2011 Kia Optima complaints

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 55MPH OR HIGHER STEERING WHEEL HAS A LOUD KNOCK AND PULLS LEFT. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL IS UNCONTROLLABLE. WHEN IN PARK AND TURNING THE WHEEL IT MAKES THE KNOCKING NOISE ALSO. UPDATED 10/07/15*LJ UPDATED 12/11/2017*CN

MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA PANORAMIC SUNROOF EXPLODED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF ABOVE MY HEAD WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED ON A BEAUTIFUL CLEAR DAY. ONCE I GOT PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER I OBSERVED A BOWLING BALL SIZED HOLE BLASTED OUTWARD IN THE CENTER OF THE FRONT PANEL OF THE SUNROOF. NOTHING HIT IT. EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. BOOM. LUCKILY THE SUN SHADE WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, OTHERWISE THE SHATTERED GLASS WOULD HAVE RAINED DOWN UPON ME AT THE TIME OF THE BIG BANG, AND I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE MAKING A TURN, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MOSTLY WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE STOP LAMPS FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING COUPLING RING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE COMPLETELY DIM. I CAN'T SEE MORE THAN 4 FT IN FRONT OF MY CAR SO NO LONGER DRIVE AT NIGHT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP HERE IN ORLANDO AND THEY STATED THIS HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE THE HEAT OF THE BULB CAUSE THE PAINT IN THE UNIT TO PEEL AWAY. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS YET, BUT HAVE HAD A FEW OCCASIONS WHERE A CAR CUT ME OFF AND ANOTHER ALMOST RAN ME OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY LIGHT TO NOT ILLUMINATE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID SINCE I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY IT WOULD COST ME $1200 TO FIX. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND SOME FORUMS WHERE OTHER DRIVERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE FOR YEARS AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE AND RATTLING WHEN I DRIVE AND HIT A SMALL BUMP. I WAS TOLD BY THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD COST $400 TO FIX THAT $3.00 PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT HOLDS THAT TOGETHER. IF IT NOT FIXED IN TIME THAT THE STEERING WOULD BE GONE COMPLETELY. I DON'T THINK CONSUMERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANUFACTURER TAKING SHORT CUTS AND USING CHEAP PRODUCTS THAT COST US TONS OF MONEY TO FIX.

I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, 2.4 LITER ENGINE. ALWAYS KEEP UP ON THE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGES, CAR IS IN GREAT SHAPE. I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES, WARNINGS, NO CHECK ENGINE/OIL LIGHTS, NO NOISES, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THEN LAST NIGHT MY CAR JUST SPUTTERED AND CUT OFF WHILE BEING DRIVEN. APPARENTLY WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OFF, SO DOES THE BRAKES. THERE WAS NO WAY TO PUSH THE BRAKES, SO I HAD TO TRY TO SAFELY COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WITH NO BRAKES AND NO POWER STEERING. I FINALLY PULLED OVER, TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR AND THERE WAS SUCH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, AND SOME SQUEALING NOISES AS WELL. THE CAR WILL NO LONGER START EITHER. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT TODAY AND SAYS THE ENGINE IS "JUST GONE." NO EXPLANATIONS AT ALL. I VERIFIED THAT THE KIA OPTIMA AND THE HYUNDAI SONATA ARE THE SAME MANUFACTURER AND USE THE SAME ENGINES. I SEE THERE ARE WAY MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2011 HYUNDAI SONATA WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I WILL TRY TO NOTIFY KIA AND SEE IF THEY ARE WILLING TO STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS EVEN WITH THE WARRANTY EXPIRING 7,000 MILES AGO, SINCE I AM THE SECOND OWNER. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME THING FOR BOTH THE 2011 OPTIMAS AND SONATAS. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO WARNINGS, AND THE ENGINE CUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC, WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE BRAKES AND STEERING TO GO OUT. NOT SAFE AT ALL.

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ON OUR WAY TO THE COAST WHEN WE PASSED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND AS SOON AS WE PASSED THE OTHER VEHICLE WE LOST ALL POWER IN THE CAR WE WERE ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.SECOND TRY CAR DID START BUT WAS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER IT WAS AN INTERNAL ENGINE MALFUNCTION CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY DEALER REPLACE ENGINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING HOSE O RING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER BURNED OUT AND THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STARTER AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE SOURCE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A MORE EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSIS WAS REQUIRED AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN APART. THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE AT A RED LIGHT MY CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ONCE OFF MAJOR STREET WE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY AND AFTER CHARGING FOR A BIT THE CAR DID START BUT MADE A HORRIBLE SOUND. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO OIL IN ENGINE AND WAS DUE TO FAULTY MAINTENANCE WHICH IS UNTRUE. MY LAST OIL CHANGE WAS 2/2/15 AND WAS DUE AGAIN 4/11/15. MY CAR NEVER GAVE A CHECK ENGINE OR CHECK OIL LIGHT, I HAD NO OIL SPILLS IN MY GARAGE OR WHERE I PARK AT WORK. THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF TROUBLE. WHEN I ASKED WHAT CAUSED THIS TO BY ALL STANDARDS A NEW CAR ALL THEY WANT TO SAY IS THAT IS FAULTY MAINTENANCE BECAUSE KIA DIDN'T DO THE WORK. MY CAR WENT FROM FUNCTIONING PERFECTLY WELL TO NEEDING A NEW ENGINE TO THE TUNE OF KIA'S PRICE OF $6400.00 THEY WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY UNLESS I CAN PRODUCE RECEIPTS DATING BACK THREE YEARS. MY CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AT 63,400 MILES? REALLY... *TR

