Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11033101October 12, 2017
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
ELECTRICAL RACK AND PINIONS RECALL. STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11032990October 11, 2017
ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION, WOUL D NOT GO FASTER THEN 15 MPH FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE THEN GAVE MESSAGE "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE, PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE." THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE, REPLACED THE HYPER-TRANSMISSION? AND THE BATTERY. DEALER HAS IGNORED REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION & ITEMIZATION OR INVOICE FOR THE ALLEGED REPAIRS AND THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT ORIGINALLY ONLY AUTHORIZED $3851.50 FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE OTHER TROUBLES WERE DISCOVERED LATER, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT POSSESSION. THE UNDERBODY OR FLAPS UNDERNEATH, FLEW OFF CAR AS CUSTOMER DROVE IT HOME UPON PICKING IT UP. DEALER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT OR FOR CRACKING BUMPER IN THE FRONT CENTER OF VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11024510September 19, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND HAVE LOST BRAKE FUNCTIONS TO MY CAR. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. IN THE MORNING WITH ALOT OF TRAFFIC. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND GRIND THE BRAKES TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING AND SCRAPPING SOUND BUT CAR DID NOT STOP. I HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND THE BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND SLOWLY MADE IT TO MY HOME. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP NEAR BY. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND CODE ERROR 1237 IN THE ACTIVE HYDRAULIC BOOST SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS AN INTERNAL PRESSURE LEAK IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO NOT HAVING THE EQUIPMENT TO DO SO AND I WAS SENT TO KIA DEALER. I TOWED THE CAR TO KIA. I TOLD THEM WHAT THE MECHANIC HAD SAID AND I WAS TOLD THAT KIA NEEDED TO RUN ITS OWN DIAGNOSTIC. AFTER THEY DID THAT THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. I REPLACED THE BATTERY. 3 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ENTER THE FREEWAY WHEN I LOST THE BRAKES AND HEARD THE GRINDING AND SCRAPPING SOUND. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION RIGHT BEFORE THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I AGAIN TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT BUT IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I COULD NOT DRIVE IT SAFELY SO I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA. THEY DID ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD FOUND A PRESSURE SENSOR ERROR AND A LEAK IN THE ABS SYSTEM AND NOW ITS GOING TO COST 2600. THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ME AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11024006September 18, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BRAKE PEDAL RELEASING AS I AM PUSHING DOWN ON IT COMING TO A STOP. HARD TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP AT TIMES. CAR IS MISSING ON ACCELERATION. CAMERA DOES NOT WORK 80-90% OF THE TIME. A/C STOPS WORKING WHEN SITTING STILL OR PARKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11023994September 18, 2017
ENGINE
ENGINE LOSING ALL OF THE OIL WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF GETTING THE OIL CHANGED. COMPLETELY GONE BEFORE AN OIL CHANGE IS NEEDED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11024053September 18, 2017
ENGINE
OCTOBER 2016, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SHOP. THEY FOUND WIRES TO THE STARTER BURNED AND ASSUMED THAT WAS THE ISSUE. THEY INSTALLED A NEW STARTER AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. MY ISSUE IS THE TIMING OF THE KIA RECALL. HYUNDAI HAD RECALLED THE SAME ENGINE IN 2015. I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS AT LEAST $4,000 FOR A USED ENGINE THAT WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I HAD TO SELL THE CAR FOR SALVAGE. KIA SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE VALUE OF THEIR CAR AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEY KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE, BUT WAITED UNTIL MANY OF US WERE OUT OF WARRANTY BEFORE THEY HAD THE RECALL. THAT IS FRAUD AT SOME LEVEL AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11023520September 14, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022844September 12, 2017
STEERING, SUSPENSION
I HAVE JUST RECENTLY STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WHEN I HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR A ROUGH ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE AND I CAN FEEL A SHAKING SORT OF. I CLICKED ON SUSPENSION BECAUSE OF HOW ROUGH IT FEELS RIDING RIGHT NOW AND I DONT KNOW IF IM JUST FEELING THE STEERING OR IF ITS AFFECTING THE WHOLE RIDE. IT HAS BEEN VERY COMFORTBALE SINCE BOUGHT NEW IN 2012.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11022912September 12, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PULLED OVER TO A FUEL STATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (KIA OF GREER IN GREER, SC, 864-879-3800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED FOR FREE. SIX MONTHS LATER, ON AUGUST 14, 2017 AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE SAME KIA DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A GOOD WILL OFFER, BUT THE CONTACT PROTESTED THE OFFER. THE ISSUE WAS NOT SETTLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ..UPDATED 10/11/17 *BF UPDATED 10/13/2017*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11021824September 6, 2017
