Kia Optima Complaints (2012)

1,029 consumer complaints on file.

#11029528March 27, 2018
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE CONNECTING ROD SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURBOCHARGER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE TURBOCHARGER REPLACEMENT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11080235March 19, 2018
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
BOUGHT A USED 2012 KIA OPTIMA FROM A KIA DEALERSHIP ON 1/12/18. I DID NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FROM 1/13/2018 - 1/19/18. STARTED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND 5 (FIVE) DAYS LATER, ON 1/23/18 THE VEHICLE BLEW A ROD IN THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT HAVING THE DEALERSHIP FIX THE ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE, I WAS GETTING NOWHERE. I CONTACTED KIA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ASSISTED ME WITH COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND GETTING THE ENGINE REBUILT (AS A GOODWILL BY THE DEALERSHIP). HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/25/18; THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR EXACTLY 1 (ONE) MONTH WHILE THE DEALERSHIP REBUILT THE ENGINE. I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP ON 2/23/18. ON 3/6/18 AS I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY, THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON FREEWAY, AND CAR JUST STARTED LOSING POWER. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON & OFF SPORADICALLY. NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS I WAS SCARED THAT I WOULD GET REAR-ENDED ON THE FREEWAY. I SLOWLY MOVED OVER THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR; I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING THE CAR BACK ON AND PROCEEDING TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC (NOT KIA DEALERSHIP). MY MECHANIC SAID NOT TO TURN CAR OFF; HE INSPECTED CAR & SCANNED IT. NO ERROR CODES WERE DETECTED. HE SAID MAYBE IT WAS A FLUKE AND TO JUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. ON 3/12/18 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT. AFTER A SCAN & TEST DRIVE, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MECHANIC DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY OVER 80 MILES AND THIS TIME HE DID EXPERIENCE THE SAME REDUCTION OF POWER. HE SCANNED VEHICLE AGAIN BUT NO ERROR CODES SHOW. IT'S STILL AT DEALERSHIP 3/19/18.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11079984March 17, 2018
ENGINE
DRIVING ONE DAY PULLED INTO DRIVEWAY.HEARD KNOCKING ON LOWER PART OF ENGINE. OPENED HOOD YOU CAN HEAR KNOCKING, WHEN I ACCELERATED KNOCKING GOT LOUDER, A SPUN BEARING. I HAVE BEEN A CERTIFIED MECHANIC ALL MY LIFE. 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. CAR WAS WELL MAINTAINED. AT 76,000 MILES, THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. THANK YOU [XXX]. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL PAN CONTAINED BRASS COLORED METAL PIECES, THE OIL FILER HAD PARTICLES, THE PISTON CAP BECAME HOT ENOUGH TO TURN IT BLACK. THE CONNECTION CAP BEARINGS DID NOT HAVE A OIL FLOW HOLE. THERE WERE ALSO SCRATCHES ON THE PISTON WALLS. *JS PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11079582March 15, 2018
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY. THE ILLUMINATION PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM VIEWING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,597.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11079455March 14, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE, PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO JT'S KIA OF COLUMBIA (230 KILLIAN COMMONS PKWY, COLUMBIA, SC 29203) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11078371March 9, 2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), STEERING
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE IN MOTION ( 60-80 MPH ). RIDE IS SMOOTH UNTIL TIRES ROLL OVER IMPERFECTION IN ROAD. STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT-END BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. SHAKING STOPS WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT AND BEGINS AGAIN ONCE VEHICLE HAS STRAIGHTENED OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11078405March 9, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11023230March 8, 2018
ENGINE, AIR BAGS, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DOME LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY TURNED ON. THE CAMSHAFT FAILED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11076587March 7, 2018
ENGINE
UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE SCREEN ON MY DASHBOARD WROTE ALONG THE LINES OF "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING: SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE!" THEN MY CAR'S ENGINE BEGINS TO REV RANDOMLY AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO MY CONTROL. I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW I MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT MADE IT TO THE SIDE AND TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE EMERGENCY LANE I WAS PULLED OVER IN WAS SO NARROW, I HAD TO STAY IN MY CAR. MY CAR THEN BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT BECAME COMPLETELY DEAD AND ALL MY LIGHTS WENT OUT, INCLUDING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS. I WAS PRAYING NO CAR WOULD HIT ME AS I WAITED FOR A TOW. HAD IT HAPPENED EVEN A SECOND LATER, SUCH AS WHEN I WOULD BE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT TODAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11075697March 1, 2018
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LAWRENCE KIA (1225 E 23RD ST, LAWRENCE, KS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073845February 20, 2018
ENGINE
I RECENTLY STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FORM THE ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING. I WORK AT LEXUS OF AUSTIN AND HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SUFFERING FROM A CONNECTION ROD FAILURE. THE SOUND KEPT GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER, I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO SOUTHWEST KIA IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX. THEY ALSO DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING A CONNECTION ROD FAILURE. I WOULD NEED A NEED ENGINE. THE CAR IS A 2012 WITH ONLY 71,000 MILES. I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER SO THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. THE ENGINE SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE KIA OPTIMA RECALL COVERS ON THE NON-HYBRID ENGINES. KIA PAID FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. I STILL HAD TO PAY $2,681 OUT OF POCKET. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES ONLINE OF PEOPLE WITH THE HYBRID ENGINE AND CONNECTION ROD FAILURES. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY KIA THAT WHEN THEY DRAINED THE OIL, THE OIL HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN IT. THE SAME SYMPTOM AS THE RECALL ENGINES. KIA MUST BE FORCED TO ADD THE HYBRID ENGINES TO THEIR RECALL. THE PARTS ARE FAILING FROM THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLED PARTS. I DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO ARGUE WITH KIA OVER THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE I NEEDED MY CAR BACK ASAP IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO WORK. I SHOULD BE REFUNDED THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AND KIA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THE HYBRID ENGINES THAT ARE THE SAME YEAR AS THE GAS ENGINE RECALLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11073025February 15, 2018
VISIBILITY/WIPER
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 6:20 P.M IN THE SLOW LANE AT 65 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER OR AROUND HER THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE KICKED UP A ROCK OR DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD. SHE WAS ALSO NOT PASSING UNDER AN OVERPASS OR BRIDGE. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND WAS NOT PHYSICALLY HURT IN THE INCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS A PANORAMIC SUNROOF AND THE MOVING PART OF THE GLASS SUNROOF SHATTERED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072914February 14, 2018
ENGINE
WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THE HYBRID ENGINE SEIZED WITH LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEEN SEVERAL HYBRID ENGINES THAT HAVE SEIZED, BUT KIA HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072760February 13, 2018
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. I TOOK TO MARTIN KIA IN NEWARK DELAWARE FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID THE CODES WERE C1259 AND C1260 AND THAT I NEED TO HAVE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY REPLACED BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE MY CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. (I DID STRIKE A SMALL DEER, BUT DAMAGE WAS COSMETIC TO LEFT FRONT FENDER AND DID NOT AFFECT STEERING OR DRIVABILITY, AND WAS REPAIRED IN A PROFESSIONAL BODY SHOP). THE ESC DID NOT COME ON UNTIL MONTHS AFTER MY ACCIDENT. DEALER WOULD NOT CERTIFY THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION, NOR DID THEY OFFER ANOTHER LESS EXPENSIVE REPAIR SUCH AS JUST REPLACING SENSORS. THEY WANTED AN ESTIMATED $1370 TO HOLD MY SAFETY HOSTAGE. SINCE THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEW EPISODES OF INSTABILITY WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. I NOW LEAVE ESC OFF WHEN WEATHER IS BAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072196February 11, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING CAR SHUT OFF AND HYBRID BATTERY WENT DEAD. IS SAYS 'HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND DO NOT DRIVE'. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE LOCKED UP. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINS ON THIS AND I WON'T PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE WHEN KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11072077February 10, 2018
