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 was driving on the highway travelling straight in traffic at about 50 mph when my car stalled. I was able to restart it, then it stalled again. Then I restarted it one more time. Then it made a grinding clunking sound like something snapped and was getting whipped around by the moving parts. Then it had no throttle response and I was forced to pull over into the breakdown lane as the car no longer was running.
My car just died while I was driving. I had a aaa technician come out for a tow. He inspected my engine and found out there was a low amount of oil and metal shavings. After being towed to a auto shop they determined my engine frozed and informed me I need to purchase a new engine. They also found metal shavings
While driving on a highway in Oregon, my car stalled and made weird sounds out of nowhere. On a broad curve, my car slowed down quickly and luckily there weren't any cars behind me. There was no warning that the engine was going to fail. I tried to pull over safely to the narrow shoulder and let the car cool down for a little bit. I tried starting it again and the engine sounded like rocks in a blender. I have taken great care of my hybrid and has no history of other issues and it only has 89,000 miles on it. The mechanic said the engine needs to be replaced and that it is a common problem with the 2.4 L theta II engine from my car's year.
The theta 2.4gdi engine was replaced in my 2011 Kia Optima May 2019, after a total engine seizure that left me stranded at an intersection in albuquerque nm. It has started to experience the same pattern of malfunctioning in the last 10 months, sporadically, first while driving and another time while attempting to start my vehicle. However, pronounced malfunctioning. I am dumbfounded that Kia states they cannot duplicate the problem as I have provided videos of the noises for their review!! they themselves write in articles that they prefer to repair before total engine seizure. However, I took my vehicle back to pitre Kia, where the engine was originally replaced and now they say the engine warranty was 12 months, even though their literature states differently. When you attempt to follow that advise, they completely switch to total rudeness and go as far as laughing at you for your concern over the vehicle that you paid for and which ultimately pays their salary!! I just want to have faith in my vehicle that it will not leave me stranded. I am restricted, at this time, from going out of town. I do not trust my vehicle to take me anywhere, much less make the necessary trips to Santa Fe (56 miles away) due to the fear of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere, I am a 64 years old disabled female and thought I had purchased a reliable vehicle only to find out that is the farthest from the truth. Now their customer service representatives and supervisors are in total denial of their faulty equipment and then proceed to be rude! they can lie all they want, but they do know of the lawsuits over their faulty engines!! they are just being told by the greedy corporate heads not to comply with repairs.
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
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The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine), however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact pulled to the shoulder and attempted to restart the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
I reported my Kia with an engine failure problem a few weeks ago. Got a call from Kia today and they refuse to cover because even though the recall by NHTSA is for 2 and 2.4 L Optima, Kia is claiming it is for a specific type of engine. I should pay 6200 and submit for possible reimbursement. Mine is an mpi and it is excluded. How can you exclude my engine" why would my engine fail for no viable reason and the dealership claims to have never seen that happen" my car has always been serviced at the dealership. I am asking for a thorough investigation and not a phone investigation.. my car is a 2.4L I4 mpi hybrid electric DOHC. An engine fails for a reason. Kia has had debris issues with engines and if mine is the first then so be it. Please have someone look at the car to ascertain this was not a lemon engine from the get go. This brush off by Kia is unacceptable.
Car check engine light came on while driving, car started making loud noise and smoke starts coming out of the engine. Parked car and had car towed to dealer. Dealer states engine internal failure and engine needs to be replaced. This is a car that's only serviced at dealership. Last 360 point inspection was November 2019. Last dealership visit May 2020. Recall states 2-liter and 2.4 liter four cylinder engines. Kia states its for gdi not mpi. Your report did not specify. Please assist. Thank you.
Car starts smoking and making noise while driving a day before scheduled appointment. Car towed to dealer 6/23/2020- rods in engine went bad, engine needs to be replaced. 360 point inspection November 2019. This car was bought used and has been serviced at the dealership since purchase. It is frustrating the dealership in May 2020 did not detect a problem and I am now at this point. The check engine light comes on continuously and we have been to the dealership at least 4 times in the past year for this check engine light issue. What's the point of using a dealership to service your car?
