2014 Kia Optima Hybrid

While driving during colder weather the car will show HEV (hybrid system) warning and tell you to shut it off. I was in a construction zone with no where to pull over when the car died and lost all propulsion and brakes. This seems to be a common problem on KIA Optima hybrids from 2012-2015.

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with a battery management system (BMS) message displayed. The contact desperately depressed the brake pedal, but the pedal became firm, causing the contact to almost crash into another vehicle. The contact was able to pull into a parking lot, turned off and restarted the vehicle, but the BMS message and check engine warning was light illuminated. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle needed be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 84,000.

The contact owns 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the "Check Hybrid System - Turn Off Engine" message displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle stalled. On two occasions, the vehicle shifted to LIMP Mode. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the engine was replaced twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 58,997.

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine seized without warning. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000. The contact stated that the dealer and the manufacturer were notified but refused to help with the issue.

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the hybrid system malfunctioned. The contact stated that during the failure the vehicle decelerated and lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and remained with the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. Error message comes up on the dashboard.

The contact owns a 2014 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle decelerated with the "check hybrid battery and check engine" warning lights displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,000.

ON 6/07/19 WHILE TRAVELLING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY, TRAVELLING ABOUT 65 MPH, THE DASH DISPLAY READ CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM, AND SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN STIFFENING, I COASTED FROM THE PASSING LANE TO THE RIGHT LANE AND THEN TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PARK THE CAR. KIA FAILED TO PROVIDE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE SINCE THE CAR HAS OVER 60,000 MILES(ACTUALLY HAS 95,000 MILES), HOWEVER I AM STILL UNDER THE 10YR/100,000 MILES WARRANTY. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP VIA MY INSURANCE COVERAGE. AFTER THE ASSESSMENT I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN MAIN HYBRID FUSE. CHARGED $201.24 TO REPLACE THE FUSE. I PRESENT THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE HAD I BEEN ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, THERE WOULD BE NO WAY POSSIBLE TO REACH A LANE SHOULDER WITHOUT POSSIBLE HARM OR DEATH. ACCORDING TO KIA'S OWN "TECHNICAL OPERATIONS NOTICE - PS515(REV 2, 02/28/2019" DATED AUGUST 2017), THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE BATTERY FUSE IS TO BE REPLACED FROM A 125 AMP TO A 150 AMP. THIS FUSE IS PART OF THE SAFETY PLUG LOCATED IN THE TRUNK. AS A OWNER I SHOULD HAVE BEEN WARNED OF THIS POSSIBLY HAPPENING TO THE CAR AND GIVEN THE OPTION TO HAVE THIS FUSE REPLACED....AT KIA'S EXPENSE. FOR THOSE STILL DRIVING THIS YEAR AND MAKE OPTIMA HYBRID,PLEASE BE AWARE OF THIS OCCURRENCE. THE 125 AMP HV BATTERY FUSE SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE NEWER 150 AMP HV BATTERY FUSE(PART #375F2 4R150. SEE KIA'S PITSTOP: TECHNICAL

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE DASHBOARD READ 'HEV SYSTEM WARNING. PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF VEHICLE.' ENGINE THEN SHUT OFF. AFTER NEARLY BEING HIT BY A SEMI-TRUCK, I COASTED FROM THE CARPOOL TO THE OFF RAMP EXIT. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO TRAVEL AT APPROXIMATELY 5-15MPH AND MADE IT HOME SAFELY. I TOWED MY VEHICLE TO THE CITRUS VALLEY MOTORS IN THE CITY OF ONTARIO. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS STATING IT WAS A FUSE IN THE ENGINE AND IT WILL COST ME $686.97. KIA RELEASED INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC STATING THEY KNOW THE 125 FUSE AMP FOR THE HYBRID SYSTEMS WAS THE WRONG SIZE WHICH CAN CAUSE A 'BLOW OUT' TURNING THE ENGINE OFF WHILE DRIVING. KIA STAYED THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE IT WITH THE 150 AMP FUSE IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN THE POWER TO THE ENGINE. I CALLED KIA EXPRESSING MY CONCERN UNDER THE FEDERAL POLICY 'LEMON LAW.' KIA TOLD ME 'YOUR WARRANTY IS EXPIRED BY 3 WEEKS. WE CAN NOT GIVE YOU ASSISTANCE.' MY VEHICLE SITS IN THE SHOP WITH A WRONG SIZE FUSE AND WANT ME TO PAY FOR THE CORRECT SIZE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THEIR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

DRIVING VEH ON HWY AT ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR WHEN WITHIN SECONDS THE CAR JUST TURNS OFF COMPLETELY. SCARY!!! AFTER TAKING TO LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEM BEING STUMPED SO MUCH THEY CALLED AND SPOKE TO KIA ENGINEERS,( TECH LINE CASE REF #13028149) I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE PRESSURE SOURCE UNIT. I DID, DID NOT FIX IT. IN FACT WHEN I RETURNED THE PART THEY SAID IT IS NOW NOT WORKING. MECHANIC SUGGESTED A NEW ABS SYSTEM. I ALSO REPLACED THAT.... VEH IS STILL NOT REPAIRED. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1600 AND CAN STILL NOT OPERATE MY VEH SAFELY. KIA DOES NOT HAVE A CLEAR ANSWER, AND I HAVE SEEN THIS COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE MORE THAN ONCE. PLEASE RECALL THIS VEHICLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.

WHILE I WAS DRIVER ON THE STREET. A WARNING CHECK HEV SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM JUST SHUTDOWN AND I LOST ALL POWER. THE CAR WENT FROM WORKING PERFECT TO COMPLETELY OUT OF POWER IN 30 SECOND.

DRIVING NORMALLY, HCU ERROR POPPED UP ON NAV DISPLAY AS WELL AS DRIVERS DISPLAY. TOLD TO PULL OVER IMMEDIATELY AND TURN OFF ENGINE. I WAS TRAVELING ON ONCE HE INTERSTATE, BY THE TIME I GOT INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE THE CAR COMPLETELY LOST ALL POWER. TURNED ON EMERGENCY HAZARD LIGHTS AND AFTER 5 MINUTES THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND BROUGHT IT TO ROCK RIVER KIA IN ROCKDOED, IL. LATER WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED AND THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS NO LONGER HOLDING A CHARGE. ESTIMATED 14,000 REPAIR COST.

WHEN STARTING UP THE CAR YOU CAN SMELL A RUBBER BURNING SMELL COMIMG FROM THE AIR VENTS. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING IT THE CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN.

STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF I-25, GOING ABOUT 70 MPH AND RUSH HOUR. I WAS ABOUT 40 MIN FROM HOME STILL ON MY EVERYDAY COMMUNTE. I AM SEEING VERY MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS HAS ME AND MY FAMILY IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION DAILY AND KIA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. THERE CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE SAME (OR VERY SIMILAR) ISSUE ON THE RECALL ON THE GAS VERSION OF THIS VEHICLE. WE SHOULDN'T WAIT TILL SOMEONE GETS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED FIRST.

I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MONTHS (PURCHASED OCT. 2017). A FEW WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT IT I NOTICED MORE AND MORE THAT THE STEERING IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND KEEP IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY ABOVE 55 OR 60 MPH. ( WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR STARTS TO DRIFT SLOWLY, I TRY TO RE-ADJUST THE STEERING AND WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, NOTHING HAPPENS. I TURN A LITTLE MORE AND IT OVER-REACTS MAKING ME DRIFT WAY INTO THE OTHER DIRECTION. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE ON THE FREEWAY IN THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY AROUND BIGGER VEHICLES) I TOOK IT TO 3 DIFFERENT KIA DEALERS TO TRY AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM, THE FIRST SUGGESTED THAT IT NEEDS A 'STEERING WHEEL UPDATE' SINCE IT HAS ELECTRONIC STEERING. THAT DID NOT SOLVE OR FIX THE PROBLEM. I TOOK IT TO TWO OTHER DEALERS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THIS UNSAFE BEHAVIOR OF THE CAR. THEY SAID THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE MY PROBLEM AND SO THEY CANT FIX ANYTHING ON IT. I TOLD THEM THAT THEY NEED TO DRIVE IT FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES OR SO, ON THE FREEWAY AND ABOVE 55/60 MPH. THEY SAID THAT THEY STILL CANT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. - - AFTER CALLING KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS MULTIPLE TIMES AND FLING A REPORT, THEY TELL ME TO TAKE IT TO A KIA DEALER. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MULTIPLE DEALERS BUT STILL NO SOLUTION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE HYBRID-ELECTRIC VEHICLE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND 'TURN THE ENGINE OFF' DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MERCED KIA, 1575 W. 16TH ST., MERCED, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM SAFETY FUSE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. *TT

ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO BLOW UP. VALVES ARE VERY LOUD AND IT LURCHES UNDER ACCELERATION.

"TAKATA RECALL" AIRBAG LIGHT ON (CONSTANTLY)

MY KIA ALERTED ME TO A HYBRID CHARGING ISSUE BEFORE STALLING AT AN INTERSECTION AND REFUSING TO START AGAIN. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST KIA DEALER WHO DID EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WORK. THEY DETERMINED THAT A 125 AMP FUSE HAD FAILED IN THE HYBRID SAFETY PLUG AND THE APPROPRIATE REPAIR RESPONSE WAS TO REPLACE THAT FUSE WITH A 150 AMP FUSE (PART # 375F2-4R150). I AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR AND MADE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS TO KIA CONSUMER AFFAIRS REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AS IT SEEMED UNLIKELY THAT REPLACEMENT OF A FUSE WITH A LARGER FUSE WAS THE NEEDED REPAIR. I FINALLY REACHED SOMEONE AT CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHO HAD DEALT WITH A SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE EXACT SAME FUSE. SHE INFORMED ME THAT THERE HAD BEEN A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED ABOUT THIS. SHE STATED THAT THE FUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE TOO SMALL AND THAT KIA HAD DECIDED TO USE A LARGER FUSE TO PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS IN THE SYSTEM. I ASKED WHY I WAS REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AND SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THUS MY CHARGE. IF THE WRONG FUSE WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED, IT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY RECALL OR WARRANTY. SHE WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE TSB # BUT DID STATE THAT IT IS LOCATED IN TSB-PS-515 AND I WAS WELCOME TO HAVE A KIA DEALER PRINT IT FOR ME.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A ROAD WITH POSTED SPEED OF 50 MPH. I HAD TO BRAKE SUDDENLY, AND THE CAR STALLED IN THE FAST LANE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT FLASHERS ON BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC COMING BEHIND ME. IT TOOK ABOUT TWO MINUTES TO RESTART THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE PUSH BUTTON START AND THE POWER SEATS HAVING TO POSITION THEMSELVES. VERY SCARY SITUATION AND VERY UNEXPECTED. I'VE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AND THE CAR HESITATES IN THE TURN. I'VE ALMOST BEEN HIT TWICE BECAUSE OF THIS.

MY 2014 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID BLEW-UP GOING DOWN THE ROAD! THE ENGINE THREW A ROD THROUGH THE MOTOR WHICH IS THE EXACT MOTOR IN THE RECALL.. IT'S JUST THE HYBRID SO KIA SAYS IT'S NOT RECALLED EVEN THOUGH IT'S THE EXACT RECALL OF THE SAME MOTOR IN THE GAS CAR!! THIS CAR FALLS IN THE EXACT RECALL! PLEASE HELP ME! THE CAR ONLY HAS 72,000MILES ON THE CAR & SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS TO OCCUR!! 3 DIFFERENT MECHANICS HAS TOLD ME IT'S THE EXACT RECALL KIA HAS PUT OUT FOR THE EXACT MOTOR!! KIA IS TELLING ME (IN PAPERWORK) THAT I HAVE TO PAY $10,700.00 FOR A NEW ENGINE WHEN THE PROBLEM IS THE EXACT RECALL IN THE CAR!! AGAIN PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS! MY NAME IS [XXX] & MY CONTACT EMAIL IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR