2012 Kia Optima complaints

10549868 CONTINUED: ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THE STEERING PROBLEM FOLLOWS. WHEN I MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT TO RIGHT, BACK AND FORTH EVER SO SLIGHTLY, ALL WORKS FINE. STEERING IS EASY AND TAKES LITTLE FORCE TO CORRECT. IF ONE WAS TO MEASURE THE REQUIRED FORCE, IT WOULD BE SLIGHT, LETS SAY 2 UNITS. WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN STATIONARY FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS, AND I TRY TO MAKE A MINOR CORRECTION, THE FORCE REQUIRED IS MUCH GREATER, LETS SAY 12 UNITS. SO WHILE DRIVING AND THE CAR IS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT OF LANE. MAKING THE CORRECTION, OVERCOMING THE STUCK FEELING, THE CAR STARTS TO DRIFT TOWARDS THE LEFT OF LANE. THIS BACK AND FORTH PROCESS NEEDS TO BE CONTINUOUSLY PERFORMED, HOWEVER, AS SPEED INCREASE, THIS PROCESS HAS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN, CAUSING FATIGUE IN THE ARMS AND WRISTS AND MAKING THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE QUITE STRESSFUL. IT?S AS IF THE STEERING ASSIST OF THE ELECTRIC PS MOTOR GOES TO SLEEP WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS STATIONARY, THUS THE ADDED FORCE REQUIRED WHEN MAKING A MINOR CORRECTION IS TO WAKE THE MOTOR UP. I AM TAKING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER WITH THESE TWO DESCRIPTIONS OF THE STEERING PROBLEM. THEY WILL HAVE THE CAR FOR 4DAYS AT LEAST. *TR

MOST NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING ON PAVED HIGHWAYS AT MPH OVER 45. STEERING SEEMS STUCK NEAR STRAIGHT AHEAD POSITION AND WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE MINOR CORRECTION TO REMAIN IN LANE, A SLIGHT OVER CORRECTION OCCURS DUE TO GETTING PAST THIS STICKY POSITION. OF COURSE THE OVER CORRECTION REQUIRES ANOTHER SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH AGAIN MEETS RESISTANCE, AND SO THE OVER CORRECTION OCCURS AGAIN. CONTINUING THIS LEFT AND RIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE CAR IN THE LANE CREATES STRESSFUL DRIVING AT BEST, AND PAINFUL WRISTS, AT WORST ON LONG DRIVES. WHEN ENGINE OFF AND IN A QUIET LOCATION, MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL, LEFT AND RIGHT REGARDLESS OF STEERING WHEEL POSITION OR WHEEL POSITION, YOU CAN BOTH HEAR A SLIGHT SNAP AND FEEL IT WHEN OVERCOMING THE STUCK PLACE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALWAYS PRESENT, HOWEVER NOT AS NOTICEABLE IN LOCAL TRAFFIC OR WHILE ACTUAL TURNING AROUND A BEND FOR EXAMPLE. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM LAST YEAR, AND HOPEFULLY WHEN I TAKE IT IN FOR THE 20,000 MILE CHECK UP, MY MORE COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM SHOULD HELP. I DID CALL THE DEALER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, AND THEY SENT ME TO SOMEONE HIGHER UP. HIS COMMENT WAS THAT HE GETS MANY CALLS EVERY DAY ABOUT THIS, AND THAT IT'S THE WAY IT IS. *TR

THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SHORTLY AFTER 7AM ET. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT. I PULLED OVER AND LOOKED AT IT AND THEN DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. *JS

THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND THAT SEEMS TO BE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT END. I HAVE HAD THE CARE ALIGNED AND IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE PART OF THE ALIGNMENT, ALSO INDICATIONS FROM OTHERS IS THAT IT IS RELATED TO SWAY BARN ENDS. OTHERS ON THE KIA FORUM INDICATE SIMILAR PROBLEMS.. HTTP://WWW.KIA-FORUMS.COM/3G-2006-5-MAGENTIS-OPTIMA/43806-G3-ANNOYING-FRONT-SUSPENSION-NOISE-7.HTML. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE OF A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE WHEN MY KIA JUST LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO A SIDE STREET AND CALLED MY DEALER. THEY RECOMMENDED TURNING THE MOTOR OFF AND THEN BACK ON, WHICH DID FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS NOT RECURRED, BUT IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING WHEN IT HAPPENED. *TR

