2012 KIA OPTIMA Engine Problems

I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE BELTWAY 495 IN MARYLAND AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP WITHOUT ANY WARNING ON THE DASH. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULDN'T START. I CHECK THE MOTOR, CHECKING THE OIL STICK SHOWING THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO OIL IN IT. I NEVER RECEIVED A WARNING LIGHT ABOUT LOW OIL OR ANYTHING WAS WRONG. I HAD MY COUSIN BRING ME SOME OIL. I PUT FOUR CANS OF OIL IN THE VEHICLE AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TAKEN OFF THE HIGHWAY TO MY COUSINS HOUSE NEAR BY. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY THINKING THAT WAS NOW THE PROBLEM. THE STARTED TO TURN OVER BUT WOULDN'T START. THE NEXT DAY I CONNECTED A CHECK ENGINE MACHINE TO THE CAR, A ACTRON AUTO SCANNER #CP 9575BUT NO CODES APPEARED. A FRIEND WHO IN THE PAST RACED CARS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER AS SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHOTTENKIRK KIA OF WEST BURLINGTON (309 SOUTH GEAR AVENUE, WEST BURLINGTON, IA 52655, (319) 249-6627) AND THE OIL FILTER WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE ENGINE IF IT FAILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE STATE OF UTAH. I WAS GOING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE CAR STARTED SHAKING, FOLLOWED BY A STALL ON THE ENGINE THAT FORCED ME TO SLOW DOWN AND PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED BUT I HEARD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. NOW THE CAR WON'T TURN ON.

CAR SEEMS LIKE IS BURNING OIL AND ALSO OIL LEVEL IS GOING DOWN PRETTY QUICKLY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. A MILE DOWN THE ROAD, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THERE WAS EXTREMELY POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, THE OIL LIGHT RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER (OSSETT KIA SOUTH, 2680 MT MORIAH RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38115, (901) 328-8173) WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES MORE THAN FIVE TIMES, BUT THE VISIBILITY WAS STILL POOR. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARRANTY EXPIRED WITHOUT THE PART BEING REPLACED. THE FAN ALSO FAILED TO FUNCTION, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER ALSO PERFORMED A REPAIR PER AN UNKNOWN RECALL REGARDING THE STEERING; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION FOR THE STEERING COUPLER AND THE STEERING WHEEL...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND THE CHECK ENGINE, LOW BATTERY, OIL, AND ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ALL AT ONCE. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY FOUR MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT CRANKED, BUT DID NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONTACT NOTICED CAR WAS MAKING A WEIRD SOUND, CONSUMER'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE OIL LIGHT FLASHED EVERY TIME CONTACT PRESSED THE GAS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN ANY FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE UNTIL IT WAS SERVICED FOR PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). WITHIN WEEKS OF THE VEHICLE BEING SERVICED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS IN A LIMP MODE AND IT FAILED TO OPERATE OVER 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHAKER'S KIA (1230 MAIN ST, WATERTOWN, CT 06795, (860) 417-0900) WHERE IT REMAINED FOR OVER A MONTH. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NUMEROUS TIMES THAT THE REMEDY FAILED TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETRIEVED BY THE CONTACT AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR...

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN UNION NJ ON SEPTEMBER 25 2018. I WAS ON MY WAY TO PICK UP MY NEXT PASSENGER DOING UBER. WHEN I GET TO THE STOP LIGHT LESS THAN A MILE AWAY FROM THE CUSTOMER I START SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I ACCELERATE THE CAR SO I CAN LOOK FOR A SAFE SPOT TO GET OUT AND INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I TOOK A RIGHT INTO THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND WHEN I CAME OUT THE VEHICLE THE CAR WAS ON FIRE! THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER MINUTES WITHIN THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE AND CALLED THE FIREFIGHTERS. POLICE CALLED BACK UP AND ANOTHER PATROL OFFICER CAME. FIREFIGHTERS CAME IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND TURNED THE FIRE OFF. THE VEHICLE IN TOTALED, EVERYTHING IN THE ENGINE BAY BURNED. THE POLICE CALLED A TOWING COMPANY AND SETON TOWING INC CAME AND TOOK...

I'VE BEEN MAINTAINING THE HEALTH OF MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA EX SINCE I PURCHASED IN 2014 LIKE CLOCKWORK. LAST MONTH, I EXPERIENCED ALL THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY ROADS AND I WAS UNABLE TO USE THE GAS PEDAL. I FRANTICALLY PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF THEN TRIED TO START IT, ONLY TO BE MET WITH A WEIRD SOUND AND A CLOUD OF SMOKE FROM THE HOOD. MY STARTER WAS FRIED, ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND WHEN HE CHANGED THE STARTER, THE NEW STARTER BURNED AGAIN AS WELL AS THE ENGINE LOCKED UP/SEIZED. AFTER FINDING OUT A RECALL (SC147) WAS ACTIVE AT THE TIME, I CALLED KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE AND THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE ISSUES AFTER CONFIRMING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. ONCE I PICKED MY CAR UP, I NOTICED THE CAR WAS STARTING UP IN AN ODD...

