What 107 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated that while attempting to drive uphill and on gravel with the Electric Drive Mode activated, the vehicle failed to move forward. The contact pressed the button to deactivate the Electric Drive Mode, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact released the accelerator pedal until the vehicle responded as needed. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where the contact was informed that no cause for the failure was found. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic), and a recall repair appointment was scheduled with the dealer. The contact stated that while driving out of the driveway at 5 MPH, the message "Emergency - Pull Over - System Failure Warning" was displayed. The contact pulled back into the driveway and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and could not be driven to the dealer for the recall repair because the dealer was 2 hours away. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and denied towing assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11629816

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact stated the engine was previously replaced under an unstated NHTSA recall. The contact stated that five months after the repair, the malfunction indicator warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the replaced engine was defective and affected the high hybrid battery. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was contacted and offered to replace the engine and the high hybrid battery; however, the vehicle remained at the local dealer because parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11591281

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked, the check engine warning light illuminated with the “Hybrid - No Driving Mode” message displayed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage unavailable. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11588569

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that a message indicating that the Hybrid System failure was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The contact parked and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle later, the check engine warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while sitting on the rear seats, the rear seats were significantly hot because the hybrid battery was underneath the rear seats. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 132,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11571974

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the ABS and check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a friend's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11560070

TODAY I JUST GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY FOR THE BRAKES FAILING IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS FINE BUT THE MECHANIC SAID TO ME THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CAR SO THEY LET ME LEAVE WITH IT I WAS IN LAKE WORTH TODAY DOING 45 MILES PER HOUR AND IT DID IT AGAIN AND SAID CHECK BRAKE CAR SHUT OFF MY BRAKES FAILED AND I RAN INTO A MEDIAN TO STOP MY CAR. KIA CORPORATION IS NOT DOING NOTHING ABOUT THIS THE DEALERSHIP DOES HE EVEN HAVE AN ANSWER FOR ME AND THAT IS GUNTHER KIA. I BELIEVE THAT I AM GOING TO DIE IF I DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE AND I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD THAT THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE KIA CORPORATION 5 TIMES ALREADY

NHTSA ODI 11101949

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

I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN TRAVELING 30 MPH. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN THEY WERE INITIALLY WORKING AND I WAS REDUCING SPEED, HOWEVER SUDDENLY I HEARD A VERY LOUD CRUNCHING/GRINDING NOISE AND I LOST ALL BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. TO STOP THE VEHICLE I HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK. IF A CAR WAS IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO IT. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE I LOST BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY I WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION. IF CARS WERE CROSSING THE INTERSECTION OR IF A PERSON WAS CROSSING THE STREET I WOULD HAVE CRASHED INTO THEM. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SINCE I WAS IN THE INTERSECTION I TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON AND THE BRAKES SEEMD TO BE WORKING AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE KIA DEALER. THE KIA DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS. PER THE KIA TECHNICIAN THEY INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND THE HYBRID REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS OR RECREATE THE ISSUE. PER THE KIA TECHNICIAN THEY EXHAUSTED ALL OF THEIR OPTIONS AND WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY ISSUES AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. ADDITIONALLY, I CONTACTED KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY STATED THAT IF THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I FOUND THAT TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM TO THE NHTSA (NHTSA ID 10638311, 10650553). ONE PERSON CRASHED BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE AND THEY REPORTED THAT THE ISSUES HAVE SPORADICALLY HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM THAT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO SPORADICALLY LOSE ALL BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND FEAR THAT AT ANY POINT IN TIME I CAN LOSE ALL BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY AND CRASH, CAUSING AN INJURY OR DEATH TO MYSELF OR ANOTHER PERSON.

NHTSA ODI 10749549

KIA OPTIMA HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING NO BRAKES! UNSAFE CAR! WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS SOMEONE ELSE ON THIS SITE. OCT 16TH 2014 WE WERE PULLING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY AND RECEIVED A WARNING ON THE DISPLAY SAYING "HYBRID SYSTEM WARNING SLOW DOWN AND COME TO A STOP. CHECK BRAKES. ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THERE WAS A GRINDING SOUND. UNLIKE A LOW PAD SOUND BUT THE SOUND OF GEARS NOT ENGAGING. ALSO THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL, THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT WAS THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE AND SAME PEDAL SITUATION. SO WE LEFT THE CAR WHERE IT WAS. AFTER A FEW HOURS WE TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS FINE, NO ERROR MESSAGE, BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. SO WE TOOK IT TO OUR KIA DEALER SHIP HERE IN HONOLULU. AFTER A DIAGNOSTIC WE RECEIVED A REPORT A FEW HOURS LATER. THE REPORT SAID THAT THE CAR CHECKED OUT FINE AND THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES STORED. THE SERVICE ADVISOR SAID THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. WE TOOK THE CAR HOME AND DID NT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AS WE THOUGHT WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN. WE THEN BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO KIA AND TOLD THEM HOW WE FELT. THEY SAID THEY DID MULTIPLE TEST AND AFTER ONE WEEK OF TESTING COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS VERY ANGRY WITH US SAYING WE NEED TO PICK UP OUR CAR AND RETURN THE LOANER. AFTER I HUNG UP I DID MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS ON ANOTHER COMPLAINT HERE BUT THIS PERSON HAD GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I FORWARDED THIS LINK TO KIA, NOW THEY ARE SO NICE TO US BECAUSE I THINK THEY NOW SEE THE DANGER. BUT THEY STILL HAVE OUR CAR AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. WE ARE VERY FEARFUL THAT THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS AND WILL NOT PUT OUR KIDS AT RISK IN THIS KIA WITH NO BRAKES! BE WARNED THIS CAR HAS BRAKE PROBLEMS AND ONE PERSON HAS ALREADY CRASHED! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10650553

I HAVE HAD 2 ISSUES: MY UVO SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED MULTIPLE TIMES AND MY SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE REPLACED AGAIN TODAY. I HAVE HAD BRAKE ISSUES, MY MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AND ITS GOING BACK IN TODAY FOR BRAKES. NOW MY CAR IS PULLING TO THE LEFT! I HAVE 25,000 MILES ON THIS CAR! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10537233