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.
I own a 2013 Optima sxl. When I am pulling off fast or punching it around 20mph the car dies. Like I lose power, but the rpms are up. Feels like I jammed the brakes but I don't even get a ABS feel. I have to take my foot off the gas and then slowly hit the gas. Tire pressure is where it suppose to be. What I have been doing is turning off the traction control so I feel safe hitting the gas. It's really bad in the rain. If I go to accelerate and not fast in the rain it does it. I went back to the dealership today and of course they said this is normal. I did some search online and I found a forum where multiple owners have had the same issue. One owner had the hydraulic ABS assist module replaced and ECU reprogrammed under warranty. While most customers like my self have brough the car to our local dealership just for them to cliam the problem is normal. The part is $1600 plus $900 in labor. This should be recalled since it became a real danger specially on the highway. As the dies under acceleration while overtaking. Part number 58920-2T550
I was sitting in the yard at my aunts yard and the RPM's dropped while in park. I sat there for a few minutes to see if it would do it again, it didn't, so I left and headed home and got 5-7 miles down the road, and the car completely stalled and shut down, while I was going about 45-50 mph, and I had no control over the car. The brakes got hard, the steering was hard, and I was barely able to get out of the middle of a busy road with vehicles behind me. It wouldn't crank back up. I sat there waiting for someone to come to me to check it out, and I tried to start it back up and it did, so I went on home. I called Kia and they said bring it in, I paid $100 to have it towed to the local Kia dealership in lake city, fl. They checked it out and said it was nothing wrong gn with it. But I received a notice about a recall on the motor stating it would do what happened to me. Also, I checked online and typed my VIN number in and there was in fact an open recall for the motor I have for the issue I had. They refused to fix the recall. Advised me to wait for it to happen again, and I asked them, so you are telling me to drive this vehicle with this issue and wait for it to happen again and risk getting into an accident the answer I got was basically yes.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While driving 40 mph, the accelerator pedal was applied, but the vehicle failed to respond. Additionally, the contact heard an abnormal popping noise. The vehicle was taken to all star Kia of baton rouge (located at 5740 siegen lane baton rouge, la 70869 225-490-7604) where diagnostic testing was completed, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,477.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle accelerated to 90 mph without warning. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to the Nissan Kia dealer (located on 4961 rt 17 M, new hampton, NY 10958) where a noise test was performed. The technician informed the contact that there was no failure and that the vehicle was fine. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 124,978.
My vehicle launched into the side of a building as I was turning into a parking space. The vehicle continues to launch forward while in motion and when pulling into a parking space when in motion and pulling around a car or pot hole.
- Metairie, LA, USA
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The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While the contact's mother was behind the wheel and the vehicle was idling, the vehicle accelerated while her foot was on the brake pedal. The steering ability failed and prevented her from turning the steering wheel. The contact's mother lost control of the vehicle and crashed into an embankment and a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed, pending the insurance company's investigation and analysis. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was not provided. The failure mileage was 56,500.
Steering, hard to keep in lanes, loud hard ride. While test driving my 2013 Kia Optima I told my sales person that I was having trouble keeping keeping it on the road. He said that's B/C its a new car. It'll ease up. I thought it was loud & took smal bumps like a big pot holes. And the gas pedal & acceleration was wierd. He said bring it back & the service department will drive it & fix it. Don't worry. Well after several trips to the service department they said they could not emulate the problem. I asked them to let me drive with service person. Could not do. Break it in & it'll go away. Well at 11,000 miles took it back & complained. Same answer. Now 19,703 miles not only do I have the same problems.they got worse. In addition my paint scratches & chips so easy that there had to be something wrong with my paint. Back to service & body work they told me that was normal. Bring it in for detailing & we will get it looking like new! don't have $175 to do that. I do not get close to quoted gas mileage. It has a mind of its own it accelerates & gears don't shift.it takes off or doesn't all by itself. Seems like transmission trouble. Its so loud I cannot use hands free phone & conversations are difficult. The steering is so off, I'm afraid I'll get pulled over & fined. Very hard to keep on road. And my car squeaks as you get in & out of my car. Very disappointed. I want an investigation. I'm afraid it will be in an accident & hurt myself & others.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. While driving at approximately 20 mph, the gears failed to shift and the engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the vehicle speed sensor failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,678.
