Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#10992160May 30, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10992239May 30, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RENALDO KIA AT 4425 E DIXON BLVD, SHELBY, NC 28152, PHONE NUMBER: 704-406-8100, WHERE IT DIAGNOSED WITH A THROWN CONNECTING ROD IN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED ON THREE OCCASION WITHIN A YEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE ENGINE AT NO COST TO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BACK AT THE DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,155.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10991925May 27, 2017
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, STEERING
ENGINE STARTED MAKING LOUD CLICKING NOISE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING HOME ON BUSY HIGHWAY TOOK CAR TO NEAREST AUTO SHOP OWNER STATES SOUNDS LIKE INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEM ADVISED TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO KIA DEALERSHIP HAD CAR TOWED ON 04/22/2017 TO DEALERSHIP. HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF A RECALL .CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH THEY CALLED AND STATED THAT CAR HAD INTERNAL ENGINE PROBLEMS BUT STILL HAVE NOT STARTED ON REPAIRING THE CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR OVER A MONTH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10990741May 20, 2017
ENGINE
I HAD PULLED OUT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY DURING HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 BLOCK DOWN HIGHWAY, MY OPTIMA STARTED TO MAKE A "SPUTTERING" NOISE. THEN THE ENGINE DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. I ENDED UP STALLING GOING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHILE THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME SLAMMED ON THEIR BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING ME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10990482May 18, 2017
ENGINE
MY KIA OPTIMA HAS 50,000MILES . I WAS DRIVING 70MPN ON THE HIGHWAY, KIA ENGINE STARTED TO KNOCK VERY QUIETLY AND SHUT DOWN . LOST MY POWER STEERING . LUCKY CARS DIDN'T CRASH INTO ME CAUSE I HAD LITTLE BABY IN THE CAR. DROVE TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY.CAR WAS TOWED TO MY HOUSE. MECHANIC CAME OVER TO MY HOUSE AND TOLD ME MY ENGINE IS TOASTED. SITTING IN THE GARAGE FOR COUPLE MONTHS CAUSE IT NEEDS NEW ENGINE. CANT AFFORD NEW ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10986008May 16, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT A RECALL WOULD BE ISSUED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10985111May 12, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984970May 11, 2017
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
TODAY WAS THE 2ND TIME I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED AND MY CAR SYSTEM SHUT DOWN. I HAD NO ABILITY TO STEER, BRAKE, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE VENTS ALL THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING. HERO CAME TO ASSIST, OPENED THE HOOD SMELLED MELTING PLASTIC/RUBBER. STARTED SPARKING, CAR TURNED BACK ON ITS OWN. CAR IS NOT AT ED VOYLES KIA IN MARIETTA GEORGIA. KIA HAS REPLACED MY ENGINE TWICE. UNFORTUNATELY I AM AT 120K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984430May 9, 2017
ENGINE
ENGINE FAILED IN MAY OF 2016 (ENGINE ROD FAILURE AND KNOCKING). KIA VOIDED OUR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AND SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $6000 FOR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE SAT FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR UNTIL THE RECALL NOTICE WAS LEAKED. DUE TO THE VEHICLE SITTING IN OUR DRIVEWAY KIA SAID WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR ALL ISSUES FOUND OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE. WE PAID $1497 FOR THOSE REPAIRS AND DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ONE DAY. THAT SAME DAY WE GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND "KIA OF ORANGE PARK" SAID THE TRANSMISSION SENSOR IS BAD AND WE HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $400 FOR REPLACEMENT. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH NO CHARGE BUT KIA IS STATING THAT OUR VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL. WE MADE PAYMENTS ON A VEHICLE FOR CLOSE TO A YEAR AND STILL ARE A SINGLE CAR FAMILY. WE ARE LOOKING TO RECOVER THE FUNDS SPENT ON THIS VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10984512May 9, 2017
ENGINE
CAR JUST STOPEVEN THED WHILE DRIVING DOWN STREET IN TOWN. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS CAR DIED, NO PRIOR WARNING. CAR HAD BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY WITH NO PROBLEMS DETECTED. KIA TECHNICIAN AT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT ENGINE HAD SEIZED. BLAMED ENGINE PROBLEM ON IMPROPER MAINTENANCE EVEN THOUGH I HAD PROOF OF REGULAR ON SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE. KIA REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY. WHEN I LOOKED UP PROBLEM ON COMPUTER FOUND THAT THERE HAD BEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM AND WAS ATTRIBUTED TO FAULTY ENGINE DESIGN CAUSING METAL SHAVINGS FROM BEARINGS THAT CLOOGED OIL PORTSCREATING SLUDGE AND EVENTUALLY ENGINE FAILURE. KIA REPRESENTITIVES STATED THAT THEY KNEW NOTHING OF THIS PROBLEM AND AGAIN DENIED TO HONOR WARRANTY IN NEGOTIATIONS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10983654May 5, 2017
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A CLICKING/KNOCKING SOUND AND LOST ALL POWER. IT COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. AFTER I HAD IT TOWED, THE MECHANIC TOLD ME IT SOUNDED LIKE THERE WAS BEARING THAT HAD WORN OFF IN THE BOTTOM OF MY ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10983735May 5, 2017
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING MY 3 YR OLD KIA OPTIMA AT 55 MPH ON A TWO WAY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY AND VIOLENTLY STARTED KNOCKING AND SHAKING. I LOST ALL POWER TO THE CAR AND WAS NEARLY HIT FROM BEHIND AS I SLOWLY TRIED TO COME TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER. IT WAS SCARY AS HECK AND I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 5 MONTHS AS I TRY TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED. I STILL OWE $8,000.00 FOR THIS CAR AND THE KIA DEALERSHIP WANTS $8000.00 TO PUT A USED ENGINE IN IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10981415April 29, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, WHEN IT ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED AND THE GAUGES BEGAN TO ACT UP. I THEN CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AS SMOKE WAS DETECTED MY TURBO SEEMED TO BE VERY HOT AND BRIGHT RED. THE ENGINE BECAME LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE NEVER STARTED EVER SINCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10981070April 27, 2017
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A CLICKING NOISE COULD BE HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND IT WAS ALSO LOOSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10978698April 16, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
OPEN CAR DOOR AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL OF ELECTRICAL, SMOKE COMING FROM DOOR SILL.BY THE TIME I GOT COVER OFF SMOKE AND FLAME COMING FROM THE LETTERING THAT LIGHTS UP WHEN DOOR OPENS. THE CAR WAS PARKED IN GARAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10971826April 11, 2017
STEERING
AT 40,000 MILES THE STEERING BEGAN GETTING 'STICKY' OR 'STUCK' AT THE 12 OCLOCK POSITION. IT WAS PARTICULARLY NOTICABLE WHEN CRUISING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT GOT SO BAD THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO OVERCORRECT AND VEER LEFT AND RIGHT (MILDLY). THE DEALER REPLACED A PART CALLED THE FLEX COUPLER AND THE PROBLEM VANISHED. ONE YEAR LATER, AT 51,000 MILES THE CAR IS DOING THE EXACT SAME THING AGAIN. NOW, HOWEVER, THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY (BY A MONTH). THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW STEERING COLUMN AND THAT WILL COST ME <> 1500 DOLLARS. IF MY EXPERIENCES ARE ANY INDICATION, I WILL BE REPLACING STEERING PARTS EVERY 10,000 MILES??? BAD STEERING IS VERY PRETTY UNSAFE GUYS. THINK WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10971831April 11, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY CAR STARTED SMELLING LIKE BURNING PLASTIC AND THEN IT COMPLETED SHUT OFF. THANKFULLY I WAS ALREADY IN A TURNING LANE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I ONLY HAD 60K MILES ON THE CAR AT THAT TIME. SEEMED LIKE AFTER MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED MY WINDOWS STOPPED ROLLING UP. THEN MY FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. I NOTICED THAT IT FELT LIKE SOMEONE WAS PRESSING ON MY BRAKE AS I WAS TRYING TO GO AND THEN MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WOULD COME ON. WE FIXED THIS. NOW IT NOT EVEN A YEAR LATER AND ITS DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS IS NOT SAFE AS PEOPLE ARE BEHIND ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10971878April 11, 2017
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING. IT COMPLETELY JUST DIED. NO ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, NO OIL LIGHT, NO WARNING LIGHTS AT ALL. I COULD NOT GET IT TO START UP AGAIN AND HAD TO HAVE TO TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC SINCE IT WAS LATE AT NIGHT. THE MECHANIC TOOK LESS THAN 5 MINUTES TO DETERMINE THAT THE ENGINE HAD JUST SEIZED. WHAT THE HECK!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10971891April 11, 2017
ENGINE
I TOOK MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AS WE WERE TAKING A ROAD TRIP TWO DAYS LATER. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD. TWO DAYS LATER AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS MY CAR STARTED TO HAVE A CLICKING SOUND AS I ACCELERATED (WE WERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH). THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND ON WITHIN A MINUTE I HEARD A CLUNK SOUND AND MY DASH READ "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE. SAFETY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE." THE HYBRID BATTERY QUICKLY STARTED TO DECREASE SO WE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OVER ALONG A NARROW SHOULDER AS WE WERE 15 MILES FROM THE NEAREST TOWN. THIS WAS A NARROW TWO LANE HIGHWAY WITH OUR CAR UP AGAINST THE CONCRETE BARRIER WITH A LAKE DIRECTLY DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BARRIER. WE WERE STRANDED THERE FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS TRYING TO COORDINATE A TOW TRUCK AND TAXI (THERE WERE THREE OF US. MYSELF, MY HUSBAND, AND OUR 3 MONTH OLD SON). THE LOCATION OF WHERE WE WERE STRANDED WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE WITH SEVERAL SEMI TRUCKS PASSING BOTH WAYS AND WE HAD TO TRANSFER ALL OUR BELONGINGS AND MOVE OUR 3 MONTH OLD SON TO THE TAXI ALONG THIS NARROW SHOULDER ON THE HIGHWAY. ONCE MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER THEY SAID THE ENGINE BLEW AND I WOULD NEED A NEW SHORT BLOCK. AFTER GETTING MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER TO MY HOMETOWN THEY SAID THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS AND MY CYLINDER 1 BLEW. I WAS QUOTED $4,500-$11,000 FOR THE REPAIRS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN ATTEST TO MY PERFECT MAINTENANCE. LESS THAN THREE WEEKS LATER KIA RECALLS 1.4 MILLION ENGINES AND THEY ARE CLAIMING MY MODEL IS NOT BEING RECALLED. I FIND IT ODD THAT THE EXACT ISSUE I HAD ARE THE EXACT REASONS THESE ENGINES ARE BEING RECALLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10971918April 11, 2017
ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING
ON APRIL 5TH 2017, MY KIA OPTIMA STARTED TO MAKE A HORRIBLE SOUND. I WAS ON HWY 26 HEADED INTO PORTLAND OR. GOING THROUGH THE TUNNEL, AS I WAS GOING INTO THE TUNNEL THE HORRIBLE KNOCKING NOISE STARTED. THERE WAS CARS IN FRONT OF ME AND CARS BEHIND ME. THIS WAS AT 4:30 AM.. ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH CAME ON, I HAD NO BRAKES, NO STEERING AND NO WAY TO ACCELERATE. DRIFTED TO THE SIDE AND HAD IT TOWED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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