You can start it up. Drive it for a little bit, but as soon as you make a stop or slow down, it will stall. Changed the oil, all fluids. It still does the same thing. So I am afraid to drive it.

- Brandon, FL, USA

My 2006 Kia Optima just stopped running yesterday, without any warning, in the middle of a high traffic street. It completely lost power and there was nothing I could do. Since there was no warning (check engine light not on, no stuttering, etc.), I wasn't able to get to the side of the road. The car behind me had to swerve to not hit me. I'm a 67 year old, disabled woman who was stuck on the side of that busy street for a half an hour until my car could be towed. Upon diagnostic testing, a mechanic found that the car needs a crank sensor (as well as an oxygen sensor). As he said, "we replace a lot of these on this model car". after extensive research, online, reading blogs from other Kia owners, I've found that several people have had the same problem I've had. A friend of mine had the same problem on his way back from a trip. The sensor just goes out and the car dies right where it is, and even if it can be started again, it will only run for a short amount of time and dies again. This is a very scary problem. And very expensive also. If Kia knows that this is a common problem, why isn't there a recall?

- Harrison, OH, USA

Beginning 9/9/2006 our 2006 Kia Optima LX has been in the dealership 5 times now for the same problem.....excessive noise at start up..9/9/06,2/22/07,3/8/07,4/10/07,11/5/07. 3 drive belts and 2 drive belt tensioners have been replaced. I was informed by the dealership that Kia was contacted and "should "be issuing a tsb. I was told by the dealership that Kia is aware of a problem. I was told to let the dealership know if the car began to make excessive noise at start up and to give it 3-4 months for a tsb to get issued, then bring the car in again. I can only assume what would happen if the drive belt or tensioner fail during operation of the car. The dealership has been very helpful in this matter. This is the second ODI complaint filed on this car. Please ref # 10170291 for the details of the first complaint.

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

- on 11/8/06, the contact stated she was driving down the highway at approximately 75 mph. The road conditions were dry. The oil pump exploded and cracked the engine block. There were no warning signs. The vehicle is a 2006 Kia Optima. The mileage at the time of failure was 10,123 miles. The vehicle was towed away. The dealer replaced the short block on the engine. The contact received the vehicle back on 12/11/06 and on 12/14/06 the vehicle stalled in the road. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the engine head was replaced. The contact stated that she continues to have problems with the vehicle, she hears a tapping noise, the vehicle runs rough when driving at speeds over 40 mph.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA