2012 Kia Optima complaints

2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE CONNECTING ROD SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE TURBOCHARGER HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE COST OF THE TURBOCHARGER REPLACEMENT. *JS

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).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY. THE ILLUMINATION PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM VIEWING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,597.

STEERING WHEEL SHAKES WHILE IN MOTION ( 60-80 MPH ). RIDE IS SMOOTH UNTIL TIRES ROLL OVER IMPERFECTION IN ROAD. STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT-END BEGINS TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. SHAKING STOPS WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT AND BEGINS AGAIN ONCE VEHICLE HAS STRAIGHTENED OUT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

2012 KIA OPTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DOME LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY TURNED ON. THE CAMSHAFT FAILED. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LAWRENCE KIA (1225 E 23RD ST, LAWRENCE, KS) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,000.

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 6:20 P.M IN THE SLOW LANE AT 65 MPH WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE SUNROOF SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF HER OR AROUND HER THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAVE KICKED UP A ROCK OR DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD. SHE WAS ALSO NOT PASSING UNDER AN OVERPASS OR BRIDGE. LUCKILY, SHE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND WAS NOT PHYSICALLY HURT IN THE INCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE HAS A PANORAMIC SUNROOF AND THE MOVING PART OF THE GLASS SUNROOF SHATTERED.

WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY, THE HYBRID ENGINE SEIZED WITH LESS THAN 120,000 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEEN SEVERAL HYBRID ENGINES THAT HAVE SEIZED, BUT KIA HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS.

MY ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AND REMAINS ON. I TOOK TO MARTIN KIA IN NEWARK DELAWARE FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND THEY SAID THE CODES WERE C1259 AND C1260 AND THAT I NEED TO HAVE CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND THE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY REPLACED BECAUSE IT LOOKED LIKE MY CAR HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. (I DID STRIKE A SMALL DEER, BUT DAMAGE WAS COSMETIC TO LEFT FRONT FENDER AND DID NOT AFFECT STEERING OR DRIVABILITY, AND WAS REPAIRED IN A PROFESSIONAL BODY SHOP). THE ESC DID NOT COME ON UNTIL MONTHS AFTER MY ACCIDENT. DEALER WOULD NOT CERTIFY THAT THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION, NOR DID THEY OFFER ANOTHER LESS EXPENSIVE REPAIR SUCH AS JUST REPLACING SENSORS. THEY WANTED AN ESTIMATED $1370 TO HOLD MY SAFETY HOSTAGE. SINCE THE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEW EPISODES OF INSTABILITY WHEN DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. I NOW LEAVE ESC OFF WHEN WEATHER IS BAD.

TURBO AND TURBO OIL RETURN LINE IS DEFECTIVE. LEAKS OIL AND OVER HEATS ENGINE. DEALERSHIPS ADMIT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THEY'VE SEEN DAILY WITH THE SX MODELS BUT REFUSE TO ADDRESS IT UNTIL A RECALL COMES OUT. ANYTIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN, IT CONSTANTLY LEAKS OIL. WHENEVER IT IS PARKED, IT LEAKS OIL. IT'S ONLY FROM THE TURBO FEED LINE.

'TAKATA RECALL' I'M CURRENTLY BUYING A KIA OPTIMA 2012 AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING FINE AND HAD MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE AT KIA OF ORANGE. THEN I DID FULL SERVICE WHICH I PAYED 600$ OR SO AND AFTER THE CAR STARTED GIVING ME PROBLEMS, I WENT TO MY FRIENDS HOUSE AND MY BOYFRIEND GOT OFF TO GET TOOLS FROM THE HOUSE IT TOOK HIM TEN MINUTES TO COME BACK. THE CAR WAS ON AND I WAS WINDOWS UP AND AC ON WHEN HE CAME OUT HE SAW FIRE UNDER THE FRONT LEFT LIGHT. IT GOT ON FIRE AND WE WERE SCARE FOR OUR LIFE'S AND WE MANAGE TO RUN AROUND AND FIND ANYTHING THAT WILL HELP WE HAD WATER AND IT WOULDN'T TURN OFF, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS ELECTRICAL SO IT WAS MELTING PLASTIC UNTIL WE MANAGE TO FIND A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHILE I WAS CALLING 911 WE THOUGHT THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. SECOND OF ALL WE FIX IT INSURANCE COVER. WE CALL KIA THEY TOLD US OUR INSURANCE HAD TO PAY IT. SO WE DID NEXT I TOOK IT TO GET MAINTENANCE UPDATE AND OIL CHANGE, WE TOOK FOR A DRIVE TO CHINO HILLS CALIFORNIA AND THEN THE CAR TURN OFF BY IT SELF ON THE FREEWAY I WAS 65 SPEED LIMIT AND MY STEERING WHEEL GOT HARD AND ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON. I COULD OF LOST MY LIFE. I MANAGE TO MOVE IT SLOWLY TO THE SIDE AND IT WAS ON FIRE WHEN I OPEN THE HOOD SOMETHING WAS BURNING AGAIN. A SHERIFF HELP US TURN IT OFF WITH HIS FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE ENGINE HAD BLEW UP A WROT BLEW MAYBE BECAUSE OF NO OIL OR IDK I'M NOT MECHANIC THAT'S WHY I TAKE IT TO KIA. I BELIEVE THEY DIDN'T DO THEIR JOB RIGHT AND MY INSURANCE DOESN'T WANNA COVER IT, NOW I'M

I WAS INVOLVED IN A LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED MY CAR TO BE TOTALED WHEN THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE IN MOTION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH WITHOUT ANY SUDDEN WARNING AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WE HAD LESS THAN 1 MINUTE TO ESCAPE BEFORE ANOTHER DRIVER SMASHED INTO THE CAR AT 65 MPH. THE CAR STOPPED SO FAST THERE WAS NO TIME TO PULL OVER TO SAFTEY OR A SOULDER

MY VEHICLE STARTING MAKING KNOCKING NOISE AND I PULLED OVER PARKED AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD IT WAS RUNNING FINE BUT STILL MAKING THE NOISE. I TURNED IT OFF AND ON AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN DRIVING IT TO THE SHOP THE VEHICLE ABOUT 10 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL OUT AND I HAD TO PUT INTO PARK SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON.

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, INTERMITTENTLY , THE STEERING WILL GET STUCK IN THE 12 O'CLOCK POSITION FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND, REPEATABLY HAPPENS ONCE IT STARTS HAPPENING, UNTIL OFF HIGHWAY. STEERING CAN BE FINE FOR MONTHS, AND THEN ISSUE CAN COME BACK. THEN WHEN DEALER INSPECTS IT, ISSUE IS GONE. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE AND SERIOUS ISSUE, EVEN A SPLIT SECOND OF REDUCED RESPONSE TIME CAN MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. DEALER SAID THEY PERFORMED THE STEERING LOGIC IMPROVEMENT UPDATE, BUT ISSUE STILL HAPPENS ON OCCASION.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN SLIPPING. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND CALLED GEWEKE KIA (1234 SUNSWEET BLVD, YUBA CITY, CA 95991). THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,000. *TT *TR

SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN MAY OF 2016, IT HAS MADE A CLICKING SOUND WHEN I TURN THE WHEEL. AS TIME HAS GONE ON THE SOUND IS GETTING LOUDER. I HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF VIDEOS REGARDING THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT IS SUGGESTED FOR THE PART TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.

BREAK LIGHTS STAY ON AT ALL TIMES WHEN PARKED AND EVEN WHEN IN MONTION EVERY TIME.

WHEN EVER I TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A CLUNKING SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING IT SEEMS LIKE THE STEERING COUPLER ON THIS CARS GO BAD WITHIN TIME. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME IN MOTION OR NOT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, SMOKE WAS SUDDENLY PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE, FLAMES WERE DISCOVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS NOT DETERMINED THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (DIFEO KIA IN LAKEWOOD, NJ) WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

1 STUMBLES ON ACCELERATION 2ACCELERATS WHEN SHIFTING REVERSE--DRIVE 3 ACCELERATES ON RIGHT HAND TURN .THESE PROBLEMS HAPPEN RANDOMLY IT.HAS. .HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN MOTIOM, CITY STREETS

WHEN IN MOTION THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING WHEEL THAT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING BROKEN INSIDE. ALSO MOTOR FOR RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOWS ON BOTH FRONT AND BACK SEAT DO NOT WORK AND FROM DRIVER'S PANEL.

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD RANDOMLY DISENGAGE WHILE GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. THEN A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC ON A CITY STREET. WHEN I FIRST PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR STARTED TO GO AND THEN SUDDENLY I LOST ALL ACCELERATION. I LET MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN PUSHED BACK DOWN AND WAS ABLE TO GO. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC FOR SEVERAL EXTRA SECONDS LONGER THAN NECESSARY. A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED A COUPLE OF MORE TIME AND WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE AT HOME I NOTICED THAT BRAKE LIGHT WAS STAYING ON AFTER I GOT OUT OF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE SENSOR WHICH FIXED ALL OF THE ABOVE PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO NOT THAT HYUNDAI ISSUED A RECALL ON THE NEARLY IDENTICAL SONATA FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND DID SO YEARS AGO AND YET NOTHING FOR THE OPTIMA.

CLICKING IN STEERING COLUMN WHILE MAKING TURNS.GETTING WORSE EACH TIME. WHEN IN MOTION OR NOT.CLICKING IS ALWAYS THERE. STARTED A WEEK AGO.

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL JUST SLIGHTLY AND GOING EITHER WAY IT MAKES THIS SMALL SLIPPING OR CLUNKING NOISE AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF THE STEERING. HAPPENS IN MOTION WHEN TURNING EVEN SLIGHTLY AND EITHER DIRECTION AND WHEN IT IS STATIONARY. CITY STREET, HIGHWAY, FREEWAY, BACKING UP, GOING FORWARD AND TURNING. AND IT HAS HAPPENED NOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 - 3 MONTHS. I AM TOLD BY INTERNET THAT IT MAY BE FLEX COUPLING IN STEERING. I AM NOT MECHANIC. STILL HAPPENING. ON-GOING.

THE ENGINE SEIZED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS ALS RESULTED IN THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE DEFROSTERS AND RADIO TO MALFUNCTION

VEHICLE RECALLED UNDER SC147 ON JULY 13,2017. NEW ENGINE RECEIVED BY DEALER WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 25. LAST UPDATE I RECEIVED ON OCTOBER 20TH FROM KIA CORPORATION WAS NEW MOTOR INSTALLED HOWEVER COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO RUN. SOME COMPRESSION TESTING INDICATES THAT THE NEW MOTOR INSTALLED WAS BAD. I REQUESTED KIA TO PROVIDE ME WITH A NEW CAR WITH SIMILAR SX LIMITED AND TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE. KIA DEALERSHIP HAS NOW HAD MY VEHICLE FOR OVER 3 MONTHS. ONLY UPDATES I RECEIVE IS IF I CALL KIA CORPORATION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

DUE TO A RECALL, I HAD MY ENGINE REPLACED BY KIA PATTERSON IN JULY OF 2017. ABOUT A WEEK OR SO AFTER GETTING IT BACK, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HORN DOES NOT WORK. NATURALLY, I CONTACTED KIA PATTERSON REGARDING THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I'M NOW BEING TOLD THAT IT MAY BE A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG OR CLOCKSPRING, BOTH OF WHICH ARE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. I HAVE FOUND THAT SEVERAL KIA VEHICLES HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FATE WITH NO RESOLUTION. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL INTO THE PREVIOUSLY RECALLED MODELS YET IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY LEVEL OF FRUSTRATION IS SO HIGH AT THIS POINT AND I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THESE PROBLEMS. UNFORTUNATELY, I WILL HAVE TO DO SO UNTIL I AM ABLE TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED. SHAME ON YOU KIA!!!

ENGINE LOCKED UP HAD A WARRANTY THEY FIXED IT AND AFTER I GOT MY CAR BACK THE THE HORN DIDN'T WORK OR ANY OF MY CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WORKED I NOTIFIED THEM AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX IT. WHEN I TURN THE CAR OVER TO KIA DEALERSHIP EVERYTHING WAS WORKING AND AFTER THEY PUT THE NEW ENGINE IN EVERYTHING WENT WRONG THE ABS SYSTEM WENT OUT THE HORN STOP WORKING THE TURBO IN THE CAR WASN'T ANY GOOD MY AIRBAG AND ENGINE WAS ON AND STILL IS AND I NOTIFIED THEM AGAIN EVEN TOOK IT TO MANAGEMENT AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. I'M NOT A SATISFIED CUSTOMER AT ALL CAN U GUYS PLEASE HELP ME. I'M A HARD WORKING MAN HAVE A FAMILY AND JUST TRYING TO HAVE A CAR THAT WE CAN ENJOY.

ELECTRICAL RACK AND PINIONS RECALL. STEERING WHEEL FEELS LOOSE. STEERING WHEEL STARTS SHAKING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH

BRAKE PEDAL RELEASING AS I AM PUSHING DOWN ON IT COMING TO A STOP. HARD TO GET THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP AT TIMES. CAR IS MISSING ON ACCELERATION. CAMERA DOES NOT WORK 80-90% OF THE TIME. A/C STOPS WORKING WHEN SITTING STILL OR PARKED.

