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.
Check engine light comes on and upon check the the fuel pump sensor has made 3 different sensors go. My fuel jumps all over the place. From a full tank to empty or the reading changes while driving. There is also a smells of gas that can be smelled while driving as well coming from the vents.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact noticed a strong odor of fuel through the air vents when driving. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V907000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 103,861.
All of a sudden one day I went to pump gas and it is spitting the gas back at me, I only got to put in like $1.80. Went to another gas station, same thing, it will not let me pump gas into it. I try the next day and I get a little bit over $2. I called Kia, took it in for service and was told it needs a fuel tank, fuel pump and a canister, with labor cost me $1436.76. My daughter gets gas the first two times after this service and lets me know it is still spitting out gas towards the end of filling up. So the next time (which was a month after service) I go to fill the car. Immediately it kicks the gas back out. I try pumping like a second or two seconds of gas at a time, the gas is bubbles up and it literally takes me almost 20 minutes to pump $27 in the tank. I have already called the Kia store after gas trip number two and he then says he doesn't know what else they can do because everything is new. So at this point I feel helpless!! and I am not selling this car to get out of it to burden someone else. I already see things online that scares the crap out of me just driving this Kia with other issues reported. Now I have a fuel issue, I am a single mother with a single daughter and we can not afford a new car but I do not know what to do.
On December 9, 2018, I attended my son's soccer tournament on a cold Sunday afternoon (approx. 30 degrees). During half-time I decided to sit in my 2012 Kia Optima to warm up. After 10 minutes or so, I smelled something burning like the smell of a burning engine. I then noticed greyish blackish smoke coming out from the hood of the vehicle which quickly turned into flames. I immediately shut my car off and barely exited the vehicle in time. The entire bottom of the driver's door, driver's front wheel and hood was on fire. Within a matter of minutes, my entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. It should be noted that I got a brand new engine (so they say) installed by Kia just 8 months ago due to the recall. The car had been making a horrible noise so I took it to Kia and they informed me that my engine was bad and part of a recall. They ordered the engine and had it installed in a matter of days. Once again this was just 8 months ago!! I am currently working with my insurance company and the local fire department to determine the cause of the blaze however, due to the severity of the damages, we may never know what the true cause of the fire was is what was told to me. Kia needs to give me and the hundreds of others who have experience this type of trauma some answers as to why this is happening and how they plan to rectify this situation! this should not have happened. I should have been able to sit in my car in 30 degree temperatures for hours if I wanted without it going into flames. I am pleading with the federal government to investigate immediately. Please review all of the photographs below
1 stumbles on acceleration 2accelerats when shifting reverse--drive 3 accelerates on right hand turn.these problems happen randomly it.has..happened 5 times in motiom, city streets
- Rosemead, CA, USA
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Brake pedal releasing as I am pushing down on it coming to a stop. Hard to get the car to come to a stop at times. Car is missing on acceleration. Camera does not work 80-90% of the time. A/C stops working when sitting still or parked.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start until a second attempt was made. Once started, the check engine indicator illuminated. While driving approximately 40 mph, the check engine indicator remained illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the manahawkin Kia dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle's fuel pump failed and prevented fuel from reaching the engine properly. The vehicle's fuel pump assembly was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Updated 10/17/17 the dashboard "check engine lamp" came on and stayed on. Updated 10/4/18
Turbo feed and return lines leaking causing it to lose oil which could cause to engine failure. I have just had an issue with the lines leaking in which Kia will warrant these even though they play a vitial part in engine operation. Currently I have seen many issues on forums and websites so not just a few cars. Should have a recall just like the engine recall issues. This could cause the engine to stall therefore deaths could occur. This needs to be seriously recalled may cause engine fires from heat on the exhaust and oil line directly above it leaking.
Engine started making loud clicking noise lost power while driving home on busy highway took car to nearest auto shop owner states sounds like internal engine problem advised to have car towed to Kia dealership had car towed on 04/22/2017 to dealership. Have not received any notice of a recall.car has been sitting at dealership for over a month they called and stated that car had internal engine problems but still have not started on repairing the car has been at dealership for over a month.
My car started smelling like burning plastic and then it completed shut off. Thankfully I was already in a turning lane when this happened. I only had 60K miles on the car at that time. Seemed like after my engine was replaced my windows stopped rolling up. Then my fuel pump went out. I noticed that it felt like someone was pressing on my brake as I was trying to go and then my traction control light would come on. We fixed this. Now it not even a year later and its doing it all over again. This is not safe as people are behind me when this happens.