IN NOVEMBER 2017 I CONTINUOUSLY TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO MY VEHICLE NOT STARTED, AND/OR NEEDING A JUMP. JIM MARSH KIA HAD ME REPLACE MY BATTERY AFTER 6 WEEKS OF COMPLAINTS AND COMPLICATIONS. ONLY FOR A WEEK LATER TO HAVE ME AND MY KIDS LIFE AT RISK, HEADING SOUTH BOUND ON I-15 MY CAR FLASHED A WARNING SIGN STATING DO NOT START ENGINE HYBRID BATTERY UNDETECTED AND SHUT OFF WHILE A SEMI TRUCK WAS BEHIND US. BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WAS GOING DOWN HILL SO I SWERVED TO THE SIDE OF THE DESSERT AND ROAD TO SPARE OUR LIVES. JUST TO HAVE KIA TELL ME 4-5 DIFFERENT EXCUSES AS TO WHY MY ENGINE FAILED.

BRAKE SWITCH RECALLED ON 2011 MODELS, BUT MY 2012 WILL NOT START MOSTLY WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE, BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENS AND WONT DECOMPRESS FOR ENGINE TO START, PUSH BUTTN WONT START CAR BRAKE LIGHTS DONT WORK. VEHICLE WILL LEAVE STRANDED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WILL WORK AND THEN NOT WORK, INTERMITTEN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ON ITS OWN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED INVESTIGATION NUMBER: DP18003. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000.

I HAVE A 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR THE ENGINE RECALL THE DEALER SAID IT PASSED NO NEED TO FIX. A MONTH LATER I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. ALL OF A SUDDEN CAR GAUGES WENT CRAZY AND ENGINE SEIZED. I SAW SMOKE AND POPPED THE HOOD. I THAN SAW A FIRE IGNITE INSIDE THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED THE WHOLE FRONT END OF CAR WAS BURNT UP. I SEE THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH KIA VEHICLES STARTING ON FIRE FOR NO REASON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

"TAKATA RECALL"WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICE NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. I'VE HAD PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME THING SINCE 2012, FIRST THE STRING IT WOULD PULL LEFT AND RIGHT ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVE STRAIGHT. KIA SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM,NOW MY RACK AND PINION IS BROKEN,AND THAT'S BECAUSE KIA REFUSE TO FIX THAT PROBLEM BACK IN 2012 WITH THE STRING. KIA SENT US A SETTLEMENT LETTER , WHICH STATES THEY WILL PAID US $531.95 BY MEANS OF A CHECK, IT STATES IT IS UNDERSTOOD AND AGREED THAT THIS SETTLEMENT IS A COMPROMISE OF DISPUTED CLAIMS AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE, AN ADMISSION OF LIABILITY ON THE PART OF KIA. WE DID NOT SING THAT LETTER BECAUSE KIA CARS ARE NO GOOD! AND THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS SINCE THAT LETTER WAS SENT. THEY TRIED TO BLACK MAIL US WE DIDN'T...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PALM SPRINGS KIA (LOCATED AT 68130 KYLE RD, CATHEDRAL CITY, CA 92234, (760) 844-7200) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,725.

2012 KIA OPTIMA SX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE AND THE DASHBOARD SET ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JS

ON DECEMBER 9, 2018, I ATTENDED MY SON'S SOCCER TOURNAMENT ON A COLD SUNDAY AFTERNOON (APPROX. 30 DEGREES). DURING HALF-TIME I DECIDED TO SIT IN MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA TO WARM UP. AFTER 10 MINUTES OR SO, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING LIKE THE SMELL OF A BURNING ENGINE. I THEN NOTICED GREYISH BLACKISH SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WHICH QUICKLY TURNED INTO FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT MY CAR OFF AND BARELY EXITED THE VEHICLE IN TIME. THE ENTIRE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, DRIVER'S FRONT WHEEL AND HOOD WAS ON FIRE. WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES, MY ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT I GOT A BRAND NEW ENGINE (SO THEY SAY) INSTALLED BY KIA JUST 8 MONTHS AGO DUE TO THE RECALL. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAKING A HORRIBLE NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO KIA AND THEY INFORMED ME...

