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.
Engine light keeps flashing and car stalls and will not go over 45 mph. One incident happened on a busy highway as merged on and was almost hit by a tractor trailer from behind.
My vehicle has been smelling like fuel inside of the vehicle and cannot take it to a kia dealership due to them being backed up. There are no visible leaks inside or outside of the vehicle but it is unsafe to inhale fuel and every time i fill it up, the smell gets stronger.
Engine replaced under the recall campaign after failure and have had issues since with the car wanting to start. Turns over several times before finally getting it to start. Fuel pump and fuel line replaced out of pocket as well as a sensor out of pocket and still having the same issues intermittently then today while driving approximately 35 to 40 MPH the car just shuts off in the middle of the highway in morning traffic and almost caused an accident, without warning. Still took several times to crank before car finally restarted and made it maybe 4 miles before shutting off again while driving without warning and then smelled as if something was burning. Car has had scheduled maintenance as advised by KIA for warranty on motor but if something is not done about all of these same complaints then someone is going to get killed. Very unsafe!
MY VIN IS [XXX] ITS A 2012 KIA OPITMA HYBRID 2.4L AND I SEE IT HAS THESE RECALLS ON IT NEEED TO KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT MY NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Car started idling and running rough out of no where. When I put the computer diagnostic on it it tells me there's problems with the fuel rail pressure sensor. Also the car won't go into drive or reverse but nothing is wrong with the transmission?
I was driving 75mph, I was coming up over a hill, and the vehicle cut out, there was a loud noise that came from the engine, and I was told to pull over, the light was flashing hybrid battery low, please check and advise. I tried to start the car but it wouldn't come on. Warning light on dash stated to not start the vehicle. The mileage on the vehicle is only around 110,000.
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
I would smell fuel while I was driving so eventually I looked under the hood and found that. The low pressure fuel line cracked and was pulling off the quick connector. The plastic quick connector became brittle because fuel was spilling on it constantly and eventually broke. There was a recall recently done on the same Kia model as mine but the 2013 & 2014 models. The same issues is affecting the 2012 Kia Optimas and this year should also be included in the same recall. I went to the dealership to see if there was a recall on that fuel line and if not what it would cost to repair. I was quoted $600, I thought that was very huge to replace a fitting and maybe some hose so I tried to go as long as I could but eventual the quick connect broke and the risk of fire was to great to chance driving it. So my vehicle has been sitting for 6 months and of course I need a new battery and possibly other things to get it running again.
My 2012 Optima was taken to imperio Kia in dana point for a mandated engine inspection. After the inspection, I noticed the adviser acting strangely. My car engine started to hesitate, and began to smell rubber burning. The dealership did not ever answer the phone, and with 4 weeks they closed down. My car was inspected at Kia of irvine, who determined the engine was damaged beyond repair, it had metal pieces and rubber pieces in it, the hoses were disconnected and there was rubber melted onto the exhaust manifold. There were missing clamps and numerous other probems. Kia replaced my engine and turbo with rebuilt parts, after a wait that lasted 4 more weeks. Kia provided me a 5 year extended warranty on all the components that were replaced and damaged in this case #12538291. In 2019, another mandated inspection occurred for the fuel pump system and fuel pipe in the vehicles that previously required a replacement engine, because there was a danger of fire. On July 28, 2020, the Optima started to lose its power, and choked and hesitated upon startup while I was in traffic. It was very dangerous. I reopened the engine claim and took the Optima into the irvine dealership. They clain there is no extended warranty, that it does not exist! they accept no responsibility for the inspection or lack there-of for the fuel pipe, and claim that the warranty and recall do not cover the fuel pump. Agents are working from home due to covid-19, and there is no customer service to speak of. The quote from the dealership is extremely high and they want to charge me a high diagnostic fee as well. I have been through enough trauma because of Kia, and I want them to be held accountable. Their warranty records are a disgrace.
For several days noticed a faint fuel smell after shutting engine off. Also noticed after starting engine. While engine was running I took engine cover off and fuel was spraying out of the top B-nut fitting on the high pressure fuel line. Fuel line is on the upper part of engine. This is the same fuel line in recall SC172. Engine was replaced in 11/2019 under recall.
There's a recall on low pressure fuel hose defect for 2013 and 2014 Kia Optima (Kia recall #SC187) but my 2012 also has similar fuel smell. I took my car in to Kia of irvine (ca) for diagnosis on March 7, 2020 and was told high pressure fuel line connector to fuel pump is missing a small tab and may need replacement. I was also told that since I recently replaced the valve cover gasket myself which would involve disconnecting and reconnecting the fuel line to the fuel pump, they're not responsible for the line missing tab. But the issue is there was no fuel smell after I replaced the gasket. The smell was right after they replaced the turbo which also involved disconnecting and reconnecting the fuel line to fuel pump. Interestingly, there's another similar recall (Kia recall #SC172) where it invlove Kia's service technician damaging the same fuel line after engine replacement work on numerous vehicles. The fact that Kia has had recalls due to fuel odor on same make/ model, and the fuel smell was after they serviced my vehicle, they should be responsible for vehicles fuel line issue. Furthermore Kia should take this issue seriously as the car could potentially spark fire. Please help!
