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.
Car will not get out of immobilization phase, with either key fob will not unlock to use push to start. Also common issue is waste gate activator failure, caused us to almost crash dealer said it is a exstremly common issue but Kia won't issue recal.
Kia replaced my engine after it failed while driving. Now it hesitates and sometimes jerks like it's about to run out of gas. The skid light comes on even when it's dry. The break light pops on even when the vehicle isn't in use. There is a recall for fuel pipe damage after engine replacement but they won't acknowledge it or even inspect my vehicle know it can cause a fire
But my mom was driving her car one day and all of a sudden the bearing or something came loose and oil squirted all over the ground and the car died and and we had the motor replaced at a cost of about 4500 bucks and now the hybrid light system keeps coming on the dealership they don't know what they're doing they had to take it to another Kia place and I didn't know what the heck was going onand now with the motor replace the hybrid light system keeps coming on they don't know why
Transmission issues: Between 2nd and 3rd gear. Would lag then jerk the car with some torque once it caught 3rd gear. Had to get 2 replacement transmissions because of this issue. Also engine seizer issue, my engine started to seize when I was going 45 miles an hour with alot of traffic behind me. Then all of a sudden it started making loud thunking noices then a very loud grinding noise and then I was stuck on a road not being able to get above 22 miles and hour, there was no shoulder to pull over. And I was stuck trying to go uphill and all these cars behind me. I ended up having to stop the car and leave it in the middle of a 2 lane road on a hill with the emergancy break on. Kia knew it was another seized engine which I thought it was my transmission again which I had brought in because this 3rd transmission was having the skilling issues around 20-25miles and hour, but after they knew I wasnt going to buy another Kia again they wouldnt fix my trans that should probably be recalled anyways. But they thought it was another Optima seized engine, and even though all Optimas are recalled for this exact same issue, they say that mine isnt covered becasue its a hybrid and has a motor in the car also so its different set up. But theres are others online with this Kia Optima 2011-2013 hybrid engine seizer just like all the other Optimas. And I think the hybrids should be included in the recall. As we are having the same issues. This was a very dangerous issue
I bought a 2012 Kia Optima from autonation in amarillo, tx and I have multiple safety recalls on my vehicle which autonation didn't tell me about at the time of purchase. The recalls can cause a fire and a fatal accident. I've taken it to two Kia dealerships and nothing has been done to the recalls. Kia hasn't fixed or replace the safety recalls. I will not have me or a family member die cause the neglect that Kia has been doing on my 2012 Kia Optima" VIN# [xxx]". I have filed a settlement claim with Kia settlement claim's department "claim #[xxx]". I have taken it to 2 Kia dealership's. I've done all of the steps Kia dealership has asked me to do and nothing has been done to fix or replace the recalls. I use my 2012 Kia for my doctors appointments cause I'm disabled. I lost faith and can't trust this 2012 Kia Optima that im still making car payments. I need this car fixed before me or one of my family members dies in a car accident from the neglected recalls from Kia. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Evans, CO, USA
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The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced electrical failure and unintended acceleration. The contact stated that the vehicle accelerated and decelerated independently. The contact stated that there was an intermittent failure with headlamps. The contact also stated that the vehicle lunged forward while driving. The vehicle was taken to power Kia dealer, (3705 market St ne, salem, or 97301, (503) 585-7333) and was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the unintended acceleration recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer and informed that the headlamps light switch caused the battery to drain. The battery was replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the same dealer four times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,874.
I was on the interstate traveling at approx 70 mph changed lanes and when I went to accelerate the vehicle stalled lost power I coasted to the breakdown lane and attempted to start the vehicle. It would not start. I had aaa tow it to a hardings garage in fairfield. The technician said this morning the vehicle started but stalled as soon as he tried to move it. He told me that there was a Kia recall 17V224000 that applied to the engine so I got aaa to tow the vehicle to charlies Kia in augusta, me. They tell me that there is no recall on my VIN. Why would I have the same stalling as indicated in the recall if my VIN does not apply"?"
