What 107 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

NHTSA RECALL 17V224000 MY 2012 KIA WAS SUPPOSEDLY NOT IN THIS RECALL BUT MY CAR BEARINGS ACCORDING TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ARE ALREADY WEARING OUT PREMATURELY AT 84000 MILES . THE CAR WILL LOSE OIL PRESSURE AND KNOCK (BEARING) BLOW WHITE SMOKE AND STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. THIS HAPPENED ONCE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND ONCE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH WHERE CAR DECELERATED TO 30 MPH. CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN TO KIA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE BUT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN NOT SEE THE SERVICE RECORDS AND WILL NOT COVER UNDER PURCHASED WARRANTY WITHOUT THEM

NHTSA ODI 11099236

WHILE DRIVING, AT NIGHT WITH MY TWO YEAR OLD SON, ON A TWO LANE ROAD MY CAR STARTING MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE, I BEGAN TO LOSE POWER QUICKLY. THANK GOD I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. I CALLED FAMILY, WHO SAID TO STAY PUT, THEY BROUGHT A TRAILER TO LOAD MY CAR ON. I WASN'T SURE WHAT TO DO NEXT, I WAS BEING TOLD THE MOTOR HAD THROWN A ROD. SADLY THEY WERE ALL CORRECT. I CALLED KIA HEADQUARTERS, THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND THE NAME OF A DEALERSHIP NEAR ME, WHICH IS STILL 60 MILES AWAY, WEST PALM BEACH KIA. I TOWED THE CAR OVER ON APRIL 3, 2018, AFTER THEIR DIAGNOSES I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A MOTOR. I TOO QUESTIONED THE KIA OPTIMA RECALL, I WAS TOLD THE HYBRIDS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL, NEITHER WAS MY VIN. TODAY IS MAY 18, 2018, MY CAR IS STILL AT WEST PALM BEACH KIA AWAITING A MOTOR. SINCE BEING AT WEST PALM BEACH KIA, WHO I REMIND YOU WAS SUGGESTED BY KIA HEADQUARTERS I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THREE SERVICE MANAGERS. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY $3500 OF THE $8000 BILL, DUE TO KIA GOODWILL." TENTATIVE DATE OF MAY 29, 2018", WHICH IS THE THIRD CHANGE OF DATE ALSO. MY CAR IS STILL THERE WITH A MY CAR HAS 92,000 MILES ON IT. WITH KIA OFFERING TO PAY AT ALL, IT SEEMS THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A PROBLEM MOTOR, WITH A SAFETY ISSUE SO WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL?? MY TWO YEAR OLD SON AND I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT SERIOUSLY IF A SEMI TRACTOR TRAILER OR PICK UP TRUCK HAD BEEN BEHIND ME. PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL BEFORE PEOPLE GET KILLED!!!

NHTSA ODI 11096650

THE CAR WILL STALL/LOSE POWER, BLOW WHITE SMOKE OUT THE EXHAUST. THIS HAPPENS ON ACCELERATION OR DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS THIS HAS OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY AND ON CITY STREETS. YESTERDAY ON THE INTERSTATE I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED. IT IS BELIEVED THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS IN CERTAIN ENGINES FAIL AS METAL DEBRIS CIRCULATE THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE VIA THE ENGINE OIL. OVER TIME, THE CONTAMINANTS IN THE OILING SYSTEM CAUSE THE CONNECTING ROD BEARINGS TO FRACTURE AND SPEW LARGE AMOUNTS OF METAL DEBRIS INTO THE ENGINE OIL, WHICH IT CANNOT FILTER OUT TO MAINTAIN NECESSARY OIL PRESSURE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE ISSUE AND THIS SAFETY CONCERN NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 11093855

