This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, he heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
My engine failed. Dick Withams here in Waterloo, IA was paid by Kia to replace engine for free due to my warranty. Dick Withams rushed the process and allowed me back on the road with no coolant plug( which was detected immediately) I returned the car and Dick Withams attached a plug so my coolant wouldn't spill over on the ground. Every time I pressed my brakes THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SOUND LIKE MY DRIVE AXIAL WAS NOT PUT TOGETHER WHEN Putting the engine back. Kia is allowing Mechanics to fix these recalls of MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES FOR myself and my family. I then returned vehicle to Cedar Falls, IA Dick Withams to fix issue Friday morning. They have yet to communicate anything with me. Now I'm just without a vehicle even though it's covered under warranty. It should be against the law for the car dealership to return a recalled engine without driving the car to see if they rushed the service and failed to put vehicle back together CORRECTLY.
My wife had been complaining that while driving 2011 optima hybrid at highway speeds the car would suddenly lose power and slow to 30 or 40 mph while the pedal is floored. Took it to the dealer who said we needed a new battery which did not solve the problem. 2nd time came with a warning on the dash to check hybrid system, back at the dealer they said it appears to be some special fuse in the trunk ($300)-??problem sill persist however this time the car completely shut down on the road, dash was lit up like a Christmas tree. Had to get it towed. Now dealer says its the HPCU and that-??s going to run almost $6000. Dealer was willing to install a used one i got on EBay, they charged $1300 for the install they tell me the problem still exists.
- Long Pond , PA, USA
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The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while driving on the highway, the vehicle failed to accelerate above 45 mph. There was white smoke beginning to come from underneath the hood of the vehicle and the exhaust. The contact stated that it had gotten to the point where they would have to add oil to their vehicle every 100 miles. The check oil warning light would illuminate intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer (valley hi Kia 14644 valley center dr, victorville, ca 92395; 877-305-9865). The vehicle had too high levels of the oil. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who changed the oil and changed the crank sensor. The contact was told that rod barring material was found in their oil. The vehicle had not been repaired and the failures persist today. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 129,000.
Tha car shut down in the middle of the road would not start all lights came on and could not steer gave the car gas on gas pedal nor could I brake to get out of the road. Has been towed to demontrond Kia to see if under warranty for repairs almost lost my life on highway
Kia Optima ex 2012 with 57000 miles transmission is stuck on R (reverse) and it doesn't release even with the shift lock release engaged. The backup camera is on, brake is very stiff, the car ignition can be on/off but don't starts the engine. Dash and shifter indicator shows R and it does not change to any other status. Vehicle is inoperable.
While driving my 2012 Kia Optima hybrid on the farthest left lane of the freeway, a warning message popped up on my dash board that was something similar to "saftley pull over and do not drive vehicle." I began to change lanes to be able to exit the freeway and as I was approaching the edits stop light the moving hehicle seemed to lack much power. I was lucky enough to have the car roll far enough on momentum to get me out of the way of a very busy road. It was a miracle that the car rolled to the spot it did because that happened to be the only place the shoulder could fit my car. I had it sent to Kia dealership and it took them almost an entire week to finally have an idea of what the problem could be. Engine seized as the major problem and offered to replace it for above $8000! the car isn't even worth that much! come to realize there was a recall on my engine so I am now waiting until Kia tech support reaches out to my mechanic for the approval or denial. I bought this used car about 30 days from today's date with 80K miles
I was in the parent pick up line to pick up my daughter and I placed my shift in park however my car continued to drive forward and shift gear was stuck. Steering wheel became stiff and I kept foot on brake to slowing maneuver car to a parking spot. Once in parking spot car would not turn off and even though car was in park on the shift gear the drive mode was illuminated. The car finally turned off for a few seconds and than restarted by itself and repeated to do so. I was finally able to move gear shift after accessing the shift gear release lock however the shift gear remained in drive mode. Then engine just completely stopped turning on. Car would not turn, not drivable and had to have it towed for repair.
Car will not get out of immobilization phase, with either key fob will not unlock to use push to start. Issue is waste gate activator failure or needs adjustment.