AFTER 15,000 MILES TIRE DEVELOPED A HUGE BUBBLE ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW WITH ORIGINAL TIRES FROM DEALERSHIP(NEXEN).THESE TIRES SHOULD BE OUTLAWED. RIGHT AFTER I GOT IT TO A MECHANIC SHOP, IT EXPLODED AND WAS SITTING ON THE RIM. I WAS VERY FORTUNE TO NOT BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURED. I CAN SEND PICTURE ALSO. I HAVE HAD TWO FLAT TIRES WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF PURCHASE. NOT INCLUDING THE 2ND PAIR THAT THE BUBBLE DEVELOPED AT THE FRONT. THE NEXEN TIRES TREAD LIFE IS VERY SHORT TOO.. THEY SEEMED TO DRIVE BETTER IN SLIGHTLY WET CONDITIONS THAN DRY; ODD. :/ I RECEIVED NO COMPENSATION FROM THE KIA DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT IT FROM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 KIA OPTIMA SX T GDI I LOST ACCELERATIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE, BUT IT DID DECREASE IN SPEED TO A DANGEROUS 20 MPH. I TRIED TO USE MY PADDLE SHIFTERS IN HOPES THAT WOULD WORK, TO NO AVAIL. I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE SPEED DID NOT CHANGE. I EVENTUALLY REACHED A SAFE PLACE AND SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND ATTEMPTED RE-STARTING THE CAR. THE CAR SPUTTERED AND PAUSED BEFORE EVENTUALLY STARTING, THEN ALLOWED ME TO DRIVE APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS BEFORE HAVING THE SAME DECREASED SPEED SITUATION AGAIN. I WAS FORTUNATE TO DRIVE HOME AT 45 MPH AND AVOID BEING RUN OFF THE RODE OR REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE OR WORSE . . . A TRUCK. THE NEXT MORNING I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NOT SUCH BAD NEWS BUT I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE PRICE QUOTED TO ME, BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, IS $900.00. UNBELIEVABLE!!! I SEARCHED ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND FOUND ALL THE PARTS THAT ARE RELATED TO THIS TYPE ISSUE AND NOTHING, NOT ONE PART, COST $900.00. THE PROPOSED COST TO REPAIR MY CAR IS GREATER THAN THE CAR PAYMENT. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT COST MORE THAN THE CAR PAYMENT FOR MY WIFE'S ML500. I HAVE VISITED KIA FORUMS THAT SPEAK TO PROBLEMS WITH THE KIA AND IT SEEMS THAT A MANUFACTURER IS IN ORDER. INCIDENTALLY, THE PART IS NO LONGER COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I RECENTLY PASSED THE 60,000 MILE MARK. I FEEL LIK

KIA OPTIMA, HAS TOO MUCH CHROME ON THE DASH BOARD AND ON THE DOORS HANDLES. WHEN DRIVING YOU GET BLINDED WHEN THE SUN IS OUT. THIS CAUSE YOUR EYES TO HURT AND CAN CAUSE TEMP BLINDNESS. PLEASE DO A STUDY ON THIS SUBJECT. IT SHOULD BE AGAINST THE LAW TO HAVE CHROME INSIDE THE DASHBOARD AND DOOR HANDLES ON THE INSIDE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING THE 2012 KIA OPTIMA AND TURNED A CORNER AND MY KNEE PRESSED ON DRIVERS DOOR AND THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHT CAME ON AND THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN EVER SINCE. IT IS AN ISSUE WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY SAID DOOR WAS NOT ADEQUATELY INSTALLED. IT WAS FIXED FOR A FEW WEEKS AND NOW IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. THE BATTERY COMPLETELY DIED A FEW MONTHS AGO BECAUSE OF THE SENSOR WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO LOCK THE DOOR.

WHILE DRIVE ABOVE 45MPH THE CAR WONDERS LEFT AND RIGHT, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD. IT ALSO FEELS LIKE THERE IS A CATCH IN THE STEERING MAKING IT VERY EASY TO OVER CORRECT THE CAR. I HAVE HAD IT INTO KIA TO HAVE THE CAR LOOKED AT TWICE NOW. THEY HAVE CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT, TIRE PRESSURE... THEY DROVE A SALESMAN'S CAR AND A CAR OFF THERE LOT AND THEY TELL ME THIS IS THE WAY THEY ALL DRIVE. I FIND THIS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE, (ITS A WORKOUT TO KEEP THE CAR ON THE ROAD). I HAVE BEEN DOING SEARCHES ON THE INTERNET TO TRY AND FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM, WHILE DOING THIS I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE GETTING THE SAME FEEDBACK FROM THE DEALERS. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2011, 2012, 2013 KIA OPTIMA'S. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIFT FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ALONG WITH THE MANUFACTURER, STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED TO 6000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT WAS NOT SOURCE OF THE SURGING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER OR MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DID NOT CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. UPDATED 06/18/13*LJ UPDATED 06/21/2013 *JS

I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SOUND OF GLASS RATTLING. AT FIRST I THOUGH I HAD A BLOWOUT ON ONE OF MY TIRES, SO I MANAGE TO PULL OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. I THEN DID A WALK AROUND OF MY CAR AND SAW THE BUSTED SUNROOF. THERE WAS NOTHING OVERHEAD NOR DID I SEE ANY FLYING ROCKS OR DEBRIS AT THE TIME OF THE EXPLOSION. THERE WAS NOTHING OTHER THAN THE EXPLOSION. THE GLASS WAS BUBBLED UP LIKE IT BLEWOUT AND NOT IN. THERE WAS A HOLE THE SIZE OF A BASKETBALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SUNROOF. THERE WERE NO ROCKS OR ANYTHING INSIDE THE FLAP BETWEEN THE GLASS AND INTERIOR. ALSO THE FLAP COVER IS VERY THIN AND FLIMSY, IF SOMETHING HAD FALLEN ON IT, IT WOULD HAVE HIT ME ON THE HEAD BECAUSE IT IS JUST A THIN MATERIAL COVER. FURTHERMORE, IT WAS A SUNNY DAY, AT ROUGHLY 73 DEGREES. ALL I CAN SAY IS FOR A SUNROOF TO EXPLODE OUTWARDS, THE GLASS HAS TO BE DEFECTIVE IN SOME SORT OF WAY. IT SCARE THE LIVING LIGHTS OUT OF ME, IT WAS SUCH A LOUD EXPLOSION. IF I HAD THE COVER UNDONE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT BY THE BROKEN FLYING GLASS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE MANAGER THERE TOOK PICTURES AND THEN MADE A COMMENT THAT HE WOULD FORWARD THE PICTURES TO THE DEALER BUT THAT IT WOULD BE DENIED BECAUSE THE LAST KIA THAT CAME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS PERSON HE WAS PLANNING ON FORWARDING THE PICTURES TO HAD DENIED THE CLAIM AND IT LOOKED THE SAME! THIS SHOWS ME THAT KIA IS VERY AWARE THAT THEIR PRODUCT (SUNROOF) IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS A POTEN

THE HORN IS UNDER POWERED. IT ONE OF THOSE "ROAD RUNNER" "MEEP-MEEP" SOUNDING HORNS AND CANNOT ALERT OTHER DRIVERS EFFECTIVELY. THE 2013 OPTIMA SX VEHICLE HAS A REGULAR "AMERICAN" HORRN SOUND. WHY NOT RECALL TO CHANGE THE HORN TYPE? *TR ## VIN PASSED ## KIA OPTIMA SX 2012 ##

STEERING IS VERY UNSTABLE. EXTREMELY AFRAID OF THIS CAR - I FEEL LIKE I AM NOT IN CONTROL WHEN DRIVING, I CONSTANTLY HAVE TO FIGHT TO STAY STRAIGHT. VEERS/PULLS LEFT AND RIGHT AS IF IM BOUNCING IN BETWEEN THE LINES ON THE INTERSTATE. MY STOMACH STAYS IN KNOTS IN FEAR I WILL HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR WORSE A CONCRETE BARRIER IN THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE INTERSTATE. IT FEELS AS IF 3-5 SECONDS I AM NOT IN CONTROL, MY ARMS ARE EXHAUSTED BY THE TIME I ARRIVE TO MY WORK, HOME, OR ELSEWHERE. HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES TO KIA DEALER WHEN HAVING OIL CHANGED & I AM ALWAYS TOLD NOTHING IS WRONG OR CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. FOUR MECHANICS HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR ELSEWHERE AND AGREE THERE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND KIA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX BEFORE IT COST SOMEONE/A FAMILY THEIR LIVES. MY DASH LIGHTS ALSO SURGE TO MAXIMUM BRIGHTNESS AT ANY RANDOM MOMENT WHILE DRIVING - ALL ON THEIR OWN. I RECENTLY STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH STARTING MY CAR, I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MARCH 2012 AND CURRENTLY HAVE 14K MILES (HIGHWAY FOR WORK). RECENTLY, TWICE MY CAR FELT AS IF IT WAS NOT GOING TO START, SPUTTERING, SMELL OF EXHAUST INSIDE CAR. I ALSO HAVE ISSUES IF I AM AT A RED LIGHT/STOPPED AND WHEN I ACCELERATE SOMETIMES THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT DIES OUT FOR A SECOND - MISFIRING. I CAN NOT PASS IN TRAFFIC OUT OF FEAR MY CAR WILL NOT RESPOND WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE. MY CAR CONSTANTLY WILL NOT CONNECT TO MY PHONE, OR KEEPS A CALL DISPLAY ON THE RADIO AFTER THE CALL HAS ENDED (FREEZES) UNTIL I RESTART MY CAR. I FEEL THERE IS S