MY VEHICLE IS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. I HAVE BASICALLY HAD ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE DRIVING OFF THE LOT. STARTED SMALL AND ENDED UP LIKE MANY OTHERS HERE WHERE AFTER EXPERIENCING VERY LOUD REVVING IN THE ENGINE AS I WAS BRINGING MY CAR TO A STOP THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND A THUD. I FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. AFTER TRYING TO DRIVE IT BACK TO A SAFE SPACE THE LOUD REVVING STOPPED AS AN ENGINE ROD WAS THROWN AND MY HYBRID WARNING SIGN APPEARED AND THE ENGINE THEN DIED. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER TOLD ME I WAS LEAKING OIL. HE TOWED IT BACK TOT HE KIA DEALERSHIP WHERE I GOT THE SAME NEWS AS MOST COMPLAINING HERE...OIL SLUDGE AND AN $11,000 FIX. THERE IS A DEFINITE ENGINE DEFECT IN THESE VEHICLES AND KIA NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND RECALL THE ENGINE AND MAKE THEIR CUSTOMERS WHOLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP WAS KNOWINGLY SELLING VEHICLES WITH UNREPAIRED SAFETY RECALLS. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE HAD CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE *JS.

NHTSA ODI 11091624

2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. VEHICLE HAS 69,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED EVERY 3,000 MILES. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON 04/26/18. SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE 143 FREEWAY IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. SHE CALLED ME AT HOME AND SAID THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A KNOCKING/CLANGING NOISE. I COULD HEAR THE NOISE ON THE PHONE. I TOLD HER TO PULL OVER. I DROVE TO MEET HER AND INVESTIGATE. I OPENED THE HOOD AND CHECKED ALL FLUIDS. ALL WERE FULL AND CLEAN. I ASKED HER TO START THE ENGINE. THERE WAS A LOUD CLANGING OR SCRAPING NOISE COMING FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. I HAD HER TURN THE CAR OFF AND WE CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO CAMELBACK KIA IN PHOENIX, AZ. AS SOON AS THE CAR WAS TAKEN OFF THE TOW TRUCK, A SERVICE ADVISER STARTED IT FOR A FEW SECONDS. HE IMMEDIATELY SAID THE ENGINE FAILED AND HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. WELL OVER $8,000 TO REPLACE! HE SAID THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE ENGINE. HE SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL OF THE TIME. THERE IS NO REASON AN ENGINE SHOULD FAIL AT 69,000 MILES WHEN IT WAS PERFECTLY CARED FOR. KIA HAS RECALLED THE OTHER 2012 KIA OPTIMAS. WHERE WAS OUR KIA PRODUCED. MOST LIKELY THE SAME FACTORY. KIA SHOULD RECALL THESE AND REPLACE THE ENGINES.

NHTSA ODI 11090857

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID BATTERY FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11090297

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (MCGUIRE KIA, 21280 US-27, LAKE WALES, FL 33859) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL PORT WAS CLOGGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS LOCATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ODI 11083692

PROPERLY MAINTAINED KIA OPTIMA HYBRID CEASED OPERATING WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. SYMPTOMS APPEARED ELECTRICAL IN THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED, THEN STOPPED AS THE VEHICLE ALSO STOPPED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE IGNITED IN "ECO" MODE (THE HYBRID ENGINE STARTED), BUT THE GAS ENGINE DID NOT AND THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY MARGINALLY ROAD-WORTHY. IT WOULD NOT GET UP TO SPEED. UPON EXAMINATION BY A KIA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY FOUND "LARGE METAL PIECES," IN THE OIL PAN AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE SHORT BLOCK AND RECONDITIONING THE CYLINDERS. THIS IS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE HAD HAD AN OIL CHANGE THE DAY PRIOR, AND HAD BEEN FULLY OPERATIONAL, WITH ZERO MAINTENANCE FAILURES IN THE 5 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. KIA HAS RECALLED ITS GDI ENGINES DUE TO COMPLAINTS THAT ARE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR TO THE ISSUE HERE, BUT WERE PATENTLY UNSYMPATHETIC REGARDING THE GAS ELECTRIC HYBRID.

