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 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.
While in cruise control hitting the breaks resulted in the car not wanting to slow down or stop. Had to go off road inorder to not hit vehicles in front of me. I turned off ABS and this issue isn't there. I have no warnings for my ABS system and this doesn't happen often. However it's getting worse now this is the worse it has ever been.
- Angola, IN, USA
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Brakes do not work properly, changed pads but still same problem. A noise on engine and the vehicle does not speed more than 65-70 mph. Drivers seat don't work properly.
Brakes squick even after repair and replacement and has a slower response time then usual and caused a rear end accident, cooling and heated seats stopped working on the driver side which I met owners of my exact car said the same thing has happened to them, and the passenger seat controllers doesn't work to operate adjustable seats! the suspensions has been bad every since the recall on the engine; for some reason it was giving back to me with that problem from Kia dealership. Back-up camera is malfunctioning for years now and car doesn't even beep when getting too close to objects/other vehicles anymore either for years! I'm just finding out about the process, recall laws and right to an investigation.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the rear brake lamps illuminated and remained illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was turned off however, the brake lamps remained illuminated with the ESC warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the only way to turn the brake lamps off, was to disconnect the battery. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer was not contacted or notified of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Vehicle's ABS brake activate randomly illuminating the ABS brake signal on dashboard, while in motion and without touching the brakes. This causes the vehicle to decelerate and has made the vehicle come to a near complete stop. Even if the gas pedal is pressed to accelerate the vehicle will not increase speed, only decrease. The issue happens 8/10 times while making turns and approx 5/10 while driving straight on freeway. This happened on 11/08/2019 in the evening, I immediately took my vehicle back to Kia and they claimed to have driven my car for 20 miles and didn't see or experience any issues. My car is a 2012 and only has 58, 388 miles. I demanded they keep looking but they caught an attitude like I made the scenario up and any stated that I should drive the car with their mechanic as they "cannot replicate my driving", like I'm driving in the [xxx] indy 500. Since it is now Sunday, and the dealer is closed it will be sitting in their service center Monday morning! 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).
I was driving 60-70 mph when my hybrid system alerted me that my breaks were an issue. I then tried to slow and could not. The car slowed itself as a safty procaution but I was in 70 mph traffic. Not safe. It would not completely stop so I was forced with the option of hitting a tree to make it stop. Kia says that it my breaks electrical system but that doesn't make since. I have my car worked on repeatedly to avoid this and now look? something malfunctioned that shouldn't have.
Vehicle's ABS brake activate randomly illuminating the ABS brake signal on dashboard, while in motion and without touching the brakes. This causes the vehicle to decelerate and has made the vehicle come to a near complete stop. Even if the gas pedal is pressed to accelerate the vehicle will not increase speed, only decrease. The issue happens 8/10 times while making turns and approx 5/10 while driving straight on freeway. This issue has been occurring for the last 4 months. For example on Friday 10/11/19 the ABS brake system activated, causing the car to come to a sudden deceleration 12 times within a 30 mile distance. The local dealer states there is nothing they can do. Vehicle just hit 127,000 miles. Second owner since 32,000 miles. Regularly serviced and professional maintenance.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 40 mph, the brakes lost power and caused the vehicle to crash into the preceding vehicle. The ABS indicator illuminated prior to the failure and remained lit. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The contact's vehicle was damaged and towed to the contact's residence by aaa. The other vehicle was not damaged. The contact called Texas motorcars houston Texas at 832-794-0499 (located at 11031 bissonnet St, houston, tx 77099), but no assistance was provided. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. The VIN was unknown.
Brake light switch malfunctioning. Brake light on all the time rendering cruise control and electronic stability control inoperable. Loss of power in engine as it thinks brakes are applied making it dangerous to drive. Root cause is brake pedal stopper (Kia part 32876-36000) developing a puncture hole over time making the brake switch believe brakes are applied. Known issue on other Kia models. Believe the sorento already have a recall for something very similar.
While driving the vehicle began to decelerate (brake) on its own. When I pressed on the gas pedal the car would not accelerate. I was almost rear ended when I attempted to merge into traffic because my car immediately began to decelerate while pressing the gas pedal. It happened once again while driving on the interstate at about 65 mph and within seconds decelerated to about 40 mph without ever pressing the brake pedal. The brake lights are on even when the car is turned off. Due to this it appears my "traction control" warning indicator becomes illuminated. I am aware that a recall was issued for this exact same thing but only for the 2012-2014 Kia forte (recall number 17V773000). This is a major safety issue/hazard for which the recall needs to be extended to the 2012 Kia Optima as well.
I brought my car to the dealer on 10/05/2018 for change oil, front brakes and recall campaign. But it looks it wasn't done because the airbags panel light is on and the brakes never feel thighs like when you have a job done. I let the dealer know about it but they want to charge me just to check and fix. When before it wasn't like that
Brakelights come on, even when car is turned off. When brakelights came on during driving, the gas pedal would not work to accelerate the car. Brake lights came on without ever touching the brake. Apparently the Kia forte 2012-2014 has a recall for this exact issue but none has been issued on the Optima. This is a safety issue because the car unexpectedly loses acceleration power. Very dangerous, specially when merging or passing on an expressway.
Brake switch recalled on 2011 models, but my 2012 will not start mostly when it gets cold outside, brake pedal stiffens and wont decompress for engine to start, push buttn wont start car brake lights dont work. Vehicle will leave stranded without warning. It will work and then not work, intermitten.
Traveling on a divided highway, approached slowing/stopped traffic. Attempted to stop, but roadway was slippery, ABS did not activate had to resort to pumping brakes and steering to avoid accident. Was rear ended and pushed into another car. Non of the air bags deployed. There was no compartment intrusion into the passenger compartment, but the rear of the car was completely collapsed.
2 day ago I was driving to work on the freeway and my car start acting weird like it wanted to stop, I paid no mind. So then that night coming home from work it start acting up again, this time I saw my brake lights turn on and my car started slowing fiwn. I had lost acceleration I had no response to the gas pedal. I would step on my brakes then release and the lights would go back to normal. This happened the whole 45 mins back home. So the next morning I was doing some research on what could cause this found out that the brake sensor stopper would not work properly on the Kia forte. But it seems that this happen to the Kia as well. It is very dengerous trying to drive like this especially on the freeway.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Snellville, GA, USA