Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11185894March 11, 2019
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKELIGHTS COME ON, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. WHEN BRAKELIGHTS CAME ON DURING DRIVING, THE GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE BRAKE. APPARENTLY THE KIA FORTE 2012-2014 HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT ISSUE BUT NONE HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE OPTIMA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY LOSES ACCELERATION POWER. VERY DANGEROUS, SPECIALLY WHEN MERGING OR PASSING ON AN EXPRESSWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11185536March 9, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AS I WAS DRIVING WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AT THE TIME OR PRIOR TO THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING COMPLETELY AND WILL NOT START BACK UP. WHEN PLUGGED UP YO CABLES LIGHTS AND ALL INDICATORS COME ON BUT THE CAR NEVER STARTS AND THERE IS NO NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE . I WAS JUST LEAVING MY DRIVEWAY ON A REGULAR SIDE STREET PROCEEDING FOWARD AT MAYBE 15MPH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11185463March 8, 2019
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I WAS INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED, REAR END COLLISION IN WHICH I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX 55MPH WHEN ANOTHER LARGE VEHICLE CHANGED LANES FROM RIGHT TO LEFT, RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING ME TO COLLIDE WITH THEM. THE RESULT WAS SIGNIFICANT FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND SIGNIFICANT BODILY INJURY TO MYSELF BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF MY BRAKES TO ADEQUATELY STOP MY CAR AND THE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN MY BODY AND HEAD RAPIDLY FLYING FORWARD INTO THE STEERING WHEEL.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11184843March 7, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE "PULL CAR TO THE SIDE AND TURN OFF" WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO KIA OF WALDORF (3188 CRAIN HWY, WALDORF, MD 20603, (301) 645-1711); HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. 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
#11183965March 4, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING HOME ON HIGHWAY ABOUT 70MPH AND ENGINE JUST STOPPED. VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, BUT COASTING. GOT TO SHOULDER. PUT CAR IN PARK, ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER. CALLED TOW, THEN NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD. HUNG UP, CALLED 911 FOR POSSIBLE FIRE. AFTER HANGING UP WITH 911, SMOKE BEGAN COMING THROUGH VENTS. GOT OUT OF CAR, SAW SOME FLAMES THROUGH GRILL, CALLED 911 BACK AND TOLD WAS DEFINITELY ON FIRE AND WITH MINS ENTIRE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED. CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183369March 1, 2019
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE DOING 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED AND AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. MY TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF. A COUPLE OF MILES IT DID IT AGAIN. I THEN PLACED MY FOOT UNDER THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MY CAR DROVE FINE. AFTER INSPECTING MY CAR I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE STOPPER WAS WORN. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT WHILE YOU ARE ACCELERATING AND THE BRAKE STOPPER IS BAD, IT CAN CAUSE YOUR CAR TO GO INTO A SAFETY MODE BECAUSE IT THINKS YOU ARE BRAKING AND ACCELERATING AT THE SAME TIME. THIS AFFECTS THE POWER AND CAN CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11183213February 28, 2019
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
ORIGINAL HID HEADLIGHTS BECAME DIM TO THE POINT IT FAILED A VIRGINIA STATE SAFETY INSPECTION. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING HAS DIMINISHED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11182875February 27, 2019
ENGINE
ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING 02/23/2019 6:05 PM PST ENGINE/VEHICLE MILEAGE: 151,409 FUEL/GAS GAUGE SHOWS ONE QUARTER FULL WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC SIGNAL (VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED AND ENGINE IDLING) ON A CITY STREET, ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING(S). FIRST TIME EVER HAPPENED. ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS COMPLETED BY A KIA DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181799February 22, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE "BATTERY LOW, HYBRID SYSTEM FAILED, PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN ENGINE OFF" MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES, BUT THE ENGINE NEVER RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAVENAUGH KIA (3315 STADIUM BLVD, JONESBORO, AR 72404) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE, BUT THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO SLUDGE. A NEW ENGINE WAS NEEDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181728February 21, 2019
ENGINE
DRIVING VEHICLE AND ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING , DID NOT HAVE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE WAS NOT OVER HEATING . VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING ON I-10 -EXIT 505 KERRIVILLE TEXAS AND THICK SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE HOOD. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. NEVER HAVE HAD ANY ISSUES WITH VEHICLE AND DID PERSONAL OIL CHANGES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11181226February 19, 2019
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS OR JUST TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11180722February 18, 2019
STEERING
KIA OPTIMA 2012 HAS VERY STICKY STEERING WHEEL ISSUES. IT JUST DRIFT LEFT OR RIGHT CONSTANTLY ON THE STRAIGHT DRIVE . IT HAPPENS ON ANY SPEED LIMITS AND MORE NOTICEABLE ON STRAIGHT DRIVES. IT JUST STUCKS UNTIL YOU CORRECT WITH EXTRA FORCE.THIS IS VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY . THIS MODEL DOES HAVE ELECTRIC STEERING SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS THE PROBLEM. I HAVE SEEN MANY OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND GOT IT FIXED AFTER REPLACING COUPLING LOWER SHAFT STEERING SHAFT . THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11179741February 13, 2019
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON JANUARY 24, 2019, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHAKERS KIA IN WATERTOWN CT AGAIN. I HAD BEEN IN CT VISITING FAMILY WHEN I GOT STUCK THERE DUE TO CAR ISSUES. I DROPPED MY CAR OFF DECEMBER 7, 2018 FOR AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO A RECALL AND I GOT IT BACK DECEMBER 31, 2018. I DROVE MY CAR HOME TO NC ON JANUARY 4, 2019 AND CAME BACK 2 WEEKS LATER FOR MY SON'S SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 23. ON JANUARY 22, THREE WEEKS AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHAKERS KIA. THEY TEXTED ME AT 9:08AM JANUARY 23 WITH A LINK TO A VIDEO SAYING MY CAR WAS READY. I PICKED IT UP AROUND 5PM AFTER MY SON'S SURGERY. I DIDN'T HAVE THE CAR 4 HOURS WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TOWED. SHAKERS TOLD ME THAT I WAS GONNA BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING MY THROTTLE BODY BECAUSE I STILL HAVE OLD COMPONENTS FROM MY OLD ENGINE AND MY THROTTLE BODY WAS PART OF THAT. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW I HAVE OLD COMPONENTS IF MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED, SO I CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS. SHAKERS REPLACED MY THROTTLE BODY, NO COST TO ME. WELL, WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP ON JANUARY 30, I ASKED ABOUT THE FUEL LEAK RECALL AND IF MY CAR WAS INSPECTED AS KIA TOLD SHAKERS TO CHECK MINES EVEN THOUGH MY VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED BECAUSE MY CAR NEEDED TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE MY ENGINE WAS REPLACED DUE TO THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN HECTOR THAT MY CAR WAS FINE AND IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE INSPECTED BECAUSE HE WAS VERY CONFIDENT IN HIS WORK. HE STATED THAT PEOPLE WERE HAVING ENGINE FIRES BECAUSE MECHANICS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND ARE INSTALLING THE ENGINES WRONG. MY CAR DOESN'T RUN THE SAME AFTER HAVING MY ENGINE REPLACED. IT RUNS AND IDLES ROUGH. I PUT IN NUMEROUS CALLS TO KIA ABOUT ISSUES WITH MY CAR AND I'M TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT MY CASE MANAGER WILL CALL ME BUT IT'S BEEN WEEKS AND SHE HASN'T CALLED YET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11176183February 11, 2019
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN A PATCH OF SNOW. WHEN THE CONTACT BEGAN MOVING THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH TO FREE THE VEHICLE, IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11176286February 11, 2019
AIR BAGS
I FOUND THIS RECALL BECAUSE OF COLLEAGUE AT WORK, KIA NEVER SEND ME NOTHING ON THIS RECALL. PLEASE ADVISE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11176066February 10, 2019