After coming to a complete stop at a stop sign, when I tried to accelerate to turn onto a busy road my car lost power halfway into the intersection. This has happened twice. My first reaction was to push harder on the gas pedal, as there were cars coming at me from both directions, and after a few seconds the car violently lurches forward and regains power. This is a terrifying issue and a serious safety threat. I had 2 children ages 8 and 12 in my vehicle both times this has happened.
Vehicle in reverse backing up on steep driveway, foot on fuel pedal, car began its automated hill holding function, while in reverse, heard high RPM, transmission was slipping into neutral, car began rolling forward, put foot on brake, brake failed, car accelerated rapidly, and engine died, then hit the wall inside the garage. I estimated, speed at time of impact approximately 10 to 15 mph. Noticed another entry filed similar to this, had same fuel, brake fail symptoms.
I was sitting at a stop sign waiting to cross two lanes, when clear I pressed the gas pedal. The tires spun a little on some antiskid; as a result the traction control intervened. The car seamed to loose all power!!. with traffic on its way I drifted across one lane before getting full power back. This tcs in my 2013 Kia Optima is not safe-- someone is going to get killed! what should I do !?
If the wheels slip slightly when accelerating from a stopped position, the car looses all power and stops. I realize that there are skid control mechanisms, but this is not safe. I brought it to the Kia dealer in denville NJ and they claim it is "normal". this morning, I pulled out onto a busy road and the tires slipped slightly on the wet surface. The car lost power and stopped. I can close to causing an accident when it should have been safe for me to enter the road.
When stopped at a stop sign or light and trying to go after the light turns green accelerator won't go down and move car forward because it sticks and I have to take foot off accelerator and push it down again to get it to go. This is now happening every day from time to time. Taking it to the dealer tomorrow because I found no recalls on this car listed yet.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle had a sudden loss of power and speed reduction intermittently. The contact experienced the vehicle decelerating and had to depress the acceleration pedal to increase speed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on several occasions and the failure was not able to be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000. Updated 09/15/14 updated 1/8/2015
I have found the traction control to be too drastic at times. When pulling on to a highway there is usually a small bump (difference in height, about 2", between the road and the parking area). If I'm accelerating (which you usually have to do to get onto a busy road), when the car goes over the "small bump" the traction control kicks in and the car loses a lot of the power you need to avoid the oncoming traffic. The traction control causes the car to come to a "rolling stop". this seems a little too extreme to me and I feel like this will cause an accident and potential loss of life. I have owned 4 other cars with traction control (2 Saturn, 1 corvette, and a Kia forte). None of the vehicles mention had an issue like this. Usually the traction control will "gradually" slow down the wheel or wheels that are turning faster than required. The Optima almost comes to a complete stop, losing 95% of it's power on June 6, 2014 I returned the car to the dealer (fette Kia). I was able to reproduce the problem and they said this was how the car was designed. The issue has occurred numerous times the date above was used to complete the form.
On 5/15/14 at approx. 0430am, while at a stop light, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. With my right foot on the brake pedal the car suddenly accelerated. Because my foot was on the brake pedal the car moved less than two feet. I then placed the automatic transmission into neutral, where the motor rev'd to approx. 7000 RPM. I then immediately turned the car off, and then back on. After turning it back on, the car then resumed normal functions. Later the same day I took the vehicle to my local Kia dealership. According to the serviceman, a comprehensive analysis was performed, however they were unable to duplicate the issue.
The contact owns a 2013 Kia Optima. The contact stated that while at stop, the brake pedal was released and the vehicle surged as the engine RPM's increased without warning. The contact mentioned the brakes were engaged and was able to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was unable to be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 3,000 and the current mileage was 19,000. Updated 3/14/14
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Alpharetta, GA, USA