Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11240841July 31, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. DROVE GREAT AT FIRST NOW THE CAR IS OFF AND ON.. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LUNGES OFTEN AND AS OTHERS HAVE SAID THERE IS A DELAY 2 SECOND FROM PRESSING THE GAS TO THE CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATING. THE CAR ALSO LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE NOTICED THE ENGINE WILL NOT CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY WHEN IT IS GETTING LOW AND THE CAR BECOME IMMOBILIZED UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD DASH LIGHTS ONLY APPEAR ONCE AND WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. ATTACHED ARE A FEW PICTURES YOU CAN SEE THE HYBRID BATTERY HAD 1 BAR IT APPEARS TO BE CHARGING BUT THEN GOES TO 0 BARS BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS TRYING TO POWER THE CAR WHILE ONLY THE ENGINE SHOULD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11240512July 30, 2019
ENGINE
CAR MAKES A HUMMING NOISE WHEN GOING 20 TO 40 MPH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11240693July 30, 2019
ENGINE
MY NAME IS [XXX], I HAD PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE ON APRIL 7TH MY ENGINE SUDDENLY KNOCKED AND STOPPED, BUT I HAD UNDER THE WARRANTY WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP THEY SAID YOU'RE 2ND OWNER ,WARRANTY WORKS ONLY FOR 1ST ORIGINAL OWNER BUT IM 100% SURE IT WAS RECALL ISSUE. WHEN FOLLOWED BY GOOGLE SAME PROBLEM WAS WITH ANOTHER PEOPLE, I FIXED IT FROM MY POCKET 4400$ WHERE IS A JUSTICE I REQUIRE JUSTICE, DEALERSHIP HAVE TO PAY FOR ME PLEASE HELP ME FOR THIS TROUBLE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11234032July 23, 2019
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, SEAT BELTS
I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE DEALER ON 10/05/2018 FOR CHANGE OIL, FRONT BRAKES AND RECALL CAMPAIGN. BUT IT LOOKS IT WASN'T DONE BECAUSE THE AIRBAGS PANEL LIGHT IS ON AND THE BRAKES NEVER FEEL THIGHS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A JOB DONE. I LET THE DEALER KNOW ABOUT IT BUT THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME JUST TO CHECK AND FIX. WHEN BEFORE IT WASN'T LIKE THAT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233434July 19, 2019
STEERING
NOISE IN THE STEEING WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL IN MOTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11233435July 19, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND DEPRESSED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RATTLE, THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FLICKERED, AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTA WEST KIA (LOCATED AT 1301 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRING, GA 30122, (678) 715-5399) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11232699July 17, 2019
ENGINE
THANKFULLY I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BACK ROAD AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE THEN SLOWED DOWN AND WHEN I PULLED OVER I HAD A "HYBRID BATTERY LOW" LIGHT COME ON SO I HAVE THE CAR TOWED AND REPLACE THE BATTERY, STILL NOT WORKING. NOW THE BATTERY LIGHT IS OFF BUT NOW THERE'S 2 OTHER LIGHTS THAT COME ON. 1 SAID "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING DO NOT DRIVE" AND THE OTHER SAYS "CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM" SO I HAVE IT TOWED AGAIN BUT THIS TIME TO A KIA DEALERSHIP. THEY CALLED ME BACK THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME THAT IT APPEARED THAT MY MOTOR SEIZED. THEY COULDN'T TELL ME HOW OR WHY.. MY CAR ONLY HAD 75,045 MILES ON IT. SO I CONTACT CONSUMER AFFAIRS BECAUSE I HEARD ABOUT THE RECALLS. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS MIMICKING EXACTLY WHAT THE OPTIMA RECALLS WERE DOING. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MINE WAS A HYBRID IT DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. WHICH I THOUGHT WAS VERY UNFAIR. STILL NOTHING THEY CAN DO, THEY WANT $6,200 FOR A USED MOTOR. MIND YOU I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 3 1/2 YEARS AND HAVE KEPT UP WITH OILS CHANGES ETC. NEXT I FOUND OUT THAT I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY... BUT OF COURSE IT EXPIRED 45 MILES AGO. AGAIN, NOT FAIR. NOBODY SEEMS TO CARE OR WANT TO HELP ME. THIS IS VERY INCONVENIENT. NOW I'M WITHOUT A CAR THAT I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AND THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I FEEL AS THOUGH IF MY CAR WAS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALLS WERE DOING WITH THE SAME SIZE MOTOR THEN HOW COME THEY WON'T COVER MINE TO BE REPLACED? I ALMOST WANT TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY AND HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED. I STILL WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR! NOBODY HAS ANSWERS....
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11231342July 12, 2019
ENGINE
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AT A LARGE INTERSECTION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MY ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC SHOP WHOM I HAD USED BEFORE. THE LEAD TECHNICIAN SAID THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID IS FULL OF METAL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MOTOR IS FROZE UP. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11230811July 10, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. MYRTLE BEACH KIA (4811 US-501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29579, 843-444-8000) DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229990July 8, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 80MPH. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASHBOARD. CAR LOST POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR RIGHT AFTER HEARD CLICKING NOISES LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 20MINS I TRIED RESTARTING AGAIN ITS STARTED WITHOUT ISSUE. AND I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. THE NEXT DAY DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AGAIN I TRIED ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 60MPH AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND I HEARD KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM IT IMMEDIATELY. PULLED OVER AND GOT IT TOWED FROM THERE. PRIOR TO THIS I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY ENGINE ISSUES AND NEVER HAD THE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. CAR ONLY HAS 44K MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229765July 6, 2019
ENGINE
STATIONARY AT STOP LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE CAME ON AND CAR DIED. IMMEDIATELY WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON ALL SIDES OF THE CAR WITH A CHEMICAL BURNING SMELL. SMOKE CONTINUED FROM UNDER THE HOOD APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229489July 4, 2019
ENGINE
HAVE TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR EVERY 300 MILES. CAR IS BURNING OIL EXTREMELY FAST. AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE MAY SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. HAS BEEN THAT WAY EVERY SINCE MY PURCHASE IN APRIL OF 2018.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11229290July 3, 2019
ENGINE, SEAT BELTS
IN 2017 WE HAD THE KIA TOWED TO SELMA KIA MOTORS BECAUSE OF THE RECALL OF THE ENGINE,BECAUSE OF SHAVING IN THE ENGINE AND OUR TURBO WENT OUT AND WAS BURNING.THE CAR STOP ON US IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET WE COULD OF DIED THAT DAY. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE ENGINE WHICH TOOK TWO MONTHS. THEY FINELY PUT THE NEW ENGINE IN. APRIL 2019 THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN, THEY TOLD US THERE WAS SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN AND THE TURBO WAS OUT ALSO, THAT WAS ANOTHER DEFECTED ENGINE. THEY ALSO TOLD US WE HAD ANOTHER 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. WELL THEY CALLED US AND SAID THAT THE CORPORATE OFFICE IN IRVINE TOLD KIA IN SELMA NOT TO FOX THIS CAR. WHAT IRVINE CORPORATEOFFICETRIED TO DO TO US WAS BLACK MAIL US,THEY SAID IF THE GIVE US $12 HUNDRED DALLAS THAT WE CANT GO TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL,THE MANUFACTURING PLANT,TV OR ANY OTHER CONSUMER DEPARTMENT. WE REFUSE, THIS TYPE OF THING GOING ON. PEOPLE LIVES OR BEING TAKING BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTED CAR. WE PAID $30,000 DALLAS FOR THAT CAR, THAT'S CLEARLY A DEFECT CAR. WE CONTACTED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, OFFICE ONCE AGAIN AND 20/20. IT SEEM KNOW MATTER WHAT THERE IS NO HELP OUT HERE FOR THE HARD WORKING CONSUMER I'M A VETERAN ALSO, THIS IS HOW THE COUNTRY TREAT US WE FOUGHT FOR THIS COUNTRY. I NEED YOUR INPUT ON THIS SITUATION AS ASAP. SINCERELY, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11223080June 27, 2019
AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE
MY CAR HAS TWO RECALLS AND THE CAR STOP UNSTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11222309June 24, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN HE SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE ON THE OIL CAP. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED HE SAW A GASOLINE LEAK ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED GRAND KIA LOCATED AT 1950 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, (720) 943-1144, WERE NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11221954June 23, 2019
SUSPENSION
MAKING A NOCKING NOISE ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220958June 18, 2019
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL SHIMMIES VIOLENTLY AT ABOUT 50 TO 60 MPH . THIS IS NOT AN ALIGNMENT OR WHEEL BALANCE ISSUE . I HAD A KIA SERVICE PERSON THAT WORKS IN ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT IS NOT BEING DEALT WITH BY KIA .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220508June 17, 2019
STEERING
WHILE PARKING MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE I NOTICE AS I WAS TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO STRAIGHTEN THE CAR I HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. I ALSO NOTICE IT WHILE I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE STATIONARY I WILL STILL HEAR THE NOISE ON THE RIGHT.. I'VE NEVER HEARD THIS NOISE UNTIL TODAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220342June 15, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE IS MAKING KNOCKING SOUND. SOUNDS LIKE PISTON. IT'S A 2012 AND KEEPING UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND TENDER LOVING CARE. IT'S 7 YEARS OLD THERE'S NO REASON THE ENGINE SHOULD BE KNOCKING AND TURNING OFF IN THE HIGH WAY AT SPEED 65 MPH WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT. I AM VERY MAD THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE FOR FREE (XXXXXX) 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).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11220381June 15, 2019
ENGINE
MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX-TGI IS IN 'LIMP HOME MODE' DUE TO A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE THAT DETECTS SOME SORT OF ENGINE PROBLEM. BUT IT'S NOT SPECIFIC ON WHAT IT IS. NOW MY WIFE CANNOT IS HER CAR THAT SHE HAS HAD ONLY FOR A FEW YEARS. IT HAS ALREADY HAD TWO MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIRS AND NOW I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANOTHER DEFECT THAT IS EXPLAINED IN A FEW ARTICLES ONLINE WHERE THE ENGINES HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. AND THIS 'LIMP HOME MODE' ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DRIVE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AT LOW SPEEDS TO KEEP FROM FURTHER DAMAGE. THESE ENGINES WERE REPLACED ON KIA'S LIKE MINE THAT WERE MANUFACTURED WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME. PLEASE BE AWARE IT'S A VERY SCARY MATTER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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