NHTSA ODI 11081761

BOUGHT A USED 2012 KIA OPTIMA FROM A KIA DEALERSHIP ON 1/12/18. I DID NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE FROM 1/13/2018 - 1/19/18. STARTED DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND 5 (FIVE) DAYS LATER, ON 1/23/18 THE VEHICLE BLEW A ROD IN THE ENGINE. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT HAVING THE DEALERSHIP FIX THE ISSUE AT THEIR EXPENSE, I WAS GETTING NOWHERE. I CONTACTED KIA HEADQUARTERS AND THEY ASSISTED ME WITH COMMUNICATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND GETTING THE ENGINE REBUILT (AS A GOODWILL BY THE DEALERSHIP). HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/25/18; THEY HAD MY VEHICLE FOR EXACTLY 1 (ONE) MONTH WHILE THE DEALERSHIP REBUILT THE ENGINE. I RECEIVED THE CAR BACK FROM DEALERSHIP ON 2/23/18. ON 3/6/18 AS I WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY, THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON FREEWAY, AND CAR JUST STARTED LOSING POWER. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ENGINE OIL LIGHT TURNED ON & OFF SPORADICALLY. NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 40 MPH. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS I WAS SCARED THAT I WOULD GET REAR-ENDED ON THE FREEWAY. I SLOWLY MOVED OVER THE SHOULDER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR; I WAITED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES BEFORE TURNING THE CAR BACK ON AND PROCEEDING TO MY PERSONAL MECHANIC (NOT KIA DEALERSHIP). MY MECHANIC SAID NOT TO TURN CAR OFF; HE INSPECTED CAR & SCANNED IT. NO ERROR CODES WERE DETECTED. HE SAID MAYBE IT WAS A FLUKE AND TO JUST CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. ON 3/12/18 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL KIA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT. AFTER A SCAN & TEST DRIVE, THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MECHANIC DROVE IT THE NEXT DAY OVER 80 MILES AND THIS TIME HE DID EXPERIENCE THE SAME REDUCTION OF POWER. HE SCANNED VEHICLE AGAIN BUT NO ERROR CODES SHOW. IT'S STILL AT DEALERSHIP 3/19/18.

NHTSA ODI 11080235

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE, PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO JT'S KIA OF COLUMBIA (230 KILLIAN COMMONS PKWY, COLUMBIA, SC 29203) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

NHTSA ODI 11079455

UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY, MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD RATTLING NOISE. THE SCREEN ON MY DASHBOARD WROTE ALONG THE LINES OF "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING: SAFELY STOP AND DO NOT DRIVE!" THEN MY CAR'S ENGINE BEGINS TO REV RANDOMLY AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO MY CONTROL. I'M NOT EVEN SURE HOW I MANAGED TO PULL OVER, BUT MADE IT TO THE SIDE AND TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON A VERY BUSY FREEWAY AT NIGHT. THE EMERGENCY LANE I WAS PULLED OVER IN WAS SO NARROW, I HAD TO STAY IN MY CAR. MY CAR THEN BEGAN TO TURN ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT BECAME COMPLETELY DEAD AND ALL MY LIGHTS WENT OUT, INCLUDING MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS. I WAS PRAYING NO CAR WOULD HIT ME AS I WAITED FOR A TOW. HAD IT HAPPENED EVEN A SECOND LATER, SUCH AS WHEN I WOULD BE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT TODAY.