High pressure fuel pump went out. After contacting dealer for part, I was told they keep them in stock because it was a common problem. The cost was $689 plus labor.
The care staled at low speed pulled over side of road and smoke was coming from engine, opened the hood and fire had started at front top of engine under the air cleaner, some ware, has not been determined what caused it.
"takata recall" I have a rather new Kia Optima. At 70,000 miles my high pressure fuel pump completely went out. This affected my ability to start the car and accelerate as it ws very hesitant and shaky. The car was stationary when I realized the problem. I was attempting to start the car and realized that it took a very long time to start. After realizing this, I immediately took my car to a mechanic to have it inspected and told that the high pressure fuel pump went out. I asked how it happened and he informed me that it had nothing to do with my driving and that it is very likely the product of a faulty fuel pump because that usually doesn't happen with a car with only 70,000 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. When starting the vehicle, it had a hard start. While driving at various speeds, the vehicle began to lose acceleration and the pedal stiffened. The vehicle was towed to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump failed and needed to be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Im having intermittent electrical and suspension problems along with sudden increases of power increase and decreases. I was driving to my local mall before my evening class and noticed my car radio and instrument cluster where not operating no lights but car was running fine. I hit the brakes while coming to a stop light in a busy intersection hit a small bump the car decided to accelerate and it felt as if the suspension was loose on the left front side I heard it rattle now this bump wasn't big by any means as I hit the break I could feel the brakes fight with the engine the brake pedal also shook at my feet. I quickly put the Kia in neutral and shut the car off still at the light. Put it in park and restarted my car all light and instrument cluster came on along with radio.my Optima felt ok. But later I went to class got into my car and she wouldn't turn over I had to press on the gas to get it to start. I took it to the dealer they said they couldn't find anything besides my high temp fuel pump was giving low pressure codes. I only have 80K on this vehicle but Kia said they will not cover it. This a serious safety issue why if my kids where in the car and I did get into a serious accident with them. This needs to be addressed. Something needs to be done before there is a death no after the fact.
While driving my 2012 Kia Optima sx T gdi I lost accelerations on the highway. I was driving at 55 mph because the car wouldn't accelerate, but it did decrease in speed to a dangerous 20 mph. I tried to use my paddle shifters in hopes that would work, to no avail. I depressed the gas pedal to the floor and the speed did not change. I eventually reached a safe place and shut the car off, waited several minutes and attempted re-starting the car. The car sputtered and paused before eventually starting, then allowed me to drive approximately 100 yards before having the same decreased speed situation again. I was fortunate to drive home at 45 mph and avoid being run off the rode or rear ended by another vehicle or worse... a truck. The next morning I took the car to the dealership and after a diagnostic was informed that the fuel pressure sensor needed to be replaced. Not such bad news but I was shocked that the price quoted to me, by the service manager, is $900. Unbelievable!!! I searched all over the internet and found all the parts that are related to this type issue and nothing, not one part, cost $900. The proposed cost to repair my car is greater than the car payment. As a matter of fact, it cost more than the car payment for my wife's ML500. I have visited Kia forums that speak to problems with the Kia and it seems that a manufacturer is in order. Incidentally, the part is no longer covered by the warranty because I recently passed the 60,000 mile mark. I feel like I am being ripped off to have the car repaired for what will be less than an hour of work to replaced a minor part, that incidentally has a cost of $900. I will be willing to provide any other additional information related to my experience with my 2012 Kia Optima. I should be purchased and Audi.
Gas pedal would not work. Avis puts rubber floor mats over cloth floor mats that have hooks embedded in time to hold the factory floor mats in place. I did not know they had did this. Over the course of several hours of driving the rubber floor mat slid forward under the gas pedal rendering it inoperable; I coasted over to side of road and discovered the problem, pulled the rubber floormat back towards the front seat and it happened a 2nd time a few hours later where I lost complete use of the gas pedal so I put the rubber mats in the trunk. I reported this to avis. An avis rep says this is a standard corporate policy so they can save wear on the cloth rug style floor mats. I asked them to reexamine their corporate policy. I hope your Agency can review this practice and make a recommendation to avis. With all the issue surrounding car accelerator pedals and after market floor mats jamming them it seems they have taken leave of common sense.
For 3 to 5 seconds, no response from engine at idle when accelerator depressed and the car is stopped (e.g., for traffic signal). Then, without warning, the engine went from idle (about 800 RPM) to rapid (surging) acceleration, often with screeching tires. This occurred each time I started from a stopped position during a 493-mile trip. There was no problem after I reached my target driving speed.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Henrico, VA, USA