10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 4 / 55
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 4 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 74,855 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The car engine made a noise and the engine and starting smoke with fire and it completely stopped in rush hour traffic. The car shutdown in traffic and had to pushed out of the street to avoid me being hit.
- Riviera Beach, FL, USA
Engine locked up and shut down with no warnings
- Sanger, TX, USA
Driving down the highway and the vehicle stalled motor seized up but unstuck after cooling has bad knock now. Stuck on highway waiting to be towed.
- Sanger, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to demontrond Kia (14101 North freeway, houston, tx) where it was diagnosed that the engine bearings failed and damaged the engine. The dealer stated that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer provided case number: 13418572, but did not assist. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine), although the vehicle experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 130,000. The VIN was invalid.
- Houston, TX, USA
While waiting at a stop light my car completely shut off and wouldn't start again. Now the engine is seized up and won't turn on or anything. No lights or warning signs of anything happening. I was at a stop light waiting to turn left on a city street.
- Vandalia, OH, USA
On 9/3/2019 I took my 2012 Kia Optima to gossett Kia South to get it repaired. It didnt get fixed before I left the lot my car was smoking and leaking antifreeze. I was stranded for 4 days after that day. I went to the nearest part store and purchased a bottom radiator hose and antifreeze. I had a mobile mechanic to put the hose on. There after I was stranded again the car wouldn't start. I had it towed to Firestone 10/4/2019. My car stayed the lot for a month and it was then towed to gossett Kia North from there it has been repossessed. I made payment arrangements to get the car back I am determined to get my car repaired. I use the car to make it to appointments. I am disabled and this doesnt seem fair at all im paying notes on a nonworking car. I hope to hear from you soon with further advice
- Memphis, TN, USA
As my son was driving our Kia down a highway in rockwell nc it just shut off, loss power would not start back up, so had it towed to repair shop and mechanic said the motor is seized up, so I searched online for recalls and the exact thing has happen to a tee to people who was driving down the road or highway and the car just shuts off thankfully my son or anyone else didn't get hurt...
- China Grove, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While driving 60 mph, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over to the side of the road, but it would not restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that there was a defective bearing in the engine. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling), but the VIN was not included. The dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 150,000.
- North Chelmsford, MA, USA
I was traveling down E 470 in Colorado with my grandchildren when my car suddenly ceased up and blew a rod going 70 mph. A car almost hit me from behind and luckily I was able to get over so I didn't cause any more damage to me my family or anyone else. My car had oil and had been change just recently. I am seeing that this is a problem with these cars. Just wanted to report that this has happened to me also.
- Denver, CO, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling). Bev smith Kia (5655 us-1, fort pierce, fl 34982, (772) 465-8589) was contacted and stated that the failure may be due to a main fuse under the vehicle that blew out. South dade Kia of miami (17120 S dixie hwy, miami, fl 33157, (786) 673-8136) and Kia atlanta South (7310 jonesboro rd, morrow, ga 30260, (770) 968-3400) were contacted and stated that the engine seized. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,000.
- Fort Drum, NY, USA
May-2018 my car was making a knocking sound, & I called the valley Kia dealer. The service department said (the car has no recall, & no warenty) 10-2019... I called the salesman where I bought the Kia. Frank wong said yes I had warranty, but expired 11-2018... I could of got my car fixed...
- Hesperia, CA, USA
Kia has now settled their class action suit for all the other vehicles, yet the hybrids are still being left out of any recalls. There is plenty of evidence in the complaints here that something is wrong. I sunk $7000 that I didn't have to spare into getting a new engine put in this car. Only to have the transmission blow right after I got the car back from Kia after waiting 6 months for an engine. The transmission cost another $5000, and it took them three transmissions to install a non-faulty transmission. I almost lost my job because I couldn't reliably get to work on time, if at all. Kia themselves have said that the engines weren't manufactured correctly and that labor being done in Kia dealerships wasn't being done correctly. Hybrid engines should absolutely not be blowing rods at 60000 miles, or 80000 miles, and not even 100000 miles. Kia is knowingly delaying any sort of recall and forcing people to go into further debt or lose jobs.
- Ventura, CA, USA
Failure date: 06/25/2019 my 2012 Kia Optima engine shut off while I was driving and luckily I didnt get into accident and was able pull off the road to wait for a tow truck. This is very scary and dangerous. I had it towed to an auto repair garage they changed out the started and changed out the battery it just made a clicking sound but wouldn't start. I started reading on line that this exact situation has happened to other Kia Optima vehicles. My vehicle has 99189 miles so it falls within the power train warranty of 100,000 miles
- Charleston, WV, USA
During my last visit to the Kia dealer for an oil change and tire rotation, they informed my that I had no oil indicating on the dip stick. No leaks detected so must be burning oil. Every time I drive, I can smell burning oil and tail pipe are completely black.
- Wilmington, DE, USA
2012 Kia was taken in for a engine recall in 2017. Kia informed me that it had passed inspection and released the car. 2019 the engine seized without warning, traveling 40mph on a busy road. Luckily, I was able to maneuver to find a somewhat safe location. My engine began to smoke very badly from a possible small fire. After a week without a car, out of pocket tows, diagnostics, rentals, etc. Kia confirmed it was an engine issue related to the recall. My safety was placed at risk after I felt all the recalls had been taken care of. I could of very well been in a serious accident, and luckily I did not have my children that day. Today, my car has had a replacement engine, yet I do not feel comfortable. I am still trying to recover the out of pocket expenses. I have been spoken to very rudely and in a unprofessional manner from Kia. The company is not willing to pay for all of my expenses while the car that I have purchased from them put me in harms way. I will never buy another Kia again and am considering a law suit.
- Dallas, TX, USA
There are two (2) issues that are possibly connected. The first is excessive oil consumption. The Kia dealership confirms that I am using approximately 1 quart per 250 miles, but they state that they cannot do anything for the issue. Additionally, the car has also become sluggish. Acceleration time has been greatly increased and car hesitates when the gas pedal is depressed. Both of these issues have me concerned for my safety in normal driving conditions and also when I need to accelerate quickly.
- York, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Kia Optima. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle began to hesitate and seized in the left turning lane. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the engine seized. The vehicle was towed to Kia of carson (located at 22020 recreation rd, carson, ca 90745, (424) 277-0368) where it was currently being diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced per NHTSA campaign number: 17V224000 (engine and engine cooling) on September 23, 2019. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 93,371.
- Inglewood, CA, USA
The engine knocked and it make a noise.
- Lincoln, NE, USA
Car being driven by my daughter suddenly stopped in the middle of traffic with a pull over and safely shut off vehicle warning. She however could not move. The vehicle also showed an error to the vehicle charging system. We towed the immobile vehicle to the local Kia dealership and were told there were no codes and the battery was fine. They requested that I allow them to remove the valve cover to check on belts. I approved. I called the dealership the following day to check in because I have not heard. I was told the hybrid parts were covered under warranty but that the engine was locked up. No reason or explanation, no warning. My child could have died due to her vehicle stopping in the middle of traffic.
- Amarillo, TX, USA
- Rockledge, FL, USA