NHTSA ODI 11076587

I RECENTLY STARTED HEARING A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FORM THE ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING. I WORK AT LEXUS OF AUSTIN AND HAD THE CAR DIAGNOSED. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE WAS SUFFERING FROM A CONNECTION ROD FAILURE. THE SOUND KEPT GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER, I FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO SOUTHWEST KIA IN NEW BRAUNFELS, TX. THEY ALSO DIAGNOSED THE CAR AS HAVING A CONNECTION ROD FAILURE. I WOULD NEED A NEED ENGINE. THE CAR IS A 2012 WITH ONLY 71,000 MILES. I AM NOT THE FIRST OWNER SO THE WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. THE ENGINE SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE KIA OPTIMA RECALL COVERS ON THE NON-HYBRID ENGINES. KIA PAID FOR A PORTION OF THE REPAIRS. I STILL HAD TO PAY $2,681 OUT OF POCKET. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES ONLINE OF PEOPLE WITH THE HYBRID ENGINE AND CONNECTION ROD FAILURES. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY KIA THAT WHEN THEY DRAINED THE OIL, THE OIL HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN IT. THE SAME SYMPTOM AS THE RECALL ENGINES. KIA MUST BE FORCED TO ADD THE HYBRID ENGINES TO THEIR RECALL. THE PARTS ARE FAILING FROM THE SAME ISSUES AS THE RECALLED PARTS. I DID NOT HAVE THE TIME TO ARGUE WITH KIA OVER THE COST OF REPAIRS BECAUSE I NEEDED MY CAR BACK ASAP IN ORDER TO DRIVE TO WORK. I SHOULD BE REFUNDED THE COST OF THE REPAIRS AND KIA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL THE HYBRID ENGINES THAT ARE THE SAME YEAR AS THE GAS ENGINE RECALLS.

NHTSA ODI 11073845

WHILE DRIVING CAR SHUT OFF AND HYBRID BATTERY WENT DEAD. IS SAYS 'HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SHUT OFF VEHICLE AND DO NOT DRIVE'. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED AND THE ENGINE SEEMS TO BE LOCKED UP. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINS ON THIS AND I WON'T PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE WHEN KIA NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ODI 11072196

ENGINE LOST POWER STATED SMOKING ALL OVER TRUNK ENGINE GOING 60 MPH ON RT15 THURMONT MARYLAND OUTSIDE OF CAMP DAVID, OIL WAS EVERYWHERE LOUD BOOM, MY GRANDSON WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AT THIS TIME AS WELL, DEALERSHIP TELLING ME THEY ARE NOT AT FALT OR REPLACING ENGING,AS I SEE A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL, I NEED MY CAR REPAIRED OR REPLACED ASAP,.

NHTSA ODI 11062889

AT 116,000, WHILE DRIVING IN CITY CAR WOULD DECELERATE AND JERKED "HYBRID WARNING SYSTEM-DO NOT DRIVE" LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE, CAR WOULD JERK BACKWARDS. TOOK TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT IT NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION. TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC WHO PROVIDED BETTER WARRANTY ON TRANSMISSION WORK. REPLACING TRANSMISSION HAS NOT FIXED CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11051658

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MILES FROM HOME AROUND MIDNIGHT, ON A BUSY FREEWAY (I-5), GOING ABOUT 70 MPH, MY CAR SUDDENLY FLASHED A WARNING ABOUT THE HYBRID BATTERY DISCHARGING AND TO PULL OVER. THEN THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. THANKFULLY WE WERE ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE BEFORE GETTING HIT. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD EVERYTHING DIED INCLUDING THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND WE WERE LEFT IN THE DARK WAITING 2 HOURS FOR A TOW TRUCK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND WE COULD'VE BEEN HIT OR CAUSED ANOTHER ACCIDENT. THE CAR HAS NOT STARTED SINCE, HOWEVER IF THE BATTERY IS ACTIVELY BEING CHARGED IT WILL LIGHT UP THE DASH BOARD WHICH JUST FLASHES WELCOME REPEATEDLY AND WON'T START. CURRENTLY AT A KIA DEALERSHIP IN TACOMA, WA AND WAITING TO HEAR WHAT THEY THINK IS WRONG. FROM READING OTHER STORIES ON THIS SITE, SOUNDS LIKE THIS A REOCCURRING ISSUE FOR KIA AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2012 OPTIMAS, JUST NOT THE HYBRIDS.

NHTSA ODI 11047426

I STARTED MY CAR AND STARTED DRIVING BACK HOME AND AS I GOT ONTO THE FREEWAY AND THE ENGINE TURNED, I COULD HEAR A RATTLING NOISE THAT WOULD MATCH THE RPM OF THE ENGINE. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE ENGINE WAS LOUD AND SQUEALING. I TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY, WHERE THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO A"BEARING/ CONNECTING ROD ISSUE". WHICH IS A REASON THERE IS A RECALL ON SELECT OPTIMA MODELS. BUT THE HYBRID MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED FOR SOME REASON. I SUSPECT THE FAILURE RATE ON THE HYBRIDS TO BE ABNORMALLY HIGH AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11046873

WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING WHEN THE EV WASN'T WORKING, JUST ENGINE. I COASTED TO A SAFE PLACE WITH THE EV AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHICH STATED IT WAS THE RODS KNOCKING AND HE KNEW ABOUT THE KIA ENGINE RECALL SO HE ASKED ME TO FIND OUT IF MINE WAS UNDER WARRANTY, APPARENTLY THE KIA ENGINE RECALL DOESN'T INCLUDE MY CAR ONCE I GAVE THEM MY VIN NUMBER. ITS DISTURBING TO KNOW THAT IT PROBABLY SHOULD BE IN THE SAME RECALL BUT THEY SAY ITS NOT...HOW DO I GO ABOUT MAKING SURE ITS NOT REALLY COVERED?

NHTSA ODI 11035780

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 35 MPH AND SUDDENLY LOST ACCELERATION, WOUL D NOT GO FASTER THEN 15 MPH FOR ABOUT 1/2 MILE THEN GAVE MESSAGE "HYBRID SYSTEM FAILURE, PLEASE PULL OVER AND TURN OFF VEHICLE." THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ONE, REPLACED THE HYPER-TRANSMISSION? AND THE BATTERY. DEALER HAS IGNORED REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION & ITEMIZATION OR INVOICE FOR THE ALLEGED REPAIRS AND THE EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT ORIGINALLY ONLY AUTHORIZED $3851.50 FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE OTHER TROUBLES WERE DISCOVERED LATER, AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED AND WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT POSSESSION. THE UNDERBODY OR FLAPS UNDERNEATH, FLEW OFF CAR AS CUSTOMER DROVE IT HOME UPON PICKING IT UP. DEALER ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT OR FOR CRACKING BUMPER IN THE FRONT CENTER OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11032990

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, I WAS DRIVING WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND HAVE LOST BRAKE FUNCTIONS TO MY CAR. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. IN THE MORNING WITH ALOT OF TRAFFIC. I HAD TO SWERVE INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND GRIND THE BRAKES TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING AND SCRAPPING SOUND BUT CAR DID NOT STOP. I HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT AND THE BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND SLOWLY MADE IT TO MY HOME. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUTO SHOP NEAR BY. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND CODE ERROR 1237 IN THE ACTIVE HYDRAULIC BOOST SYSTEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR HAS AN INTERNAL PRESSURE LEAK IN THE ABS SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE DUE TO NOT HAVING THE EQUIPMENT TO DO SO AND I WAS SENT TO KIA DEALER. I TOWED THE CAR TO KIA. I TOLD THEM WHAT THE MECHANIC HAD SAID AND I WAS TOLD THAT KIA NEEDED TO RUN ITS OWN DIAGNOSTIC. AFTER THEY DID THAT THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY. I REPLACED THE BATTERY. 3 MONTHS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO ENTER THE FREEWAY WHEN I LOST THE BRAKES AND HEARD THE GRINDING AND SCRAPPING SOUND. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION RIGHT BEFORE THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I AGAIN TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I TRIED TO DRIVE IT BUT IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I COULD NOT DRIVE IT SAFELY SO I HAD IT TOWED TO KIA. THEY DID ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD FOUND A PRESSURE SENSOR ERROR AND A LEAK IN THE ABS SYSTEM AND NOW ITS GOING TO COST 2600. THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE ME THAT THIS WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ME AND MY FAMILY IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11024510

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE PROGRESSING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER (JIM BONE KIA, 1255 SANTA ROSA AVE, SANTA ROSA, CA 95404, (707) 545-7050) AND THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V224000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE HYBRID MODEL EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE AS THE RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY AND THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. ... .UPDATED 11/16/17 *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 11005961

I HEARD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I STOP TO CHECK THE OIL, IT WAS FINE. IT HAD ALSO BEEN CHANGE ABOUT 3500 MILES BEFORE THIS HAPPEN. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME IT WAS MUCH WORST! I CHECK THE OIL AGAIN, THERE WAS STILL OIL AT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL. THIS TIME THE DIP STICK HAD METAL SHAVINGS ON IT. I CALLED MY LOCAL GARAGE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THEM. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE! I HAD IT BROUGHT TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM KEMPER KIA OF BRIDGEWATER NJ. THEY ALSO AGREED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD ME A RECALL FOR THIS ENGINE JUST CAME OUT. THE RECALL IS FOR PREMATURE BEARING WEAR CAUSING THESE ENGINES TO THROW A ROD. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO MY ENGINE! THEY SAID BECAUSE I AM THE SECOND OWNER IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 10YEAR 1000,000 MILE WARRANTY. MY CAR HAS 88,989. THIS CAR SHOULD BE COVERED! SOME HOW MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST! THEY HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 3 WEEKS NOW! KIA HAS ONLY PUT ME ON THEIR ESCALATION DEPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11000466

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE DRIVING OR SETTING STILL THERE IS A CATCH. LIKE IT IS STIFF.

NHTSA ODI 11000519

WHILE DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, MY CAR JERKED AND LOSS POWER, GOING FROM 60 MPH TO 20 MPH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID A THREW AN ENGINE ROD! THE CAR HAD 108,189 MILES ON IT. THERE IS A NATIONWIDE RECALL ON THE KIA OPTIMA ALREADY, BUT MINE IS NOT. IT SHOULD! THE BEARING RODS GO OUT PREMATURELY AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT MINE DID.

NHTSA ODI 10995050

I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED TO STALL, AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STOP, WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR SLIGHTLY SPEEDS UP BUT THEN STARTS TO STALL AGAIN. AFTER SEVERAL REPEAT EPISODES OF STALLING, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. SINCE THERE WAS NO STORES IN MY IMMEDIATE AREA AND NO CELLULAR SERVICE IN THE AREA, I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE AND MOVED INTO THE OUTER LANE. THE CYCLE OF STALLING AND INCREASING CONTINUED REPEATEDLY. ONCE I REACHED A SERVICE AREA, I WAS ABLE TO CALL A TOW SERVICE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP THAT HAPPENED TO BE A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND FOUND NOTHING BUT DID CHANGE MY OIL AND THE FILTER. FOR THE REST OF THE DAY MY CAR DROVE FINE, BUT MONDAY MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK BACK TO THE SAME STALLING CYCLE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ON. I DROVE TO THE KIA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST. AFTER A WEEK AND A HALF I RECEIVE A CALL THAT THE TEST SHOWED THE CRANKSHAFT SENORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITH A COST OF $200.00. AFTER THREE WEEKS, I RECEIVE A CALL THAT MY CAR IS FIXED. I PAY THE CHARGES AND DRIVE AWAY; AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES, MY CAR BEGINS TO STALL, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR IS MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND THE CAR HAS A BURNING SMELL. I DRIVE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC TEST IS DONE. THEN A KIA SALESMEN STATES "YOUR ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BUT THE CAR IS STILL DRIVEABLE; HOWEVER, AT SOME POINT, YOUR ENGINE WILL LOCK UP AND THE THE CAR WILL STALL AND STOP." "WE WILL TAKE YOUR CAR AS A TRADE IN TOWARDS A NEW KIA." I ASK IF MY CAR WILL BE REPAIRED UNDER THE KIA RECALL FOR THE OPTIMA. I WAS TOLD NO, THE HYBRID OPTIMA WAS NOT RECALLED.THE SALESMEN LOOKS AT THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND STATES "IT DOES HAVE A BURN SMELL." HE GIVES ME HIS NUMBER AND I DRIVE AWAY. AS OF TODAY KIA REFUSES TO FIX MY CAR UNDER THE RECALL AND I AM LEFT RENTING A VEHICLE DAILY.

NHTSA ODI 10994361