2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID Structurebody Problems
3 NHTSA complaints on file
Structurebody Issues in the 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID
3 structurebody complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. Of these, 2 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 1 resulted in injury.
3
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Structurebody Complaints
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY UPON ACCELERATION THE RPMS SPIKED AND THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A BROKEN MUFFLER THEN THE CAR LOST POWER. PULLING TO THE SHOULDER THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SHORTLY AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD WHICH SPREAD TO THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES BEFORE A FIRE CREW COULD EXTINGUISH.
I WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD AND A LADY PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT SO I WOULD AVOID HITTING HER. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I SMACKED INTO A POLE. FOR THE PAST YEAR I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW AND WHY I HAD SO MUCH DAMAGE TO MY CAR WHEN I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MPH. I FINALLY REALIZED THAT THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE I COULDN'T STOP MY CAR EVEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED JULY 10, 2013 AND ONE YEAR LATER ON THE SAME DAY JULY 10, 2014 MY BRAKES FAILED ON MY CAR WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR A GATE TO OPEN. I HEARD A TERRIBLE CRUNCHING NOISE, A WARNING SIGN CAME ON SAYING HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE AND THE ONLY WAY I COULD STOP THE CAR WAS...
ON 11/3, MY WIFE WAS IN ACCIDENT IN OUR OPTIMA, WHEREIN SHE WAS T-BONED. SHE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER DROVE THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND, PRESUMABLY, ACCELERATED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE DRIVER SIDE OF OUR CAR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, AND WE'RE CONVINCED THAT ONE SHOULD HAVE. AFTER SPEAKING TO THE BODY SHOP, THEY TELL ME THAT "THE SENSORS ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY ONLY WHEN THE CAR IS HIT JUST THE RIGHT WAY." LIKEWISE, KIA RESPONDED THAT, "IT'S OUR OPINION (BASED ON A PHOTOGRAPH I PROVIDED) THAT THE LOCATION OF THE IMPACT AND ITS FORCE WOULDN'T HAVE TRIGGERED THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS." IN RESPONSE TO THAT, I ASKED, "CLEARLY, YOU KNOW WHAT DOESN'T CONSTITUTE THE DEPLOYMENT, BUT WHAT CRITERIA WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR THE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY." EVERY TIME I ASK, THEY SAY THERE IS NO HARD-AND-FAST ANSWER. I'VE ALSO ASKED IF IT MAKES SENSE...
Other 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID Problem Areas
Engine
72 complaints
Electrical System
17 complaints
Power Train
10 complaints
Steering
9 complaints
Unknown Or Other
7 complaints
Service Brakes
5 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
5 complaints
Air Bags
4 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
3 complaints
Electrical Systempropulsion Systemtraction Battery
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
2 complaints
Wheels
2 complaints
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
1 complaint
Exterior Lighting
1 complaint
Hybrid Propulsion System
1 complaint
Seat Belts
1 complaint
Suspension
1 complaint