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR, ABS, AND THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A CAR WASH AND DURING RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

I AM A NEW OWNER OF A 2012 LX KIA OPTIMA WITH 27K MILES. MY CONCERN IS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GREATER THAN 65 MPH YOU HAVE TO USE TWO HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT AND FROM PULLING LEFT OR RIGHT. IT FEEL AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL SLIPS AND IS QUITE ALARMING. I HAVE TO WORK HARDER TO KEEP IT IN THE LANES MAKING ME MORE TIRED. *TR

2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. HAS BEEN DEMONSTRATING A VERY NERVOUS STEERING (LEFT AND RIGHT PULLING), MORE MARKEDLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN SINCE BRAND NEW, BUT INCIDENT DATE REPORTED WAS THE FIRST TIME THE PROBLEM WAS EXTREMELY NOTICEABLE. INCIDENT EVENT REPORTED WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT, BUT CLOSE ONE. EVEN AFTER INSTALLATION OF NEW TIRES, BALANCING AND ALIGNMENT, STEERING KEEPS RESPONDING NERVOUSLY, CAUSING DRIVER FATIGUE AND NOT IMPARTING TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE TO THE DRIVER AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

THE OWNER OF A 2012 LX KIA OPTIMA WITH 14K MI BUT VERY CONCERN AFTER DISCOVERING THAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS GREATER THAN 65-75 MPH YOU HAVE TO USE TWO HANDS ON STEERING WHEEL JUST TO KEEP THE VEHICLE STRAIGHT AND FROM PULLING LEFT OR RIGHT. I'M NOT A TECH BUT, IF I HAD TO GUESS, MY MONEY IS ON THE ELECTRONIC/POWER STEERING DEVICE. I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS CAR AND IF KIA/HYUNDAI MOTORS WANTS TO KEEP THEIR SELLS, THEN THEY BETTER "OWN IT!" THIS IS DEFINITELY A RECALL/ NHTSA SAFETY MATTER THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ELECTRONIC/POWER STEERING IS AN AREA THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC. *TR

FIRST THING CAR WAS NOT SHIFTING GEARS. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION. SECOND OCCURRENCE PULLED OUT AND CAR LOST POWER WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF ROAD TURN IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED CAR WAS OK. DEALER REPLACED ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. NEXT OCCURRENCE NOV 2012 CAR DID SAME THING RESTARTED WAS OK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER 2 DAYS. NOW JAN 2013 COLD MORNING STARTED DRIVING ENGINE HAD NO POWER. I GOT TO A OPEN ROAD SLOWLY PUSHED ACCELERATOR TO FLOOR WITH NO RESPONSE. CAR IS NOW IN DEALERSHIP I'M WAITING FOR MY PHONE CALL. *TR

THE VEHICLE DRIFTS LEFT AND RIGHT CONSTANTLY AND SUBSTANTIALLY, WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT. SAME CONCLUSION EVERY TIME. ADJUSTED, AND VEHICLE IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THEY HAVE NOT AND REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. AS OF JANUARY 8TH 2013, OVER ONE YEAR SINCE PURCHASING THE PROBLEM, IT STILL EXISTS. WE RECENTLY WAS IN A MINOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. ON A TIGHT ROAD WITH LITTLE OR NO ROOM FOR WAIVER, WE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLES MIRROR WITH OURS AT 70MPH. LUCKILY THERE WAS ONLY SUPERFICIAL DAMAGE BESIDES BOTH OF US DECIDING WE ARE NOT DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN DUE TO THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN AND OURSELVES. WE ARE CURRENTLY PURSUING A LEMON CLAIM ON THE VEHICLE. BALE KIA AND CRAIN KIA BOTH HAVE TOLD US THE SAME THING, COULD NOT DUPLICATE AND VEHICLE IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS, TSB #032. ACCORDING TO THEM THEY ARE ASSUMING WE ARE MAKING THIS UP. ALONG WITH THE 30+ OTHER COMPLAINTS FOUND ON HERE. *TR

THE DRIVE AND PASSENGER SEATS ARE TO LOW IN THIS CAR. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY WIFE WHO IS 5' TALL CANT SIT HIGHER THAN THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS, AND THEY BLOCK HER VIEW. I TEST DROVE THE CAR WHEN WE BOUGHT IT, SO DIDN'T SIT TO LOW FOR ME BEING 6' TALL. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND AFTER INSPECTION, THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE FRONT AXLE SHAFT DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE TECHNICIANS REMOVED AND REPLACED THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT, AND ALSO REASSEMBLED AND RE-TESTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

STRONG SMELL OF EXHAUST INSIDE PASSENGER AREA OF CAR. SMELL BY 4 OF 5 PASSENGERS. CAR WAS A RENTAL, SO I DO NOT KNOW THE VIN ORE EVEN THE MODEL YEAR. WITH < 10,000 TOTAL VEHICLE MILES, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A 2012. I DID FIND THIS NOTE ONLINE REGARDING A SIMILAR PROBLEM WTIH HYUNDAI SONATA, THAT MAY OR NOT BE RELATED. ( FYI-MY 2011 SONATA SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST INSIDE THE CAB OF THE CAR UNLESS I KEEP THE BUTTON PUSHED FOR "INSIDE AIR CIRCULATION". I CALLED THE DEALER AND AS IT TURNS OUT, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. A HOSE HAS TO BE REPLACED ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.HYUNDAI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

AFTER WARMING UP ENGINE I DROVE ONTO THE ROAD AND ONTO A FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAM A QUARTER MILE FROM MY HOME. WHILE ENTERING THE FREEWAY, THE CAR "LOST POWER", IE NO THROTTLE RESPONSE, CAR WOULD NOT GO FASTER THAN 60 MPH. RPM WAS PEAKING OVER 3,000 RPM (HIGHER THAN NORMAL). I PUT THE AUTO/MANUAL FLOOR-SHIFT INTO MANUAL AND THE DASH SHOWED 4TH GEAR. I SHIFTED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN AUTO AND MANUAL WITH THE SAME RESULTS SEVERAL TIMES, 4TH GEAR, OVER 3,000 RPM, LOSS OF POWER (NO THROTTLE RESPONSE), MAX SPEED 60 MPH. I NEARLY GOT REAR ENDED, CARS WERE DODGING ME. I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND EVERYTHING RETURNED TO NORMAL. I READ A SIMILAR REPORT A FEW MONTHS AGO FROM ANOTHER "NEW" OWNER OF AN OPTIMA AND THE DEALERSHIP "COULDN'T FIND" ANYTHING WRONG. I NOW HAVE READ LOTS OF WARRANTY-DENIED HORROR STORIES WITH KIA. THIS SEEMS LIKE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I IMAGINE IT COULD BE A "COMPUTER PROBLEM" AS THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPUTERS IN THESE NEW CARS. I CAN'T FIND ANY TSB'S LISTED FOR TRANSMISSION RELATED PROBLEMS, BUT AM WONDERING HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS "ELUSIVE" CONDITION? *TR

THIS COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE ONE OF MY TIRES. DURING AN OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE NOTIFIED ME OF A BUBBLE IN ONE OF THE TIRES. I PURCHASED THE CAR OCT (28), 2011. I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE OF THE TIRE BUBBLE NOTIFICATION BY THE DEALER REP, BUT IT WAS DURING THE 2011 CALENDAR YEAR. THE REP STATED THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT WARRANTY THE TIRES! IS THERE ANY RECOURSE TO HAVE THAT OR ALL THE TIRES REPLACED? THE TIRE (ALL FOUR) IS A HANKOOK OPTIMO H431 225/45 R18 . 95V, RADIAL TUBELESS, MADE IN KOREA. *TR

