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 hybrid. The contact stated that while driving various speeds, the vehicle shut-off with the hybrid system warning message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to rick case Kia located at 3190 satellite blvd nw, duluth, ga 30096, to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the hydraulic control system was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 154,440.
Without warning the engine overheated while driving in the highway. The engine made a loud noise and began smoking... the vehicle became immobilized I pulled off to the side of the road and opened the hood. There was so much smoke. The car turned on afterwards but the engine did not start. Within seconds the battery shutdown.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima hybrid. While driving various speeds, the contact heard a clicking noise coming from the steering wheel. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that a disk inside the steering wheel needed to be replaced. In addition, the air flap system sensor and check engine warning indicators illuminated. The contact called casey Kia (located at 11999 jefferson ave, newport news, va 23606, (757) 347-8247) and a diagnostic appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000.
The hybrid system broke down at 85K. Was replaced by Kia after threatening legal action. At 103K. We never missed maintenance or a oil change. The engine through a rod on a 5 lane interstate doing 65mph, blowing and destroying the engine. Putting my family of 5 at serious risk. Kia wants 4500K or 8000K to replace the faulty engine. Optima engines were recalled for this exact reason. The Optima hybrid engines were not recalled despite suffering the same failures as normal optima engines. Joining the class action.
I was involved in a high speed, rear end collision in which I was traveling at approx 55mph when another large vehicle changed lanes from right to left, right in front of me causing me to collide with them. The result was significant front end damage to my car and significant bodily injury to myself because of the failure of my brakes to adequately stop my car and the failure of the air bags to deploy resulting in my body and head rapidly flying forward into the steering wheel.
- Elk Grove, CA, USA
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I was getting off the interstate on September 27, 2018 when my car died and I could not even put on my emergency lights cars behind me almost hit me. I had my car towed home and made a appointment with the Kia dealer here in columbia, South Carolina. After waiting for them to run a diagnostic test I was told by the service manager the engine failed and they would send paper work to see if the warranty would cover it. I have been without a car for a weeks now with no form of transportation nor assistance. I have been getting several different explanations about what was wrong with my vehicle. I cannot get a loner car until the company approves the engine under warranty. This has caused major stress and problems with my job. My car only has 68,000 miles and was in good condition until this problem. I had no warning other than the hybrid system failure notice that came on the dash and stated pull over do not drive and hybrid battery not charging. This has caused me undue stress and hardship and much difficulty getting to work.
Vehicle has 130,000 miles. While driving on a highway vehicle started to lose power when in cruise and motion is lost. Stepping on the gas does not get any acceleration. This occurred again on a highway and display gives me the hybrid error do not drive warning. This occurs when cruise is set and also not in cruise. I step on the gas and there is no acceleration. After shutting the vehicle off for a few seconds the car functions normally. I am also having back up camera issues which leads me to believe this may be an electrical issue. My display gives me the warning message about objects behind me but the image sometimes does not show. The image sometimes is there when I put the vehicle in reverse and sometimes not. These problems all started at the same time. Kia was contacted as we thought it may just be a computer upgrade. They told the dealer there are no upgrades. We also had a non dealer check the vehicle for error codes but there weren't any. The vehicle checked out fine.
The electric motor hydraulic pump needed to be replaced I was told it wasnt a recall however im seeing several of the same complaints. While driving about 55 mph my check engine light came on message appeared telling me to stop do not drive cant drive safely. Now my vehicle is making a loud knocking noise I have no acceleration power and I have no oil leaks but my car is burning up oil.
Today I just got my car back from the dealership yesterday for the brakes failing in the hybrid system they told me everything was fine but the mechanic said to me that we don't know what's going on with the car so they let me leave with it I was in lake worth today doing 45 miles per hour and it did it again and said check brake car shut off my brakes failed and I ran into a median to stop my car. Kia corporation is not doing nothing about this the dealership does he even have an answer for me and that is gunther Kia. I believe that I am going to die if I drive this car anymore and I have a 4 year old child that they do not care about I have complained to the Kia corporation 5 times already
I was driving at 45 miles per hour in all sudden my car shuts off and says hybrid safety issue check break. The car shut off on me and my brake went right to the floor and I could not stop. So I ran into a field thank god that was right there and I had my four year old kids in the car. I turn the car back on and everything went back to normal started driving it did it again and my brake went right to the floor and said the same thing. I have saw four other complaints about this. It is in the dealership I do not know what it is yet but this scared the crap out of me it could have killed me and my four year old. I was going 45 miles per hour when this happen. It said hybrid cyst safety issue check brake in the brake one tree to the floor and I could not stop. Prices on the main road not a highway. I was in fort lauderdale Florida on 19th street when this happened in lauderhill Florida
While driving car shut off and hybrid battery went dead. Is says 'hybrid system warning shut off vehicle and do not drive'. I had the car checked and the engine seems to be locked up. I have seen several complains on this and I won't pay for a new engine when Kia needs to be responsible.
Takata recall I just recently purchased my hybrid in December. With it being winter, I of course did not use the air conditioning unit. Now as it is summer, I have used the ac. Each time I use the ac the motor starts making an extremely loud noise, and the ac at times stops working. With that, the temp gauge goes out of control. The vehicle may be stationary or in motion, and at any speed the motor will increase in noise.
Tamara recall. While driving down freeway the car turned completely off. Also the back windows don't roll up or down all the time with the switch. Defective switches.
The orange square wrench light on the dashboard came on but as soon as the car was turned off would go away. No trouble codes showed up. It happened 3 times in a week so once it popped on, went to the dealership to diagnose while it was still running. While driving there, the car had very little power-making the left turn into the dealership (crossing heavy oncoming traffic) was scary since the gas pedal was to the floor and the vehicle was barely moving. The dealership said the drive motor temp sensor in the hybrid system was going out and the car was in safe mode and had code P0A2B in the history. Because I am the 2nd owner of the car, Kia will not cover the repair under warranty even though the car is under 100,000 miles. They designed this part so the sensor cannot be replaced-the entire drive motor must be replaced at a cost of $6251. This is absolutely ridiculous that a customer can be left footing the bill for a faulty and unsafe design. This is not something that a owner has any control over.
Our car is currently at the dealer for the 4th time for the same problem. Last spring the engine warning light came on with the message "hybrid system warning! safely stop and do not drive". the dealer said it was the battery (regular, not hybrid) so we had that replaced (out of warranty - we paid for that). This past August, the warning message appeared again - the dealer said there had been a technical bulletin, and they performed an update (covered by warranty). We had the car back for a few days and the message appeared again, as well as the following message "check charging system". the dealer replaced a wire (under warranty). A couple of weeks ago, the check engine light came on and the hybrid system warning appeared again. This time (4th time) the dealer said that the traction motor needed replacing and that we needed a new transmission (also under warranty). We believe that there is an inherent problem with this car.
This car severely hesitates/stalls after coming to a stop at intersections (red lights, stop signs, yield signs, and etc). Car hesitates/stalls for 2-3 seconds before accelerating while at a dead stop. This has causes several near accidents and scares to my family, friends, and myself. This morning, I pushed the gas pedal to the floor and the car did not accelerate/respond until 2-3 seconds later. This is serious and dangerous problem, while pulling out into traffic incoming cars can close the safety gap quickly in 2-3 seconds. Cold weather causes the car to hesitate/stall more often than warmer weather. I urge the federal government to step in and force Kia to find solution to this problem before this issue cause a fatality. Fuel economy is another issue in this car (hybrid), I typically don't get the estimated 35 mpg/city that the dealership sold me on, it is usually 28-30 mpg/city.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lawrenceville, GA, USA