THE CAR PULLS CONTINUOUSLY TO THE RIGHT WHEN RIDING IN A CURVE GOING TO THE RIGHT OR MAKING A RIGHT TURN. I SPOKE TO TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE ISSUE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FIXED, BUT I AM STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN I HEARD A BIG POP AND REALIZED MY SUNROOF BUSTED OPEN. IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME IT WAS NOT HOT OUTSIDE AND NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. *TR

THE SPARK PLUGS IN THE CAR WERE REPLACED AT 44,298 MILES (JUST PRIOR TO THE 45,000 RECOMMENDATION IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL). AT 48,269 MILES MY CAR WAS IDLING SLIGHTLY OFF. I GAVE THE CAR PART THROTTLE IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY WORK AND THE CAR MISFIRES AND CEL COMES ON. GIVING IT MORE GAS, IT GOES AWAY. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP (KIA OF CHERRY HILL, NJ) TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS IDLING REALLY BAD. I GOT A CALL FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER ASKING ABOUT THE SPARK PLUGS AND HOW I NOTED THEY WERE DONE AT 44K MILES. HE SAYS ALL 4 ARE FOULED. I THEN GET A CALL BACK SAYING THAT THE PLUGS IN MY CAR WERE NEVER DONE AT 45K LIKE THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND THAT THEY NEED TO BE CHANGED. I EXPLAINED TO HIM THEY WERE DONE, HIS RESPONSE WAS, "I DON'T BUY IT." I THEN SAID THAT I HAVE THE RECEIPT FROM THE PARTS DEPARTMENT FROM HIS DEALERSHIP FOR THE PLUGS, AND THAT I HAVE PICTURES OF THEM BEING CHANGED AND THAT I EVEN HAVE THE OLD PLUGS IN THE NEW BOXES. NO RESPONSE TO THAT EXCEPT QUIET. I SAID IF THE PLUGS WERE DONE 4K MILES AGO, THEN WHY DO THEY NEED TO BE DONE AGAIN? WHY WOULD THEY ALL GO BAD? NO RESPONSE EXCEPT THAT HE CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS THE SPARK PLUGS ARE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY ARE FOULED. ALL 4 PLUGS WERE BAD DUE TO LEAN CONDITION IN THE MOTOR (POSSIBLE FUELING PROBLEM). ONE OF THE PLUGS WAS MISSING THE PORCELAIN FROM CYLINDER #2, WHICH WAS ALSO MISSING ON THE ORIGINAL FROM CYLINDER #2 PULLED AT 44,298 MILES. DEALERSHIP AND KIA CORPORATE WAS NOT WILLING

MY CAR HAS BEEN PULLING TO THE LEFT EVERY SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE PULLING. THE CAR WAS TEST DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY. AFTERWARDS I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A "FEATURE" OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS CALLED A "SMART WHEEL" AND THERE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS PROBLEM AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO GET USED TO THIS "FEATURE". *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,887. UPDATED 04/13/15*LJ UPDATED 11/5/2015*JS

