Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11132429October 1, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SUPERIOR KIA, 260 W. MITCHELL AVE, CINCINNATI, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD BOOMING NOISE WAS HEARD AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11131563September 25, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIGHT HAND, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11131111September 24, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE AT ABOUT 11PM WITH MY GIRLFRIEND 6MO OLD SON MY 6YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND NIECE I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 70MPH WHEN THE WHOLE CAR SHOOK AND WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE MY GIRLFRIEND SAID WHAT DID YOU HIT I WAS NOT SURE THEN WITHIN ABOUT A MILE THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND WAS SMOKING REALLY BAD I PULLED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I HAVE GEICO INSURANCE SO I CALLED THEM FOR A TOW TRUCK AFTER BEING ON THE PHONE WITH THEM FOR ABOUT 45 MIN I WAS THEM CONNECTED TO THE POLICE WHO SAID THEY WERE NOT OPEN AT THIS TIMEI AFTER HANGING UP THE PHONE I CALLED GEICO BACK WHO TOLD ME THEY WERE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A TOW TRUCK THAT WOULD COME GET US FROM WHERE WE WERE AFTER ABOUT 2 HRS THEY TOLD US THAT A TRUCK WAS COMING BUT THE BABY CAN'T RIDE IN THE TRUCK SO I HAD TO CALL A FRIEND TO COME FROM PORT SAINT LUCIE FLORIDA PICK UP MY GIRLFRIEND AND THE KIDS WE FINALLY MADE IT HOME AT AROUND 4:30 AM THANK GOD EVERYBODY IS OKAY BUT THIS SITUATION COULD'VE BEEN A LOT WORSE I WAS SURE THAT I HIT SOMETHING AND I HAVE FULL COVERAGE SO NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AFTER SENDING MY CAR TO BEV SMITH KIA IN FT PIERCE FLORIDA THEY TOLD THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT IT WAS NOTHING THAT I MAY HAVE HIT BUT A BEARING HAD PREMATURELY FAILED AND THREW A ROD THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR THERE IS ABOUT A 3 IN HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE SO MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT COVER THE CAR THEY HAD NOT EVEN LOOKED AT THE CAR AND KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON KIA HAS A RECALL ON A NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY CAR IS A HYBRID AND IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED AT THIS TIME I HAVE BEEN ON THE PHONE WITH KIA FOR OVER A MONTH THEY ARE NOT WANTING TO HELP ME A I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB WITH THE SAME ISSUES. KIA NEEDS TO RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR EVEN KILLED! THIS IS UNSAFE FOR PEOPLE TO BE DRIVING NOTE MY CAR ONLY HAS 80,000 THOUSAND MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11130766September 22, 2018
ENGINE, STEERING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND EXTREMELY FAULTY. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE CAR TRAVELING AT NO MORE THAN 55 MPH. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS EXTREME KNOCKING WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL IN WHICH THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. THEN MY CAR STARTED DRIFTING AGAIN WITH WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND EXHAUST. NOW KIA IS SAYING THAT THE ENGINE IS FAULTY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR IS NOT BEING SERVICED FOR A RECALL ON THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT IS A HYBRID, YET NON-HYBRID KIA CARS HAVE A RECALL FOR IT. THIS IS THE SAME THING. WHAT A DISSERVICE! KIA NEEDS TO QUIT MAKING CARS ALTOGETHER IF THE INTERNAL WORK HAS NO ENDURANCE. I'M STILL PAYING ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS CAR IS A DANGER, WASTE, AND DISSERVICE. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN NOTED IN REFERENCE TO THE SAME THING. WHAT IF THE CAR EXPLODED? THEN WHAT? THIS CAR COULD HAVE HARMED ME OR OTHERS. PLEASE RECALL THE ENGINE AND ANYTHING ELSE THIS CAR HAS THAT IS UNMANAGEABLE OR UNHEALTHY. THE OPPORTUNITY COST IS PISSPOOR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129876September 17, 2018
STEERING
STEERING WHEEL WOULD CLICK WHEN TURNING. THE BEGINNING OF THE TURN WAS NOT SMOOTH.NOW THE STEERING COLUMN RATTLES WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129587September 14, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DURING THE FAILURE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, REMOVED THE OIL CAP, AND NOTICED SMOKE. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AS SMOKE ESCAPED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11129393September 13, 2018
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING, STEERING MAKES NOISE AND RATTLE. CONTACTED KIA DEALER IN FREMONT AND KIA CORPORATION ABOUT THE ISSUES. NO RESPONSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128399September 10, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING AND CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128577September 10, 2018