ENGINE
TURBO AND TURBO OIL RETURN LINE IS DEFECTIVE. LEAKS OIL AND OVER HEATS ENGINE. DEALERSHIPS ADMIT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THEY'VE SEEN DAILY WITH THE SX MODELS BUT REFUSE TO ADDRESS IT UNTIL A RECALL COMES OUT. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, IT CONSTANTLY LEAKS OIL. WHENEVER IT IS PARKED, IT LEAKS OIL. IT'S ONLY FROM THE TURBO FEED LINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11071675February 8, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
'TAKATA RECALL' I'M CURRENTLY BUYING A KIA OPTIMA 2012 AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND HAD MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE AT KIA OF ORANGE. THEN I DID FULL SERVICE WHICH I PAYED 600$ OR SO AND AFTER THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS, I WENT TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE AND MY BOYFRIEND GOT OFF TO GET TOOLS FROM THE HOUSE IT TOOK HIM TEN MINUTES TO COME BACK. THE CAR WAS ON AND I WAS WINDOWS UP AND AC ON WHEN HE CAME OUT HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE FRONT LEFT LIGHT. IT GOT ON FIRE AND WE WERE SCARE FOR OUR LIFE'S AND WE MANAGE TO RUN AROUND AND FIND ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP WE HAD WATER AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ELECTRICAL SO IT WAS MELTING PLASTIC UNTIL WE MANAGE TO FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE I WAS CALLING 911 WE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. SECOND OF ALL WE FIX IT INSURANCE COVER. WE CALL KIA THEY TOLD US OUR INSURANCE HAD TO PAY IT. SO WE DID NEXT I TOOK IT TO GET MAINTENANCE UPDATE AND OIL CHANGE, WE TOOK FOR A DRIVE TO CHINO HILLS CALIFORNIA AND THEN THE CAR TURN OFF BY IT SELF ON THE FREEWAY I WAS 65 SPEED LIMIT AND MY STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I COULD OF LOST MY LIFE. I MANAGE TO MOVE IT SLOWLY TO THE SIDE AND IT WAS ON FIRE WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD SOMETHING WAS BURNING AGAIN. A SHERIFF HELP US TURN IT OFF WITH HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE ENGINE HAD BLEW UP A WROT BLEW MAYBE BECAUSE OF NO OIL OR IDK I'M NOT MECHANIC THAT'S WHY I TAKE IT TO KIA. I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB RIGHT AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T WANNA COVER IT, NOW I'M CARELESS AND I HAVE A DAUGHTER TO FEED AND I NEED HELP TO GET THIS OUT THERE IF ANYBODY HAS THE SAME ISSUE PLEASE MAKE THIS GO VIRAL. HIGHWAY 91 EAST
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11065788January 30, 2018
ENGINE
I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE TOTALED WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE IN MOTION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY SUDDEN WARNING AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WE HAD LESS THAN 1 MINUTE TO ESCAPE BEFORE ANOTHER DRIVER SMASHED INTO THE CAR AT 65 MPH. THE CAR STOPPED SO FAST THERE WAS NO TIME TO PULL OVER TO SAFTEY OR A SOULDER
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11065316January 26, 2018
ENGINE
MY VEHICLE STARTING MAKING KNOCKING NOISE AND I PULLED OVER PARKED AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS RUNNING FINE BUT STILL MAKING THE NOISE. I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN DRIVING IT TO THE SHOP THE VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL OUT AND I HAD TO PUT INTO PARK SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11065318January 26, 2018
STEERING
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, INTERMITTENTLY , THE STEERING WILL GET STUCK IN THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND, REPEATABLY HAPPENS ONCE IT STARTS HAPPENING, UNTIL OFF HIGHWAY. STEERING CAN BE FINE FOR MONTHS, AND THEN ISSUE CAN COME BACK. THEN WHEN DEALER INSPECTS IT, ISSUE IS GONE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE AND SERIOUS ISSUE, EVEN A SPLIT SECOND OF REDUCED RESPONSE TIME CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. DEALER SAID THEY PERFORMED THE STEERING LOGIC IMPROVEMENT UPDATE, BUT ISSUE STILL HAPPENS ON OCCASION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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