2012 KIA OPTIMA Engine Problems

393 NHTSA complaints on file

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All Engine Complaints — Page 5

#11287465 | Fire
THE CAR ENGINE MADE A NOISE AND THE ENGINE AND STARTING SMOKE WITH FIRE AND IT COMPLETELY STOPPED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE CAR SHUTDOWN IN TRAFFIC AND HAD TO PUSHED OUT OF THE STREET TO AVOID ME BEING HIT.
#11282990 |
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED MOTOR SEIZED UP BUT UNSTUCK AFTER COOLING HAS BAD KNOCK NOW. STUCK ON HIGHWAY WAITING TO BE TOWED.
#11282995 |
ENGINE LOCKED UP AND SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNINGS
#11281758 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEMONTROND KIA (14101 NORTH FREEWAY, HOUSTON, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BEARINGS FAILED AND DAMAGED THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 13418572, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE), ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
#11281497 |
WHILE WAITING AT A STOP LIGHT MY CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN. NOW THE ENGINE IS SEIZED UP AND WON'T TURN ON OR ANYTHING. NO LIGHTS OR WARNING SIGNS OF ANYTHING HAPPENING. I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WAITING TO TURN LEFT ON A CITY STREET.
#11280143 |
ON 9/3/2019 I TOOK MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA TO GOSSETT KIA SOUTH TO GET IT REPAIRED. IT DIDNT GET FIXED BEFORE I LEFT THE LOT MY CAR WAS SMOKING AND LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. I WAS STRANDED FOR 4 DAYS AFTER THAT DAY. I WENT TO THE NEAREST PART STORE AND PURCHASED A BOTTOM RADIATOR HOSE AND ANTIFREEZE. I HAD A MOBILE MECHANIC TO PUT THE HOSE ON. THERE AFTER I WAS STRANDED AGAIN THE CAR WOULDN'T START. I HAD IT TOWED TO FIRESTONE 10/4/2019. MY CAR STAYED THE LOT FOR A MONTH AND IT WAS THEN TOWED TO GOSSETT KIA NORTH FROM THERE IT HAS BEEN REPOSSESSED. I MADE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS TO GET THE CAR BACK I AM DETERMINED TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED. I USE THE CAR TO MAKE IT TO APPOINTMENTS. I AM DISABLED AND THIS DOESNT SEEM FAIR AT ALL IM PAYING NOTES ON A NONWORKING CAR. I...
#11279788 |
AS MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR KIA DOWN A HIGHWAY IN ROCKWELL NC IT JUST SHUT OFF, LOSS POWER WOULD NOT START BACK UP, SO HAD IT TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP AND MECHANIC SAID THE MOTOR IS SEIZED UP, SO I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR RECALLS AND THE EXACT THING HAS HAPPEN TO A TEE TO PEOPLE WHO WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD OR HIGHWAY AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF THANKFULLY MY SON OR ANYONE ELSE DIDN'T GET HURT...
#11277301 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE BEARING IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
#11271088 |
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN E 470 IN COLORADO WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY CEASED UP AND BLEW A ROD GOING 70 MPH. A CAR ALMOST HIT ME FROM BEHIND AND LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER SO I DIDN'T CAUSE ANY MORE DAMAGE TO ME MY FAMILY OR ANYONE ELSE. MY CAR HAD OIL AND HAD BEEN CHANGE JUST RECENTLY. I AM SEEING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. JUST WANTED TO REPORT THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ALSO.
#11270865 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). BEV SMITH KIA (5655 US-1, FORT PIERCE, FL 34982, (772) 465-8589) WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO A MAIN FUSE UNDER THE VEHICLE THAT BLEW OUT. SOUTH DADE KIA OF MIAMI (17120 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33157, (786) 673-8136) AND KIA ATLANTA SOUTH (7310 JONESBORO RD, MORROW, GA 30260, (770) 968-3400) WERE CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
#11269565 |
MAY-2018 MY CAR WAS MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND, & I CALLED THE VALLEY KIA DEALER. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID (THE CAR HAS NO RECALL, & NO WARENTY) 10-2019... I CALLED THE SALESMAN WHERE I BOUGHT THE KIA. FRANK WONG SAID YES I HAD WARRANTY, BUT EXPIRED 11-2018... I COULD OF GOT MY CAR FIXED...
