Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11219683June 13, 2019
SUSPENSION
CAR DRIVES WITH LOOSE STEERING AND CLUNKING NOISE THAT FAIRFAX KIA REFUSES TO TEST DRIVE IT LONG ENOUGH TO HEAR. JERKS LEFT SUSPENSION ON ROUGH PAVEMENT ON LEFT SIDE ONLY. THERE ARE LOTS OF BIG BOLTS ON THE LEFT STRUT AND I BELIEVE THESE BOLTS ARE EITHER DANGEROUSLY LOOSE OR THE STRUT ITSELF IS BROKEN. NOISE IS SUTTLE. HAVE COMPLAINED 3 TIMES TO DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11210179May 27, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND BEGAN SMOKING ... THE VEHICLE BECAME IMMOBILIZED I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED THE HOOD. THERE WAS SO MUCH SMOKE. THE CAR TURNED ON AFTERWARDS BUT THE ENGINE DID NOT START. WITHIN SECONDS THE BATTERY SHUTDOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11208018May 16, 2019
STEERING
AS I DRIVE THE CAR, SHE HAS A TENDENCY OF GOING EITHER TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT. I HAVE TO FORCEFULLY RECTIFY MY STEERING WHEEL AND SOMEONE BEHIND ME WOULD SEE THAT I'M DRIVIMG ERRATICALLY. IT IS ANNOYING WHILE DRIVING TO HAVE TO GIVE TO THE STEERING WHEEL A NOTCH TO THE LEFT OR TO THE RIGHT WHEN ACTUALLY YOU WANT TO GO STRAIGHT. IS THERE A RECALL ON THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND THEY TOLD ME THAT WAS THE ONLY PROBLEM THEY HAD WITH IT.THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE RACK AND PINION. AND NOW SHE'S DOING IT AGAIN. IT DOES THAT ON ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207610May 14, 2019
ENGINE
FOR THE PAST YEAR MY CAR HAS HAD A PROBLEM LOSING POWER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, VERY DANGEROUS, DROPPING FROM 70 MPH TO 40 WITH NO ACCELERATION FORCING ME TO PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND PULL OVER. IVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIPS AND PAYED OVER $700 FOR THEM TO TELL ME THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT COMES ON THOUSANDS OF MILES BEFORE ITS TIME TO BE CHANGED. TODAY ON THE STREET AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE CAR STARTED SHAKING PROFUSELY WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND THE ENIGINE LIGHT CAME ON WITH A WARNING THAT STATED 'HYBRID EMERGENCY DO NOT DRIVE' I TURNED MY CAR OFF AT THE STOP SIGN, AGAIN, DANGEROUS AS IT WAS MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, TO STOP THE SHAKING. TURNED OT BACK ON AND PROCEEDED HOME WHICH WAS ABOUT 800 FT AWAY, THE ENTIRE TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THE CAR BEGAN MAKING A CHIRPING NOISE AS I DROVE HOME. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS AND EVEN THOUGH ONLINE IT STATES THERE WAS AN ENGINE RECALL FOR 2012 KIA OPTIMA, MY VIN # STATES NO RECALL. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207173May 13, 2019
ENGINE
HELLO. I HAVE ALREADY POSTED A COMPLAINT TO THIS WEBSITE AND I AM SIMPLY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY A VERY NOTICEABLE PATTERN OF DEFECTS IS GOING UNNOTICED ON THESE OPTIMA HYBRID ENGINES. 3/4 OF ALL THE POSTED COMPLAINTS FOR THE 2012 OPTIMA HYBRID ARE DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE FROM CONNECTION ISSUES CAUSED BY WORN BEARINGS. THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME PART FAILURES THAT LEAD TO THE ENGINE RECALL FOR STANDARD OPTIMA GAS ENGINES. WHY IS NHTSA NOT CONTACTING KIA AND FORCING THEIR HAND ON RECALLING THE HYBRID ENGINES? THERE ARE OBVISOULY LESS HYBRID OPTIMAS THAN NON-HYBRID, BUT THE FAILURE RATE IS JUST AS HIGH OR WORSE THAN THE NON-HYBRID MODEL. I DO NOT BELIEVE HYBRID OWNERS SHOULD BE SUBJECTED THE RISK OF AN ENGINE FAILURE JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE LESS OF US. THE SECOND ISSUE IS THAT MANY OF US HAVE ALREADY REPLACED OUR ENGINE BECAUSE THEY FAILED. EITHER PAYING IN FULL OR WITH SOME HELP FROM KIA, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE NEW ENGINE FAILS FOR THE SAME REASON BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT RECALLED AN FORCED TO RECOGNIZE THE FAILURE AND DESIGN A FIX THAT WILL KEEP IT FROM HAPPENING TO THE REPLACED ENGINES? I AM SUCH A HUGE FAN OF KIA I OWN 2 OPTIMA'S. THE OTHER IS A GAS MODEL THAT HAS A REPLACED RECALLED ENGINE. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ON MY HYBRID. WE ARE BEGGING FOR SOMEONE TO LOOK INTO THE EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBER OF ENGINE FAILURES ON THESE OPTIMA HYBRID WITH VIRTUALLY THE SAME ENGINE AS THE GAS MODELS. KIA CLAIMS THE ENGINES ARE DIFFERENT, AND THEY ARE TO SOME EXTENT, BUT THEY SHARE A LOT OF PARTS, MOST OF WHICH ARE THE PARTS THAT ARE FAILING AND DESIGN FLAWS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, I HOPE SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY LOOKING OUT FOR THE PUBLIC AND READING THESE POST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207202May 13, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE LOCKED UP @ 100,104 MILES. CAR WAS MAINTAINED METICULOUSLY. NEVER MISSED A OIL CHANGE. KIA REPLACED THE HYBRID ENGINE @ 80K. A YEAR LATER. MY FAMILY IS DRIVING DOWN I-85 @ 65MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS SMOKING AND MAKING SOME LOUD SOUND. THE ENGINE DIES. WE BY THE GRACE OF GOD, GET TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND COOLANT IS POURING OUT WHILE THE ENGINE IS JUST POURING SMOKE. THE HYBRID WARNING SYSTEM IS FLASHING. HAVE IT TOWED TO KIA. KIA STATED INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE. REFUSES ANY GOODWILL OR ASSISTANCE. WANTS $4500 TO $8000 FOR A NEW ENGINE. THESE ARE THE SAME ENGINES THAT GOT RECALLED BUT BUILT AT A DIFFERENT PLANT. THE HYBRIDS WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED BY KIA'S CORPORATE GREED. I'LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER KIA PRODUCT. EVER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207083May 12, 2019
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AROUND 45MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY MADE A RATTLING NOISE, THEN SHORTLY AFTER, MADE A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AND THEN A SUDDEN JOLT. THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND SHOWED AN ERROR ABOUT THE HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION AND I EXPERIENCED A QUICK DROP IN SPEED AND WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. AFTER PULLING OVER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO START VEHICLE, BUT IT MAKES A LOUD 'CLANKING' NOISE AND CAR VIBRATES. DEALER INFORMED THAT APPEARS A PART INSIDE ENGINE HAD FAILED AND WILL NEED COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207113May 12, 2019
STEERING
EVERY TIME I TURN MY WHEEL LEFT/RIGHT, OR HIT A BUMP IT CLICKS LOUDLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11207139May 12, 2019
STEERING
THE STEERING COLUMN IS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE INSIDE IT. I AM AFRAID IT WILL BREAK COMPLETELY AND I'LL LOSE ALL STEERING WHILE I'M DRIVING. IT MAKES THE NOISE WHEN I HIT A BUMP OR VEERING LEFT OR RIGHT. IT FEELS LIKE IT JERKS. I TRAVEL QUITE A BIT AND HAVE A ONE YEAR OLD CHILD. I'VE ALSO READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS MODEL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH OTHER PEOPLE. I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM AND AM ASKING SOMEONE TO LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM AND ADDRESS IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11206909May 10, 2019
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED HESITATING AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LOCAL DEALER SHAWNEE MISSION KIA (7951 SHAWNEE MISSION PKWY, MERRIAM, KS 66202, (913) 384-9100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT SOLENOID NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,408.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11205935May 7, 2019
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON. CLOCK SPRING DEFECTIVE. DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT LOCAL KIA DEALER ($389.39)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11205959May 7, 2019
ENGINE
WHEN I WAS DRIVING SUDDENLY I HEARD KNOCKED NOISE FROM ENGINE AND NOISE GOT HIGH AND HIGH. I CAME HOME AND I DIDN'T DRIVE IT MY OIL LEVEL AND CONDITION WAS GOOD
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11205983May 7, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