ON DECEMBER 10TH, 2018, MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE KIA OPTIMA 2012 FROM SAN ANTONIO TO HOUSTON ON I-10 E. AT 4:15 PM CST, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND MULTIPLE OTHER LIGHTS SUDDENLY CAME ON IN THE DISPLAY AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A STOP BEFORE EXIT 591 (SCHERTZ). SHE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT TO THE RIGHT-SIDE CURB OF THE HIGHWAY WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING AND IT STOPPED COMPLETELY. SHE TRIED RESTARTING THE CAR A FEW TIMES, IT WOULD NOT START, AND SHE QUICKLY NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT HOOD SO SHE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE. SHE THEN CALLED 911 AS THE SMOKE GOT WORSE AND A FEW NEARBY DRIVERS HELPED HER QUICKLY GET AS MUCH OF HER STUFF FROM THE CAR AS POSSIBLE. THEN THEY ALL MOVED ACROSS TO A SAFE PLACE AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES THE CAR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE (BY 4:25 PM). SEE PICTURES...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

WASTE GATE ROD GOES OUT OF CORRECT SPECS CAUSING LOSS OF POWER ON VEHICLE. NOT ABLE TO ACCERLERATE FROM TAKE OFF WHILE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED

SXT MODEL 82K MILES. WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WAS ACCELERATING TO MOVE INTO RIGHT LANE WHEN THE ENGINE CUTOFF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER LUCKILY WITHOUT GETTING HIT. THE CAR WOULD POWER ON BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START AT ALL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHT WERE LIT UP. CALLED FOR TOW. THE NEXT MORNING KIA EVALUATED THE CAR THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD ME IT WAS AFFECTED BY THE ENGINE AND COOLING RECALL 17V224000. I HAD TAKEN MY CAR IN MONTHS PRIOR FOR THE SAME RECALL BUT WAS TOLD THAT I WAS NOT AFFECTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO HAVE HAPPEN TO DRIVERS ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING TOLD YOU ARE NOT AFFECTED.

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH WHEN THE PINGING STARTED. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY IT GOT LOUDER AS THE RPM DROPPED. BECOMING LOUDEST AT 3,000-4,000RPM. AT THIS POINT THE PINGING BECAME VERY LOUD. I PULLED OVER TO CONFIRM NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. ENGINE BECAME ROUGH AS KNOCKING CONTINUED. POWER LOSS ENSUED AND I DROVE THE CAR SEVERAL MILES TO MY MECHANIC. HE CONFIRMED IT WAS A ROD KNOCK. I WAS TOLD A YEAR AGO, AT SAN DIEGO KIA, THAT MY ENGINE WOULD NOT SUFFER THE RECALL ISSUED FOR MY MODEL. THIS WAS A YEAR AGO. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN KEPT UP WITH AND NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED SINCE I ACQUIRED THE VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. ALSO, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TAKEN TO KIA OF GREENVILLE (2424 LAURENS RD, GREENVILLE, SC 29607, (864) 516-2700) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED, FLAMES WERE DETECTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL TOW LOT AND DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE...

DRIVING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA ON THE HIGHWAY. NOTICED THE SMELL OF SMOKE THEN VISUALLY SAW SMOKE. BEGAN TO PULL OVER AND FLAMES BEGAN TO BILLOW FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE BRAKES WERE NOT OPERATIONAL. ROLLED TO A STOP AND EXITED THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED WITHIN A MINUTE.

MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF WITH SEVERAL FLASHING LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND NOTHING BUT A SLIGHT TICK. I RETURNED TO THE CAR WITH JUMPER CABLES TO SEE IF IT WAS THE BATTERY AND BEFORE I TRIED THE JUMPER CABLES I TRIED ONE MORE TIME TO START AND THE ENGINEER CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR DID NOT TURN OVER OR SEEMED TO BE RUNNING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER (SUPERIOR KIA, 260 W. MITCHELL AVE, CINCINNATI, OH) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, A LOUD BOOMING NOISE WAS HEARD AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE PRESENT COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. AFTER EXITING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR HEAD INJURY, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. DURING THE FAILURE, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LIFTED THE HOOD, REMOVED THE OIL CAP, AND NOTICED SMOKE. FURTHERMORE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AS SMOKE ESCAPED FROM THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING AND CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR CERTIFIED MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,600.