#11267820 |
FAILURE DATE: 06/25/2019 MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND LUCKILY I DIDNT GET INTO ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE PULL OFF THE ROAD TO WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK. THIS IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. I HAD IT TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE THEY CHANGED OUT THE STARTED AND CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY IT JUST MADE A CLICKING SOUND BUT WOULDN'T START. I STARTED READING ON LINE THAT THIS EXACT SITUATION HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER KIA OPTIMA VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE HAS 99189 MILES SO IT FALLS WITHIN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY OF 100,000 MILES
#11267974 |
KIA HAS NOW SETTLED THEIR CLASS ACTION SUIT FOR ALL THE OTHER VEHICLES, YET THE HYBRIDS ARE STILL BEING LEFT OUT OF ANY RECALLS. THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE IN THE COMPLAINTS HERE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. I SUNK $7000 THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO SPARE INTO GETTING A NEW ENGINE PUT IN THIS CAR. ONLY TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION BLOW RIGHT AFTER I GOT THE CAR BACK FROM KIA AFTER WAITING 6 MONTHS FOR AN ENGINE. THE TRANSMISSION COST ANOTHER $5000, AND IT TOOK THEM THREE TRANSMISSIONS TO INSTALL A NON-FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I ALMOST LOST MY JOB BECAUSE I COULDN'T RELIABLY GET TO WORK ON TIME, IF AT ALL. KIA THEMSELVES HAVE SAID THAT THE ENGINES WEREN'T MANUFACTURED CORRECTLY AND THAT LABOR BEING DONE IN KIA DEALERSHIPS WASN'T BEING DONE CORRECTLY. HYBRID ENGINES SHOULD ABSOLUTELY NOT BE BLOWING RODS AT 60000 MILES, OR 80000 MILES, AND NOT EVEN 100000...
#11267332 |
DURING MY LAST VISIT TO THE KIA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION, THEY INFORMED MY THAT I HAD NO OIL INDICATING ON THE DIP STICK. NO LEAKS DETECTED SO MUST BE BURNING OIL. EVERY TIME I DRIVE, I CAN SMELL BURNING OIL AND TAIL PIPE ARE COMPLETELY BLACK.
#11266698 |
2012 KIA WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ENGINE RECALL IN 2017. KIA INFORMED ME THAT IT HAD PASSED INSPECTION AND RELEASED THE CAR. 2019 THE ENGINE SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING, TRAVELING 40MPH ON A BUSY ROAD. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO FIND A SOMEWHAT SAFE LOCATION. MY ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE VERY BADLY FROM A POSSIBLE SMALL FIRE. AFTER A WEEK WITHOUT A CAR, OUT OF POCKET TOWS, DIAGNOSTICS, RENTALS, ETC. KIA CONFIRMED IT WAS AN ENGINE ISSUE RELATED TO THE RECALL. MY SAFETY WAS PLACED AT RISK AFTER I FELT ALL THE RECALLS HAD BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. I COULD OF VERY WELL BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AND LUCKILY I DID NOT HAVE MY CHILDREN THAT DAY. TODAY, MY CAR HAS HAD A REPLACEMENT ENGINE, YET I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE. I AM STILL TRYING TO RECOVER THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. I HAVE BEEN SPOKEN TO...
#11265790 |
THERE ARE TWO (2) ISSUES THAT ARE POSSIBLY CONNECTED. THE FIRST IS EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. THE KIA DEALERSHIP CONFIRMS THAT I AM USING APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART PER 250 MILES, BUT THEY STATE THAT THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CAR HAS ALSO BECOME SLUGGISH. ACCELERATION TIME HAS BEEN GREATLY INCREASED AND CAR HESITATES WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAVE ME CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AND ALSO WHEN I NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY.
#11265417 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE AND SEIZED IN THE LEFT TURNING LANE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO KIA OF CARSON (LOCATED AT 22020 RECREATION RD, CARSON, CA 90745, (424) 277-0368) WHERE IT WAS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2019. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,371.
#11258876 |
THE ENGINE KNOCKED AND IT MAKE A NOISE.