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICAL HAS HAD PROBLEMS STARTING IN COLD WEATHER FOR 3YEARS NOW. WE'VE TAKEN THE VEHICAL TO A KIA DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT OR (IT WOULD DO IT FOR US/ WELL IT STARTED FOR US). MOST RECENTLY THE VEHICAL WAS AT THE DEALER SHIP FOR 10 DAYS WHILE WE WERE VACATIONING AND THEY RETURNED THE VEHICAL ONLY FOR IT TO NOT START THE FOLLOWING MORNING. IT'S A PUSH TO START AND AS A SAFETY FEATURE THE BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE PRESSED IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. WHEN THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED THERE WOULD BE A LIGHT ON THE DASH THAT WOULD INDICATE THERE WAS NOT KEY WITCH WAS NOT THE CASE. YOU COULD HAVE THE KEY PHOB IN THE CAR AND STILL WOULDN'T START. THIS WAS ONLY ON COLD DAYS. IT WOULD START JUST FINE UNLESS IT WAS BELOW 20 DEGREES. MORE RECENTLY THE CAR WILL SHOW NO INDICATOR ON THE DASH AND WON'T START IF THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 30-35 DEGREES. ABOVE THAT EVERYTHING WORKS FINE. WE CHANGED KEYS AND REPLACED BATTERIES IN KEYS AND MOVED THEM ALL OVER THE CAR BUT NOTHING WOULD GET THE CAR TO START UNTIL THE TEMPERATURE ROSE ABOVE FREEZING. MOST RECENTLY THIS MORNING I WENT OUTSIDE TO START THE CAR (AROUND 30 DEGREES AND RISING) AS I PRESSED THE BRAKE AND HIT THE START BUTTON I HEARD SPARKS AND A LOUD POPING NOISE FOLLOWED BY HISSING AND SIZZLING THE VEHICAL THEN BEGAN TO FILL WITH SMOKE. I EXITED THE VEHICAL AND TOOK A FEW STEPS BACK. ABOUT 10 SECONDS AFTER INITIALLY HITTING THE START BUTTON THE CAR THEN STARTED WITH ME STANDING ABOUT 20FT AWAY WHILE STILL SMOKING. I NEVER SAW FLAMES BUT COULD SMELL AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND WAS WAITING FOR THE CAR TO BURST INTO FLAMES FROM THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT WAS COMING FROM IT. MAJORITY OF THE SMOKE SEEMED TO BECOMING FROM DRIVER SEAT AREA (UNDERDASH AND ALONG DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL). AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE SMOKE DIED DOWN AND THE EVENT SEEMED TO BE OVER. I HAVEN'T TOUCHED THE VEHICALSINCEMORNIN
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174959February 7, 2019
AIR BAGS
BROKEN CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING WHICH WILL NOT ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO GO OFF. AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON WHICH RESULTS IF I GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174514February 5, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND UPON CHECK THE THE FUEL PUMP SENSOR HAS MADE 3 DIFFERENT SENSORS GO. MY FUEL JUMPS ALL OVER THE PLACE. FROM A FULL TANK TO EMPTY OR THE READING CHANGES WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS ALSO A SMELLS OF GAS THAT CAN BE SMELLED WHILE DRIVING AS WELL COMING FROM THE VENTS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11174520February 5, 2019
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DON FRANKLIN SOMERSET KIA (60 HIGHWAY 2227, SOMERSET, KY 42503, (606) 679-1177) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). AFTER THE REPAIR, THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE ALTERNATOR, BATTERY FUSE, AND BATTERY WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 127,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11172469January 28, 2019
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ALL OF A SUDDEN ONE DAY I WENT TO PUMP GAS AND IT IS SPITTING THE GAS BACK AT ME, I ONLY GOT TO PUT IN LIKE $1.80. WENT TO ANOTHER GAS STATION, SAME THING, IT WILL NOT LET ME PUMP GAS INTO IT. I TRY THE NEXT DAY AND I GET A LITTLE BIT OVER $2.00. I CALLED KIA, TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDS A FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP AND A CANISTER, WITH LABOR COST ME $1436.76. MY DAUGHTER GETS GAS THE FIRST TWO TIMES AFTER THIS SERVICE AND LETS ME KNOW IT IS STILL SPITTING OUT GAS TOWARDS THE END OF FILLING UP. SO THE NEXT TIME (WHICH WAS A MONTH AFTER SERVICE) I GO TO FILL THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY IT KICKS THE GAS BACK OUT. I TRY PUMPING LIKE A SECOND OR TWO SECONDS OF GAS AT A TIME, THE GAS IS BUBBLES UP AND IT LITERALLY TAKES ME ALMOST 20 MINUTES TO PUMP $27 IN THE TANK. I HAVE ALREADY CALLED THE KIA STORE AFTER GAS TRIP NUMBER TWO AND HE THEN SAYS HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THEY CAN DO BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS NEW. SO AT THIS POINT I FEEL HELPLESS!! AND I AM NOT SELLING THIS CAR TO GET OUT OF IT TO BURDEN SOMEONE ELSE. I ALREADY SEE THINGS ONLINE THAT SCARES THE CRAP OUT OF ME JUST DRIVING THIS KIA WITH OTHER ISSUES REPORTED. NOW I HAVE A FUEL ISSUE, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER WITH A SINGLE DAUGHTER AND WE CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW CAR BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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