WE WERE IN MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA ON A TRANSITION RAMP FROM ONE FREEWAY TO ANOTHER DOING ABOUT 45 MPH. AS WE ROUNDED A TURN WE SAW 2 CARS AND A TOW TRUCK ON THE SIDE OF THE RAMP WE THEN HIT A PUDDLE (LAKE) THAT WENT ACROSS BOTH LANES OF THIS RAMP. THE WATER SLOWED US BY MAYBE 20 MPH WITH WATER SHOOTING ALL AROUND US. WE THEN SAW A TRUCK COMING DOWN A ON RAMP TO MERGE IN FRONT OF US HE HIT ANOTHER PUDDLE AND SPUN SIDEWAYS AND HIT A GUARD RAIL. WE PULLED UP NEXT TO HIM TO SEE IF HE WAS ALRIGHT AND MY CAR STALLED. WE COULD SMELL GAS I THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM THE TRUCK AND I WANTED TO MOVE AWAY FROM HIM. THE CAR WOULD NOT START, I HAD MY 4 YEAR OLD IN THE CAR AND HE WAS TERRIFIED AND CRYING. LUCKILY A TOW TRUCK PULLED UP BEHIND US AND BLOCKED OTHER CARS FROM HITTING US HE PUSHED US OUT OF THE LANE. WHEN THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE KIA DEALER I FOUND OUT THERE IS A PIECE OF (PLASTIC OR METAL I DON'T KNOW WHICH) THAT RUNS DOWN THE CENTER UNDER THE CAR, IT HOLDS THE GAS AND HYDRAULIC LINES UP FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK, THIS PIECE IS HELD IN PLACE WITH CLIPS ( NOT BOLTS OR SCREWS ) THE WATER PULLED THESE CLIPS FREE AND MY GAS AND HYDRAULIC LINES WERE PULLED DOWN, MY GAS LINE BROKE THAT WAS THE GAS I WAS SMELLING, IT THERE HAD BEEN A SPARK OR FLARE IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. THIS COULD ALSO HAVE HAPPENED IF I WAS DRIVING IN SNOW. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER SAID NO. SO I HAVE TO PAY $500 PLUS 5 DAYS OF CAR RENTAL. I'M 59 I HAVE D

THE ROOF IS RUSTING JUST ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH AT NIGHT WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE/FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,500.

JUST WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY KIA, IT HAD TO BE BROUGHT BACK TO REPLACE CRACKED DASH, HEATED STEERING WHEEL PEELING, TIRES WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE, WIPER BLADES SUCKED & YOU COULD NOT SEE OUT OF THEM WHEN IT RAIN, CRACKED OUTSIDE OF SUNROOF SEAL, PULLING TO LEFT SIDE AND SURGES. THEY PUT NEW TIRES, STEERING WHEEL & FIXED THE DASH. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE SPECS WERE WITHIN NORMAL LIMITS FOR THE ALIGNMENT & TRANSMISSION. THE OUTSIDE OF THE SUNROOF IS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR & IT WILL CRACK AGAIN, STATED THE SUN CRACKS IT! IT HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT 5 TIMES! EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY! I HAVE HAD 4 SET OF TIRES & THEY WEAR ON THE OUTSIDE, IT STILLS PULLS TO THE LEFT & I WAS TOLD THE ALIGNMENT IS NORMAL. 6 SETS OF NEW WIPER BLADES & THEY SAY THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM. MY CAR SURGES & IT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN ADDRESSED! IN LATE SEPTEMBER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE DAY AFTER I HAD MY OIL CHANGED, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY DEALERSHIP SERVICE, THEY KEPT IT, FIXED THE 'OIL CONTROL VALVE" WITHIN 5 MILES FROM MY DEALERSHIP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. AFTER A WEEK & A HALF, MY 'INTAKE CVVT TIMING & MY 'EXHAUST CVVT TIMING! MY WARRANTY WILL BE UP IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS & I AM WORRIED ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT & THEN THERE'S NO WARRANTY! THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON OPTIMA'S STEERING TO THE LEFT & ON THE TIRES EITHER, ALIGNMENT! I HAVE WENT AS FAR AS CONTACTING THE GEORGIA CONSUMER PROTECTION, KIA CONSUMER HOTLINE, US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, TRAFFIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED HOWEVER, THE ILLUMINATION WAS EXTREMELY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO INFORMED THAT BOTH HEAD LAMPS OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE REFLECTOR TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A SQUEALING AND AN UNUSUAL POPPING SOUND THAT EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT TIRES HAD SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK BRACKET FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,273.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I REPORT THIS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, LAST MONTH HAPPENED ON MAY 4 , I DOCUMENTED IN MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT, THEY RETURNED THE CAR 5-21-14 THEY DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING, ON JUNE 6 AGAIN THE CAR ACCELERATED WHEN I WAS STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND READY TO PUT IT IN PARK, THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER UNTIL NOW DON'T HEAR FROM THEM, CALLED KIA IN CALIFORNIA LEFT MESSAGES NO CALL BACK, TODAY A GOT A HOLD WITH ANOTHER PERSON JENNY, AND SHE REPEAT LIKE A BROKEN RECORD WE CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT THEY STILL KEEP THE CAR FOR A LONG TIME, I HAVE A CASE # [XXX] THE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THIS, LIKE I EXPLAINED TO THIS LADY ENGINEERS SHOULD LOOK AT THIS SITUATION NOT THE MECHANIC, IS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER, THEY JUST FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND THEIR MACHINE TELL THEM NOTHING IS WRONG, LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE IN MY OTHER COMPLAINT THIS ONE IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT HAPPENED, WHAT ARE WE WAITING THAT SOME PEOPLE GOT KILL TO INVESTIGATE, LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA AND GENERAL MOTOR HAD, THEY WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIED THEN START DOING SOMETHING, THANK YOU TO THIS SITE THAT WE COULD VOICE OUR CONCERNS. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) UPDATED 1/6/2015 *JS

ON 5-4-14 I WAS DRIVING FROM WISCONSIN WHEN WE DECIDED TO STOP AT WAL-MART, WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR A PERSON TO MOVE OUT OF ITS PARKING SPOT, MY OPTIMA START TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN I HAD MY FOOT IN THE BRAKE, MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AND THEN THE ENGINE START RACING UP THE RPM WERE VERY FAST (WAS IN NEUTRAL), AT THE MOMENT A LADY AND HER SMALL KID WERE CROSSING IN FRONT OF MY CAR, GOD KNOWS WHAT IT WOULD HAPPENED IF I WOULDN'T MOVE THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME LAST YEAR IT DID THE SAME THING IN JULY WHEN I WAS AT THE STOP SIGN , THE SECOND TIME WAS THIS YEAR IN JANUARY WHEN I CAME BACK HOME FROM WORK THEN I WAS PARKING WHEN THE CAR STARTING ACCELERATING BUT I WAS HOLDING UP WITH CONCRETE BAR ON THE GROUND THAT IS IN MY PARKING LOT, AT THAT TIME I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, BUT IT WAS NOT MUCH OF CONCERN BECAUSE I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR IN THE STREET. NEXT DAY (5-5-14) TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CONTACTED KIA TO REPORT THIS ISSUE, ON MAY 7 AT 4:20 PM A GENTLEMAN FROM KIA HIS NAME WAS [XXX] CALLED ME TO GET SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND TOLD HIM EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED AND GAVE A CASE #2706364, THEN ON 5-7-14 ANOTHER GENTLEMAN FROM KIA CORPORATION CALLED ME, HIS NAME [XXX], AND TOLD ME THAT HE IS IN CHARGE OF MY CASE NOW AND WILL CALL ME TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THIS, WELL HE DIDN'T CALL SO I CALLED HIM BACK ON 5-15-14, (10 DAYS LATER), HE TOLD ME HE WAS WAITING FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO CALL HI

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN A MILE TO A COMMUTER RAIL STATION FOR A DROP OFF AND BACK HOME. NOTHING UNUSUAL WAS NOTED DURING THE SHORT TRIP NOR HAD ANY PROBLEMS BEEN OBSERVED IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT. SHORTLY AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE ON THE 5TH FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE AND ENTERING THE RESIDENCE, THE COMPLEX FIRE ALARMS ACTUATED AND ALL RESIDENTS WERE ADVISED TO EVACUATE WITHOUT ENTERING THE COMMUNITY PARKING GARAGE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THE COMPLEX MANAGER VIA MY CELL PHONE THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE IN THE GARAGE. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED AND WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. (ALLSTATE). THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD HAVE BURNED IF IT HADN'T BEEN PARKED DIRECTLY UNDER A SPRINKLER HEAD IN THE GARAGE PLUS A SPEEDY RESPONSE FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. AN INDEPENDENT FIRE ORIGIN INVESTIGATOR WAS HIRED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION WAS THE FIRE STARTED AT THE RADIATOR FAN ASSEMBLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED AS THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED SIX FEET. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION WAS EXPERIENCED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC BUT WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,100.

MOONROOF ON OUR 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX MODEL EXPLODED WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH DECEMBER 25TH 2013 - EVENING. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 36 DEGREES F AT THE TIME. INCIDENT ALSO CAUSED BODY AND PAINT DAMAGE TO OUR TRUNK AS WELL AS PEPPERED VEHICLES BEHIND US WITH GLASS FRAGMENTS. UPON REVIEWING MULTIPLE FORUMS ON LINE IT APPEARS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT FOR KIA/HYUNDAI AS I LEARNED MULTIPLE MODELS MADE BY THIS DUO HAVE ALSO SUFFERED SIMILAR SCENARIO'S. I'M SURE NHTSA IS QUITE AWARE THAT THE HYUNDAI VELOSETER HAS RECALLED SEVERAL THOUSAND VEHICLES MFG. FOR THIS POTENTIAL ISSUE AND WE'RE COINCIDENTALLY MADE DURING THE SAME TIME FRAME OUR VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED. *TR

RECEIVED A NHTSA RECALL NOTICE REGARDING MY KIA OPTIMA TIRES, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:13T009. YOKOHAMA TIRE CORPORATION IS RECALLING CERTAIN 7.50R16RY215 TIRES MANUFACTURED 01/01/2006 THROUGH 08/01/2011. *TR I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA WITH TIRES MADE BY HANKOOK/KUMHO/NEXEN TIRES. ARE THESE PART OF A RECALL? THE DEALER FUCCILLO KIA, 404 NE PINE ISLAND, CAPE CORAL, FLORIDA, 33909 WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR SAYS HE IS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL. ARE MY CAR TIRES PART OF A RECALL? *TR

DEFECTIVE TIRES - AFTER 2 FLAT TIRES IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ALL 4 HAD THE SAME DEFECT - BUBBLING AND SEPARATION INSIDE THE TIRE SHOULDER, AFTER APPX 17K MILES WITH PROPER INSTALLATION AND TIRE PRESSURE. WAS OFFERED THE SAME TIRES AT A REDUCED COST. DECLINED AND PURCHASED A DIFFERENT BRAND. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V114000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE'S EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WOULD DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900.

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I NOTICED IT PULLED TO THE LEFT AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY "SAID" THEY PERFORMED A FIX ACCORDING TO AN INTERNAL KIA TSB-032 DOCUMENT. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK FOR A 15,000 MILE SERVICE AND ANOTHER TIRE ROTATION THEY ROTATED THE TIRES AND THE CAR AGGRESSIVELY PULLED TO THE LEFT AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK AND ARGUED OVER PAYING FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO THE ALIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT, IT DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE AND THE TIRES WERE PUT BACK PRIOR TO THE 15K ROTATION. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE, I AM UNABLE TO ROTATE THE TIRES WITHOUT AN AGGRESSIVE PULL TO THE LEFT. JUST TODAY, 8/24/2013, THE DEALER TOLD ME KIA HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH NEXEN TIRES AND HAVE SINCE SWITCHED TO KUMHO. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BECAUSE KIA USED A PRODUCT LINE THAT IS OBVIOUSLY FLAWED AND NOW THE DEALER IS SAYING I HAVE TO SPEND >$1000 ON A SET OF NEW TIRES FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE I DROVE THE VEHICLE (BRAND NEW) OFF THE LOT. *TR

MY HAND HELD PHONE DEVICE STOP WORKING AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

SUDDEN ACCELERATION! HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS AGO AND AGAIN ON MAY 10TH. GOING SLOWLY TOWARDS A STOP SIGN WHILE BRAKING TO STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES AND LUNGES FORWARD. STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT CAR KEEPS GOING. PUT SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL WITH ENGINE RACING AND AFTER ABOUT 2 SECONDS THE ENGINE SLOWLY DROPS TO IDLE. NO ACCIDENTS CAUSED BECAUSE NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION! TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER ON MAY 15TH AND THEY COULD FIND NO CODES PRESENT AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *TR

POLICE OFFICER POINTED OUT MY CAR'S TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT WED NIGHT (WHILE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON). THURS, CHECKED ALL FUSES, ALL OK. DID WEB SEARCH TO FIND FUSE FOR TAIL LIGHTS. FOUND INSTEAD DESCRIPTION OF KLUDGE FIX OF REMOVING MEMORY FUSE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. REMOVED MEMORY FUSE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, PUT IT BACK IN, TAIL LIGHTS THEN CAME ON WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. *TR

ON APRIL 25TH, 2013, I DROVE FROM THE ATLANTA AREA TO SHANNON, GA. NEAR ADAIRSVILLE, GA. I STOPPED A THE GATE PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE. BEFORE I COULD GET OUT THE CAR SURGED FORWARD SMASHING THE GATE. I HIT THE BRAKE, BACKED IT UP, PUT IT IN PARK, SET THE BRAKE AND AGAIN BEFORE I COULD GET OUT IT SURGED FORWARD. THIS TIME WHEN I BACKED UP PUT IT IN PARK I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR. JUMPING FORWARD IN MY STORY, I CALLED KIA AND FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS ON RECALL. I LOOKED IT UP ON THE INTERNET ONLY TO SEE THE NOTICES WOULD NOT BE SENT OUT UNTIL MAY 2013. KIA. IS REPLACING THE PART BUT WILL NOT FIX THE FRONT END DAMAGE. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY. KIA RAN SOME TEST AND SAID IT SHOWED NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. I WOULD HAVE BEEN RUN DOWN AND KILLED OR IN THE HOSPITAL. ALL I ASK IS FOR THEM TO FIX THE FRONT END OF MY CAR AND REPLACE THE GATE. THEY STILL HAVE MY CAR SO THE MILEAGE IS AND ESTIMATE. I DID USE CRUSE CONTROL. CASE #[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON BACK IN NOVEMBER . ACCORDING TO THE KIA OWNERS MANUAL THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK. I CONTACTED 2 KIA DEALERS IN THE TAMPA FL AREA (BACK IN NOVEMBER) AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I GUESS THEY MUST BE TOO BUSY OR DON'T LIKE DOING WARRANTY WORK. NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT WORK, THIS CAR IS A POS. *TR

THIS KIA HAS A PUSH BUTTON START OPTION. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNING ON WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE COMPUTER LOOKS FOR A SIGNAL FROM THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BEFORE IT STARTS THE ENGINE. I DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND THE PROBLEM WAS TEMPORARILY CORRECTED. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT TURNING ON. WE USED THE PROCEDURE TO BYPASS THE BRAKE SIGNAL (HOLD START BUTTON FOR 12+ SECONDS) TO START THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS NOW DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THERE WAS ALSO A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATING AN ISSUE WITH THE ESC SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY HAVE SEEN A FEW CARS WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2011 KIA OPTIMA LX, ONE NIGHT WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ALOUD BOOM SOUND WITH A JERK OF THE CAR AND ALL POWER WAS GONE AT ONCE. THERE WAS NOTHING,LIGHTS OUT, IN AND OUT AND NO ACCELERATION, THEN AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS ALL POWER RETURNED, BEFORE AND AFTER THIS THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY KIND, IT HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES SO FAR.2ND TIME AT AN INTERSECTION AND THE 3RD TIME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THE ONLY WAY I GOT OUT OF TRAFFIC THE CAR COASTED, ALL THE WHILE STEERING WAS VERY HARD , HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE POWER DID NOT RETURN. WHILE THEY WERE ABOUT TO CHECK, ONCE AGAIN THE POWER RETURNED ALL ON ITS OWN IN FRONT OF THEM, THEY RUN DIAGNOSTICS, STILL NOT SHOWING ANYTHING, SO THEY KEEP GIVING ME NO ANSWERS, AND PUTTING ME BACK INTO FEAR. 4 OTHER REPAIRS WAS MADE BEFORE THESE LAST 3 RECURRING INCIDENTS ;VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHUT OFF WITH REMOVAL OF THE KEY; HORNS QUIT WORKING; BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, BECAUSE COULD NOT GET CAR INTO GEAR; FUSE TO THE PHONE CHARGER. BACK TO THE SHUT DOWNS THE SERVICE TECHS.SAID THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX! AND THE KIA CORP. STAND BEHIND THE SAME ANSWER. THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE THESE CARS WHAT'S WRONG WITH FIXING THESE PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY ELECTRICAL ISSUES LIKE THIS! I SUGGEST TO ANYONE WHO'S READING THIS DON'T BUY A KIA OF ANYKIND! *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR CAR LAST YEAR , 5 MONTHS AFTER WE GOT THE CAR , WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL (VDC) LIGHT TURN ON AND THE CAR SHAKING VERY BAD AND WE CAN NOT HANDLE THE CAR RIGHT AND THE BRAKE ITS NOT WORKING WELL, ITS VERY VERY SCARY. THE ONLY THING THAT WE CAN DO WE TURN THE VDC LIGHT OFF, ITS GONNA BE OK FOR COUPLE DAYS , AND AGAIN IT HAPPENS. AFTER THAT I TOOK THE CAR TO FAIRFAX KIA IN VIRGINIA THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME AND THEY SAID WHEN THEY TEST DRIVE THE CAR IT DIDN'T HAPPENED TO THEM, SO IT HAPPENS FOR ME ALMOST 7 TIMES AND EVERY TIME THEY WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SERVICE THEY SAID THE SAME THING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT SHOULD I DO, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME WHAT SHOULD I DO? KIA MOTOR IN RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT. *TR

FIRST NOTICED ABNORMAL TIRE WARE ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF THE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD. SO I HAD TO PAY FOR AN ALIGNMENT. RECEIVED THE SPEC SHEETS AFTER. THE ALIGNMENT WAS OUT .15 DEGREES RF, .01 DEGREES LF, .19 DEGREES LR, .13 DEGREES RR. VEHICLE WAS SET BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS, AND DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE MIS ALIGNMENT ON MICHIGAN ROADS. CAR WAS SET TO HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED 1500 MILES LATER OR 30 DAYS. 2ND TIME IN THE SHOP FOR ALIGNMENT CHECK AND WAS OUT . 09 DEGREES LF, .11 DEGREES RF, .02 DEGREES LR, .04 DEGREES RR. DEALERSHIP SET THE ALIGNMENT BACK TO FACTORY SPECS. CAR AGAIN WAS SET 30 DAYS LATER OR 1500 MILES FOR ANOTHER ALIGNMENT CHECK AND WAS OUT ONCE AGAIN. .21 DEGREES LF, .13 DEGREES RF, .26 DEGREES LR, .02 DEGREES RR. AT THIS TIME THE MILEAGE WAS 22300. AFTER THE 3RD TIME TO THE DEALER AND TAKING THEIR ADVICE TO GIVE THEM THE CHANCE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE END , THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, YET EVERY TIME IT WAS THERE THE ALIGNMENT HAD TO BE ADJUSTED AND PUT BACK TO FACTORY SETTINGS. AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE NUMBER OF DEGREE CHANGES, MORE THAN .05 DEGREES IS ASTRONOMICAL WHEN IT COMES TO TOE SETTINGS ON ANY CAR. THIS CAR HAS A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY, YET KIA, NOR THE DEALERSHIP IS STANDING BEHIND THE PRODUCT, THEY MANUFACTURE OR SELL! *TR

I WAS LEAVING WORK @ 5:45 PM AND GOT IN MY CAR, BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I TRIED FOR 20 MINUTES BEFORE I CALLED KIA LEDGEN DEALERSHIP FOR HELP. THEY TOLD ME WHERE TO PUT THE AUX KEY STARTER INSIDE THE GLOVE BOX AREA. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. THEY TOLD ME A WOULD HAVE TO CALL THE 800 NUMBER TO GET A JUMP OR HAVE MY CAR TOWED. I FOUND A CO-WORKER WHO GAVE ME A JUMP AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. I PROCEEDED TO A FIRESTONE STATION AND GOT A NEW BATTER ($146.00). STARTED RIGHT UP AND HAD NO PROBLEMS UNTIL MY WIFE AND I WENT TO THE MALL TODAY (DEC 28) AND MY CAR WOULD NO START AGAIN. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET STRANDED OR NEEDED TO FIND A JUMP. AFTER 5 ATTEMPTS IT FINALLY STARTED AND I TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AFTER STATING THAT I READ ABOUT OTHER KIA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM THEY DECIDED TO KEEP IT OVER NIGHT. ARE THERE OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT CAN LEAD ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED? *TR

TAIL LIGHTS, DASH BACK LIGHTING BECAME INOPERATIVE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THIS MODEL DOES NOT HAVE A SMART KEY SYSTEM SOLUTION FOUND ON-LINE 1.OPEN IN-DASH FUSE BOX 2.PULL YELLOW MEMORY FUSE 3.WAIT A FEW MINUTES 4.REPLACE FUSE 5.CHECK TO SEE IF THINGS ARE WORKING RIGHT (IF NOT, REPEAT PREVIOUS STEPS WITH A LONGER WAIT BEFORE REPLACING THE FUSE). *TR

I WAS SITTING IN A TURN LANE, TO TURN LEFT. THERE WERE TWO LANES TO MY RIGHT FOR TRAFFIC. I WAS WAITING FOR A CAR COMING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I HAPPENED TO LOOK IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND IT WAS COMPLETELY TAKEN UP BY THIS RED OBJECT, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE A CAR. IMMEDIATELY I FELT A TERRIBLE SHOCK AND MY CAR WAS LIFTED UP IN THE REAR AND THE FRONT END POINTED AT THE ROAD. THIS CAR DROVE ME APPROXIMATELY 40 YDS. UP THE ROAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY...NONE OF THEM AND THERE WAS $12,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE DONE TO MY CAR. I STILL HAVE LOWER BACK PAIN AND SEVERE CRAMPS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF NECK AND HEAD. OF COURSE THE DRIVER WAS DUI, NO LICENSE, NO INSURANCE AND LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. ON 10/22/12 MY WIFE HAD DRIVEN HOME FROM FLORIDA TO TN. SHE TURNED ON A STREET HEADING UP A HILL TOWARD OUR HOME. SHE WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN AN OLDER GREY TRUCK COMING DOWN THE HILL CROWDED HER OFF THE ROAD. SHE SWERVED TO HER RIGHT AND HIT A 700 LB. MAILBOX(CEMENT & BRICKS) THIS ACCIDENT TORE THE RIDE SIDE FRONT END BACK BY 4 FEET, ALSO BUCKLING THE HOOD AND POPPING RIVETS IN THE MOTOR. THE AIR BAGS AGAIN FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE 2011 KIA OPTIMA'S AIR BAGS. SHE BLOODIED HER NOSE AND HAD A GASH IN HER RIGHT WRIST. THERE4 IS ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE OF HAVING AIR BAGS WHEN THEY DON'T DO AS THEY SUPPOSED TO. THIS MUST BE EXPLORED AND THE REASON FOUND! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A JERKING MOTION AND FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE RPMS BEGAN TO INCREASE RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY FOR A SHORT PERIOD AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURE AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2011 KIA OPTIMA EX ON A RESIDENTIAL AREA. MY SPEED WAS ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION SOUND. AT THE TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED THERE WERE NO CARS OR SEMIS NEAR MY VEHICLE. AFTER MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I RECOVERED FROM THE INITIAL SHOCK, I PULLED OVER TO CHECK MY VEHICLE AND I NOTICE THE BACK WINDOW SUNROOF HAD A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE CLOSE BY THE SHARK TALE AND WAS STILL SHATTERING. AT THAT POINT, I HAD NO OTHER CHOICE AND HAD TO DRIVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. ONCE I DROPPED HER OFF I DROPPED OFF MY VEHICLE AND A FAMILY MEMBERS HOUSE AND BORROWED A VEHICLE, SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFELY TO DRIVE IN THAT CONDITION. *TR

IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED POINTED SLIGHTLY DOWN HILL OR SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT AND SITS FOR 15-20 MINUTES THERE IS VALVE CLATTER WHEN STARTED AS IF THERE IS NO OIL. HAPPENS EVERY TIME PARKED AS ABOVE. DEALER SAYS A FIX IS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

THIS IS UPDATE TO ODI #10453907. OPTIMA HYBRID STILL EXPERIENCING POWER LOSS PROBLEMS. LATEST IS AT COLD START, WHEN IT STARTS IN EV MODE, SYSTEM INDICATES READY, SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE, CAR DOESN'T MOVE. IF WE TURN IT OFF AND RE-START IT, IT OPERATES NORMALLY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DASH ICON INDICATES HYBRID SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. AT RE-START LIGHT GOES OFF. DEALER CAN FIND NO TROUBLE CODES STORED. *TR

THE FIRST EPISODE WAS A DEAD BATTERY. THE CAR HAD 13 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE SECOND INCIDENT, CAR WOULD NOT START, IGNITION ISSUE, BUT LATER STARTED (AFTER 1HR). TAKEN TO DEALER, SECONDARY TO IGNITION ISSUES. PROBLEM RESOLVED UNTIL TODAY. WOULD NOT START AGAIN. TRIED TWO DIFFERENT KEY FOBS AND STILL DID NOT START. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT SINCE HAVING THE VEHICLE. I WILL NEED TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FOR THE SECOND TIME. *TR

SOMETIME AROUND JUNE 4, ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT 70 MPH, IT FELT LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING. THERE WAS A VIOLENT SLAM IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. I PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE EXPRESSWAY TO SEE IF I HAD HIT SOMETHING. AFTER SEEING THAT I HAD NOT HIT ANYTHING, I GOT BACK IN THE CAR TO GET BACK ON THE EXPRESSWAY. I PUT THE CAR IN GEAR AND TRIED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CAR WOULD HARDLY MOVE AS THOUGH IT WERE STARTING OFF IN A HIGH GEAR. I DROVE TOWARD THE NEXT EXIT AT 55 MPH AT AROUND 3500 RPM AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE NEVER SHIFTED GEARS. WHEN I GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT TO RETURN HOME, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SHIFT INTO LOW, IT STAYED IN A HIGH GEAR. I DROVE HOME IN ONE GEAR AND GOT HOME TO BACK INTO THE GARAGE, AND WHEN I SHIFTED THE CAR INTO REVERSE, IT SLAMMED INTO GEAR. I PARKED AND WENT INSIDE FOR THE EVENING INTENT ON GETTING THE DEALER TO SEND A WRECKER FOR THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING. I GOT UP THE NEXT MORNING TO SEE IF THE CAR WAS STILL ACTING THE SAME WAY. I STARTED THE CAR UP AND IT DROVE PERFECT, SHIFTING THROUGH ALL OF THE GEARS AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BEHAVE. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FOUND THE PROBLEM AND WE LEFT WITH OUR "REPAIRED" VEHICLE. ON JUNE 26, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 50 MPH ON A SURFACE STREET, THE SAME "SLAM" HAPPENED IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, FRIGHTENING MY WIFE. SHE THEN PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOPPED THE CAR, AND SHUT IT OFF. SHE RESTARTED THE CAR AND IT SHIFT AS IT WAS SUPPOSED TO. SHE CAME BACK HOME, PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAG

THE INTERIOR OVERHEAD LIGHTS PERIODICALLY COME ON AND GO OFF WHILE OPERATING OUR 2011 OPTIMA. THIS OCCURS WITH THE SWITCH IN BOTH ON AND OFF POSITION AND THE LIGHTBULBS TEND TO BECOME OVERHEATED.THEY DO NOT RESPOND TO MANUAL OPERATION, BUT GO OFF ON THEIR OWN AND THIS MALFUNCTION REPEATS SEVERAL TIMES IN A TEN MINUTE DRIVE. BEST-CASE SCENARIO RESULTS IN THE BULBS BURNING OUT PREMATURELY, BUT I BELIEVE THERE IS A REAL CHANCE OF A MORE SERIOUS SHORT-CIRCUIT AND POTENTIAL INTERIOR FIRE. *TR