I BOUGHT THIS KIA OPTIMA SX IN MAY 2012 BECAUSE IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CAR, BASICALLY WITH NO HESITATION. MY FIRST DAY DRIVING IT, I THOUGHT THE STEERING FELT A LITTLE DIFFERENT, TIGHT, AND PULLED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT AND VERY HARD TO KEEP IT GOING STRAIGHT. I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL IT'S A BRAND NEW CAR AND HAS TO BE BROKEN IN A LITTLE MAYBE. ABOUT 500 MILES IN, PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY INSPECTED THE ALIGNMENT, SAID ALIGNMENT WAS OK, BUT THE PSI IN TIRES WAS A LITTLE OFF AND THAT IT SHOULD FIX THE ISSUE. NOTHING HAS CHANGED. WEEK LATER I TOOK IT IN AGAIN. WAS TOLD EVERYTHING IS UP TO SPEC, AND WAS TOLD I AM THE FIRST PERSON TO REPORT THIS KIND OF ISSUE WITH THE CAR. I GO HOME THAT NIGHT AND GOOGLE OPTIMA STEERING PROBLEM...THE SEARCH ENGINE GOES NUTS!!! THIS IS A ISSUE WITH THE OPTIMA SINCE 2011!!! I'M A TRUCK DRIVER AND I CAN BARELY STEER THIS CAR!!! HOW CAN THIS BE SAFE ON THE ROADS??? THERE IS THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM!! WHEN MY WIFE DRIVES IT SHE TELLS ME SHE CAN'T EVEN TAKE A DRINK OF HER SODA BECAUSE SHE HAS TO PAY SO MUCH ATTENTION TO HOLDING THE WHEEL STRAIGHT!! I FEEL THE SAME WAY!! COME ON KIA!!! COME ON D.O.T. IT'S ONLY JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS CAR CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT!! OBVIOUSLY THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ISN'T SAFE!! SO RECALL IT!! *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH I HEARD A LOUD 'BANG'. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, MY OPTIMA WOULD PERIODICALLY SHIFT GEARS VERY ROUGHLY ON DOWNSHIFTS. THERE WAS ALSO A 'CLANKING' NOISE PRESENT ON THE ROUGH DOWNSHIFTS OR WHEN THE OPTIMA WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. UPSHIFTS WHILE ACCELERATING SEEMED TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED A BOLT HAD SNAPPED ON THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO KNOCK INTO THE ENGINE WHEN IT SHIFTED. IT WAS THE BELIEF OF THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE BOLT HAD BEEN UNDER TORQUED WHEN IT WAS ASSEMBLED IN THE FACTORY. THE SUBFRAME AND A DENTED PIECE OF THE EXHAUST HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS TO ME, ESPECIALLY HAD IT OCCURRED ON AN EXPRESSWAY AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *TR

GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT WORK. AVIS PUTS RUBBER FLOOR MATS OVER CLOTH FLOOR MATS THAT HAVE HOOKS EMBEDDED IN TIME TO HOLD THE FACTORY FLOOR MATS IN PLACE. I DID NOT KNOW THEY HAD DID THIS. OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL HOURS OF DRIVING THE RUBBER FLOOR MAT SLID FORWARD UNDER THE GAS PEDAL RENDERING IT INOPERABLE; I COASTED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD AND DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM, PULLED THE RUBBER FLOORMAT BACK TOWARDS THE FRONT SEAT AND IT HAPPENED A 2ND TIME A FEW HOURS LATER WHERE I LOST COMPLETE USE OF THE GAS PEDAL SO I PUT THE RUBBER MATS IN THE TRUNK. I REPORTED THIS TO AVIS. AN AVIS REP SAYS THIS IS A STANDARD CORPORATE POLICY SO THEY CAN SAVE WEAR ON THE CLOTH RUG STYLE FLOOR MATS. I ASKED THEM TO REEXAMINE THEIR CORPORATE POLICY. I HOPE YOUR AGENCY CAN REVIEW THIS PRACTICE AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO AVIS. WITH ALL THE ISSUE SURROUNDING CAR ACCELERATOR PEDALS AND AFTER MARKET FLOOR MATS JAMMING THEM IT SEEMS THEY HAVE TAKEN LEAVE OF COMMON SENSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE RPMS REVVED ABNORMALLY HIGH BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,500.

WHILE MOVING FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 5MPH, BRAKES WERE APPLIED TO STOP VEHICLE AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. SO FAR THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOST PUMP- 3 TIMES, THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP- 1 TIME, AND THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH- 1 TIME. NONE OF THESE FIXES HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH WITH THE ECONOMY MODE ACTIVATED, THERE WAS A DELAYED RESPONSE UPON ENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE IN OPERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT EVENTUALLY DEACTIVATED THE ECONOMY MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

WAS SITTING AT LIGHT AND WENT TO TAKE OFF CAR FELT LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND HAD A LOUD ROUGH GRINDING NOISE, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ONE. BRAKE LIGHT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, COOLANT, ETC AND NONE OF THE GAUGES WERE WORKING. I STOPPED AT THE STORE AND WENT TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD START UP BUT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR, IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. I HAD JUST HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM 1 WEEK AGO WHERE ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON AND THE GAUGES WEREN'T WORKING AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE FUSE PANEL BOX BUT THAT APPARENTLY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. I THINK THAT IT'S A COMPUTER OR ENGINE ISSUE. *TR