2012 Kia Optima ex with 48000 miles now driver-side headlight stopped working, so as of now I am driving with passenger sidelight in combination with parking lights. Buying Kia Optima is the biggest mistake I have ever done, it seems every month something goes wrong with this vehicle. Surprisingly NHTSA has not taken any action as per Kia Optima well known defects.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. When the contact's wife started the vehicle, the "hybrid system warning safety stop and do not drive" message appeared on the instrument panel. Also, when the accelerator pedal was depressed, an abnormal noise was heard and the vehicle would not accelerate more than 10 mph. The vehicle was taken to san francisco Honda new & used sales (1595 van ness ave, san francisco, ca 94109, (415) 687-0174) to be diagnosed, but the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 89,979.
Idk who is going to read this but hopefully someone can tell me a little something about my Kia op.hybrid! about 2 months ago, a truck hit my car and my ABS light came on. My car was taken to hubcity hagerstown md they fixed the body repairs, then they took it to Kia hagerstown md to get the ABS system fixed (which my warranty company had to pay for it). About a week ago I took it to Kia letting one of the service managers know it's having some push back when I'm driving that it wasn't having before he accident such as on the highway it will feel like it doesn't want to go. I'll be going a certain speed for a while, it'll give push back rev all the way up to 5rpm acts like it doesn't want to keep going then it goes back down to a lower number and acts fine. Then a few times now I'll be at a stop light or stop sign I'll press on the gas it didn't go I'll let go of the gas it revs up, jerks and goes by itself!!!!!! almost making me hit the vehicles in front of me. He drove my car felt how it was driving and said certain things could have been from the car accident and to bring it back asap. I was driving on the highway on the 14th of this month I was driving about 65 70 it was actin a little jerky and wasn't going anymore then the dashboard light came on again and said hybrid system warning do not drive and the car literally wouldn't let's me go anymore. I got stuck middle of the highway and fredrick md highway patrol had to assist me. Out of all the troubles I had almost hitting a few cars in front of me (which wouldn't of been my fault each time it's happened) and my car just turning off in the middle of the highway has been the worst since I've had it. Mind you this is all within a 2-3 month time frame and my car wasn't like this before. June 14th was the day my car got hit since then has been hell with this car
My 2012 Kia Optima on multiple occasions has shut off while the vehicle was in motion. While driving, as I decrease my speed, suddenly the car will experience jerking and then suddenly shut off. This has occur while driving on the freeway and traffic has slowed down to 10 mph or less and while approaching a light or crossing and intersection and traffic is slowing down. While the car is at steady speed, at 20 - 40 mph the car jerks as I'm trying to maintain with the flow of traffic. My car has had routine maintenance and mechanics have been unable to identify or remedy the issue. My last two incidents were 8/21/19 freeway while in the fast lane next to the carpool lane and now 8/29 on city street. I also experienced this on March 3,2019 (had a fuel pump replacement which still did not remedy the issue)
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.
I have a 2012 Kia Optima hybrid. Drove great at first now the car is off and on.. while driving the car lunges often and as others have said there is a delay 2 second from pressing the gas to the car actually accelerating. The car also loses power when driving on the highway. I've noticed the engine will not charge the hybrid battery when it is getting low and the car become immobilized unable to accelerate. I have had dash lights only appear once and when the car was taken to the dealership they were unable to find the cause. This issue is extremely dangerous to myself and others. Attached are a few pictures you can see the hybrid battery had 1 bar it appears to be charging but then goes to 0 bars because the battery is trying to power the car while only the engine should.
Kia Optima 2012 with 43000 miles horn doesn't work while steering wheel turned to the right. It works fine while steering straight/left but the moment turned right horn will only click/ no sound. I do have the airbag light on don't know if it is related. Worst case is, I have my state inspection due and with the SRS light and no horn, it will definitely fail. I guess that's what I get for owning a Kia.
Side mirror stopped working driver side. The motor from power fold mirror keeps running non stop making the grinding noise and also causing the battery to drain.
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.
2012 Kia Optima with 43000 miles # airbag warning light stays on and checking different seating position/ restarting the ignition the warning light still stays on. # steering wheel feels sticky while driving straight, which needs immediate correction by moving left /right. If not it keeps going towards one direction constantly. Dealership recommended to get the wheel alignment done, but no improvement as per steering wheel even after getting alignment done.
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.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Anoka, MN, USA