On 9/3/2019 I took my 2012 Kia Optima to gossett Kia South to get it repaired. It didnt get fixed before I left the lot my car was smoking and leaking antifreeze. I was stranded for 4 days after that day. I went to the nearest part store and purchased a bottom radiator hose and antifreeze. I had a mobile mechanic to put the hose on. There after I was stranded again the car wouldn't start. I had it towed to Firestone 10/4/2019. My car stayed the lot for a month and it was then towed to gossett Kia North from there it has been repossessed. I made payment arrangements to get the car back I am determined to get my car repaired. I use the car to make it to appointments. I am disabled and this doesnt seem fair at all im paying notes on a nonworking car. I hope to hear from you soon with further advice
Car being driven by my daughter suddenly stopped in the middle of traffic with a pull over and safely shut off vehicle warning. She however could not move. The vehicle also showed an error to the vehicle charging system. We towed the immobile vehicle to the local Kia dealership and were told there were no codes and the battery was fine. They requested that I allow them to remove the valve cover to check on belts. I approved. I called the dealership the following day to check in because I have not heard. I was told the hybrid parts were covered under warranty but that the engine was locked up. No reason or explanation, no warning. My child could have died due to her vehicle stopping in the middle of traffic.
I have had multiple issues with my 2012 Kia Optima hybrid for the past 3-4 years. The transmission has been replaced at 74K mi. Numerous occasions car lost power on the highway. Taken car in to Kia dealer each time and they could not duplicate the problem. My car stalled out 1 month ago on the freeway and towed to the dealer. Now at 125K mi dealer is telling me my engine is seized, hybrid battery and regular battery are dead. And also replaced the emc for $2500 prior to figuring out the engine/battery's were dead.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 18V363000 (air bags) and 18V907000 (fuel system, gasoline, engine). The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair as the recall notice was received over a year ago. Gervais Kia (6 industrial ave, lowell, MA 01851, (978) 454-1202) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was contacted several times and was unable to confirm when the parts were to become available. While driving 20 mph, the contact noticed an abnormal clicking noise coming from the steering wheel and the engine stalled. The contact had to veer to the shoulder of the road to turn the vehicle off and back on in order for the vehicle to resume normal operation. All the warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer who confirmed that parts were unavailable. The dealer updated the engine module software, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 13157669. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
I was driving the vehicle on the beltway 495 in Maryland and the vehicle came to a stop without any warning on the dash. I attempted to start the vehicle but it wouldn't start. I check the motor, checking the oil stick showing that the vehicle had no oil in it. I never received a warning light about low oil or anything was wrong. I had my cousin bring me some oil. I put four cans of oil in the vehicle and it still wouldn't start. I had to get the vehicle taken off the highway to my cousins house near by. I purchased a new battery thinking that was now the problem. The started to turn over but wouldn't start. The next day I connected a check engine machine to the car, a actron auto scanner #cp 9575but no codes appeared. A friend who in the past raced cars check the motor from the attempting to start and stated it was the bearing in the engine. It would start and again I had no warning lights about the oil or engine before the problem with the engine. I checked the computer an founded out that other Kia's had similar problems with the warning lights not coming on to let you know about the oil was low. Kia had a problem with other vehicles 2012-2017 not showing a warning light on the dash.
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle failed to respond when the accelerator pedal was depressed. Also, the check engine indicator illuminated and white smoke bellowed from the tail pipe. The vehicle was taken to summit place Kia (located at 4200 interpark dr, auburn hills, mi 48326, (248) 682-6002) where it was diagnosed that the high pressure fuel line and fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18V907000 (fuel system, gasoline). The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 73,565.
On January 24, 2019, my car had to be towed to shakers Kia in watertown ct again. I had been in ct visiting family when I got stuck there due to car issues. I dropped my car off December 7, 2018 for an engine replacement due to a recall and I got it back December 31, 2018. I drove my car home to nc on January 4, 2019 and came back 2 weeks later for my son's surgery scheduled for January 23. On January 22, three weeks after I got my car back, my check engine light came on and my car went into limp mode while driving and had to be towed to shakers Kia. They texted me at 9:08am January 23 with a link to a video saying my car was ready. I picked it up around 5pm after my son's surgery. I didn't have the car 4 hours when it did the same thing again and had to be towed. Shakers told me that I was gonna be responsible for replacing my throttle body because I still have old components from my old engine and my throttle body was part of that. I didn't understand how I have old components if my engine was replaced, so I called Kia headquarters. Shakers replaced my throttle body, no cost to me. Well, when I picked my car up on January 30, I asked about the fuel leak recall and if my car was inspected as Kia told shakers to check mines even though my VIN number wasn't included because my car needed to be checked because my engine was replaced due to the recall. I was told by the technician hector that my car was fine and it didn't need to be inspected because he was very confident in his work. He stated that people were having engine fires because mechanics don't know what they're doing and are installing the engines wrong. My car doesn't run the same after having my engine replaced. It runs and idles rough. I put in numerous calls to Kia about issues with my car and I'm told over and over again that my case manager will call me but it's been weeks and she hasn't called yet.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Douglasville, GA, USA