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM TRAFFIC SIGNAL, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED BRAKE BOOST PUMP BECAUSE OF SAME PROBLEM. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, NO OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. VEHICLE BEING REPORTED TO THE STATE UNDER THE LEMON LAW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BUNCHED UP AROUND THE BRAKE PEDAL AND MADE IT HARD FOR THE CONTACT TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS GIVEN WINTER FLOOR MATS WITH TEETH TO HELP THE FLOOR MAT GRIP THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE STANDARD FLOOR MATS WERE NOT SAFE BECAUSE THEY WOULD MOVE AROUND TOO EASILY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 9/10/12 *CN THE DEALER INSTALLED A SET OF ALL-WEATHER MATS, WHICH HAVE TEETH WHICH GRIP THE FLOOR MORE FIRMLY. UPDATED 09/24/12

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO THE MEDIAN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND AXLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE FOURTH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS RIGHT KNEE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK AND RIGHT ARM. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT LEG. THE PASSENGERS WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. THE DRIVER SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON HIS OWN AFTER THE CRASH. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR THE BODY DAMAGE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ASSIGNED AN ENGINEER TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION RELATED TO THE CRASH. AN ENGINEER DID NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY STATED THERE WERE NO DEFECTS WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC AT 40MPH THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED AND NO OTHER INDICATIONS WERE NOTED. LIGHT RESET WHEN VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. NO STORED CODES FOR THE FAULT. STILL WAITING FOR KIA MOTOR COMPANY TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. DEALERSHIP DOES NOT HAVE AN ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM AND KIA CONTACT ON WEBSITE IS INOPERABLE, SO UNABLE TO CONTACT MANUFACTURER. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM STOP LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NO OTHER INDICATORS, NO OTHER MALFUNCTIONS. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY, BUT HAD NO SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE DEALER HAS TRIED SEVERAL THINGS TO FIX PROBLEM WITH NO RESULTS: 1ST TIME- CHECKED FOR STORED CODE. NO CODES STORED. RESET LIGHT BY RESTARTING CAR 2ND TIME- DISCONNECTED/RECONNECTED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AT BRAKE BOOST PUMP. RESET LIGHT 3RD TIME- REPLACED BRAKE BOOST PUMP 4TH TIME- REPLACED PARKING BRAKE SWITCH AT THE CURRENT TIME, DEALERSHIP HAS NO SOLUTIONS, OR POSSIBLE FIXES FOR THE ILLUMINATING BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT. AWAITING CONTACT FROM DEALERSHIP WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTION. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING TO 45 MPH, BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON. NO OTHER INDICATIONS NOTED. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED IMMEDIATELY. DEALER SUGGESTED THAT NEW BRAKE BOOST PUMP MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND WANTS TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. PART IS ON ORDER. *TR

FOR 3 TO 5 SECONDS, NO RESPONSE FROM ENGINE AT IDLE WHEN ACCELERATOR DEPRESSED AND THE CAR IS STOPPED (E.G., FOR TRAFFIC SIGNAL). THEN, WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE WENT FROM IDLE (ABOUT 800 RPM) TO RAPID (SURGING) ACCELERATION, OFTEN WITH SCREECHING TIRES. THIS OCCURRED EACH TIME I STARTED FROM A STOPPED POSITION DURING A 493-MILE TRIP. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AFTER I REACHED MY TARGET DRIVING SPEED. *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ON. DEALERSHIP HAD JUST REPLACED THE BRAKE BOOST PUMP LESS THAN 300 MILES EARLIER BECAUSE OF THE SAME PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH. *TR

DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE, ABOUT TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC WHEN MIRROR SUDDENLY JUST FELL OFF! THE ONLY THING THAT KEPT IT FROM COMPLETELY FALLING OFF WAS THE CABLE RUNNING INTO THE DOOR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID "THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE!" IT WILL BE 4 DAYS BEFORE MY MIRROR GETS REPLACED! THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION. *TR

06/18/12- WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND VEHICLE RESTARTED. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER WHO HAD NO SOLUTIONS. *JS 06/27/12- WHILE ACCELERATING UP A HILL, 30MPH, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL VEHICLE RESTARTED. TOOK TO DEALER WITH LIGHT ILLUMINATED, NO STORED CODES, AND NO SOLUTIONS. 07/02/12- WHILE ACCELERATING FROM STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DURING SUDDEN STOP, DUE TO TRAFFIC, ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE, VEHICLE REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, AND CAR STARTED TO FISHTAIL LEFT. CALL MADE TO DEALER. WAS TOLD SOMEONE WOULD RESPOND. NO RESPONSE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB, CAUSING THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRES TO DEFLATE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ACTUATOR WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 970.