ENGINE SEIZED

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALUE KIA (6915 ESSINGTON AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19153, 215-937-1000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COOLING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,630.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE INDICATOR KEPT ILLUMINATING AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER (DESTINATION KIA, 760 CENTRAL AVE, ALBANY, NY 12206, (518) 478-8036) STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

'TAMARA RECALL' I OWED THE VEHICLE FOR NOT EVEN 1 YEAR AFTER FINANCING IT FROM A USED CAR LOT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE FROM MY HOME TOWN COLORADO SPRINGS TO FORT RILEY KS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE. THIS IS WHERE I WAS STATIONED. I DROVE FROM FORT RILEY KS TO ALBUQUERQUE NM FOR EASTER IN APRIL 2017 TO VISIT FAMILY. WHEN I RETURNED HOME IT STARTED SHAKING AND MAKING NOISES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE ERROR CODES WERE READ AND INDICATED IT WAS A CYLINDER MISFIRE. THE SAME TIME THIS ISSUE HAPPENED I GOT A RECALL FOR METAL SHAVINGS IN ENGINE CRANKSHAFT. I TOOK VEHICLE TO KIA AND THEY SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE RECALL UNTIL THE CYLINDER MISFIRE IS FIXED. THEY RECOMMENDED A COMPLETELY NEW ENGINE. IF I BUY A WHOLE NEW ENGINE THEN THEY GET OUT OF DOING THE RECALL. I WAS THEN DEPLOYED TO POLAND...

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 W. CAR SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE OCTOBER 20, 2017. PASSENGER SAW SMOKE FROM FRONT SEAT. DRIVER PULLED-OVER. WE GOT OUT OF CAR. SAW FIRE UNDERNEATH. MOVED AWAY, CAR GRADUALLY BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FILED REPORT IN CONNECTICUT. INCIDENT NUMBER 17-0000359 SANDY HOOK FD FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED. 61,852 MILES

I DROVE MY VEHICLE HOME FROM WORK (12 MILES), PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (VEHICLE TURNED OFF, NOT RUNNING) AND WALKED INSIDE. I SAT DOWN AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF MINUTES I HEARD A LOUD POP, I LOOKED OUTSIDE TO SEE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF MY CAR. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE, THE CAR HAD BURNED TO THE GROUND AND HAD MELTED ALL OF THE SIDING OFF OF THE FRONT OF MY GARAGE.

WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING HOME AT A SPEED OF 45MPH WE LOST ENGINE POWER AND BRAKES. UPON THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPING, BLACK SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW FLAMES BEGIN TO SPREAD FROM THE ENGINE. WE WERE NOTIFIED BY AN OFF DUTY DEPUTY THAT HE WAS GOING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WHEN HE SAW US WITH A FIRE UNDERNEATH OUR VEHICLE WHILE STILL MOVING. THE VEHICLE ULTIMATELY WENT UP IN FLAMES ALONG WITH EVERYTHING WE HAD INSIDE.

WE BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2012. IT IS 6 YEARS OLD. WE WERE NOTIFIED OF AN ENGINE RELATED RECALL IN 2017. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO GET THE RECALL (S) LOOKED AT (THERE WERE 3 OTHER RECALLS TOO) IN OCTOBER 2017. THEY NOTIFIED US THAT OUR ENGINE WAS FINE AND DID NOT NEED REPLACED. IN MAY 2018 I WAS DRIVING IN A 70 MPH AREA OF THE INTERSTATE, TRIED TO ACCELERATE, HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. I TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC AROUND ME WAS LIGHT AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR WITH ME. THE CAR IS RIGHT OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD. I NO LONGER HAVE A VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH I JUST BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR THAT IS ONLY...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ABNORMAL NOISE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (WEST PALM BEACH KIA, 735 S MILITARY TRAIL, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33415, (561) 433-1511) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND THE MODEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

MY CAR HAS A KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE, THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET INSPECTED FOR THE RECALL SEPTEMBER 2017. TEAM KIA OF EL CAJON; THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE SALVAGE TITLES AREN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL WARRANTY. 4/18/2018 WHILE DRIVING IN THE FAST MOVING TRAFFIC , MY CAR'S ENGINE SHUT OFF. AFTER MEETING WITH THE MECHANIC TODAY I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WENT OUT. THESE SIGNS INDICATE TO ME THAT THE ENGINE WENT BAD DUE TO THE RECALL ISSUE THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPLACE. I'VE OWNED THE CAR FOR LESS THAN A YEAR AND PROVIDED PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON THE CAR AT THE SCHEDULED TIMES. PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VECHILE THE CAR RECEIVED A ENGINE CLEARANCE THROUGH KIA DEALERSHIP AND THROUGH MY PRIVATE MECHANIC, SAYING THE ENGINE WAS GOOD. NOW 8 MONTHS LATER AFTER HEARING CONTINUOUS KNOCKING NOISE AND ALMOST GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT I FEEL...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING, AS IF A PART HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS EMITTING FLAMES.. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE PART THAT SEPARATED FROM THE ENGINE AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STAFFORD KIA OF FREDERICKSBURG (5204 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, 22408, 540-891-7400) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE PART THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CATCH FIRE WAS NOT GIVEN TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,046.

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).