#11258550 |
CAR BEING DRIVEN BY MY DAUGHTER SUDDENLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WITH A PULL OVER AND SAFELY SHUT OFF VEHICLE WARNING. SHE HOWEVER COULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE ALSO SHOWED AN ERROR TO THE VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEM. WE TOWED THE IMMOBILE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES AND THE BATTERY WAS FINE. THEY REQUESTED THAT I ALLOW THEM TO REMOVE THE VALVE COVER TO CHECK ON BELTS. I APPROVED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THE FOLLOWING DAY TO CHECK IN BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD. I WAS TOLD THE HYBRID PARTS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BUT THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOCKED UP. NO REASON OR EXPLANATION, NO WARNING. MY CHILD COULD HAVE DIED DUE TO HER VEHICLE STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.
#11257819 |
UNTIL NOW (ONLY 84K MILES), MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR. WHEN LEAVING A DRIVEWAY GOING ABOUT 15MPH, A LIGHT TAPPING BEGAN WHEN THE GAS ENGINE STARTED. A SOUND IT WAS NOT MAKING WHEN DRIVING UNDER ELECTRIC POWER (BEFORE THE ENGINE STARTED). THE SOUND QUICKLY GREW TO A LOUD KNOCKING, ACCOMPANIED BY A NOTICEABLE LOSS OF POWER AND THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER TURNED ON, EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE BLEW UP. ALL SIGNS ARE POINTING TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, SIMILAR, IF NOT THE SAME AS THE ONE REGARDING METAL FILINGS BEING LEFT ON THE BLOCK. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE MODEL AND YEAR THAT TRIGGERED OVER .5M CARS BEING RECALLED. NOW THE SAME ISSUES ARE HAPPENING WITH THIS MODEL, WHICH FOR SOME REASON WASN'T INCLUDED. A MODERN AND WELL-SERVICED CAR SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 84K MILES. THIS WILL BE A SAFETY HAZARD UNTIL ALL...
#11257835 |
I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AT 74K MI. NUMEROUS OCCASIONS CAR LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. TAKEN CAR IN TO KIA DEALER EACH TIME AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. MY CAR STALLED OUT 1 MONTH AGO ON THE FREEWAY AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. NOW AT 125K MI DEALER IS TELLING ME MY ENGINE IS SEIZED, HYBRID BATTERY AND REGULAR BATTERY ARE DEAD. AND ALSO REPLACED THE EMC FOR $2500 PRIOR TO FIGURING OUT THE ENGINE/BATTERY'S WERE DEAD.
#11257347 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
#11256062 |
I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID AT 80,XXX, AND HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH THE SCHEDULED SERVICES/MAINTENANCE. I BARELY DRIVE MY CAR NOWADAYS, AND JUST RIDE MY BICYCLE TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT IS 1-MILE AWAY. MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, GOING 65MPH, 47-MILES INTO OUR DRIVE, OUR CAR STARTED JERKING. WE HAVE ABOUT 3-4 MILES LEFT TO OUR DESTINATION. WHEN YOU PRESSED ON THE GAS, IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS JUST ACCELERATING AND NOT SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR NOTIFICATION AS TO WHY THAT WAS HAPPENING. WE EXITED FROM THE FREEWAY AND STOPPED AT A LOCAL PLAZA TO TRY AND RESET THE CAR, AND GAVE THE CAR ABOUT 20-MINS BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. WHEN WE TRIED DRIVING ABOUT THE LAST 10-MINS, EVEN AT 20MPH, IT WAS STILL JERKING AND STILL SOUNDED LIKE IT WASN'T SHIFTING TO THE NEXT GEAR,...
#11252722 |
MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. WHILE DRIVING, AS I DECREASE MY SPEED, SUDDENLY THE CAR WILL EXPERIENCE JERKING AND THEN SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THIS HAS OCCUR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND TRAFFIC HAS SLOWED DOWN TO 10 MPH OR LESS AND WHILE APPROACHING A LIGHT OR CROSSING AND INTERSECTION AND TRAFFIC IS SLOWING DOWN. WHILE THE CAR IS AT STEADY SPEED, AT 20 - 40 MPH THE CAR JERKS AS I'M TRYING TO MAINTAIN WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. MY CAR HAS HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY OR REMEDY THE ISSUE. MY LAST TWO INCIDENTS WERE 8/21/19 FREEWAY WHILE IN THE FAST LANE NEXT TO THE CARPOOL LANE AND NOW 8/29 ON CITY STREET. I ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS ON MARCH 3,2019 (HAD A FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT WHICH STILL DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE)
#11252630 |
I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY AND AS I CAME TO A RED LIGHT THE CAR DIED AND ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON, I WAS ABLE TO START IT BACK AND HAD NO PROBLEMS. TONIGHT I WAS IN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 70-75 MPH CAR LOST POWER AND ENGINE MADE TERRIBLE KNOCKING SOUND.