I PURCHASED THIS NEW CAR IN JANUARY AND HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME ADAPTING TO THE BLIND SPOTS OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW. THE SAFETY FEATURES OF THIS CAR ARE AMAZING EVEN WITH WHAT I BELIEVE IS 1 EXCEPTION. THE REAR HEADRESTS OF THIS CAR WERE DESIGNED TOO LARGE. EVEN IN THE DOWN POSITION THESE HEADRESTS BLOCK NEARLY 2 THIRDS OF THE REAR WINDOW VISIBILITY. SELECTING SAFETY OVER LOOKS I'VE COMPLETELY REMOVED BOTH REAR HEADRESTS (THEY SLIDE RIGHT OUT) AND CARRY THEM IN THE TRUNK IF PASSENGERS SITTING IN THE REAR REQUEST THEM. MY SUGGESTION IS THAT KIA PRODUCE AND RETROFIT LOWER SLEEKER HEADRESTS FOR THE REAR THAT ARE 1/2 AS HIGH AS THE CURRENT. DEALERS COULD PROBABLY SWAP THEM OUT AND KIA COULD REUSE OVERSEAS IF THEY CHOOSE. PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL IF PHOTOS ARE NEEDED BUT FOR THE MOST PART YOUR DEPARTMENT COULD LOOK AT ANY 2012 OPTIMA AND SEE WHAT I SEE. ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS AN AMAZING CAR BUT I SEE THIS AS A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT / CONCERN. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT TO LOCK HER IN, WHICH CAUSED HER TO STRIKE HER HEAD ON THE PILLAR NEXT TO THE WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CONTUSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900.

VEHICLE HARD TO CONTROL AND STEER STRAIGHT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SEVERE PULL TO THE LEFT, THOUGH OCCASIONALLY IT DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT. AT CITY SPEEDS, THE STEERING PROBLEM IS NOT AS NOTICEABLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, AND THEY CHECKED THE ALIGNMENT. MINOR ADJUSTMENTS, AND TIRE INFLATION CHANGE, RESULTED IN NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE PROBLEM...IT REMAINS SEVERE. IF YOU LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THEN THE CAR SWIFTLY MOVE ACROSS TO THE LEFT LANES. *TR

BRAND NEW VEHICLE PULLED TO RIGHT AND ALSO DRIFTED LEFT TO RIGHT AT 8 MILES ON HIGHWAY WITH A SPEED OF 55. I THOUGH ALL THAT IT NEEDED WAS A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AT JUST UNDER 3000 MILES AND THE TECH DROVE IT AND TOLD ME IT WAS FINE I JUST NEED TO GET USED TO IT. THIS CAR DID NOT DRIVE LIKE THE 2 THAT I HAD DRIVEN BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. THE TECH DID AN ALIGNMENT AND SAID THE REAR WHEEL WAS OFF FROM THE FACTORY . THE CAR STILL DID THE SAME THING IT FELT LOOSE AND DRIFTED ON HIGHWAY AND STRAITWAYS. I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER THAT DAY AND THE TECH DROVE IT FOR 30 SECONDS AND NOTICED THE STEERING IS WAS NOT RIGHT.HE SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME PERFORMING AN ALIGNMENT AND ONCE I DROVE IT WAS FINE. THERE WAS A SLIGHT PULL TO THE RIGHT BUT MOST CARS DO HAVE THAT. THE TECH GAVE ME A PRINT OUT OF THE ALIGNMENT AND THE FRONT CAMBER WAS NOT TO FACTORY SETTINGS HE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD NOT ADJUST IT. AFTER DRIVING 700 MILES LATER THE LOOSE FEELING AND THE DRIFTING RETURNED. I HAVE CONTACTED THE ORIGINAL DEALER AGAIN AND I AM HOPING FOR A RESOLUTION SOON. *TR

BRAND NEW KIA OPTIMA HAS STEERING DRIFT (DIFFUCULTY DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE). DEALER INDICATED TYPICAL OF ELECTRONIC STEERING AND DID NOTHING BUT CHECK ALIGNMENT. VERY UNNERVING AND DANGEROUS. CONDITION STILL EXISTS. *TR