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.
My starter would not turn over to start my car after driving it. When I got to my destination I couldn't restart the car and there was smoke coming from under the hood. I had 2 starters put in thinking that was the issue and after the 2nd starter was installed the car still had smoke. The electrical wires were burnt and burning and the car still will not start.
Theta II engine failure while driving at high speeds (50-65mph) the engine began to make a loud knocking sound. Soon after, the check engine light illuminated as well as the oil light. I did pull over and contact my local Kia dealer and was advised to drive the vehicle to the service department. Upon inspection I was advised the vehicle needing a new engine. It had bearing damage due to metal shavings... surprisingly 3 months ago the vehicle was previously inspected for metal debris / engine bearing failure and no issues were found by the same local Kia dealer.
Takata recall, I was driving my vehicle and when I went to speed up the engine seized, causing me to pull over in the break down lane on the highway and turn the vehicle off completely and when I tried to turn the vehicle back on it would not fully turn back on, all the lights in the vehicle started flickering, I tried jumping my car and it did not work I had to get it towed to the nearest Kia dealer
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 20 mph, white smoke appeared from the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle began to lose power. The vehicle was taken to stones Kia (1222 N woodruff ave, Idaho falls, id 83401, (208) 524-2400) where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the engine was rebuilt in 2015. The manufacturer was contacted and declined to have the vehicle diagnosed or repaired due to the engine previously being rebuilt. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed oil leaking from underneath. The vehicle was taken to Kia of des moines (located at 4475 merle hay rd, des moines, ia 50310, (515) 270-0706) where it was diagnosed that the oil feed line that entered the turbo needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.
- Johnston, IA, USA
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I was driving the vehicle on the beltway 495 in Maryland and the vehicle came to a stop without any warning on the dash. I attempted to start the vehicle but it wouldn't start. I check the motor, checking the oil stick showing that the vehicle had no oil in it. I never received a warning light about low oil or anything was wrong. I had my cousin bring me some oil. I put four cans of oil in the vehicle and it still wouldn't start. I had to get the vehicle taken off the highway to my cousins house near by. I purchased a new battery thinking that was now the problem. The started to turn over but wouldn't start. The next day I connected a check engine machine to the car, a actron auto scanner #cp 9575but no codes appeared. A friend who in the past raced cars check the motor from the attempting to start and stated it was the bearing in the engine. It would start and again I had no warning lights about the oil or engine before the problem with the engine. I checked the computer an founded out that other Kia's had similar problems with the warning lights not coming on to let you know about the oil was low. Kia had a problem with other vehicles 2012-2017 not showing a warning light on the dash.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving 55 mph, the engine stalled and the vehicle shook from side to side. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the shoulder as smoke appeared from the engine. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle would not restart and was towed home. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 172,000. The VIN was unknown.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving, the vehicle leaked oil and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to shottenkirk Kia of West burlington (309 South gear avenue, West burlington, ia 52655, (319) 249-6627) and the oil filter was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer stated that they could replace the engine if it failed. The failure mileage was 137,000. The VIN was not available.
I was driving on the freeway in the state of Utah. I was going 65 mph on the freeway when the car started shaking, followed by a stall on the engine that forced me to slow down and park on the side of the freeway. I have no idea what happened but I heard cracking noise coming from the engine. Now the car won't turn on.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning and all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact coasted the vehicle to the side of the road and powered off the engine. The vehicle was restarted and able to drive normally. A mile down the road, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 185,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the headlights failed to illuminate and there was extremely poor visibility. Also, the oil light randomly illuminated several times. The dealer (ossett Kia South, 2680 mt moriah rd, memphis, tn 38115, (901) 328-8173) was unable to determine the cause of the failures. The contact replaced the headlight assemblies more than five times, but the visibility was still poor. The contact also noticed an abnormal odor in the vehicle. The dealer indicated that without the check engine indicator illuminated, they would not replace the catalytic converter. The contact stated that the warranty expired without the part being replaced. The fan also failed to function, but the failure was not remedied. The dealer also performed a repair per an unknown recall regarding the steering; however, the remedy failed to provide a solution for the steering coupler and the steering wheel was no longer straight. Also, the sun roof and moon roof glass had a crack going down to the driver's side of the vehicle where it met the windshield. There was also an abnormal noise progressing due to the failures. The manufacturer and dealer were notified of the steering failure, headlight failure, and moisture in the rear camera. The failure mileage was not available.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 70 mph, the steering wheel shook and the check engine, low battery, oil, and electric power system warning indicators illuminated all at once. The vehicle lost all power and was coasted to the side of the road. The contact waited approximately four minutes and attempted to start the vehicle; however, it cranked, but did not start. The vehicle was left on the side of the road. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
Driving home on highway about 70mph and engine just stopped. Vehicle was in drive, but coasting. Got to shoulder. Put car in park, engine would not turn over. Called tow, then noticed smoke coming from hood. Hung up, called 911 for possible fire. After hanging up with 911, smoke began coming through vents. Got out of car, saw some flames through grill, called 911 back and told was definitely on fire and with mins entire engine bay was engulfed. Car was a total loss.