April 2018 was driving heard loud nose from engine, hybrid system came on, hybrid system warning turn off engine. Engine locked up.towed home.pulled oil pan. Brass bearings bottom of pan.crankshaft and piston rod bearnig were in pieces. Had engine rebuilt. May 2018. Filled 2 complaints then. Only 73,000 miles.company's getting away for insufficient engines. Tried to sell car. But not going to give away.I don't want it. I think I deserve compensation.
Transmission has a hard pull when it down shifts from third gear to second gear and a harder pull on first gear this is a automatic transmission. In regular gears going in drive would actually do fine I noticed a week later when I was out driving for about an hour that the car would not go past second gear so I pulled off the road and had my car towed. The vehicle has never had any dashboard lights come on currently my car is in limp mode and will only go in reverse takes a few seconds to initiate an engage to go into first gear.dealership does not really want to look at the vehicle if it does not have a check engine light code I have no idea what is wrong with this transmission I have 168,000 miles. It should give you some type of warning that something is going on with your transmission but it does not even light up on your dashboard if you go to press the pedal to accelerate it does not want to accelerate I just recently had my catalytic converter changed out so I know it is not that the gears on the transmission will not go past second gear now it is in what they consider limp mode or default mode someone really needs to look at the transmission on all the 2012 Kia Optimas I have been seeing a lot of issues with these cars the lights that are considered as the low beams are not very bright either I just recently had those changed and new ones put in they do not give you enough light if you're driving at night this is a safety hazard
My gear shift is stuck in drive I can not put it in park if I turn my car off it won't crank back up please help I don't know what to do an this is my everyday car
Transmission issues: Between 2nd and 3rd gear. Would lag then jerk the car with some torque once it caught 3rd gear. Had to get 2 replacement transmissions because of this issue. Also engine seizer issue, my engine started to seize when I was going 45 miles an hour with alot of traffic behind me. Then all of a sudden it started making loud thunking noices then a very loud grinding noise and then I was stuck on a road not being able to get above 22 miles and hour, there was no shoulder to pull over. And I was stuck trying to go uphill and all these cars behind me. I ended up having to stop the car and leave it in the middle of a 2 lane road on a hill with the emergancy break on. Kia knew it was another seized engine which I thought it was my transmission again which I had brought in because this 3rd transmission was having the skilling issues around 20-25miles and hour, but after they knew I wasnt going to buy another Kia again they wouldnt fix my trans that should probably be recalled anyways. But they thought it was another Optima seized engine, and even though all Optimas are recalled for this exact same issue, they say that mine isnt covered becasue its a hybrid and has a motor in the car also so its different set up. But theres are others online with this Kia Optima 2011-2013 hybrid engine seizer just like all the other Optimas. And I think the hybrids should be included in the recall. As we are having the same issues. This was a very dangerous issue
I stopped the car and tried to put the shift lever to park, the car indicated that it was still in drive. The car was stuck in drive even though the shift lever was in the park position. I turned the vehicle off. I tried to restart but it would not because the car thought the transmission was in drive. I could not move the shift lever from park without use the shift unlock. Upon investigation I found that the transmission shift cable came detached from the shifter lever. It appears that a plastic retainer disintegrated.
The car will not accelerate at a safe time frame. For example if I need to cross a busy street. I have to wait until there are absolutely no cars coming because when I accelerate my engine revs but doesn't move. I've been almost rear ended several times because the transmission will not go into gear. The engine will hit 8 or 9 thousand RPM then the transmission decides to catch and throw my head into the seat. Which if there is a car in front of me I have to be careful not to rear end them because of the sudden acceleration.
I was on the interstate traveling at approx 70 mph changed lanes and when I went to accelerate the vehicle stalled lost power I coasted to the breakdown lane and attempted to start the vehicle. It would not start. I had aaa tow it to a hardings garage in fairfield. The technician said this morning the vehicle started but stalled as soon as he tried to move it. He told me that there was a Kia recall 17V224000 that applied to the engine so I got aaa to tow the vehicle to charlies Kia in augusta, me. They tell me that there is no recall on my VIN. Why would I have the same stalling as indicated in the recall if my VIN does not apply"?"
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- View Park, CA, USA