What 107 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND SMOKE QUICKLY ENTERED THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PREMIER KIA OF BRANFORD (205 NORTH MAIN STREET, BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT 06405, (203) 315-2050) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. FOUR MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS HIGH SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND SMOKE ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERNAL ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE LACK OF WARRANTY COVERAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR EITHER FAILURE. DURING BOTH OCCURRENCES, THE SMOKE WENT AWAY ONCE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A FIRE, BUT A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB CONSUMER ATTACHED DIAGNOSTIC AND INVOICE REPAIR TO THE CAR SHOWING THE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. '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).' *JB

NHTSA ODI 11140650

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY UPON ACCELERATION THE RPMS SPIKED AND THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE. AFTER RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE LIKE A BROKEN MUFFLER THEN THE CAR LOST POWER. PULLING TO THE SHOULDER THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SHORTLY AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FROM SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD WHICH SPREAD TO THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHICH THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES BEFORE A FIRE CREW COULD EXTINGUISH.

NHTSA ODI 11115017

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A THUMPING NOISE AND A LOUD BOOM SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED BROWN SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. EVENTUALLY, THE SMOKE TURNED BLACK AND APPEARED FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, MARK KIA, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT SLUDGE WAS IN THE ENGINE AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12369116. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 10993739

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 KIA OPTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL BANGING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE MOMENTARILY LOST POWER AND THE CONTACT NOTICED BLACK SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO A CONNECTING ROD MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

NHTSA ODI 10914540