2012 Kia Optima complaints

MY 2012 OPTIMA POPS AND MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING AND IS HARDER TO TURN THEM NORMAL AND RATTLES OVER BUMPS. BASED OFF MY RESEARCH ONLINE IT'S A BAD CHEAP PLASTIC STEERING COUPLER. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE AS WELL AS YOUTUBE VIDEOS ADDRESSING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE SOUL GOT RECALLED FOR. HERE IS JUST ONE LINK OF MANY VIDEOS I FOUND ON GOOGLE. HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/BMMVJLF2ZRO PLEASE GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT CAN'T AFFORD THE $600 THE DEALERSHIP CHARGES TO REPLACE IT WHEN IT SHOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A WEAR AND TEAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. I HOPE KIA CAN FIX THIS IN THE FUTURE AND FIX THE CARS OUT THERE THAT HAVE FAULTY STEERING WITH A CHEAP PIECE OF PLASTIC, IT'S TO DANGEROUS TO CUT CORNERS WHEN IT COMES TO THE STEERING OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN IT'S A BIG PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THERE PRODUCTS. PLEASE RECALL SO THEY CAN CORRECT THIS TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS AND MAYBE SO THEY CHANGE THIS FOR THERE FUTURE VEHICLES. IT CLICKS WHILE MOVING AND STATIONARY AND SOMETIMES IS HARDER TO TURN THEN OTHERS WHICH IS NOT SAFE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW HARD YOU HAVE TO JERK THE WHEEL OR NOT.

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.

WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IT MAKES A CLICKING NOISE & VIBRATES AT TIME. MAKES NOISES WHEN II MA DRIVING ON LESS THAT SUPREMELY SMOOTH ROADS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VEER LEFT AND RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING TURNS, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED AND RESISTED, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE DEALER (UNIVERSITY KIA, 6519 UNIVERSITY DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL 35806) WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO THEM FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,590. *TT*JB

CLOCKSPRING FAILURE CAUSES ON-STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS TO FAIL. KIA SERVICE DID NOT FIND ANY SERVICE CODES PRODUCED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL VOLUME CONTROL SWITCHES, CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES AND CELLPHONE SWITCHES DISPLAYED INTERMITTENT FUNCTIONALITY. FAILURE OF THE SWITCHES GENERALLY DISPLAYED UPON INITIAL START OF THE CAR AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT OR AT THE END OF A WORK DAY. TEMPERATURES WERE CONSISTENTLY OVER 100 DEGREES F. DURING AN APPROXIMATE 1 HR 15 MIN SURFACE STREET AND FREEWAY COMMUTE (EACH WAY),SWITCHES WOULD FUNCTION AFTER A FEW MINUTES DRIVING, BUT THEN FAIL AGAIN. CORRECT FUNCTIONALITY WAS INCONSISTENT. AND DID NOT PERSIST. CAR WAS TAKEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES BUT NO CODES WERE PRODUCED. SERVICE REP SUGGESTED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING MAY BE INVOLVED, BUT RECOMMENDED ONLY THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY SWITCHES. VOLUME AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES REPLACED, BUT AGAIN SHOWED INTERMITTENT FAILURES THAT WOULD NOT PRODUCE CODES. FINALLY, THE REPLACEMENT VOLUME SWITCHES AND THE CELLPHONE SWITCHES COMPLETELY FAILED; AGAIN, NO CODES WERE PRODUCED. KIA SERVICE NOTED THAT THE CLOCKSPRING IS INTEGRAL TO THE CORRECT FUNCTIONING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG SYSTEM ALONG WITH ALL THE STEERING WHEEL SWITCHES. KIA SERVICE NOW CONFIRMS THAT A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING SHORTED OUT THE STEERING WHEEL SWITCHES; A NEW CLOCKSPRING, VOLUME CONTROLS AND CELLPHONE CONTROLS ARE BEING INSTALLED. AGAIN, PRIOR TO THE REPAIR, NO CODES WERE GENERATED FOR KIA SERVICE TO OBSERVE. PRIOR TO RELEASING T

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 OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KIA OF CERRITOS (LOCATED AT 18201 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, (562) 860-2424) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V363000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

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 AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000. *TT VIN IS INVAILD *JB

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WHEN STARTING CAR, IT'S NOT STARTING AS IT SHOULD AND STAKING LUGGING AND SLUGGISH WHILE DRIVING. COUNTRY ROAD DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH..

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 THE CRASH. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A SECOND VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND RIGHT HAND, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

STEERING WHEEL WOULD CLICK WHEN TURNING. THE BEGINNING OF THE TURN WAS NOT SMOOTH.NOW THE STEERING COLUMN RATTLES WHENEVER I HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD

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.

WHILE DRIVING, STEERING MAKES NOISE AND RATTLE. CONTACTED KIA DEALER IN FREMONT AND KIA CORPORATION ABOUT THE ISSUES. NO RESPONSE.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL RATTLING NOISE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. **TR CONSUMER STEERING WHEEL MAKES ABNORMAL NOISES WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPY ROADS AND TURNING EVEN WHEN CAR ISN'T MOVING IT, MAKES A NOISE JUST BY MOVING STEERING WHEEL. UPDATED 10/26/18*JB

ENGINE SEIZED

2 DAY AGO I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND MY CAR START ACTING WEIRD LIKE IT WANTED TO STOP, I PAID NO MIND. SO THEN THAT NIGHT COMING HOME FROM WORK IT START ACTING UP AGAIN, THIS TIME I SAW MY BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON AND MY CAR STARTED SLOWING FIWN. I HAD LOST ACCELERATION I HAD NO RESPONSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I WOULD STEP ON MY BRAKES THEN RELEASE AND THE LIGHTS WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED THE WHOLE 45 MINS BACK HOME. SO THE NEXT MORNING I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE SENSOR STOPPER WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY ON THE KIA FORTE. BUT IT SEEMS THAT THIS HAPPEN TO THE KIA AS WELL. IT IS VERY DENGEROUS TRYING TO DRIVE LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY.

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.

CONTINUOUS CLICKING NOISE WHILE STEERING AT ALL SPEEDS. SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS TOLD IT COULD BE STEERING COUPLER/

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT SAFELY PULLED OVER AS THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT DUE TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ABILITY. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SELMA KIA (2775 AUTO MALL DR., SELMA, CA 93662, (559) 891-2300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

BRAKE LIGHTS STAYED ON WHEN CAR WAS OFF CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID IT NEEDED NEW BRAKE PEDAL SENSOR $160 TO REPLACE

I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN THE CAR IS NOT MOVING AND I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL FROM SIDE TO SIDE I CAN HEAR A LIGHT POPPING NOISE. ALSO THE STEERING WHEEL HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AND RADDLING WHEN I AM DRIVING BETWEEN 65-75 ON THE HIGHWAY, IT DECREASES AT 80 MPH. THIS ALSO HAPPENS IF I HAVE TO BRAKE SUDDENLY. IT IS NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES OR ALIGNMENT.

'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 FOR 1 YEAR AND RECENTLY RETURNED AND THERE IS STILL NOTHING DONE ABOUT IT. SOUNDS KINDA FISHY TO ME. KIA IS HEATING AROUND THE BUSH. I CAN NOT EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

THE MORNING OF JULY 19TH, 2018, I WAS DRIVING MY KIA OPTIMA TO WORK. I HAD JUST GOTTEN ON INTERSTATE 20 AND WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT MOST LANE DURING RUSH HOUR. MY SUNROOF SHADE WAS OPEN BUT MY ACTUAL SUNROOF WAS CLOSED. SUDDENLY I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN GOING OFF IN MY CAR WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED AND SOMEHOW, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE FAIRLY STRAIGHT WITHOUT JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAUSING A MULTI CAR PILEUP. GLASS WAS FLYING AROUND INSIDE MY CAR, ALL OVER ME, THE SEATS, FLOORBOARDS, AND CONSOLE. I PULLED THE CAR OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE SO THAT I COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. AFTER I EXITED THE CAR AND LOOKED AT THE TOP, I NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF HAD A HOLE THE SIZE OF A SOFTBALL PROTRUDING OUTWARD. I LOOKED AROUND INSIDE THE CAR AND NOTHING BUT SHARDS OF GLASS COVERED MOST OF THE INTERIOR. I THEN GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND SHUT THE SUNROOF SHADE SO NO MORE GLASS WOULD FALL INSIDE THE CAR AND PULLED OFF THE NEAREST EXIT, WHICH WAS VERY CLOSE TO MY OFFICE LOCATION. ONCE AT WORK I SEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH OTHER KIA OPTIMA OWNERS AND AS IT TURNS OUT IT APPEARED TO BE A WELL-KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED THE NEAREST KIA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY SAFETY RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPLODING SUNROOFS AND WAS TOLD 'NO'. HE SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT THEY SOMETIMES OCCUR BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL. EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT INCURRED INJURY'S OR EXPENSES (JUST AGGRAVATION AND INCONVENIENCE BECAUSE I HAD A

THE STEERING COLUMN INSIDE STARTED MAKING NOISES LIKE SOMETHING CRACKED INSIDE NOWTHE STERLING WHEEL MAKE NOISES ON EVERY TURN.

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 DRIVING ON MANY CITY STREETS 0-45MPH AND INTERSTATE 0-70MPH SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF PERIODICALLY. WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON, CAR SHAKES AND SPUTTERS AS TRANSMISSION GEARS SHIFT (NOT ENGNE). APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CAUGHT THE LIGHT ON AND READ CODE P0711. ACCORDING TO TSB 043 [REV ] /2/2013 THIS IS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM AND MUST BE CORRECTED BY A LICENSED MECHANIC.

PROBLEMS START IN 2012 ENGINE RECALL IN 2017 WAS REPLACE,STEERING RECALL IN 2018 STEERING COUPLING WAS REPLACE HOW EVER MY RACK AND PINION WAS AFFECTED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACE. WE CALL THEM IN 2012 REGARDING THE STEERING WHEEL WITCH THEY DIDN'T FIX AT THAT TIME WHICH CAUSED RACK AND PINION TO WEAR OUT. WE WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALER SHIPS REGARDING THIS CAR AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THIS CAR IS STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS AND WE WANT THE MANUFACTURE TO EITHER GIVE US OUR MONEY BACK OR FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS CAR IS A HAZARD TO OUR FAMILY, IF SOMETHING IST DONE SOME ONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IN THIS CAR!!! . THIS CAR STOP ON US IN TRAFFIC SOMEONE COULD OF GOTTEN HURT ,AAA HAD TO PULL THIS CAR TO THE SELMA DEALER SHIP AT THAT TIME. ON THE FREEWAY THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULL SIDE TO SIDE THAT'S DANGEROUS. FROM 2012 UNTIL NOW THIS CAR IS STILL GIVING US PROBLEMS. WE HAVE ALL THE PAPER WORK THAT WAS DONE ON THIS LEMON.WHY DON'T SOMEONE HELP THESE CONSUMERS OUT HERE WITH THESE PROBLEM ON THE KIA. I NEED HELP AS ASAP. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE DIM AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT.

MOTOR IS LOCKED UP,SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED

THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM MY STEERING WHEEL FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS

MY STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHEN I AM COMING TO A STOP AT A HIGH SPEED.

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 6 YEARS OLD. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN KIA AND WILL NEVER RECOMMEND BUYING A KIA.

KIA OPTIMA 2012 LX COMPLAINT..I LIKE TO START OFF SAYING THAT THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE UP FRONT STOP WORKING. ALL OF A SUDDEN, IT WILL NOT WHINE DOWN OR UP SOMETIMES. IT IS AN ISSUE AND MORE. THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE WHEN I CRANK UP, IT IS A WEIRD NOISE WHEN WARMING UP STAND STILL. THAT GOES FOR THE WINDOW AND CAR OVERALL STAND STILL. IT HAS BECOME AN BURDEN FOR THE WINDOW CAN NOT GO DOWN.

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.

THE PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR IS FLOODED DUE TO A CLOGGED PIPE OR DISCONNECTED PIPE. WATER IS POURING OUT INTO MY CAR AND NOT SMALL AMOUNTS BUT LARGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ON THE BASE OF MY FLOOR.

RADIO PANELING AND CHARGING DO NOT WORK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY(60MPH AND ABOVE) STEERING WHEEL APPEARS TO STICK AROUND 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. HAVE HAD THE FLEX COUPLER REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. I STARTED TO NOTICE THIS SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. SEEMS TO BE INCREASING IN FREQUENCY.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 35MPH AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A LOUD EXPLOSION. I LITERALLY THOUGHT A GUN SHOT HAD BEEN FIRED TOWARDS ME AND HIT MY VEHICLE. I TRIED LOOKING AROUND AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE SHATTERED UNTIL I SAW MY ARM BLEEDING SLIGHTLY. AND SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS ON THE SEAT. I PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE SUN ROOF WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. I AM ABLE TO TELL THAT THERE WAS NO IMPACT FROM A ROCK OR ANYTHING AS THE GLASS IS BLOWN OUTWARDS AND NOT INWARD. I AM NOT SURE HOW THE GLASS 'BLEW UP' OR SHATTERED IF NOT FROM ANY IMPACT BUT THIS IS VERY CONCERNING AS I DO HAVE SMALL CUTS ON MY ARM FROM THE GLASS COMING THROUGH.

THERE IS A LOUD CLANKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER IT IS MOVED, SHAKEN OR TURNED. IT MAKES THE SOUND WHEN THE CAR IS BOTH MOVING AND STATIONARY AND IT OCCURS WHILE ON ALL ROAD TYPES, AT ALL SPEEDS.

THIS STARTED A WEEK AGO THAT WHEN I WOULD TURN RIGHT, BY DOOR OPEN INDICATOR WOULD COME ON FOR MY DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR. NOW IT IS CONSTANTLY COMING ON AND OFF, MORE ON THAN OFF. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS INTERSTATE DRIVING OR IN TOWN. AND IF I AM STOPPED IT WILL OCCASIONALLY COME ON, THEN UNLOCK MY DOORS BECAUSE OF THEKEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. WHAT IS CAUSING THIS?

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 LIKE IM NOT RECEIVING FAIR TREATMENT OR GETTING MY CAR'S ENGINE REPLACED.

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.