What 202 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Kia Optima

I just recently purchased my 2019 Kia optima sx turbo. After purchase, I immediately began experiencing issues with the braking system and the forward collision warning light coming on. The cruise control stopped working as well. I googled and saw that there was a recall on the forward collision warning system but the local Kia dealership to me says there is not one. I almost had a head on collision in this car with my granddaughter coming from daycare as I completely lost brakes. I have put so much money into purchasing this car believing it to be a good car.

NHTSA ODI 11699647

Lights appeared on the dash and the vehicle locked and would not drive. This happened as I was actively driving. I had the vehicle towed and was told by the Kia dealership that it was my abs/hecu. Before this happened, there was no warning lamps or messages. The car was driving normally.

NHTSA ODI 11655299

When attempting to stop, my brake petal goes all the way to the floor causing me not being able to stop! No warning lamps or messages and no other symptoms or problems with my brakes It start month ago and seems to be getting worst

NHTSA ODI 11646596

Sometimes when I drive it will say my forward collision is blocked so it will disable but it normally shuts off. Tonight I'm driving on the freeway a steering wheel pops up then blind spot abs traction and a few more lights come on then it say check headlights those are dimming the radio is cutting off. The wipers aren't working but the car is still accelerating then all of a sudden the car goes from 55 to 0 the wheel locks and I have to coat to the side of the road.

NHTSA ODI 11641536

The contact owns a 2019 Kia Optima. The contact stated while starting and driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Check Blind Spot Collision Warning System" and "Check Forward Collision Avoidance Assist System" messages became displayed. The ABS, traction control, and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who retrieved DTC codes: C121002 and C121102. The dealer replaced the rear wheel speed sensor. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11633620

I was doing 65 on the hwy when Forward collision started so sound off and slowing down car when there was no other car around me this happened on several occasions

NHTSA ODI 11573755

I was driving and tried to brake but my car did not stop and ended up hitting guardrail. A couple weeks later I was driving and there was nothing in front of me but the car abruptly stopped in the middle of road

NHTSA ODI 11569790

Breaks locked or failed and was forced off road into a ditch, car totalled

NHTSA ODI 11547211

Was driving try pressing on the brakes. Car would not stop brakes will sink all the way down

NHTSA ODI 11523084

On October 11,2022 I was involved in a vehicle collision that resulted in damages to the front of my vehicle and the rear of another. My two children and I suffered injuries that we were not able to recover fully from. The driver of the other vehicle was uninsured and has not been accessible!

NHTSA ODI 11515444

To begin, there was a recall on the forward avoidance collision system. The fix was to have the system reset at the dealership. Almost like a system update. I had that done after multiple lights appeared on my dash. 5 months later, the lights would illuminate again periodically, but turn off after a few minutes of driving. Two months ago, the lights came on when I was traveling on our highway at about 45 MPH. There was no cars in front of me, nor any objects. The automatic brake applied itself as I was turning off of this major highway. I hit the gas to try to turn off of the highway after the brake was applied, and my car wouldn’t accelerate. Since then, the light has stayed on every time I turn my car on, and for the remainder of the time I’m driving it. The brake has also self engaged itself twice since then. It’s a huge safety risk as someone could hit me from behind. The system update obviously didn’t fix the issues. The Kia dealership in my area, Tameron Kia, said that there was nothing they could do for me since they did the computer update. She was certain that it was a different issue, but it isn’t. My car has 60,000 miles on it and have been dealing with this specific issue since 3 months after I purchased the car. It’s not safe for my children and I, and something has got to be done about the issue.

NHTSA ODI 11505790

ABS light came on for no apparent reason and took car to Kia dealership and was told it needs ABS Issue: “Your car is going to need an ABS Actuator, this controls how the ABS modulates the brakes when under dangerous braking conditions so that your brakes don't lock up..$2676.56 just for that repair if you'd like us to replace it” and I searched online and do see that some 2019 Kia models had a recall for this very issue, but my VIN is not showing up as affected. The lights came on about 6 mos ago, cleared and then came back on again. Car is at Moritz KIa in FW, TX right now.

NHTSA ODI 11503896

My car didn't stop the brakes wouldn't stop i hit a stationary Tractor i got a ticket due to me hitting the light pole too

NHTSA ODI 11442058

Brakes don't feel right some times when I stop. My passage side seat belt dangs for no reason even when there nothing on my set. And ever once in a blue moon I can hear a dang dang noise idk where it's coming from but it's very soft sound.

NHTSA ODI 11434942

Out of no where the Front Collision Avoidance Assist came on while driving as well as the automatic emergency braking sensor came on I had my kids in the car no accident or anything

NHTSA ODI 11429801

I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL AND AS I REACHED THE TOP OF THE INCLINE, MY CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO USE MY BRAKES AND I BARELY TAPPED THEM, BUT THEY REACTED AS IF I SLAMMED ON MY BREAKS. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKES AND I BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE. MY BRAKES WERE THEN LOCKED, I PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND THEN TURNED OFF & THEN BACK ON MY CAR WITHOUT REMOVING THE KEY. I THEN PUT MY CAR BACK INTO DRIVE, HOWEVER, MY GAS PEDAL WAS STILL NOT WORKING. I THEN TURNED MY CAR OFF AGAIN, REMOVED THE KEY, PUT THE KEY BACK, THEN RESTARTED AND WENT BACK INTO DRIVE AND IT BEGAN TO WORK AGAIN. THERE WAS NOT AN ISSUE AFTER THAT.

NHTSA ODI 11414358

THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN APPLIED. THE ROAD WAS DRY. SPEED WAS 30 MPH OR LESS WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THERE WERE NO CARS AHEAD OF ME, AND I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND ROOM FOR A REGULAR STEADY DECELERATION. THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. JUST BEFORE I CROSSED INTO THE CROSSWALK THE CAR BEGAN TO BUCK AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FORCIBLY KICKED BACK EXACTLY FOUR TIMES, AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED ON A STATE HIGHWAY THAT ALSO SERVES AS A MAIN STREET RUNNING THROUGH DOWNTOWN. I WAS TRAVELING ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF ROAD. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, PURCHASED NEW, FOR 19 MONTHS. MILEAGE IS 17,325. THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG AND SAYS THE COMPUTER DIDN'T REGISTER THE EVENT. WE ASSUME THE BRAKES FAILED AND ANTILOCK BRAKES ENGAGED IN AN EXTRORDINARY MANNER. I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION AS THE CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP 37 ODD DAYS LATER. THEY STILL SAY THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA ODI 11398991

WHEN MY PHONE IS PLUGGED INTO THE CHARGER, MY SCREEN WILL GO BLACK ALL OF A SUDDEN, AND I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND UNPLUG MY PHONE AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON FOR THE SCREEN TO COME BACK ON. ALSO, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE MY BRAKES LOCK UP ON ME, AND I ALMOST HIT THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME. ESPECIALLY IN THE RAIN, AND I HAVE EVEN HAD TO SWERVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID A COLLISION. IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM IN MOTION DRIVING AND GO TO STOP. THE RADIO SCREEN THOUGH HAS TURNED OFF ON ME WHETHER I AM DRIVING OR IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11310756

I WAS IN TWO LOW SPEED REAR ENDED CRASHES BECAUSE THE CIB DIDN'T ENGAGE AND I HAD NO BREAKING POWER. ONE WHO ON THE HIGH WAY AND ONCE IN AN EXIT RAMP

NHTSA ODI 11281260