Engine shut off without warning 02/23/2019 6:05 pm pst engine/vehicle mileage: 151,409 fuel/gas gauge shows one quarter full while waiting at a traffic signal (vehicle was completely stopped and engine idling) on a city street, engine shuts off without any warning(s). First time ever happened. All maintenance and repairs completed by a Kia dealer.
Driving vehicle and engine started knocking, did not have check engine light and vehicle was not over heating. Vehicle suddenly shut off with no warning on I-10 -exit 505 kerriville Texas and thick smoke started coming out of the hood. Vehicle would not start. Never have had any issues with vehicle and did personal oil changes.
On January 24, 2019, my car had to be towed to shakers Kia in watertown ct again. I had been in ct visiting family when I got stuck there due to car issues. I dropped my car off December 7, 2018 for an engine replacement due to a recall and I got it back December 31, 2018. I drove my car home to nc on January 4, 2019 and came back 2 weeks later for my son's surgery scheduled for January 23. On January 22, three weeks after I got my car back, my check engine light came on and my car went into limp mode while driving and had to be towed to shakers Kia. They texted me at 9:08am January 23 with a link to a video saying my car was ready. I picked it up around 5pm after my son's surgery. I didn't have the car 4 hours when it did the same thing again and had to be towed. Shakers told me that I was gonna be responsible for replacing my throttle body because I still have old components from my old engine and my throttle body was part of that. I didn't understand how I have old components if my engine was replaced, so I called Kia headquarters. Shakers replaced my throttle body, no cost to me. Well, when I picked my car up on January 30, I asked about the fuel leak recall and if my car was inspected as Kia told shakers to check mines even though my VIN number wasn't included because my car needed to be checked because my engine was replaced due to the recall. I was told by the technician hector that my car was fine and it didn't need to be inspected because he was very confident in his work. He stated that people were having engine fires because mechanics don't know what they're doing and are installing the engines wrong. My car doesn't run the same after having my engine replaced. It runs and idles rough. I put in numerous calls to Kia about issues with my car and I'm told over and over again that my case manager will call me but it's been weeks and she hasn't called yet.
The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. While reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle became stuck in a patch of snow. When the contact began moving the vehicle back and forth to free the vehicle, it caught fire under the hood without warning. The fire department extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the contact's insurance company. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact took the vehicle to don franklin somerset Kia (60 highway 2227, somerset, ky 42503, (606) 679-1177) to be repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). After the repair, the vehicle stalled multiple times while driving various speeds and all the instrument panel indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed back to the same dealer where the alternator, battery fuse, and battery were replaced; however, the failures persisted. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. Contact noticed car was making a weird sound, consumer's check engine light came on, and the oil light flashed every time contact pressed the gas. The contact stated that there had not been any failures with the vehicle until it was serviced for per NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). Within weeks of the vehicle being serviced, the check engine indicator illuminated, the vehicle was in a limp mode and it failed to operate over 10 mph. The vehicle was towed to shaker's Kia (1230 main St, watertown, ct 06795, (860) 417-0900) where it remained for over a month. The dealer provided a loaner vehicle. The contact informed the dealer and manufacturer numerous times that the remedy failed to provide a permanent remedy. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was retrieved by the contact and the check engine indicator illuminated again and vehicle would not move at all when the gas pedal was pressed. Engine was replaced with old engine components like the sensor, throttle body, etc. The dealer advised disconnecting the battery as a temporary remedy and stated that the throttle body may need to be replaced because the wiring pens were wet. The failure mileage was not available. '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).'
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Baton Rouge, LA, USA