'T RUNNING HOT OR NEEDED OIL SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. I WAITED ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO START AGAIN, STILL NOISE AND LIGHT BLINKING. OVER THE TIME THE NOISE GROW LOUDER AND LOUDER EACH TIME I TURN THE CAR ON.TRIED TO DRIVE BACK TOO SAFE AREA, THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO PULL LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE. PULL OVER IN A LOT TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK PICKUP TO RETURN HOME. NEXT DAY BEFORE TAKING IT TO A REPAIR SHOP I TURNED THE CAR ON TO SEE IS ANYTHING HAD CHANGED. THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE NOISE WAS LOUDER BUT THIS TIME THE CAR CUT OFF BY ITSELF. IT ALSO HAD LOST POWER AFTER A FEW SEC OF HAVING IT ON. WHILE IT WAS ON THE MOST IT WOULD DO WAS 20MPH. SO I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR AT ALL ANYMORE. TOOK TO NEARBY REPAIR SHOP STATED IT NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. GOT A SECOND OPINION TO SAY THE SAME. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR SIX MONTHS!! *TR

ENGINE STOPPED WHILE IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE WITH CHILDREN. ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON BUT IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. WOULD NOT RE START AFTER POWERING OFF. *TR

THERE IS METAL IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, THERE IS NO SLUDGE BUILD UP AND THE ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was relating the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LAMPS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF HOWEVER, THE BRAKE LAMPS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITH THE ESC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO TURN THE BRAKE LAMPS OFF, WAS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WHILE ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEED THE ENGINE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. MOVED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ROTATE. COULD NOT JUMP START. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THERE WERE NO PRE-EXISTING AUDIBLE OR VISUAL WARNINGS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. INITIAL INSPECTION HAS DETERMINED THE ENGINE SEIZED. VEHICLE'S CURRENT MILEAGE IS 132,720. LAST OIL & FILTER CHANGE PERFORMED AT 130,330. NEXT SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE IS NOT DUE UNTIL 134,330. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALER AND ALSO TO KIA MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE. BOTH HAVE INFORMED ME THAT YES, THERE IS A RECALL ALREADY ON THIS VEHICLE'S ENGINE FOR THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF FAILURE, SC147. HOWEVER, SINCE THE RECALL TEST PROCEDURE WAS PERFORMED AND PASSED OVER 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THEY WILL NOT REOPEN THE RECALL INSPECTION FOR THIS VEHICLE AND ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY. RECALL SC147 IS AN ENGINE NOISE INSPECTION FOR RESTRICTED OIL FLOW TO THE BEARINGS BY METAL DEBRIS IN THE CRANKSHAFT'S OIL PASSAGES. IS IT NOT POSSIBLE THAT THIS CONDITION CAN OCCUR AT ANY TIME EVEN AFTER A NOISE CHECK IS CONDUCTED? THE ENGINE MAY NOT HAVE MADE NOISE AT THE PREVIOUS TEST BUT IT IS NOW SEIZED WITHOUT ANY OTHER INDICATIONS OF FAILURE. I SEE ON KIA FORUMS THAT HAVING THE ENGINE FAIL IS NOT UNCOMMON EVEN AFTER THE RECALL INSPECTION HAS BEEN COMPLETED. WHY IS THIS A ONE TIME INSPECTION AND NOT RECURRING AT CALENDAR AND MILEAGE INTERVALS? SINCE KIA IS UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE, I AM HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED BY MY LOCAL MAINTENANCE PROVIDER. IS THERE ANY COURSE OF ACTION FOR REIMBURSEMENT AGAINST KIA ON THIS UNFORTUNATE EVENT?

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND HEARD NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF CAR AND CAR THEN DECELERATED TO A STOP ON SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM HOOD AND OIL WAS ALL OVER ENGINE AND ROAD. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC AS ROD WAS THROWN THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK PUNCTURING IT DUE TO A WORN BEARING. I DID RESEARCH AND MY MODEL AND ENGINE HAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT MATTER. RECALL # SC147. I HAD BOUGHT THE CAR IN JANUARY 2019 AND THE MANUFACTURER IS DENYING ANY REPAIR BECAUSE OF A 'PRODUCT IMPROVING CAMPAIGN' THAT WAS RELEASED FOR IT IN OCTOBER 2018 AND NEVER ADDRESSED. THAT WAS THREE MONTHS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I WAS UNAWARE OF THIS BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR AFTER. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY SITTING AT A DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WHEN I CALLED THAT DEALERSHIP THEY SAID MY CAR DOES QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT AND TO BRING IT IN, BUT I WAS NOTIFIED TODAY FROM THAT DEALERSHIP THAT KIA WILL NOT REPAIR MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF AN E.C.U. SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT WAS NEVER PERFORMED ON THE CAR IN 2011! PI1803-B IS THE CODE FOR THAT RECALL THAT WAS ALSO NEVER ADDRESSED AND WAS EIGHT YEARS BEFORE I PURCHASED THE CAR. I'M REALLY CONFUSED AND UPSET AS TO HOW A COMPANY CAN DENY FIXING RECALLS ON A VEHICLE THAT ARE CLEARLY SAFETY HAZARDS!!!

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that she was able to restart the vehicle and proceeded to her destination. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that there was contamination in the fuel system. The contact was informed that the fuel system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the fuel system had been replaced less than three years ago. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000.

CODE P1326 CAME UP INDICATING VIBRATION IN THE ENGINE OR A KNOCK SENSOR OR AND ENGINE BEARING IS ABOUT TO NEED REPLACING

Paint keeps chipping and the car bounces I have got it fixed twice and it’s still doing the same thing

I'D HAD NO MECHANICAL ISSUES W/ MY VEHICLE, WHATSOEVER & ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IS DONE ON TIME. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY & SUDDENLY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON & LOTS OF SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FEW DAYS, IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, BY THE SERVICE TEAM THAT MY ENGINE WAS SHOT, BUT I WASN'T GIVEN AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AT THAT TIME ON THE HYBRID VEHICLES; HOWEVER, I JUST GOT A RECALL LETTER FOR MY OPTIMA HYBRID, DATED 1/27/2021 THAT DESCRIBED THE VERY THING THAT I EXPERIENCED WITH MY CAR. THIS PROMPTED ME TO VISIT THIS WEBSITE TO EXPLAIN MY ISSUE.

I STOPPED THE CAR AND TRIED TO PUT THE SHIFT LEVER TO PARK, THE CAR INDICATED THAT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CAR WAS STUCK IN DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT LEVER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART BUT IT WOULD NOT BECAUSE THE CAR THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. I COULD NOT MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK WITHOUT USE THE SHIFT UNLOCK. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE CAME DETACHED FROM THE SHIFTER LEVER. IT APPEARS THAT A PLASTIC RETAINER DISINTEGRATED.

THERE'S A RECALL ON LOW PRESSURE FUEL HOSE DEFECT FOR 2013 AND 2014 KIA OPTIMA (KIA RECALL #SC187) BUT MY 2012 ALSO HAS SIMILAR FUEL SMELL. I TOOK MY CAR IN TO KIA OF IRVINE (CA) FOR DIAGNOSIS ON MARCH 7, 2020 AND WAS TOLD HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE CONNECTOR TO FUEL PUMP IS MISSING A SMALL TAB AND MAY NEED REPLACEMENT. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT SINCE I RECENTLY REPLACED THE VALVE COVER GASKET MYSELF WHICH WOULD INVOLVE DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE FUEL LINE TO THE FUEL PUMP, THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LINE MISSING TAB. BUT THE ISSUE IS THERE WAS NO FUEL SMELL AFTER I REPLACED THE GASKET. THE SMELL WAS RIGHT AFTER THEY REPLACED THE TURBO WHICH ALSO INVOLVED DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE FUEL LINE TO FUEL PUMP. INTERESTINGLY, THERE'S ANOTHER SIMILAR RECALL (KIA RECALL #SC172) WHERE IT INVLOVE KIA'S SERVICE TECHNICIAN DAMAGING THE SAME FUEL LINE AFTER ENGINE REPLACEMENT WORK ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES. THE FACT THAT KIA HAS HAD RECALLS DUE TO FUEL ODOR ON SAME MAKE/ MODEL, AND THE FUEL SMELL WAS AFTER THEY SERVICED MY VEHICLE, THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR VEHICLES FUEL LINE ISSUE. FURTHERMORE KIA SHOULD TAKE THIS ISSUE SERIOUSLY AS THE CAR COULD POTENTIALLY SPARK FIRE. PLEASE HELP!

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I'VE NEVER MISSED AN OIL CHANGE AND ALL WORK PREFORMED HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE AT DEALERSHIP. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED KIA AND THEY TOLD THEM THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP. KIA TOLD THEM TO NOT INVESTIGATE IN THE ENGINE, JUST REPLACE THE ENGINE. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY WILL LET ME KNOW HOW MUCH NEW ENGINE WILL COST. MY ENGINE(2.4L) FALLS UNDER THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT GOING ON, BUT MY CAR IS NOT BEING RECALLED BECAUSE IT IS A HYBRID. I DRIVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED WHILE IN HER RESIDENCE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, BY ANOTHER DRIVER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE MARSHALL INFORMED HER THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.