#11251886 |
UPON ACCELERATION THE MOTOR SEIZED AND STARTED SMOKING. I HAD TO QUICKLY APPLY THE BRAKES AND GET OFF THE INTERSTATE DUE TO AN 18 WHEELER BEING RIGHT BEHIND ME.
#11246343 |
ON AUG 2ND I WAS DRIVING THRU UTAH ON MY WAY TO TN. I CAR STARTING HAVING SOME SPUTTERING/HESITATION ISSUES WHEN GOING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. I THERE WAS NO WARRING ON MY INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. ALL ELECTRONICS (AC, RADIO, ETC) WERE WORKING FINE. I CONTINUED ON AND SHORTLY THERE AFTER MY CAR STARTED NOT ACCELERATING AT ALL WHILE DRIVING DOWN A MAJOR FREEWAY. I HAD NO POWER AT ALL. STILL NO WARRING ON THE PANEL. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AND BARELY MADE IT TO A SIDE STREET NEAR A GAS STATION. I WAS ALMOST HIT DUE TO THE FACT I COULDN'T ACCELERATE MY CAR. I PRELIMINARY INSPECTION OF THE CAR BY A MECHANIC REVELED THAT I HAD A BLOWN MOTOR. I GOT IT TOWED FROM THE MECH SHOP TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND BEGAN WORKING WITH KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS. AT PRESENT I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS IS...
#11243704 |
WE WERE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR STARTED ACTING FUNNY. IT SAID TO PULL OVER AND STOP DRIVING. IT WAS A VERY HOT AND HUMID DAY AND WE THOUGHT THE MOTOR WAS JUST HOT. WE STARTED GOING AGAIN AND IT SEEMED OKAY. WE MADE IT TO OUR DESTINATION OKAY WE DROVE GOING HOME THE ENGINE STARTED ACTING UP WE DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME WE HAD TO GET A TOW TRUCK , THE MOTOR HAD DIED..
#11242618 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE BEFORE IT BEGAN TO RESUME NORMAL DRIVING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO PERSIST THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THE DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT CALLED VALLEY HI TOYOTA (14612 VALLEY CENTER DR, VICTORVILLE, CA 92395, (760) 241-6484), BUT THE DEALER HAD YET TO RESPOND DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE HIS VEHICLE TOWED AND SERVICED AT THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
#11241996 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS) AND 18V907000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR AS THE RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED OVER A YEAR AGO. GERVAIS KIA (6 INDUSTRIAL AVE, LOWELL, MA 01851, (978) 454-1202) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO VEER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN...
#11241604 |
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID SLOWED DOWN TO 45MPH AND ENGINE STARTED TO MAKE NOISES. THIS CAME WITH NO MECHANICAL WARNING, NO "CHECK ENGINE SOON" OR OTHER WARNING LIGHTS, AND HAD BEEN DRIVING PERFECTLY BEFORE IT WAS PARKED. CHECKED OIL AND OIL LEVEL WAS PERFECT. CALLED MECHANIC AND HE ASKED ME TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT OIL. OIL HAD SMALL SHINY METAL SHAVINGS ON STICK THAT TRANSFERRED TO FINGERS WHEN RUBBED. HAD CAR TOWED OVER 30 MILES TO NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP. CAR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH "ENGINE FAILURE" DUE TO ROD END BEARINGS. I AM THE 2ND OWNER OF THIS CAR THE I BOUGHT FROM A MASTER MECHANIC AT A LEXUS DEALERSHIP. WE ARE VERY METICULOUS AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF OUR VEHICLES. THIS IS NOT A OWNER PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WANTS $10,000 FOR A NEW MOTOR, $4,000 FOR A USED (ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NONE...
#11240841 |
I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. DROVE GREAT AT FIRST NOW THE CAR IS OFF AND ON.. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LUNGES OFTEN AND AS OTHERS HAVE SAID THERE IS A DELAY 2 SECOND FROM PRESSING THE GAS TO THE CAR ACTUALLY ACCELERATING. THE CAR ALSO LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I'VE NOTICED THE ENGINE WILL NOT CHARGE THE HYBRID BATTERY WHEN IT IS GETTING LOW AND THE CAR BECOME IMMOBILIZED UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE HAD DASH LIGHTS ONLY APPEAR ONCE AND WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. ATTACHED ARE A FEW PICTURES YOU CAN SEE THE HYBRID BATTERY HAD 1 BAR IT APPEARS TO BE CHARGING BUT THEN GOES TO 0 BARS BECAUSE THE BATTERY IS TRYING TO POWER THE CAR WHILE ONLY THE ENGINE SHOULD.
#11240512 |
CAR MAKES A HUMMING NOISE WHEN GOING 20 TO 40 MPH
#11233435 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASED AND DEPRESSED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE NORMALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RATTLE, THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR FLICKERED, AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ATLANTA WEST KIA (LOCATED AT 1301 THORNTON RD, LITHIA SPRING, GA 30122, (678) 715-5399) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,000.
#11231342 |
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING AT A LARGE INTERSECTION. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE MY ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC SHOP WHOM I HAD USED BEFORE. THE LEAD TECHNICIAN SAID THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID IS FULL OF METAL AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MOTOR IS FROZE UP. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN.
#11230811 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. MYRTLE BEACH KIA (4811 US-501, MYRTLE BEACH, SC 29579, 843-444-8000) DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
#11229990 |
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 80MPH. THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON IN THE DASHBOARD. CAR LOST POWER AND HAD TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR RIGHT AFTER HEARD CLICKING NOISES LIKE THE CAR WAS TRYING TO TURN OVER. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 20MINS I TRIED RESTARTING AGAIN ITS STARTED WITHOUT ISSUE. AND I CONTINUED TO DRIVE TO MY DESTINATION. THE NEXT DAY DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AGAIN I TRIED ACCELERATING TO ABOUT 60MPH AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND I HEARD KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM IT IMMEDIATELY. PULLED OVER AND GOT IT TOWED FROM THERE. PRIOR TO THIS I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY ENGINE ISSUES AND NEVER HAD THE ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. CAR ONLY HAS 44K MILES.
#11229765 |
STATIONARY AT STOP LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE CAME ON AND CAR DIED. IMMEDIATELY WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON ALL SIDES OF THE CAR WITH A CHEMICAL BURNING SMELL. SMOKE CONTINUED FROM UNDER THE HOOD APPROXIMATELY 3-5 MINUTES.
#11229489 |
HAVE TO PUT OIL IN MY CAR EVERY 300 MILES. CAR IS BURNING OIL EXTREMELY FAST. AFRAID THAT THE ENGINE MAY SEIZE WHILE DRIVING. HAS BEEN THAT WAY EVERY SINCE MY PURCHASE IN APRIL OF 2018.
#11229290 | Fire
IN 2017 WE HAD THE KIA TOWED TO SELMA KIA MOTORS BECAUSE OF THE RECALL OF THE ENGINE,BECAUSE OF SHAVING IN THE ENGINE AND OUR TURBO WENT OUT AND WAS BURNING.THE CAR STOP ON US IN TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET WE COULD OF DIED THAT DAY. THEY HAD TO ORDER THE ENGINE WHICH TOOK TWO MONTHS. THEY FINELY PUT THE NEW ENGINE IN. APRIL 2019 THE SAME THING HAPPEN AGAIN, THEY TOLD US THERE WAS SHAVINGS IN THE ENGINE ONCE AGAIN AND THE TURBO WAS OUT ALSO, THAT WAS ANOTHER DEFECTED ENGINE. THEY ALSO TOLD US WE HAD ANOTHER 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON THIS ENGINE BECAUSE IT WAS NEW. WELL THEY CALLED US AND SAID THAT THE CORPORATE OFFICE IN IRVINE TOLD KIA IN SELMA NOT TO FOX THIS CAR. WHAT IRVINE CORPORATEOFFICETRIED TO DO TO US WAS BLACK MAIL US,THEY SAID IF THE GIVE US $12 HUNDRED DALLAS...
#11223080 |
MY CAR HAS TWO RECALLS AND THE CAR STOP UNSTABLE.
#11222309 | Fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN HE SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS ABLE TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE ON THE OIL CAP. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT STATED HE SAW A GASOLINE LEAK ON THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED GRAND KIA LOCATED AT 1950 W 104TH AVE, DENVER, CO 80234, (720) 943-1144, WERE NOTIFIED OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.
#11220342 |
ENGINE IS MAKING KNOCKING SOUND. SOUNDS LIKE PISTON. IT'S A 2012 AND KEEPING UP WITH OIL CHANGES AND TENDER LOVING CARE. IT'S 7 YEARS OLD THERE'S NO REASON THE ENGINE SHOULD BE KNOCKING AND TURNING OFF IN THE HIGH WAY AT SPEED 65 MPH WITH MY CHILDREN IN IT. I AM VERY MAD THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE FOR FREE (XXXXXX) 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).
#11220381 |
MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX-TGI IS IN 'LIMP HOME MODE' DUE TO A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE THAT DETECTS SOME SORT OF ENGINE PROBLEM. BUT IT'S NOT SPECIFIC ON WHAT IT IS. NOW MY WIFE CANNOT IS HER CAR THAT SHE HAS HAD ONLY FOR A FEW YEARS. IT HAS ALREADY HAD TWO MANUFACTURER RECALL REPAIRS AND NOW I FEEL LIKE THERE IS ANOTHER DEFECT THAT IS EXPLAINED IN A FEW ARTICLES ONLINE WHERE THE ENGINES HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. AND THIS 'LIMP HOME MODE' ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO DRIVE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AT LOW SPEEDS TO KEEP FROM FURTHER DAMAGE. THESE ENGINES WERE REPLACED ON KIA'S LIKE MINE THAT WERE MANUFACTURED WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME. PLEASE BE AWARE IT'S A VERY SCARY MATTER.
#11205959 |
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
#11204285 |
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.
#11202922 |
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.
#11202726 |
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
#11197321 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, WHITE SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO STONES KIA (1222 N WOODRUFF AVE, IDAHO FALLS, ID 83401, (208) 524-2400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS REBUILT IN 2015. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE ENGINE PREVIOUSLY BEING REBUILT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
#11196690 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF DES MOINES (LOCATED AT 4475 MERLE HAY RD, DES MOINES, IA 50310, (515) 270-0706) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL FEED LINE THAT ENTERED THE TURBO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

Other 2012 KIA OPTIMA Problem Areas

Steering 182 complaints Electrical System 118 complaints Unknown Or Other 83 complaints Power Train 52 complaints Service Brakes 50 complaints Air Bags 44 complaints Fuelpropulsion System 42 complaints Vehicle Speed Control 39 complaints Service Brakes Hydraulic 34 complaints Structurebody 34 complaints Exterior Lighting 26 complaints Suspension 18 complaints Engine And Engine Cooling 17 complaints Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly 13 complaints Visibilitywiper 13 complaints Electronic Stability Control Esc 11 complaints Fuel System Gasoline 10 complaints Seats 7 complaints Wheels 7 complaints Seat Belts 5 complaints Structure 5 complaints Tires 5 complaints Exterior Lightingheadlights 3 complaints Equipment Adaptivemobility 2 complaints Exterior Lightingbrake Lights 2 complaints Tirestemporaryemergency Spare Tire 2 complaints Visibility 2 complaints Air Bagsfrontaldriver Clockspringspiral Cassette 1 complaint Electrical Systemhorn 1 complaint Electrical Systemstarter Assembly 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System 1 complaint Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolineturbosupercharger 1 complaint Equipment 1 complaint Firerelated 1 complaint Forward Collision Avoidance Adaptive Cruise Control 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump 1 complaint Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryhoses Linespiping And Fittings 1 complaint Interior Lighting 1 complaint Latcheslockslinkages 1 complaint Latcheslockslinkagestrunk Lidlock 1 complaint Power Trainautomatic Transmissionlever And Linkagefloor Shift 1 complaint Seatsfront Assemblyhead Restraint 1 complaint Service Brakes Airantilock 1 complaint Service Brakes Hydraulicfluid 1 complaint Steeringlinkagestie Rod Assembly 1 complaint Steeringrack And Pinion 1 complaint Visibilitywindshield 1 complaint
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