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY FIANCE WAS DRIVINGDRIVING 55 DOWN THE I77 HIGHWAY NORTH GETTING READY TO TURN OFF THE EXIT AND SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG. NEXT THING SHE KNEW SHE HAD GLASS ALL OVER HER.THE POWERED SUNROOF EXPLODED!!!!THE GLASS CUT HER HAND IN A FEW SPOT BUT THANKFULLY SHE IS OK AND DIDNT WRECK THE VEHICLE AND THAT OUR KIDS WEREN'T IN THE CAR. MY FIANCE CALLED THE POLICE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND MY INSURANCE HAS A 1000$$$ DEDUCTIBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11020424August 29, 2017
STEERING
LOUD CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH WAYS MAKING STEERING AND DRIVING VERY UNSTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11019133August 23, 2017
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DURING EACH ATTEMPT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAR LOCK KIA (LOCATED AT 4301 GREENSBORO AVE, TUSCALOOSA, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BATTERY, AND STARTER WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPON DOING RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11016332August 19, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I WAS NOTIFIED BY KIA EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BECAUSE THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. ON 6/12/17 I TOOK MY OPTIMA TO CAMELBACK KIA FOR RECALL WORK AND INSPECTION. ON 8/1/2017 AS I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON AZ SR51, MY ENGINE STALLED WHILE MOVING ABOUT 40 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I THEN PULLED OVER TO RESTART MY VEHICLE, A SHORT TIME LATER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS TOLD BY KIA UPON THEIR INSPECTION THAT THE STARTER IS WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED DUE TO THE SEIZED ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BURNED AND IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. THIS CAUSED A 3 LANE CLOSURE ON THE FREEWAY AT 5PM AS WELL AS A CRASH DUE TO SPECTATORS.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11016210August 18, 2017
ENGINE
OIL FEED PIPE/TUBE TO TURBO LEAKS ON TO THE ENGINE CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE TUBE REPLACED. (CAR WAS SITTING AND NOTICED OIL LEAK AND BURNING OIL SMELL WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11015902August 17, 2017
STEERING
WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND IF YOU HIT A BUMB ITS LOUDER. IF YOU BARELY TURN THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING YOU CAN HEAR IT MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMB IT INTENSIFIES THE SOUND AND AND MAKES YOU THINK SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013874August 9, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,538. UPDATED 10/25/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED: WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL, WITH BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, GETTING READY TO STOP AT STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY TO A SPEED OF 30 TO 35 MPH. I DID NOT ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I DID SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE UNCONTROLLABLY. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH MY FOOT AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAD OCCURED. I DID TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON AUG.11,2017. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. UPDATED 10/3/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11014031August 9, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE COMPUTER DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. A BEEPING NOISE SOUNDED AND THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A SERIES OF UNKNOWN KIA DEALERS WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013702August 8, 2017
ENGINE
ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, MY KIA HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AND I PAID TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR JUST QUIT. I HAD IT TAKEN IN AND FOUND OUT THE ENGINE WAS RECALLED. KIA REPLACED THE ENGINE A MONTH AND HALF LATER. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK INTO THE DEAL AND THEY CLEARED THE CODES AS THEY SAID THEY WERE OLD CODES AND WAS LIKELY A FLUKE. THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I GOT AN EMAIL TODAY TELLING ME THEY HAVE WORD INTO KIA CORPROATION TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER IT BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO LOOK AT MULTIPLE COMPONENTS DUE TO PREVIOUS ENGINE FAILURE BUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE FIRST OWNER THAT I DID NOT HAVE POWERTRAIN COVERAGE BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO SEE WHAT KIA COULD DO FOR ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013714August 8, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL A SECOND ATTEMPT WAS MADE. ONCE STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANAHAWKIN KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP FAILED AND PREVENTED FUEL FROM REACHING THE ENGINE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ *BF THE DASHBOARD "CHECK ENGINE LAMP" CAME ON AND STAYED ON. UPDATED 10/4/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11013712August 8, 2017
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSISTENTLY ON WHICH MEANS IT WON'T DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL AREN'T WORKING, AND STEERING WHEEL HEATER ISN'T WORKING. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS CLOCKSPRING IS WORN OUT. PREVIOUS MODELS OF OPTIMAS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY A RECALL WAS MADE. HOPEFULLY THIS GETS RESOLVES BEFORE A WRECK HAPPENS AND INJURY IS CAUSED BY THIS AIRBAG DEFECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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