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STEERING WHEEL MAKES ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS AND TURNING EVEN WHEN CAR ISN'T MOVING IT, MAKES A NOISE JUST BY MOVING STEERING WHEEL. UPDATED 10/26/18*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11128118September 7, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE PULLING INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND MADE AN ABNORMAL CLUNKING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DCH KIA OF TEMECULA (LOCATED AT 26799 YNEZ RD, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 268-9198) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTAINED OIL SLUDGE AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11124498September 5, 2018
ENGINE
ENGINE SEIZED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11123523August 30, 2018
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122362August 25, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
2 DAY AGO I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR START ACTING WEIRD LIKE IT WANTED TO STOP, I PAID NO MIND. SO THEN THAT NIGHT COMING HOME FROM WORK IT START ACTING UP AGAIN, THIS TIME I SAW MY BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON AND MY CAR STARTED SLOWING FIWN. I HAD LOST ACCELERATION I HAD NO RESPONSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I WOULD STEP ON MY BRAKES THEN RELEASE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED THE WHOLE 45 MINS BACK HOME. SO THE NEXT MORNING I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR STOPPER WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE KIA FORTE. BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAPPEN TO THE KIA AS WELL. IT IS VERY DENGEROUS TRYING TO DRIVE LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122146August 24, 2018
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALUE KIA (6915 ESSINGTON AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153, 215-937-1000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,630.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11122199August 24, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, A "DO NOT DRIVE "WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIRBY KIA OF VENTURA (6424 AUTO CENTER DR, VENTURA, CA 93003, (805) 644-2241) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BEARING INSIDE THE ENGINE STARTED TO WEAR AND SHRED, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11121805August 23, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE "DO NOT DRIVE, PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK" WARNING MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO JIM ELLIS KIA OF KENNESAW (1221 AUTO PARK DR NW, KENNESAW, GA 30144, (404) 531-1868) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11121654August 22, 2018
AIR BAGS, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE INDICATOR KEPT ILLUMINATING AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (DESTINATION KIA, 760 CENTRAL AVE, ALBANY, NY 12206, (518) 478-8036) STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11121530August 21, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE HAS 130,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER WHEN IN CRUISE AND MOTION IS LOST. STEPPING ON THE GAS DOES NOT GET ANY ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURRED AGAIN ON A HIGHWAY AND DISPLAY GIVES ME THE HYBRID ERROR DO NOT DRIVE WARNING. THIS OCCURS WHEN CRUISE IS SET AND ALSO NOT IN CRUISE. I STEP ON THE GAS AND THERE IS NO ACCELERATION. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF FOR A FEW SECONDS THE CAR FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. I AM ALSO HAVING BACK UP CAMERA ISSUES WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THIS MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. MY DISPLAY GIVES ME THE WARNING MESSAGE ABOUT OBJECTS BEHIND ME BUT THE IMAGE SOMETIMES DOES NOT SHOW. THE IMAGE SOMETIMES IS THERE WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND SOMETIMES NOT. THESE PROBLEMS ALL STARTED AT THE SAME TIME. KIA WAS CONTACTED AS WE THOUGHT IT MAY JUST BE A COMPUTER UPGRADE. THEY TOLD THE DEALER THERE ARE NO UPGRADES. WE ALSO HAD A NON DEALER CHECK THE VEHICLE FOR ERROR CODES BUT THERE WEREN'T ANY. THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT FINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11119462August 12, 2018
STEERING
CONTINUOUS CLICKING NOISE WHILE STEERING AT ALL SPEEDS. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS TOLD IT COULD BE STEERING COUPLER/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11118562August 8, 2018
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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