Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11342739August 1, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11342149July 29, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341603July 27, 2020
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLICKING NOISE . ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341365July 24, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11339725July 16, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11338993July 13, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11338584July 10, 2020
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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😤
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11337433July 4, 2020
ENGINE
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11331184June 27, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330793June 25, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330823June 25, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330907June 25, 2020
STEERING
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330647June 24, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11330322June 23, 2020
STEERING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11329432June 17, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11328352June 11, 2020
ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11328397June 11, 2020
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11328226June 10, 2020
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH THE HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEE JOHNSON KIA (11845 NORTH EAST 85TH STREET KIRKLAND, WA 98033, (425)827-0521, TO BE INSPECTED. THE LOW BEAM BULBS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327309June 4, 2020
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS, ENGINE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11327058June 3, 2020
ENGINE
KIA REPLACED A BLOWN ENGINE IN 2017 ON RECALL. FROM THE BEGINNING I NOTICED IT FELT DIFFERENT. IT GOES THROUGH OIL , BUT DOESN'T LEAK ANYWHERE. WHEN I TAKE OFF AFTER ITS SAT FOR A WHILE A BIG CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE COMES OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TESTED IT AND SAID IT WAS ("BURNING OIL IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER") . THE ENGINE HAS LESS THAN 40000 MILES ON IT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME THE ENGINE BLEW UP, I ALMOST CAUSED A GIANT ACCIDENT! NOW THE CAR IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT WORTHLESS AS WELL. I HAVE KEPT ALL DOCUMENTS ON THE CAR, OIL CHANGES, PARTS & REPAIRS, RECALLS, ETC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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