The motor seized up while driving. No lights came on. Checked oil that had metal shavings in the oil. We have been doing regular oil changes on the vehicle. It will no longer run.
The fuel injector required replacement. The car sputtered and came to a complete stop without warning. It sputtered while driving on the highway; it came to a complete stop at the moment that I moved onto the exit ramp. The dealership performed a full diagnostic and reported that the fuel injector required replacement. While repairing the injector, the mechanic reported that the catalytic converter was damaged due to the injector leaking and clogging the converter. No codes alerted myself, or the mechanic to these issues. The mechanic reported that neither issue was covered under the engine recall.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The contact stated after making a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle started to jerk. The vehicle stalled with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where they diagnosed the vehicle with complete engine failure. The contact spoke with stokes Kia (202 S goose creek blvd, goose creek, SC 29445) where she was informed that the vehicle was included in the NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling) however, the remedy was a four step process. She was informed that a diagnostic test needed to be performed on vehicle to determine whether she would be eligible for an engine replacement under the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Was driving to work. Drove through the front gate entrance to my station when an awful metallic knocking noise could be heard in the engine compartment. Had to have the vehicle towed all the way home that day. 80+ miles. Turns out I need a new engine. Took it to a Kia dealer who diagnosed the problem being a failure to a crank bearing.
The contact owns a 2011 Kia Optima. The engine seized the vehicle never started again, not diagnosed yet consequence vehicle must be towed at owners expense the contact stated that while attempting to park in a parking lot, traveling approximately 5 mph, the vehicle engine seized. No warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed and was advised to tow the vehicle to the nearest authorized dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 174,000.
Driving in heavier than normal traffic about 45 mph. Stopped at a traffic light and engine cut off. Was able to restart, but was only able to drive less than half a mile before the engine cut off again. I completely lost power, but was able to coast into a parking lot. I waited approximately 10 minutes, attempted to restart the car (successfully!) and drove around the parking lot before traveling the remaining 20 minutes home. Called aaa and had the car towed upon arriving home. The mechanic was not able to replicate the issue and nothing was corrected. Battery and alternator were in perfect condition. Car has occasionally been hesitating while starting or while idling at traffic lights since that event.
Was driving down and suddenly the car starts to slow down and eventually cuts off. Found out the engine locked even though I get the recommended maintenance.
I have a theta II turbocharged engine 6 speed manual and I was driving down the street taking my son to work. All of a sudden my car started making a loud knocking noise and wouldn't go past 2nd gear. We called a tow truck had it sent to mechanic they did a diagnostic test and 2 P codes came back from crankshaft and controls and seized engine. So I had it towed into weston Kia dealership. Plus I had just bought this car in April. The dealership ship called me saying they were going to replace my engine and wiring and computer and sensor chip. Also my passenger air bag light has been blinking off 3 days after I bought it and still is. My emergency brake doesn't work and rolled while it was pulled up in neutral and hit my daughter as she was running around the front of the car to the passenger side right in her knee cap. I got my car back from weston and it didn't feel right. Someone put 380miles on my car it had a 1/2tank of gas and my clutch and clutch pedal and gear shift was way shorter and 1/4 inch off in shifter box. I was on the freeway driving 60 mph with my kids and we were leaving my parents house from xmas. All of a sudden I almost list control of the car my clutch pedal fell to the floor. I got us to safety almost avoiding a huge wreck and had it towed to my house. Called dealership and told them and had noticed on invoice their technicians had tightened up by bolts and flywheel. Well I go outside and theirs fluid all over the pavement under the car but none on inside. They paid for a tow truck and by the way since replacing the new engine I went from 34 miles to the gallon to 20 and passenger air bag still illuminated off. My defrost isnt working now and my engine light blinked 3xs. They want me to pay 1500 for new clutch.their tech adjusted my flywheel bolts and clutch cable. $65 emergency brake and $125 for test. It already had one. Fuel leak?
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Canton, MA, USA