ENGINE LOSING ALL OF THE OIL WITHIN A COUPLE WEEKS OF GETTING THE OIL CHANGED. COMPLETELY GONE BEFORE AN OIL CHANGE IS NEEDED.

OCTOBER 2016, WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO FLASHING ENGINE LIGHT, NO WARNING WHATSOEVER. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL SHOP. THEY FOUND WIRES TO THE STARTER BURNED AND ASSUMED THAT WAS THE ISSUE. THEY INSTALLED A NEW STARTER AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS SEIZED. MY ISSUE IS THE TIMING OF THE KIA RECALL. HYUNDAI HAD RECALLED THE SAME ENGINE IN 2015. I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS AT LEAST $4,000 FOR A USED ENGINE THAT WOULD HAVE LIKELY HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I HAD TO SELL THE CAR FOR SALVAGE. KIA SHOULD REIMBURSE OWNERS FOR THE VALUE OF THEIR CAR AT THE TIME THE ENGINE SEIZED. THEY KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE, BUT WAITED UNTIL MANY OF US WERE OUT OF WARRANTY BEFORE THEY HAD THE RECALL. THAT IS FRAUD AT SOME LEVEL AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

I HAVE JUST RECENTLY STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WHEN I HIT BUMPS IN THE ROAD OR A ROUGH ROAD. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A NOISE AND I CAN FEEL A SHAKING SORT OF. I CLICKED ON SUSPENSION BECAUSE OF HOW ROUGH IT FEELS RIDING RIGHT NOW AND I DONT KNOW IF IM JUST FEELING THE STEERING OR IF ITS AFFECTING THE WHOLE RIDE. IT HAS BEEN VERY COMFORTBALE SINCE BOUGHT NEW IN 2012.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WAS PULLED OVER TO A FUEL STATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (KIA OF GREER IN GREER, SC, 864-879-3800) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED FOR FREE. SIX MONTHS LATER, ON AUGUST 14, 2017 AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE SAME KIA DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN INVESTIGATOR TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A GOOD WILL OFFER, BUT THE CONTACT PROTESTED THE OFFER. THE ISSUE WAS NOT SETTLED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,500. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. ..UPDATED 10/11/17 *BF UPDATED 10/13/2017*JS

MY FIANCE WAS DRIVINGDRIVING 55 DOWN THE I77 HIGHWAY NORTH GETTING READY TO TURN OFF THE EXIT AND SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG. NEXT THING SHE KNEW SHE HAD GLASS ALL OVER HER.THE POWERED SUNROOF EXPLODED!!!!THE GLASS CUT HER HAND IN A FEW SPOT BUT THANKFULLY SHE IS OK AND DIDNT WRECK THE VEHICLE AND THAT OUR KIDS WEREN'T IN THE CAR. MY FIANCE CALLED THE POLICE AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND MY INSURANCE HAS A 1000$$$ DEDUCTIBLE.

LOUD CLICKING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL BOTH WAYS MAKING STEERING AND DRIVING VERY UNSTABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DURING EACH ATTEMPT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAR LOCK KIA (LOCATED AT 4301 GREENSBORO AVE, TUSCALOOSA, AL) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, BATTERY, AND STARTER WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. UPON DOING RESEARCH, THE CONTACT FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.

I WAS NOTIFIED BY KIA EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL BECAUSE THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE CAUSING A SAFETY ISSUE. ON 6/12/17 I TOOK MY OPTIMA TO CAMELBACK KIA FOR RECALL WORK AND INSPECTION. ON 8/1/2017 AS I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON AZ SR51, MY ENGINE STALLED WHILE MOVING ABOUT 40 MPH IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I THEN PULLED OVER TO RESTART MY VEHICLE, A SHORT TIME LATER I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I WAS TOLD BY KIA UPON THEIR INSPECTION THAT THE STARTER IS WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED DUE TO THE SEIZED ENGINE. THE VEHICLE BURNED AND IS NOW A TOTAL LOSS. THIS CAUSED A 3 LANE CLOSURE ON THE FREEWAY AT 5PM AS WELL AS A CRASH DUE TO SPECTATORS.

OIL FEED PIPE/TUBE TO TURBO LEAKS ON TO THE ENGINE CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE TUBE REPLACED. (CAR WAS SITTING AND NOTICED OIL LEAK AND BURNING OIL SMELL WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL)

WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A LOUD CLICKING NOISE AND IF YOU HIT A BUMB ITS LOUDER. IF YOU BARELY TURN THE WHEEL WHILE DRIVING YOU CAN HEAR IT MAKE A CLICKING SOUND. WHEN YOU HIT A BUMB IT INTENSIFIES THE SOUND AND AND MAKES YOU THINK SOMETHING IS LOOSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING DOWNHILL WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH CAUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,538. UPDATED 10/25/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED: WHILE DRIVING DOWN HILL, WITH BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, GETTING READY TO STOP AT STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY TO A SPEED OF 30 TO 35 MPH. I DID NOT ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I DID SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE UNCONTROLLABLY. I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WITH MY FOOT AT WHICH TIME THE ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT HAD OCCURED. I DID TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON AUG.11,2017. NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. UPDATED 10/3/18*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE COMPUTER DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. A BEEPING NOISE SOUNDED AND THE ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A SERIES OF UNKNOWN KIA DEALERS WERE NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, MY KIA HAD AN ENGINE FAILURE AND I PAID TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, MY SON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR JUST QUIT. I HAD IT TAKEN IN AND FOUND OUT THE ENGINE WAS RECALLED. KIA REPLACED THE ENGINE A MONTH AND HALF LATER. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A WEEK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT BACK INTO THE DEAL AND THEY CLEARED THE CODES AS THEY SAID THEY WERE OLD CODES AND WAS LIKELY A FLUKE. THEY TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS NOW AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I GOT AN EMAIL TODAY TELLING ME THEY HAVE WORD INTO KIA CORPROATION TO SEE IF THEY WILL COVER IT BECAUSE THEY WILL NEED TO TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE TO LOOK AT MULTIPLE COMPONENTS DUE TO PREVIOUS ENGINE FAILURE BUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE FIRST OWNER THAT I DID NOT HAVE POWERTRAIN COVERAGE BUT THEY WERE TRYING TO SEE WHAT KIA COULD DO FOR ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UNTIL A SECOND ATTEMPT WAS MADE. ONCE STARTED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MANAHAWKIN KIA DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP FAILED AND PREVENTED FUEL FROM REACHING THE ENGINE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE'S FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ *BF THE DASHBOARD "CHECK ENGINE LAMP" CAME ON AND STAYED ON. UPDATED 10/4/18*JB

AIRBAG LIGHT IS CONSISTENTLY ON WHICH MEANS IT WON'T DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, BUTTONS ON STEERING WHEEL AREN'T WORKING, AND STEERING WHEEL HEATER ISN'T WORKING. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS CLOCKSPRING IS WORN OUT. PREVIOUS MODELS OF OPTIMAS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND EVENTUALLY A RECALL WAS MADE. HOPEFULLY THIS GETS RESOLVES BEFORE A WRECK HAPPENS AND INJURY IS CAUSED BY THIS AIRBAG DEFECT.

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO HERB CHAMBERS KIA SERVICE CENTER (BURLINGTON, MA) ON 6/22 FOR OIL CHANGE AND REPAIR OF 2 RECALL ITEMS. ON THE SUMMARY THEY GAVE ME AFTERWARDS IT SAID, "PART IS BEING ORDERED WILL CONTACT CUSTOMER WHEN PART ARRIVES" SO IT IS NOW ALMOST 7WKS LATER AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THEM RE MY PART COMING IN TO FIX THE RECALL ..SO I JUST CALLED THEM. THEY SAID IF THERE'S A BACK ORDER THEY SOMETIMES "CANCEL" THE ORDER AND WILL REORDER THE PART TOMORROW. WELL I AM MOVING ON AUG 31 (TO NEAR NH LINE) AND STILL DON'T KNOW IF MY PART IS ON BACK ORDER OR THEY CANCELED AND NEED TO ORDER THE PART AGAIN. WHEN I ASKED, THE LADY SAID THEY WON'T KNOW "UNTIL TOMORROW OR THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW" I ASKED IF THEY WOULD CALL ME TOMORROW FOR AN UPDATE. I THINK IT IS A CANISTER I NEED (NOT SURE - SEE PHOTO OF SERVICE SUMMARY). ANYWAY STILL WAITING (MEANWHILE GETTING LOTS OF LETTERS RE IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL SAYING MY CAR NEEDS SERVICE TO BE SAFE!)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND THEN SLOW DOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.