STEERING STICKS AND YOU HAVE TO FORCEFULLY PULL THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO UNSTICK IT. OIL IS BURNING WITH NO OIL LEAKS, NO LEAKS IN OTHER FLUIDS, NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHERE IT IS GOING BUT IT IS BURNING THROUGH A QUART OF OIL EVERY 7 DAYS.

ON FEB.14,2020 I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65MPH WHEN MY CAR STALLED LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY I TRY TO RESTART THE CAR NOTHING HAPPEN DIDNT CLICK OVER EVERY LIGHT WAS ON THE DASHBOARD I HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND TRY TO START IT TWICE NOTHING CLICKED OVER I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BATTERY $153 AND STILL NOTHING IT NO CLICKING OVER NO NOTHING I BELIEVE MY ENGINE FAILED

2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID STOPPED RUNNING. MECHANIC INFORMED ME ROD BEARINGS HAD WENT BAD CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS TO GET INTO ENGINE OIL DAMAGING THE ENGINE BEYOND REPAIR. NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES ON CAR. 2012 KIA OPTIMAS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SPECIFIC REASON BUT WAS TOLD HYBRID IS NOT IN RECALL. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE SAME ISSUE AND DEFECT DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS A HYBRID OR NOT

I WAS DRIVING ON THE ROAD AT 40MPH WHEN THE ENGINE JUST STOPPED. THERE WAS NO NOISE AND THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID ANY SERIOUS BODY DAMAGE. ALL THE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES WOULD TURN ON BUT THE ENGINE STAYED DEAD WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON. AFTER LEAVING IT OVER NIGHT PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET THE NEXT DAY SAME SITUATION ALL ELECTRICAL DEVICES TURNED ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULDNT TURN ON. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM IN ORDER FOR THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT COULD OF GONE WRONG.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GUIDE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITH NO SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE FAILURE STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN UNKNOWN NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND LATER TOWED TO JIM ELLIS KIA OF KENNESAW, 1221 AUTO PARK DR NW, KENNESAW, GA 30144, AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 93,000.

MY STEERING WHEEL HAS A CLANKING SOUND EVERYTIME I TURN LEFT, RIGHT, OR EVEN GO OVER BUMPS. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE REVIEWS ON PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WAS RELEASED! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CAN CAUSE CAR ACCIDENTS. PEOPLE CAN LOSE LIVES OVER THIS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL.

ENGINE PUTS OFF A BURNING OIL SMELL AND SEEMS TO NEED OIL ADDED IN BETWEEN IT'S 3,000 MILE OIL CHANGE. IT HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES OF CAR RUNNING, EITHER STOPPED OR MOVING. HAVE HEARD ABOUT ENGINE FAILURES AND CARS BURNING WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR.

IT OCCURS ONLY WHENEVER THE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHEN EVER I AM TURNING THE WHEEL IT CLICKS. WHENEVER I GO OVER A BUMP THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKS/KNOCKS AGGRESSIVELY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AND THE ENGINE AND TIRE SENSOR LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHILE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND SMOKE AND WITHIN A MOMENT THE FLAMES WAS UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BEFORE THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DOUG SMITH KIA (495 W MAIN STREET AMERICAN FORK, UT 84003 PHONE (801) 692-4390) TO HAVE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V907000 (ENGINE) PERFORMED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A RECALL FOR UNDER FRAME CORROSION PROTECTION WAS ALSO PERFORMED. THE DEALER CHECKED THE ENGINE AND WAS UNABLE TO SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AND PROVIDED A FREE OIL CHANGE, AND REPLACED DIP STICK TO THE ORANGE COLOR. THE CALIFORNIA FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CALIFORNIA STATE PATROL DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO PRESENT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED SMOKE INHALATION AND SCRAPES FROM GLASS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT HOME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM DID NOT WORK PROPERLY AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND CAUSED THE DEFROST SYSTEM FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.*BF CONSUMER STATED HE LOST EVERYTHING IN THE CAR.*JB

STREERING GET HOT

ISSUE STARTED 2 MONTHS AGO. NOTICED THAT VEHICLE ACCELERATION IS SLUGGISH. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO TAKE FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATION PEDAL THEN DEPRESS IT AGAIN IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. ACCELERATION IS UNRELIABLE AND DANGEROUS. ELECTRONIC STABILITY SENSOR ALSO STARTED LIGHTING UP AND CRUISE CONTROL BECAME INOPERABLE. ALSO NOTICED THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS LIT UP ON ITS OWN (AND DID NOT TURN OFF) WHILE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND FOB NOT NEAR VEHICLE, DRAINING THE BATTERY. POLICE CAME BY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO REPORT THAT MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE ON. TAIL LIGHT DID NOT TURN OFF WHEN PRESSING THE FOB UNLOCK/LOCK BUTTON. HAD TO RESTART THE ENGINE, DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK THEN TURN OFF ENGINE BEFORE THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME OFF... BUT IT TURNED BACK ON AGAIN ON ITS OWN THAT SAME NIGHT (IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT) AND HAD TO REPEAT THE PROCESS. MY BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND HAD TO REPLACE IT 3 DAYS AGO. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY PROBLEM (AND WAS INFORMED BY DEALER THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BATTERY RELATED ISSUE) BUT PROBLEM PERSISTED. READ REVIEWS AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RUNNING COMPLAINT WITH ISSUES ON BRAKE PEDAL STOPPER OR BRAKE SENSOR STOPPER. WILL BRING VEHICLE TO DEALER IN THE MORNING.

THERE ARE A FEW RECALLS ON MY CAR. AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO GO TO GREENWAY KIA IN LONGWOOD, FL. HOWEVER, UPON ARRIVAL THEY TRIED TO CHARGE US FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND STATED THAT THE RECALL IS NOT VALID WITHOUT US PAYING FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS. THEN THEY PROCEEDED TO ADVISE US THAT THE PARTS THAT WE NEEDED UNDER THE RECALL WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL AND THAT WE WOULD NEED TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO THEN MENTION THAT IT WOULD BE EASIER FOR THEM AND CHEAPER FOR US TO JUST BUY A NEW CAR. WE DECIDED TO LEAVE AND TRY TO DO MORE RESEARCH. I DID CALL OUR MECHANIC HE CONFIRMED THERE WERE RECALLS FOR OUR VEHICLE. I THEN CALLED ANOTHER KIA DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THERE WERE RECALLS ON OUR CAR AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO CHARGE FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS AND/ OR REPAIRING THE CAR UNDER RECALL.

STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE . ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS

I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ALONG HIGHWAY 102 WHEN IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY PUT IT IN PARK TURN THE KEY OFF TRY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITH NO LUCK IT WOULD NOT START HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTOMOTIVE SHOP AND TO OUR SURPRISE THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR DUE TO THE CRANKSHAFT BORING AND NOT BEING CLEANED OUT PROPERLY WE TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR HAD AN OIL CHANGE EVERY 3000 MILES FROM THE DEALERS GARAGE WHERE WE PURCHASED IT SHOULD BE WELL-DOCUMENTED

MOST RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING MY CAR WITH VEHICLE IN MOTION ON CITY STREET (A STRAIGHT ROAD) IT ALL OF A SUDDEN DROPS POWER AND I AM UNABLE TO GET THE CAR TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT PUSH DOWN VERY HARD ON THE PEDAL UNTIL IT FINALLY DECIDES TO SPEED UP, ONCE THIS OCCURS THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DASH AND DOES NOT DISAPPEAR AND WILL NOT DISAPPEAR UNTIL THE CAR IS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED AND THE LOSS OF POWER CONTINUES TO HAPPEN UNTIL THE CAR IS POWERED OFF. AFTER REALIZING THIS ISSUE I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND LET IT SIT A FEW MINUTES AND WHEN I POWERED BACK ON AND DROVE AGAIN THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND THE TRACTION LIGHT REAPPEARED ON MY DASH. I AM CONCERNED THIS COULD BE A FAULTY PROGRAMMING ISSUE THAT IS TELLING THE CAR THE TRACTION IS NEEDED WHEN IT IS IN FACT NOT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THIS POWER LOSS WILL HAPPEN AND DOES SO IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING WHICH SLOWS THE CAR WAY DOWN AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND ALSO HAVING TO CONTINUOUSLY KEEP THE ACCELERATOR DOWN UNTIL IT DECIDES TO REGAIN POWER IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WILL SUDDENLY RAMP UP THE RPM AND TAKE OFF. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN AND COULD BE HAPPENING TO OTHER CONSUMERS.

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 45 MPH, AND SUDDENLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, BATTERY, AND THE OIL LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT ONCE AND MY CAR STOPPED MOVING. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY OR THE STARTER AT FIRST BUT NOW I'M PRETTY SURE ITS EITHER THE ENGINE GOT LOCKED UP OR THE WIRES IN THE CAR JUST BURNT UP.

CLICKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL