What 916 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Kia Optima

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11569496

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the rear of the vehicle. In addition, the contact smelled burning fumes on the interior of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact stated that the dealer cleaned up some spilled oil underneath the hood. 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. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11569049

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11567973

While driving will will get “hybrid system. Warning check brakes”. Car will loose acceleration. After turning car off for five minutes, error goes away and car drives. Happens for no reason and has occurred 4 times in the last week

NHTSA ODI 11567988

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Sorento. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. 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 local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 129,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11567212

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, his wife observed a burning odor inside the cabin. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and the contact was advised that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was 158,000.

NHTSA ODI 11564154

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11563712

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, stalled, and failed to restart. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer, but no assistance was provided. 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 failure. The failure mileage was approximately 138,450. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11563519

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 local dealer was not contacted. 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 contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11563115

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 local dealer was contacted. 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 contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11562531

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11562034

The contact owned a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving approximately 50-60 MPH with someone in the front passenger seat, she noticed smoke, and then fire coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact immediately veered to the side of the road. Both the contact and her passenger exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire extended significantly and the vehicle burned from the front end to the rear seats. The fire department extinguished the fire. The contact could not confirm whether a fire department report and a police report were filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot, where it was totaled. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) that she related to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11561850

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated after pulling up to her residence and exiting the vehicle, the contact observed that there was smoke coming from the passenger’s side headlight. The contact drove the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the dealer could not determine the cause of the smoke. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11561543

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11561578

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11560180

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 while starting the vehicle, she noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that the taillights remained illuminated while the vehicle was turned off. There was no warning light illuminated. 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 issue, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11559101

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. 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 local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11557633

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had experienced a failure. The contact stated that his wife was driving the vehicle at approximately 35 MPH when she was she flagged by another driver that her vehicle was emitting flames under the vehicle on the front driver's side near the wheel well. The contact stated his wife was not aware of any warning lights and pulled the vehicle over and stopped. The contact stated the fire department was on scene and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, the contact had no information on the diagnosis by the dealer. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000. The contact related the fire to the current NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the vehicle was recently returned to the dealer due to engine failures. VIN tool confirms parts not yet available.

NHTSA ODI 11557223

The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, he noticed that there was smoke inside the cabin. The contact stated that while making a turn, a significant amount of smoke and heat was coming through the A/C vents, causing him to recline the seat. There was no warning light illuminated. Additionally, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond. The contact pulled to the side of the road and shifted from drive (D) to reverse (R) until the vehicle stopped. The contact then parked and turned off the vehicle, grabbed his belongings, and immediately exited the vehicle. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle caught on fire, exploded, and collapsed as he was running away from the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire, and a fire department report was filed. There was no police report filed. There were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The manufacturer sent a field inspector, who inspected the vehicle and determined that the failure occurred due to a damaged serpentine belt. However, the contact stated that an independent mechanic had replaced the serpentine belt 11 days prior to the incident. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence, where it remained. The independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the serpentine belt was not damaged. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V652000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) that he related to the failure. The contact followed up with the manufacturer, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 215,500.

NHTSA ODI 11556332

While driving down the highway the cars Hybrid warning system came on causing the car to lose all breaks and lose power. The component of the vehicle that failed is the HECU. Kia already did a recall for this but did not include the hybrids for the recall. This is very unsafe losing all breaking power, driving 65 mph down the highway with my children in the car! There was absolutely no warning, no check engine lights nothing. I had it towed to the dealership and upon them driving it, it also cut completely out and did it to the person at the dealership. This is going to cause someone to lose their life and when you call Kia, it’s the same run around that your year wasn’t included in the recall yet there was a whole lawsuit about this.

NHTSA ODI 11541785

Because the brake stopper or brake switch are messed up and my brake tail light stays on all night causing it to drain the battery If the car is braking while I’m driving it and the traction control light comes on and the speed is decreasing as I’m driving because the car is braking on it’s own it has nothing to do with the lights Nor the battery the root of the issue is the brake line because the tail light will not cut off because the brakes are still engaged even when the car is off causing the tail lights to stay on so the lights is what is draining the battery the lights stay on all night in a car the battery dies but the battery nor the lights is the issue it’s the brakes

NHTSA ODI 11532560

I was driving ~40-45, mph and my car stopped on its own, a warning ️ came up in the dash regarding ABS and to stop and not drive, luckily no one ran into me and I was able to pull over. I called a service center and they told me I could bring it in and they would do a diagnostic. I turned the car off and back on, the message was gone and my husband came and followed me to the shop. They ran the history and it was a code for ABS, they reset it and I was on my way. Not long after, I started hearing what sounded like a woodpecker under the hood and loud, while the car was on, in route and off. I took it in and service center was unable to diagnose/duplicate the noise and was told I would have to leave it, however, due to not having another means of transportation, I was unable to leave it. Twice more it gave me the ABS dash warning with stop and do not drive. I took it in and was told it Brake booster/ABS was making a noise, however, I need to take it to Kia for further assessment, which is not for 11 more days. According to accounts read online, this is a common issue and is dangerous for a car to stop you while driving.

NHTSA ODI 11527362

I was driving on the highway and all of sudden my car started decelerating. I looked in my rear view mirror and noticed the brake lights were illuminated although I was NOT pressing the brake pedal.

NHTSA ODI 11522764

My engine went out on my 2012 Kia optima hybrid in 2022. I was not aware of a recall on the engines. We paid for repair. Can we get reimbursed? Also we are now having issues with the braking system and the abs light is coming on. I see that there is a recall on this. Can this get repaired? I uploaded receipt well bank statement showing purchase from Martin imports in the amount of $1391. And we were charged $700 to put motor in.

NHTSA ODI 11522556

My car keeps slowing down while driving. The breaks are squeaking and rubbing and making a loud sound. The lights keeping coming up on the dash board

NHTSA ODI 11501398