Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11377322December 1, 2020
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY POWER WAS LOW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JTS KIA OF COLUMBIA (230 KILLIAN COMMONS PARKWAY, COLUMBIA, SC 29203) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376716November 27, 2020
ENGINE
THE CAR STARTED TO STALL AND WOULDN'T GO IT BEGAN SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING RIGHT PAST PURRFECT AUTO AND TURNED AROUND AND PULLED INSIDE THE SERVICE AREA BEFORE THE CAR WAS ABLE TO CATCH FULL FIRE. I THOUGHT MAYBE THE CAR GOT HOT AND THAT'S WHAT I TOLD PURREFCT AUTO BECAUSE I WAS NOT SURE SO I THOUGHT THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING HOT AND THAT MAYBE IT JUST GOT A LITTLE BIT TOO HOT AND DECIDED TO CATCH ON FIRE BUT THE CAR WAS STALLING BEFORE THE FIRE AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO I TOOK IT TO KIA TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET THEY SAID THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AFTER PERFECT AUTO BASICALLY TOOK THE WHOLE ENGINE OUT OF THE CAR TO TRY TO SEE WHY THE CAR WASN'T WORKING RIGHT AND THEY STILL COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT I PAID THEM $3,000 ALMOST $4,000 AND THE CAR STILL WASN'T WORKING CORRECTLY SO I WHEN I TOOK IT TO KIA THEY DENIED ME BECAUSE THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT IN WARRANTY AND THAT I NEEDED TO BUY A NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11376240November 24, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11375774November 22, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11375832November 22, 2020
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE CAR SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF IN THE HIGHWAY. BIG TRYCK WAS BEHIND ME. GLADLY THE TRUCK WASNT GOING FAST. TRIED TO PUSH THE BUTTON CAR TURNED OVER BUT DIDNT CRANK JUST MADE A SOUND AND TGE LIGHTS IN DASH BOARD JUMPED. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY CAR. DRIVING ON HIGHWAY
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11375049November 17, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ROD BEARING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CAR PROS KIA HUNTINGTON BEACH LOCATED AT 18835 BEACH BLVD, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92648 WHO CONFIRMED THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT YET NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11374841November 16, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11374710November 15, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11372384October 30, 2020
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365699October 22, 2020
STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365598October 21, 2020
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS IN THE ENGINE WERE WORN CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS TO ENTER THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SONS KIA (100 SONS DR, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253, (678)619-1393) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED AND THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A QUOTE FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11365444October 20, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364416October 14, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364183October 13, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362836October 5, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362719October 4, 2020
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362352October 2, 2020
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11362019September 30, 2020
AIR BAGS, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361655September 29, 2020
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11361853September 29, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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