KIA OPTIMA 2012 WITH 43000 MILES HORN DOESN'T WORK WHILE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT. IT WORKS FINE WHILE STEERING STRAIGHT/LEFT BUT THE MOMENT TURNED RIGHT HORN WILL ONLY CLICK/ NO SOUND. I DO HAVE THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON DON'T KNOW IF IT IS RELATED. WORST CASE IS, I HAVE MY STATE INSPECTION DUE AND WITH THE SRS LIGHT AND NO HORN, IT WILL DEFINITELY FAIL. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I GET FOR OWNING A KIA .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11204526April 29, 2019
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SIDE MIRROR STOPPED WORKING DRIVER SIDE. THE MOTOR FROM POWER FOLD MIRROR KEEPS RUNNING NON STOP MAKING THE GRINDING NOISE AND ALSO CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DRAIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11204285April 28, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
MY STARTER WOULD NOT TURN OVER TO START MY CAR AFTER DRIVING IT. WHEN I GOT TO MY DESTINATION I COULDN'T RESTART THE CAR AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD 2 STARTERS PUT IN THINKING THAT WAS THE ISSUE AND AFTER THE 2ND STARTER WAS INSTALLED THE CAR STILL HAD SMOKE. THE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE BURNT AND BURNING AND THE CAR STILL WILL NOT START.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11203488April 24, 2019
STEERING
THE PROBLEM: IN AFFECTED KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES, A CONDITION MAY EXIST WHERE DRIVERS MAY FEEL A 'NOTCHY' OR "CLUNKY" SOUND OR 'SLIPPING' CONDITION WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT. IT IS BELIEVED BY OTHER KIA OPTIMA OWNERS AND OR MECHANICS WHO MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE THAT THIS MAY BE DUE TO EITHER A SOFTWARE GLITCH IN THE OPTIMA'S ELECTRONIC STEERING SYSTEM OR A FAULTY POWER STEERING MOTOR ASSEMBLY, U-JOINT IN THE STEERING ASSEMBLY, OR THE STEERING COUPLER. OWNERS ARE UNABLE TO FIND ANY KNOWN RECALL ON THIS ISSUE, BUT MECHANICS BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAULT IN THE KIA OPTIMA YEARS 2011-2014.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202922April 22, 2019
ENGINE
THETA II ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS (50-65MPH) THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND. SOON AFTER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS THE OIL LIGHT. I DID PULL OVER AND CONTACT MY LOCAL KIA DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. UPON INSPECTION I WAS ADVISED THE VEHICLE NEEDING A NEW ENGINE. IT HAD BEARING DAMAGE DUE TO METAL SHAVINGS... SURPRISINGLY 3 MONTHS AGO THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED FOR METAL DEBRIS / ENGINE BEARING FAILURE AND NO ISSUES WERE FOUND BY THE SAME LOCAL KIA DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202947April 22, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A DISK INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR FLAP SYSTEM SENSOR AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED CASEY KIA (LOCATED AT 11999 JEFFERSON AVE, NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23606, (757) 347-8247) AND A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11202726April 21, 2019
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TAKATA RECALL, I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND WHEN I WENT TO SPEED UP THE ENGINE SEIZED, CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER IN THE BREAK DOWN LANE ON THE HIGHWAY AND TURN THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY AND WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON IT WOULD NOT FULLY TURN BACK ON, ALL THE LIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE STARTED FLICKERING, I TRIED JUMPING MY CAR AND IT DID NOT WORK I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11197287April 19, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
THE HYBRID SYSTEM BROKE DOWN AT 85K. WAS REPLACED BY KIA AFTER THREATENING LEGAL ACTION. AT 103K. WE NEVER MISSED MAINTENANCE OR A OIL CHANGE. THE ENGINE THROUGH A ROD ON A 5 LANE INTERSTATE DOING 65MPH, BLOWING AND DESTROYING THE ENGINE. PUTTING MY FAMILY OF 5 AT SERIOUS RISK. KIA WANTS 4500K OR 8000K TO REPLACE THE FAULTY ENGINE. OPTIMA ENGINES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS EXACT REASON. THE OPTIMA HYBRID ENGINES WERE NOT RECALLED DESPITE SUFFERING THE SAME FAILURES AS NORMAL OPTIMA ENGINES. JOINING THE CLASS ACTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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